Nontraditional applicant; what are my chances and how can I improve?

[ChrisMack390]

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I am 2 years out of college. While I was in college I didn't think I had any interest in medicine and therefore didn't spend my time prepping the way a prospective med student should. However, I don't think I am in terrible shape. Here are some of my stats:

- Northeastern University, major Biology minor International Affairs
- GPA = 3.5 overall; 3.3 math and science
- Since graduating in April 2013, I have been working in clinical research at a major cancer institute, which has afforded me quite a bit of hands on clinic experience and the opportunity to shadow oncologists as frequently as I want
- I have a bit of research experience; published 1 paper in undergrad in the field of entomology/immunology (related to the immune defenses of ant colonies); also worked in immunology at a biotech company for 2 summers
- Volunteer experience: my last year of college I did Peer Health Exchange (taught health courses in lower income high schools); currently I volunteer in a day shelter for the homeless in my city where I cook meals and help distribute clothing
- Graduate school: I am currently enrolled in the Harvard Extension School as a masters degree candidate with a concentration in Biology. Current GPA is a 3.9. I am also going to have to a research thesis, which I will make sure is medically relevant

I only recently began studying for the MCAT. I took a practice test absolutely cold and got a 26 on the old scale (and 10 on the psych section). I then did a first pass content review and boosted that to a 30 (plus an 11 on the psych).

I hope to apply in summer/autumn 2016 and enter medical school in autumn 2017. How am I looking so far? What can I do now to improve my chances? I feel pretty confident, but would love to maximize my prospects and have another year or so before my life gets hectic with applications and thesis research.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Catalystik]

I am 2 years out of college. While I was in college I didn't think I had any interest in medicine and therefore didn't spend my time prepping the way a prospective med student should. However, I don't think I am in terrible shape. Here are some of my stats:

- Northeastern University, major Biology minor International Affairs
- GPA = 3.5 overall; 3.3 math and science
- Since graduating in April 2013, I have been working in clinical research at a major cancer institute, which has afforded me quite a bit of hands on clinic experience and the opportunity to shadow oncologists as frequently as I want
- I have a bit of research experience; published 1 paper in undergrad in the field of entomology/immunology (related to the immune defenses of ant colonies); also worked in immunology at a biotech company for 2 summers
- Volunteer experience: my last year of college I did Peer Health Exchange (taught health courses in lower income high schools); currently I volunteer in a day shelter for the homeless in my city where I cook meals and help distribute clothing
- Graduate school: I am currently enrolled in the Harvard Extension School as a masters degree candidate with a concentration in Biology. Current GPA is a 3.9. I am also going to have to a research thesis, which I will make sure is medically relevant

I only recently began studying for the MCAT. I took a practice test absolutely cold and got a 26 on the old scale (and 10 on the psych section). I then did a first pass content review and boosted that to a 30 (plus an 11 on the psych).

I hope to apply in summer/autumn 2016 and enter medical school in autumn 2017. How am I looking so far? What can I do now to improve my chances? I feel pretty confident, but would love to maximize my prospects and have another year or so before my life gets hectic with applications and thesis research.

Thanks everyone!!

Your Experiences look to be good. You might add some peer leadership is an opportunity comes along. You could also consider some dedicated primary care shadowing.

You look fine stats-wise for DO school applications, but I have a concern if your primary goal is an MD school due to your lowish undergrad stats. Many med schools will not much regard a traditional grad school GPA, as they are widely assumed to be grade inflated. If you do not already have a significant upward grade trend in the undergrad sciences during junior and senior year, you might consider adding some upper-level Bio/Biochem undergrad courses which are not required for your Biology masters, as you could then categorize them as Postbaccalaureate (which is displayed on a separate line on the application and included in the cumulative undergrad cGPA and BCPM GPAs).

 

[ChrisMack390]

I actually did get straight A's both semesters senior year of college, so that may help 🙂

Any ideas on how to get leadership experience after college? I think my boss will right me a great letter of recommendation and mention leadership qualities around the office, but I wouldn't mind backing that up with another solid experience somehow...

 

[Catalystik]

1) I actually did get straight A's both semesters senior year of college, so that may help 🙂

2) Any ideas on how to get leadership experience after college? I think my boss will right me a great letter of recommendation and mention leadership qualities around the office, but I wouldn't mind backing that up with another solid experience somehow...

1) 👍

2) Perhaps you could take on an organizational (personal items or clothing donation drive?), recruitment, or committee position at the day shelter? See a need and act to meet it by delegating tasks and being responsible for the overall effort.

 

[Doug Underhill]

We can't say anything about your chances without a MCAT score, but lots of people have gotten in with a 3.5 after they did well on the MCAT. You want to be scoring 33 (90th percentile) or so with a 3.5.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Definitely, and I know I'll need to score as highly on my MCAT as possible. Mostly I just want to see what else I can do to help redeem my lower college GPA in the mean time.

 

[ChrisMack390]

New good news! A few weeks back I applied to volunteer at a hospital/correctional facility. This is the hospital that serves as the primary medical center for inmates of the state prison system.

Today they got back to me and want me to have a TB test and background check tomorrow afternoon. This should lead to some interesting experiences and possible shadowing opportunities, I'm super excited!

 

[Catalystik]

Congrats!

 

[ChrisMack390]

Hey Cat, just curious - I saw some other posts from you in a thread about how a select list of schools do specifically look at grad GPA, either by combining it with uGPA or in rarer cases even explicitly looking at gGPA alone if you have enough recent credits.

Assuming I score decently on the MCAT, I would expect to be in pretty decent standing for one of those, yes?

EDIT: I don't mean to come off as lazy or as ignoring your advice, but honestly I am paying for my graduate program out of pocket and really cannot afford additional coursework beyond that.

 

[claduva94]

Hey Cat, just curious - I saw some other posts from you in a thread about how a select list of schools do specifically look at grad GPA, either by combining it with uGPA or in rarer cases even explicitly looking at gGPA alone if you have enough recent credits.

Assuming I score decently on the MCAT, I would expect to be in pretty decent standing for one of those, yes?

EDIT: I don't mean to come off as lazy or as ignoring your advice, but honestly I am paying for my graduate program out of pocket and really cannot afford additional coursework beyond that.

Typically no because grad classes have a much higher GPA. You are expected to do well in them. The main exception would be an SMP, which often have linkages to medical schools and that, if you knock it out of the park, will give you a pretty good shot.

 

[Catalystik]

Hey Cat, just curious - I saw some other posts from you in a thread about how a select list of schools do specifically look at grad GPA, either by combining it with uGPA or in rarer cases even explicitly looking at gGPA alone if you have enough recent credits.

Assuming I score decently on the MCAT, I would expect to be in pretty decent standing for one of those, yes?

If you applied to those schools with a 33+ MCAT score, your chances would be better than generally predicted.

 

[Catalystik]

Typically no because grad classes have a much higher GPA. You are expected to do well in them. The main exception would be an SMP, which often have linkages to medical schools and that, if you knock it out of the park, will give you a pretty good shot.

The thread OP refers to discusses the few exceptions to the general rule:
Schools considering traditional Grad level GPA: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...t-actually-matter.796298/page-3#post-10786521

 

[claduva94]

The thread OP refers to discusses the few exceptions to the general rule:
Schools considering traditional Grad level GPA: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...t-actually-matter.796298/page-3#post-10786521

Ah ok! My bad then.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Yup, that's exactly what I was referencing. It seems that UMDNJ will even go so far as to entirely replace a uGPA with a gGPA. I am going to have to call to confirm, but if that is really the case I will have to report NJ as my home state and apply there for sure (I went to high school in NJ and my whole family is there, should be no problem).

 

[Catalystik]

Yup, that's exactly what I was referencing. It seems that UMDNJ will even go so far as to entirely replace a uGPA with a gGPA. I am going to have to call to confirm, but if that is really the case I will have to report NJ as my home state and apply there for sure (I went to high school in NJ and my whole family is there, should be no problem).

You might consider posting an updated list there including the more recent suggestions and anything else you discover. 😉 BTW, the original poster got into two of the mentioned schools.

 

[ChrisMack390]

I will do that when I am able to! What I have right now is basically just what was listed there + Tufts Med.

My plan is to make a giant list of all of the schools I would be remotely interested in going to, then spending basically an entire day calling each admissions committee and asking how they feel about grad school transcripts. Certainly there will be some that don't particularly pay attention to them, and unless I REALLY want to reach for that particular school, I will have to cross it off. Others will combine the GPAs or even disregard the uGPA, and they will move to the top of my list.

SDN has helped me a great deal, so of course I will share the info I get!