Non-trad veteran question

[veteran82]

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Hi everyone,

I am a pre-med student who is in my senior year as an undergrad, with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a minor in Clinical Research and General Science. As the title says, I am an Army veteran, and the reason that I am reaching out is because I have a weird situation and need help seeing where I stand. So when I was on active duty, I completed an Associate of Arts degree with a 2.0 GPA online since I was only doing it for promotion points (IYKYK). Since then I left the military and worked other jobs and then went back to school where I currently have a 3.8 GPA at my school and an overall science GPA of 3.7. Obviously, there is an upward trend with my GPA and I foresee myself getting my cGPA up to 3.15-3.2 with a rise in my science GPA as well. What I am wondering along with my other experiences and a good MCAT which I haven't taken yet. What are my chances of matriculating without a post-bacc or SMP? A post bacc would be difficult since all of my science and math classes were taken at my undergrad institution, and all have A's except for one. I am posting the rest of my stats below for completeness.

1. MCAT score(s) and breakdown: havent taken yet will be in the process
2. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): NC but from TX so I could make either one work
3. Ethnicity and/or race: White
4. Undergraduate institution or category: middle to lower private christian university that has their own DO program and various other health programs but just an average university otherwise
5. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer): 2,100 hours working as an Emergency Room Technician, 7 months as a fulltime firefighter/advanced-emt, 36 hours at a low-income clinic
6. Research experience and productivity: Currently working on a first-author publication about health education disparities in diabetes patients, will be presenting at a national primary care conference soon.
7. Shadowing experience and specialties represented: 30 hours with ER D.O., 20 hours with family med M.D., 36 hours with Cardiology PA, 30 hours with Orthopedic PA.
8. Non-clinical volunteering: 682 hours of volunteer firefighting, 60 hours doing events as part of a disabled veterans organization, 12 hours where I and others taught P.A.'s mass casualty care and triage
9. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc): 4 years active military, 4 years National Guard got out as a Sergeant so there is leadership experience
10. Relevant honors or awards: Multiple Dean's List awards and one president's list, research fellowship
11. Anything else not listed you think might be important: I did get skin cancer when I worked for the FD and that ended with me leaving the FD and got me back on this path so that would be a compelling part of my personal statement. I also have many other experiences to put into my PS to make it interesting.

Any help or advice is really appreciated and I will answer any questions below!

 

[AJS59]

Thank you for service!

It would be useful to know what your end target science GPA is/will be. I think you generally have the markings of a decent app in the non-academic areas and you would certainly have some unique stories to tell from time in the Army.

For now, my best advice would be to focus on your studies and get more volunteering where you can. If you do well enough on the MCAT, I think you'll get a fair shake from a good variety of schools.

 

[LindaAccepted]

A lot will depend on your MCAT. I'd suggest you repost a WAMC when you have that, but if you have a competitive MCAT for the MD schools you target, I think you still have a chance without doing a post-bac. At the same time, apply DO as well as MD, to minimize the chance that you'll need to reapply. Finally, unless your experience included service to the underserved, volunteer in a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or something similar.

 

[veteran82]

Thank you for service!

It would be useful to know what your end target science GPA is/will be. I think you generally have the markings of a decent app in the non-academic areas and you would certainly have some unique stories to tell from time in the Army.

For now, my best advice would be to focus on your studies and get more volunteering where you can. If you do well enough on the MCAT, I think you'll get a fair shake from a good variety of schools.

By my calculations, I can get my BCPM up to a 3.8 with some extra classes. Right now just science is sitting at 3.9

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I agree that you should show your academic chops are now ready for medical school. Keep pushing on that side.

What is your purpose as a physician? Do you want to return to military medicine? What is your ambition/mission?

 

[11BtoMD]

I had a 0.7 GPA my freshman year before the Army, and a 3.8 GPA in my classes post Army. Ended up being about a 3.2 GPA combined. I currently am sitting at 11 interviews with 5 Acceptances for DO schools, not much MD love but my MCAT was pretty mid. I also have similar experiences as an ED Tech and in Veteran Service Orgs. PM me with any more specific questions but I think you have a solid chance with decent writing and LORs

 

[MusicDOc124]

A lot will depend on the MCAT and your story. The grades and scores are still needed. The benefits for vets are when you've already gotten the interviews in which your experience will stand out at that point.

 

[chssoccer7]

I had a 0.7 GPA my freshman year before the Army, and a 3.8 GPA in my classes post Army. Ended up being about a 3.2 GPA combined. I currently am sitting at 11 interviews with 5 Acceptances for DO schools, not much MD love but my MCAT was pretty mid. I also have similar experiences as an ED Tech and in Veteran Service Orgs. PM me with any more specific questions but I think you have a solid chance with decent writing and LORs

Very similar to this poster, I had a 1.7 my freshman year before joining the Navy and near 4.0 after I got out of the Navy. My MCAT was also aggressively mid, but during my cycle I applied MD only and got 5 interviews, 2 A's. I specifically addressed my poor start to college in my personal statement and what I learned from it, it wasn't brought up a single time. As long as you prove that the you of then is not the you of now, I think most generally understand the plight of being an immature young adult- especially one who then joined the military and likely learned the discipline and willpower to no longer be an immature young adult. Just get into the interview and shine because most of your stories are going to be far better than the typical traditional applicant who the admission committees have heard a million times.