Non trad chances help

[sahra39]

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Hi everyone. I’m looking for some help and recommendations for my possible options. I graduated with a BS in Psychology in May of 2018. I took the mcat after graduation in July and received a 501 on the exam. It was the first time I had taken it with only one month of prep. I decided to put off applying to medical school and started working full time and was planning on retaking the mcat and applying in 2019 but my dad had a heart attack that year and I didn’t feel like I would be focused enough to apply and go to medical school until he was healthy again. So I spent the last year working full time as a health aide while also taking care of my dad. I helped him recover and also got him to have a healthy lifestyle and got him to become a controlled diabetic. I am now trying to apply to medical school for the upcoming cycle but am afraid schools will not like that I’ve been out of school for three years (including the year I apply). I would really appreciate any advice on what to do and if you think I would be a good candidate for MD schools. I’m thinking of doing post bacc (not a course but classes) at my undergrad college for the 2020-2021 year by taking classes like Micro, Genetics, Cell Bio, etc.

Stats:
cGPA: 3.70
sGPA: 3.5
Research: 1.5 year of oncology research with no publication (01/2018 -06/2019)
Clinical exposure: 500 hrs of ER over 2 yrs, 150 of derm, 150 of FM (2019-2020)

ECs: Tutor for young Inpatients, Pres and VP for 3 clubs during undergrad, tennis team for 1 season, volunteered at a Senior Nursing home for 1 yr, volunteered at a hydroponic farming system at an underserved middle school for 3 summers

Ethnicity: Asian
State: NY

 

[deleted859689]

Around 25% of applicants with your GPA/MCAT Matriculated.

https://www.aamc.org/system/files/2019-11/2019_FACTS_Table_A-23.pdf

I would do the post-bac route, study for the MCAT, and get more non-clinical volunteering in underserved communities. Essentially apply 2021 with 4.0, > 512 MCAT, and better ECs. This is what I would do, and sounds reasonable to me given your current chances.

 

[DO_or_Die]

Apply DO if you are willing. I had a 502 MCAT, and received 3 A's to DO schools, including 2 "top" DO schools. You can still be a physician with a 501, but I would count MD out.

 

[FutureSurgical]

Honestly, I think your GPA is okay enough to not have to take more classes FT or anything like that. If you want, take a bio/chem class when not working.

If you do go the post-bacc route, make sure to get a 3.7+ minimum. If you can, study for the MCAT again. Your GPA isn't holding you back from DO schools or some MD schools either.

 

[Ell19]

I applied 3 years after I graduated with a BS in psych, with a 504 and 3.5 GPAs and was accepted DO. Your MCAT is lethal for MD, you would need at least a 508-510 on a re-take. but you are fine for DO right now

 

[Btech305]

Honestly, I think your GPA is okay enough to not have to take more classes FT or anything like that. If you want, take a bio/chem class when not working.

If you do go the post-bacc route, make sure to get a 3.7+ minimum. If you can, study for the MCAT again. Your GPA isn't holding you back from DO schools or some MD schools either.

I completely agree with the above poster that your GPA is fine and you don't have to take more classes (unless you feel like taking a class or two would help in better prepping for your mcat retake). It seems like you've stayed relatively busy/productive in your gap years and also have a significant life event that can make for a compelling story in your essays. Have you been involved in any non-clinical volunteering? You didn't really specify if your ECs are current or in the past. If current, awesome -- do well on the MCAT and I think you're in good shape. If not, get more non-clinical volunteering hours, do well on the MCAT, and you're in good shape.

p.s I'm also a non-trad (4+ years out of undergrad) and being non-trad seems more favorable these days; It's definitely helped me much more this cycle than hurt