Post bacc advice for URM

[Ddude122]

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Hey guys I was wondering if I could get some advice as of now I was thinking either DO or MD post baccs any help and ideas is apreciated thanks guys!
was thinking: UC Post baccs
Sfsu post bacc
Ucsd post bacc
Vcom and other DO post baccs, any other ideas? thanks!!


CA resident
My stats: cgpa:3.06
Sgpa:3.2
DO cgpa: 3.2
DO sgpa 3.4
URM Hispanic immigrant
Last semester was 3.6, this semesrer was about 3.8 Of all upper div bio and biochem
really the only bad part of my grades were the first GEs in college until i "figured it out"
No mcat yet

Ecs
Worked construction all 5 years of college to help sustain myself and help family (40-50hr wks) Leadership position since year one
200 Hrs of hospital volunteer 150 in cardiology
20hrs Clinical shadowing experience at my school where i got to shadow physicians and even take vitals of patients.
currently volunteering in Animal shelter
Currently volunteering in MEND an organization for homeless people
7 Months of undergrad research of embryonic cancer development
Member for 1 year for Chicanos community medicine

 

[femmegoblue]

Are you of Mexican descent? Just asking, as all individuals of Hispanic heritage are not considered URM. Though you mention you volunteered with a Chicano org, so I am going to assume for the purposes of this post you are Mexican-American.

TBH, with a solid (504+) MCAT, I think you'll get a lot of love from DO's without any post bacc work. Plus you have a nice upward trend.

 

[Ddude122]

Are you of Mexican descent? Just asking, as all individuals of Hispanic heritage are not considered URM. Though you mention you volunteered with a Chicano org, so I am going to assume for the purposes of this post you are Mexican-American.

TBH, with a solid (504+) MCAT, I think you'll get a lot of love from DO's without any post bacc work. Plus you have a nice upward trend.

I am mexican born naturalized american, ,Wow those are some reassuring words I was expecting much worse lol, if its not
to much to ask how strong or weak do you see my ECs

 

[femmegoblue]

Well, you are lacking a bit in shadowing. You could always make the case that something like this (below) is not something most students have to deal with, so I believe AdCom's will see that and perhaps understand why some Ec's are lacking. Overall they are solid EC's, average likely. And it always helps to show you give back to the community you are apart of when you are applying URM, so you have that going for you as well!

"Worked construction all 5 years of college to help sustain myself and help family (40-50hr wks)"

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Honestly if you are fine with DO then I would study and take the MCAT and not worry about a post-bac. Get a 505+ and you would be good for a lot of DO schools, even some of the better ones with that URM status

 

[Ddude122]

Thank you all for your replies this is actually the first time anyone sees my stats so I really apreciate all the help!

 

[DrMikeP]

Your scores are on the lower side for the more competitive DO schools. Are there any D's or F's you could easily retake to bump up your gpa a bit or even a lot? DO is retake friendly, even if you retook courses at a community college. If you are applying next year and have time it could make you even more competitive, but being an urm it might not be necessary if you nail the MCAT (a lot rides on that).

Your scores are really weak for a MD, so contact some of the MD med schools you think you would be interested in and speak with their minority admissions people and see what they say. They would give you specifics on what they would need for you to accomplish to be admitted to their programs better than any of us.

Unless you are dead set on going the MD route and formal post bac is the only option I wouldn't put the energy into a formal post bac, as you have a good shot at DO now and don't want to risk messing it up if you don't need to.

CA is a tough state for competition so I'd recommend applying early and broadly. Depending on when you are planning on taking the MCAT you might be late in this cycle for applying. Don't rush the MCAT just to apply though, as a bad score could serious hinder your opportunities!

Best of Luck!

Hey guys I was wondering if I could get some advice as of now I was thinking either DO or MD post baccs any help and ideas is apreciated thanks guys!
was thinking: UC Post baccs
Sfsu post bacc
Ucsd post bacc
Vcom and other DO post baccs, any other ideas? thanks!!


CA resident
My stats: cgpa:3.06
Sgpa:3.2
DO cgpa: 3.2
DO sgpa 3.4
URM Hispanic immigrant
Last semester was 3.6, this semesrer was about 3.8 Of all upper div bio and biochem
really the only bad part of my grades were the first GEs in college until i "figured it out"
No mcat yet

Ecs
Worked construction all 5 years of college to help sustain myself and help family (40-50hr wks) Leadership position since year one
200 Hrs of hospital volunteer 150 in cardiology
20hrs Clinical shadowing experience at my school where i got to shadow physicians and even take vitals of patients.
currently volunteering in Animal shelter
Currently volunteering in MEND an organization for homeless people
7 Months of undergrad research of embryonic cancer development
Member for 1 year for Chicanos community medicine

 

[Ddude122]

Your scores are on the lower side for the more competitive DO schools. Are there any D's or F's you could easily retake to bump up your gpa a bit or even a lot? DO is retake friendly, even if you retook courses at a community college. If you are applying next year and have time it could make you even more competitive, but being an urm it might not be necessary if you nail the MCAT (a lot rides on that).

Your scores are really weak for a MD, so contact some of the MD med schools you think you would be interested in and speak with their minority admissions people and see what they say. They would give you specifics on what they would need for you to accomplish to be admitted to their programs better than any of us.

Unless you are dead set on going the MD route and formal post bac is the only option I wouldn't put the energy into a formal post bac, as you have a good shot at DO now and don't want to risk messing it up if you don't need to.

CA is a tough state for competition so I'd recommend applying early and broadly. Depending on when you are planning on taking the MCAT you might be late in this cycle for applying. Don't rush the MCAT just to apply though, as a bad score could serious hinder your opportunities!

Best of Luck!

Thank you! the only class I got a C in was physics 1 all my others are b- and up, If i am able to achieve all As next semester I will have a 3.47 sgpa for DO so thats very close to a 3.5 I think a retake in physics could get me there,
other than that my lowest non replaced grades would be a C in geography and c+ in history and speech everythkng else is at least B- or above

 

[DrMikeP]

Thank you! the only class I got a C in was physics 1 all my others are b- and up, If i am able to achieve all As next semester I will have a 3.47 sgpa for DO so thats very close to a 3.5 I think a retake in physics could get me there,
other than that my lowest non replaced grades would be a C in geography and c+ in history and speech everythkng else is at least B- or above

A 3.5 is right in there for DO, you may not need to retake Physics I. Check out the MCIB: http://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/applying

Stats for DO's 2013, 14, & 15
Science 3.38 3.39 3.43
NonScience 3.60 3.60 3.63
Mean GPA 3.50 3.51 3.53

Definitely call some MD schools as I mentioned above and study hard for the MCAT! You have a serious chance at getting into med school so don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise.

 

[Ddude122]

A 3.5 is right in there for DO, you may not need to retake Physics I. Check out the MCIB: http://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/applying

Stats for DO's 2013, 14, & 15
Science 3.38 3.39 3.43
NonScience 3.60 3.60 3.63
Mean GPA 3.50 3.51 3.53

Definitely call some MD schools as I mentioned above and study hard for the MCAT! You have a serious chance at getting into med school so don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise.

Will do thanks for your inspiring words and thanks everyone for all your help!