Non-trad with decent academics but old ECs

[PodPeople]

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I was on a pre-med track a long time ago (in my mid 30s now), but life happened and I got pretty far off course, ending up as a software engineer. I don't really have recent extracurriculars to speak of (other than hobbies)... I was in grad school full-time for a while, then working full-time for several years after that, just doing the daily grind. Much of the work as a software engineer was in health tech, though, as I was trying to move back toward medicine. Can anyone weigh in on whether I have a shot this cycle without updating ECs? Here are my details:

CA resident. ORM, but LGBTQ (I don't personally consider that URM... I just know some schools seem to look favorably on LGBTQ applicants from a diversity perspective).

Undergrad: 3.75 GPA / 3.5 sGPA
Grad (research masters at T10 med school): 4.00 GPA
MCAT: avg. AAMC FL was 521; awaiting actual score release on 8/20
Clinical experience: back-office MA for 1.5 years prior to grad school

LORs from the physician I was an MA for, research advisor from grad school, another professor from grad school. Could get strong letters from my tech jobs, if useful.

 

[Faha]

Post your actual MCAT score here when available and I will suggest appropriate schools you can apply to. Have you already submitted your application ?

 

[PodPeople]

Thank you, I will.

Could submit AMCAS/AACOMAS by the end of next week, but without the MCAT score. Would you suggest waiting until 8/20 to submit with my score?

 

[Faha]

You could submit in the next week but only include one school (ie: Kaiser). Your application may be verified by 8/20 or shortly after that date and you can add more schools based on your MCAT score.

 

[PodPeople]

I just got my MCAT score back. Also updated with more accurate GPAs below.

Undergrad: 3.74 cGPA / 3.66 sGPA (BCPM)
Grad: 4.00 GPA (research masters at T5 med school)
Combined undergrad/grad: 3.76 cGPA / 3.76 sGPA
MCAT: 523
Clinical experience: back-office MA for 1.5 years (but this was 7 years ago)

@Faha @Goro I'd love your advice on a school list. I've decided to wait and apply next cycle. In the meantime, I'll be adding volunteering at a crisis hotline ~4 hrs/wk, and updating clinical experience (hopefully a lot of primary care shadowing).

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
All the UC's
USC Keck
Kaiser
California University
Washington University
Northwestern
U Chicago
Vanderbilt
Duke
Case Western
Cincinnati
UVA
U Michigan
Pittsburgh
Rochester
NYU
Cornell
Columbia
Mount Sinai
Einstein
Yale
Harvard
Boston University
Brown
Accumulate 50 hours of physician shadowing (including primary care) and 200 hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact.

 

[PodPeople]

Thank you! That's very helpful.

@Goro are there any suggestions you'd add?

 

[candbgirl]

What’s back office MA? Sounds to me like almost no direct patient contact but lots of paperwork.

Did you submit your primary 3 weeks ago? Are you verified?

 

[PodPeople]

@candbgirl back office medical assistants do direct patient care - vitals, brief history (reason for visit, current meds), injections, etc. The clinic I was at had a lot of allergy and asthma patients, so I did *tons* of immunotherapy injections, nebulizer treatments, spirometry, allergy tests. Front office work is more adminstrative/clerical. The terms are a little confusing sometimes.

I did not submit my primary. I've decided to wait until next cycle to have a stronger application.

 

[candbgirl]

Thanks for explaining. Be sure to explain on your app too. Smart to wait a cycle. Good luck.

 

[Goro]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
All the UC's
USC Keck
Kaiser
California University
Washington University
Northwestern
U Chicago
Vanderbilt
Duke
Case Western
Cincinnati
UVA
U Michigan
Pittsburgh
Rochester
NYU
Cornell
Columbia
Mount Sinai
Einstein
Yale
Harvard
Boston University
Brown
Accumulate 50 hours of physician shadowing (including primary care) and 200 hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact.

Agree with Faha but now you have to get in the ECs.

 

[PodPeople]

thank you!