MD probably out of question, is DO out of question as well?

[spes93]

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I really messed up my already underwhelming GPA with my SMP. Is this the last nail in the coffin?

Here are my stats:



MCAT

First take: 30

Re-taking new test this August



Undergraduate:

cGPA: 3.47, sGPA: 3.47

Extracirriculars:

Research

1000+ hours research for 2 years (2 labs, I applied for and received grants for each. published abstracts. 2 research conferences)

Professional experience

Medical assistant (tricky to calculate hours but at least 1000)

Two other irrelevant temporary full time jobs (worked in gym, and for library labelling books)

Grants and awards

Applied for and received 2 grants for research

"Research scholar of the year" at my university for one of the research positions

Scientific writing

2 abstracts

1 peer-reviewed article in a somewhat informal undergraduate journal

Leadership and service

About 100 hours working in a half-way home for mentally ill and homeless, serving lunch

Worked for my college radio station for all 4 years of college. Spent last year as senior producer for one of the radio shows, a science talk show. Well over 1000 hours cumulatively doing work for the station.

120 hours volunteering in a hospital as patient contact volunteer (clinical)

Teaching

Tutored Pre-K through America Reads/America Counts for a year. Ball park, 450 hours.

Conference presentations

Two presentations at undergraduate research conferences

Shadowing

About 100 hours shadowing in a nursing home for wound care doctor

Hobbies

Weight lifting



Graduate/SMP:

cGPA: 3.33 (have not calculated effect on sGPA for both undergraduate and SMP combined, but definitely worsened undergraduate sGPA)

Year of research in very prestigious lab (year of research required by the SMP), wrote but did not publish thesis

 

[deleted731525]

no

 

[NineIron]

If anything MD isn't out of the question either man. All it takes is one interview and you proving yourself

 

[LuluLovesMe]

Apply DO and also to all of your state MD schools. Might even be worth it to apply to NYMC, Quinnipiac, Drexel, EVMS ect.

 

[spes93]

If anything MD isn't out of the question either man. All it takes is one interview and you proving yourself

Really? My GPA is horrible. Isn't there an auto screening process with GPA and MCAT?

 

[GUH]

Really? My GPA is horrible...

No it's not. You'll still want to apply broadly though.

 

[QueenJames]

Apply early and broadly and DON'T RETAKE THAT MCAT (unless score expired or something). Good luck!

 

[spes93]

Apply early and broadly and DON'T RETAKE THAT MCAT (unless score expired or something). Good luck!

Took my MCAT Sept 7 2014 and I'm applying next year so I think it should be OK? Why shouldn't I retake?

 

[memory tcells]

Took my MCAT Sept 7 2014 and I'm applying next year so I think it should be OK? Why shouldn't I retake?

30 is a decent score. The average matriculant mcat score for MD schools are 31 (unless that has changed over this last year) whereas that 30 is competitive for DO schools. The risk for retaking the MCAT is that if you score lower it would hurt your chances. The general advice I see given on SDN is that if you score a 30 or above, you should be wary about risking a re-take. If I was in your position, I would apply to both MD and DO schools. You will probably get interviews from DO schools at the very least. I got interviewed at 3/4 DO schools I applied to with my MCAT score of 30 (P/V/B: 11/7/12).

 

[spes93]

30 is a decent score. The average matriculant mcat score for MD schools are 31 (unless that has changed over this last year) whereas that 30 is competitive for DO schools. The risk for retaking the MCAT is that if you score lower it would hurt your chances. The general advice I see given on SDN is that if you score a 30 or above, you should be wary about risking a re-take. If I was in your position, I would apply to both MD and DO schools. You will probably get interviews from DO schools at the very least. I got interviewed at 3/4 DO schools I applied to with my MCAT score of 30 (P/V/B: 11/7/12).

This is something I'll look into independently, but off the bat do you know if a Sep 7 2014 MCAT score will be good for the entire 2017 application cycle, or is there a hard cut-off date where applications reviewed after Sep 7 won't be accepted?

 

[memory tcells]

This is something I'll look into independently, but off the bat do you know if a Sep 7 2014 MCAT score will be good for the entire 2017 application cycle, or is there a hard cut-off date where applications reviewed after Sep 7 won't be accepted?

Good question, I don't know the answer to this. Maybe someone else on the thread can give you an answer.

 

[icw]

This is something I'll look into independently, but off the bat do you know if a Sep 7 2014 MCAT score will be good for the entire 2017 application cycle, or is there a hard cut-off date where applications reviewed after Sep 7 won't be accepted?

Your GPA is fine, I would just apply very broadly.

 

[spes93]

Your GPA is fine, I would just apply very broadly.

Not sure why I'm receiving this feedback. A 3.33 SMP GPA is very not fine.

 

[QueenJames]

Took my MCAT Sept 7 2014 and I'm applying next year so I think it should be OK? Why shouldn't I retake?

I mean if you want to retake the new MCAT than by all means by my guest. I would suggest that you keep that score. They typically are good for 3 years. It's up to you though. You'll be fine for DO programs.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

hmm... yup. That downward trend in the SMP part will certainly be concerning. What is your total cumulative and total sGPA with that SMP added? Also, you may have to check with schools specifically and see what the oldest MCAT they accept.

 

[icw]

Not sure why I'm receiving this feedback. A 3.33 SMP GPA is very not fine.

Well I meant apply broadly to DO schools. MD may be out of question, but as others said above, just apply to state schools. For DO schools, apply broadly and you'll be fine.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Not sure why I'm receiving this feedback. A 3.33 SMP GPA is very not fine.

So you're mad that you aren't completely screwed? Wut? Yeah a 3.3 SMP will most likely not get you into MD but it isn't like you failed it either. You most likely will have to retake the MCAT because yours will most likely be expired, but if you score about the same then you should be good for most DO schools and still have a swinger's chance at your state MD schools depending on your state.

 

[Halcyon45]

Not sure why I'm receiving this feedback. A 3.33 SMP GPA is very not fine.

I think its fine. You have a high MCAT score as well, you should be fine.

 

[memory tcells]

Not sure why I'm receiving this feedback. A 3.33 SMP GPA is very not fine.

Yeah 3.3 is on the lower side, however, your GPA is high enough where most schools won't screen you out so you will at least have a set of human eyes to look over your app. You do have nice extracurriculars and research which may help your application. It will not make up for the GPA but it is an aspect adcoms will look at favorably.

 

[spes93]

hmm... yup. That downward trend in the SMP part will certainly be concerning. What is your total cumulative and total sGPA with that SMP added? Also, you may have to check with schools specifically and see what the oldest MCAT they accept.

With grade replacement my sGPA in undergraduate is 3.52. Combining this undergrad GPA with SMP, my sGPA is 3.44. My combined undergrad and SMP GPA with grade replacement is 3.46.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Taking an SMP when you original had a 3.47 GPA and 30 MCAT, was a bad idea.

You might have shot yourself in the foot because of the SMP for MD schools, but not DO schools. However, MD is not out of the question if you raise your ugGPA. You would need to retake the MCAT also if MD is in the back of your mind.

 

[kamakazi5]

The GPA isn't horrible but I do agree with your concern since an SMP is typically used to show you can handle medical school level courses. Getting a lower GPA than what you got in undergrad, which is already a bit below average may not instill a lot of confidence in adcoms. Hopefully you can get some feedback from one.

 

[Goro]

EDIT: I should have read your post more carefully.

You'd be rejected at my school, but apply broadly and especially target the newest schools. I can't recommend LUCOM.

I really messed up my already underwhelming GPA with my SMP. Is this the last nail in the coffin?

Here are my stats:



MCAT

First take: 30

Re-taking new test this August



Undergraduate:

cGPA: 3.47, sGPA: 3.47

Extracirriculars:

Research

1000+ hours research for 2 years (2 labs, I applied for and received grants for each. published abstracts. 2 research conferences)

Professional experience

Medical assistant (tricky to calculate hours but at least 1000)

Two other irrelevant temporary full time jobs (worked in gym, and for library labelling books)

Grants and awards

Applied for and received 2 grants for research

"Research scholar of the year" at my university for one of the research positions

Scientific writing

2 abstracts

1 peer-reviewed article in a somewhat informal undergraduate journal

Leadership and service

About 100 hours working in a half-way home for mentally ill and homeless, serving lunch

Worked for my college radio station for all 4 years of college. Spent last year as senior producer for one of the radio shows, a science talk show. Well over 1000 hours cumulatively doing work for the station.

120 hours volunteering in a hospital as patient contact volunteer (clinical)

Teaching

Tutored Pre-K through America Reads/America Counts for a year. Ball park, 450 hours.

Conference presentations

Two presentations at undergraduate research conferences

Shadowing

About 100 hours shadowing in a nursing home for wound care doctor

Hobbies

Weight lifting



Graduate/SMP:

cGPA: 3.33 (have not calculated effect on sGPA for both undergraduate and SMP combined, but definitely worsened undergraduate sGPA)

Year of research in very prestigious lab (year of research required by the SMP), wrote but did not publish thesis

 

[spes93]

EDIT: I should have read your post more carefully.

You'd be rejected at my school, but apply broadly and especially target the newest schools. I can't recommend LUCOM.

Thank you for your input. Would you be able to say whether a MCAT retake would be advisable? If I perform well, would that rescue the poor SMP performance at all?

 

[DrMikeP]

I'm not one to sugar coat it, so to be honest you have a snowballs chance at MD. If you don't apply to any you have a zero chance. So what the heck, send in a few MD apps to your state schools. Worse case you've wasted some $$$ and time.

You might have a shot with DO if you apply early and broadly, so get your applications out yesterday!!

 

[Goro]

The MCT isn't the issue; it's the SMP GPA. You needed to ace that and you didn't. At my school, you're in a danger zone for doing poorly.

Thank you for your input. Would you be able to say whether a MCAT retake would be advisable? If I perform well, would that rescue the poor SMP performance at all?

 

[deleted610572]

Don't retake the mcat

 

[spes93]

Don't retake the mcat

According to many schools admissions requirements, my MCAT score will expire next cycle which is when I'll be applying. Sep 7 2014 test for 2017 application cycle I think is not doable.

 

[deleted610572]

According to many schools admissions requirements, my MCAT score will expire next cycle which is when I'll be applying. Sep 7 2014 test for 2017 application cycle I think is not doable.

call the schools you're applying too. Each will have their own thoughts and deadlines