Might be screened out of MD

[Anicetus]

---

Members do not see this ad.

cGPA: 3.6
sGPA: 3.75
MCAT: 31Q(14/6/11), First MCAT was 27(10/6/11)
CA resident so I don't have any safety in-state schools.

PLETHORA of EC's including a couple president positions for sports clubs/medicine abroad clubs, a year of research, and hospital volunteering/shadowing an MD. I didn't save the world or cure cancer, however. I did not shadow a DO, but am in the process of trying to.

LOR: 2 science, 1 nonscience, 1 research, 1 professor I TAed for, 1 MD, No DO letter.

I was told I would be screened out with my 6 from MD's. However I emailed a bunch of MD schools and some said they do not screen out while some have said that my 6 in VR will put me at a disadvantage. I am aware my chances at MD are extremely slim, however I know it is not IMPOSSIBLE because I know someone who got into a private MD school with a 28 (12/6/12). I know this is only n=1.

I have thought about taking the MCAT for a third score, but I already took a year off to increase verbal ( did EK101 twice, every practice TPR/AAMC exams twice, TPR VR practice, Kaplan VR practice, and the online practice passages. I had well over 300 passages completed). Unfortunately, it could not show up on the exam day for the second time. I have decided after a bunch of unfortunate experiences at home that I am just going to go for it this June and move on with my life. Please don't post tips on VR. Trust me, I have looked and tried them all.

Can someone perhaps give me a list of the low-tier MD's? I looked through MSAR, but I am not sure what people consider the low-tier MDs that I should apply to. If someone could supply me with a list of the more "forgiving" MD's, that would be appreciated.

Also could someone chance me for the DO schools: Western-COMP, Touro-CA, NOVA-NSU, UNECOM, PCOM, CCOM, MSUCOM and LECOM-bradenton(this may require a DO letter, I am not totally sure)? Those are my favorite DO schools I have looked into.

Thank you so much.

 

[hallowmann]

Adjust the "might be screened out" to will be screened out. Unless you can get >7 on all sections, you don't have a real shot at MD, because of the post-secondary screening. A human might never see your app.

For that anecdotal guy, did he have any connections? Did he have any real state schools? You'd be surprised what having a connection with a faculty member/preceptor can do for a below average app. Plus, my experience has been that those people that have connections, usually don't talk about it. An app with a minor flaw that would normally be screened could easily be pulled by the right person (e.g. an adcom member, dean, etc.). Also, a 12/6/12 is a 30, not a 28.

As far as MD schools, look for schools that take a LOT of OOS residents and have the lowest average MCAT scores. Your best bet is to talk to faculty/staff at a MD school to get advice and see if you can get any connections that way. That or maybe contact an alum from one of those lower tier schools. If you can get a sit down with the Dean or something, that could really help (provided you are charismatic).

Even as it stands some DO programs might screen you out with a 6 subsection score, but if you apply early and broadly, you should do fine for them.

As far as the DO letter goes, you should get one. While the only school on your list that explicitly requires one is LECOM-B, a number strongly recommend one, including COMP, CCOM, UNECOM, and PCOM. That's more than half of your schools that require/strongly recommend a DO letter. Given that its usually really easy to get a DO letter (a few days of shadowing usually gets you one), it wouldn't make sense for you to neglect it.

 

[Anicetus]

Thanks for the reply. No, my friend did not have any connections with his 12/6/12. It wasn't an in state school and apparently the school just wanted to see what was up with him for hitting 30 but still having a 6 in VR. They accepted him anyway. I realize this is super rare, but I'd rather apply this cycle and at least try for the lowest tier MDs.

At this point in my life I just want to move forward and take any acceptance I can. I am trying with the DO docs but they don't seem to be very friendly to me, haha. I'll still try to seek out docs in the hospital I volunteer in. I think there are 3 DOs there.