Need some advice: GPA 3.4 MCAT 513

[roxasblade]

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Hi Everyone,
I currently have a cGPA of 3.4 and sGPA of 3.3 and a MCAT of 513 128/128/128/129 and need advice on what path I should pursue.
GPA
My undergraduate GPA from UC Santa Cruz was a 3.2 GPA.
-However, I did a informal post bacc, where the last 2 years I've taken 66.5 units at UCI extension and Community college I got a 4.0. Some of the classes were upper division biology classes and prerequisites (Immunology/Heme, Molecular Pharm I, Pathophys, Neurobiology, Physics III), but others were retakes (Ochem II, Genetics, Physics I, Molecular Biology).
Extra Curricular Activities
-350 hours Hospital Volunteer ER and IM
-100 hours of Shadowing Primary Care (Both DO and MD) and 50 hours Shadowing ER
-480 hours of EMT-B
-400 hours of non-clinical volunteering (Habitat for humanity, Soup kitchen, Surfrider foundation Beach Cleanups, and Exhibit Guide for a Marine Center)
-150 hours of paid tutoring for AVID
-Just starting Research < 20 hours

I'm really NOT opposed about going to a D.O. school because I do like the philosophy, but I really want to have a decent opportunity to get a into an EM or Surgical specialty and practice in California, Florida, or New york. I guess I'm unsure if having a D.O. in the middle of the US will affect my chances for residency in the the states I just mentioned.
If apply this cycle for M.D/ D.O., should I just take D.O. acceptance even if I can't get accepted to Western, Touro, NYIT, or NOVA or any MD school, or should I take another gap year and take 40 more upper division biology units at UCI, so that I would have a 3.5 GPA, extended research, more EMT hours, then apply to MD programs and reapply to the selected D.O. programs?
(I was considering SMP, but I feel like DIY would be more beneficial for me financially, flexibility, and the ability to stay in orange county and NOT have to move to a random place like Georgetown for the SMP)

 

[mistafab]

DO will get you to where you want to be. EM and Gen surg are 100% possible, just get good scores on your exams. With the low GPA I'd apply broadly and intelligently to both MD and DO.

 

[libertyyne]

What state are you from? ORM/urm? Any other MCATs? EM and gen surgery is totally DOable ,but I wouldn't hold my breath for the exact location you want.

 

[Dr.Sticks]

OP also has a very strong upper trend of 4.0 for 2 years, I think could be positioned as a point or two over actual cGPA/sGPA (ie more like a 3.5 student)

sGPA, MCAT, and grade trends are the top 3 factors that adcoms consider. Also needs a very well written and compelling PS to get that interview

So a student who gets straight C grades freshman year, then gets 4.0 the remainder of the college career and ends up with say a 3.55-3.6 is seen as a 4.0 student?

I would take a 2nd gap year OP, just for more research, more volunteer hours, and a 3.5.
The biggest bonus would be more research and more volunteer hours from how I see it.

 

[roxasblade]

What state are you from? ORM/urm? Any other MCATs? EM and gen surgery is totally DOable ,but I wouldn't hold my breath for the exact location you want.

I'm from California,
ORM Asian.Yeah, I know, Asians got it tough, but at least that is my only MCAT score.
So would it be beneficial for me to do another gap year, if I don't get in to those D.O. schools this cycle?

 

[Dochopeful13]

I'm from California,
ORM Asian.Yeah, I know, Asians got it tough, but at least that is my only MCAT score.
So would it be beneficial for me to do another gap year, if I don't get in to those D.O. schools this cycle?

Dude with a 3.4 513 you will definitely get into a DO school. Don't do another gap year.

 

[AlmondCroissant]

@gonnif What about applicants who don't show that trend? For example, I have 3.5 cGPA 3.2 sGPA 513 MCAT, V shape trend where I have been slowly going downhill from freshman to junior year until I went uphill in senior year? Would is still be okay for DO schools?

 

[MareNostrummm]

I'm from California,
ORM Asian.Yeah, I know, Asians got it tough, but at least that is my only MCAT score.
So would it be beneficial for me to do another gap year, if I don't get in to those D.O. schools this cycle?

You have a 90th percentile MCAT and a near average GPA for DO schools (~3.5).. I am pretty sure you have a chance at getting interviews for those DO schools you listed if you apply this cycle.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

As I said in my original post, they could be positioned as with a point or two over their actual GPA. This is how I have dealt with hundreds of nontrads over the past 20 years, those who start with poor college records and then do well in later college years or in postbacc. I have sent many people with below 3.4 overall but with 3.7+ for 2 years or in postbacc to top schools. My "star" from a year or two ago had a 3.1 overall all and turned acceptances to Mayo, Sinai, and Dartmouth. Her horrible original college work was offset by fantastic later work.

And wouldn't someone with C's as a freshman than all 4.0 work be evidence that they are really a top achiever? It is rather common to see applicants with mediocre to poor freshman years to excel later. This is the issue with applicants who focus on a single number with looking at their overall application and how to present it with a coherent, concise, and compelling narrative showing a strong pattern of motivation, commitment and achievement. For anyone with a significant grade trend, the pattern to show is continuing improvement because of your motivation and commitment to be a physician.

Did they have unusual/stellar ECs like military service, Peace Corps, or Teach for America?

 

[Walter Raleigh]

No military, no Peace Corps, No Teach for America, No major volunteer service, but a compelling life story. I guess some people have all the luck living by herself on the streets as a late teen instead of an Ivory education

My condolences for her story; that is a compelling life story. Hope she's doing better!