Need some advice on my options/chances

[Pressedfortime]

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Hi everyone,

I've been a lurker for awhile but haven't had the chance (or the scores) to apply to medical school until now. I've taken a somewhat crooked path to medical school. I have an undergrad gpa of 3.62 but I have taken the MCAT 3 times. The first time I took it was about six years ago. I got a 24 (7 VR, 8 PS, 9 BS). A year later I got retook and got a 26 (9, 8, 9). Both times I took the test I had bad test anxiety and there were times when I just sat there rereading passages because I couldn't calm myself down. I was really discouraged after receiving my score and I decided to take a break from attempting to go to medical school.

I instead ended up getting a Master of Arts and later went to law school. During law school I got involved with a bunch of healthcare related internships and decided that I could give medical school another try. This time I finally managed to get a 30 (11, 11, 8). I've decided to apply this cycle but I'm wondering what you think about my multiple MCATs and lower GPA. I'm willing to apply broadly and to DO schools but I'd prefer to attend an allopathic school. Is an allopathic school out of my reach? I've even thought about taking my MCAT another time as I feel I can improve on that 8. I took it right before my law school finals so I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to practice for it. I've listed my ECs below.

Extracurriculars:

Research work in a lab at a Medical school. I was a grant recipient for my project and had to do a poster presentation as well.
Paid position at a different lab at the same Medical school
Participated in medical training trip abroad

Volunteer work at ERs in several hospitals
Volunteer in Legal clinics specifically geared toward healthcare issues

Board member on several student organizations at my law school
President of a student group at my undergrad
Board member at an Honor Society at my undergrad

Worked for 1 year in China at an International School teaching English while doing my Masters

Sorry this is super long. Thanks for reading!

 

[gyngyn]

Can you describe (briefly) your clinical experience, state of residence and your list?

 

[Pressedfortime]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I'm a CA resident but I believe I can qualify as NV resident under their special consideration for people who went to high school there.

Clinical Experience:

Shadowed a pathologist for roughly 20 hours.
Participated in a week long medical training trip to South America where students assisted MDs with treating indigent patients for common diseases.
Volunteered in ERs at hospitals throughout undergrad (I would estimate roughly around 200 hours).
I have separate experience working with healthcare clients in legal clinics assisting them with getting aid from medicaid and medicare and with disputes but I'm not sure if that counts.


Current List:

UCR
UCI
University of Nevada, Reno
Florida International University
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Commonwealth Medical College
Joan C Edwards
George Washington School of Medicine
Cooper Medical School Rowan, NJ
University of Central Florida
University of Washington School of Medicine
Temple School of Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Uniformed Services of Health Sciences (I know about the 7 year service req. and would be willing)
Vermont College of Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth School of Medicine
Florida College of Medicine
Rush University
Touro (Nevada, NY and CA)

 

[gyngyn]

Off the top you can delete the U of WA. Do you have a validated commitment to service in the Inland Empire? GW is pretty low yield.

Might as well apply to both AZ schools.

 

[Pressedfortime]

No, unfortunately the closest I've gotten to that area is Irvine (for Masters degree) and downtown LA (summer externship). I have more connections to Norcal but the numbers for those schools look out of my range...I'll definitely look into the other AZ school.

I also forgot to add Loma Linda up there.

 

[gyngyn]

I also forgot to add Loma Linda up there.

Do you live up to the abstinence policies?

 

[Pressedfortime]

I can live up to them so that shouldn't be a problem and I have some religious background. I don't think it's enough for set me apart or anything though.

Do you think MD is a good shot or should I expand my DO list? I know I haven't added a lot of DO schools but that's mainly because I haven't shadowed any DO physicians so I'll have to find someone to shadow and get a LOR from before it gets too late in the DO cycle.

 

[gyngyn]

Do you think MD is a good shot or should I expand my DO list? I know I haven't added a lot of DO schools but that's mainly because I haven't shadowed any DO physicians so I'll have to find someone to shadow and get a LOR from before it gets too late in the DO cycle.

Your chances at MD are only fair. You are likely to get into DO, though.
Did you practice law?

 

[Pressedfortime]

No, I just recently graduated but I was hoping to find a job either in law or as as a scribe after interviews/secondaries was over. If I don't get in this cycle would reapplying next year with additional clinical experience and a MCAT retake my chances with MD? I was thinking of retaking the MCAT again. I know taking it 4 times is viewed negatively but 1 of my scores is expired now.

 

[gyngyn]

No, I just recently graduated but I was hoping to find a job either in law or as as a scribe after interviews/secondaries was over. If I don't get in this cycle would reapplying next year with additional clinical experience and a MCAT retake my chances with MD? I was thinking of retaking the MCAT again. I know taking it 4 times is viewed negatively but 1 of my scores is expired now.

All MCAT scores after 2003, though not be usable, are always visible. They only expire in the sense that schools may require more recent scores.

I actually think taking and passing the bar would be value added to your application, though it's not likely what you want to hear right now.

 

[Pressedfortime]

Hahaha I'm actually studying for the bar concurrently right now so I guess I'm on the way to improving my application already. Thank you so much for your help!