MD & DO Low GPA, Solid MCAT, WAMC?

[Some_brownie98]

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Hey everyone,
I was hoping I could get some feedback on my current app and whether to apply for DO this cycle + some low tier MD schools or apply to MD next year after slightly increasing my GPA.
Major: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
cGPA: 3.42
sGPA: 3.19
MCAT: 515 ( 129, 128, 129, 129)
Asian
Large Public University in New Jersey
Clinical Experience:
- Volunteer EMT for local EMS agency( 500 hrs)
- Outpatient Medical Scribe ( June 2017 - Present)
Research Experience:
- 215 hours in Cell Biology Research working with large pharmaceutical companies and state medical school of research
- Fellowship grant
Shadowing:
- Shadowing with Internist( 50 hours)
- Shadowing with Pediatrician( 100 hrs)
Non-Clincal Volunteering:
- Hundreds of hours in local soup kitchens, children's hospitals and food pantries for 3 years of college
EC:
- Leadership position on a service organization for the past year + 3 years of involvement in that club that performed many service acts in an around the community
- Peer mentor for Large medical student organization
- Leadership position as Crew Chief on EMS squad
- SAT tutor
Honors:
- Graduating with Honors degree
- Fellowship grant
LoR:
- 4 currently
- 1 Science( another pending)
- 1 from freshman year dean for innovation course
- 2 from EMS president and Scribe Doctor

I know my GPA is far from ideal for an MD program but is it worth to wait a year hoping to increase my cGPA to maybe a 3.5? Or should I just apply to low tier-MD programs and DO schools this cycle? If so what are some good schools to apply with my credentials?

 

[Faha]

You are competitive for all DO schools so if you apply to 10 or more you should receive several interviews.
You could receive interviews at some MD schools and I suggest these if you are a NJ resident:
Your 3 NJ state public schools
Seton Hall
Vermont
Quinnipiac
New York Medical College
Albany
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
George Washington
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
St. Louis
Creighton
California University (new school)

 

[joysim]

Your clinical experience looks good, so I would be worried about getting past the screening process. You could always do a SMP or something to raise your GPA, and be competitive for higher tier schools. I am assuming you go to Rutgers, and they have this programs called the Medical Scholars, where masters students take med school classes, get advising from the admissions department at NJMS, and may receive a guaranteed interview. Good luck whatever you decide 🙂