Post-Rejection: EMT or Research

[dd1548]

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Hi all!

As the title suggests, I recently received my last rejection letter for this application cycle and am working on an action plan for reapplying. For background, the major flaws were GPA and a late application (complete December/January, for a variety of reasons). My current plan is to reapply next May, giving over a year until that cycle and two years until (fingers crossed!) matriculation. I have a few options:

1.) Post-Bacc/Masters - With a GPA of 3.13, I was on the lower spectrum. Obviously I am being selective with my school list. MCAT of 507 ( 30/31 old score) with minimal preparation has room for improvement.

2.) Research - I currently live close to a top research university w/ urban medical system and have a chance to work in a lab or at the hospital. I have ~400 hours of research experience already, and the chance to publish or gain experience in a medical lab is enticing.

3.) EMT - My fiancé recently got a job in a rural town 3 hrs away from where I currently live, so I started looking into job prospects in the area. After calling a friend from the area, it seems likely I would be able to find an EMT position at the local hospital. I would complete my certification over the summer and move early Fall.

My initial reaction is to pass on post-bacc for now. While it would fix the main flaw in my application, the financial and emotional investment of a filler-degree aren't currently appealing. With my biochemistry degree and lab monkey experience, I feel like I would excel in a lab position. With that said, research isn't something I have a passion for and I would enjoy EMT work more.

The main question for readers is:
Research or EMT, or ???

I am learning towards EMT, due to paid clinical experience that I would enjoy (and to live with my fiancé!). With the initial depression of rejection still fresh, I'm second guessing myself. I have many good options on how to continue the journey to becoming a physician, and my next application will be significantly better. Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[radian313]

Repeat a few of the low grades. Get your GPA to a 3.3+. Do the clinicL EMT.

Get in some DO hours to ensure they know you are interested.

 

[mathnerd88]

In the end, you still need to address your low GPA. You have to fix this first. No amount of ECs can fix that.

You can go ahead and do EMT or research, but it likely isn't going to make that big of a difference. I know a couple schools already screen out those with GPA<3.2. As of right now, you could probably get some interest in only the newer schools.

Also, know that it will get harder the longer you wait. Stats keep increasing every year. Your GPA will even look worse in a couple of years if you don't get it up.

You will be surprised how even changing one grade from a C to an A will change your GPA. For many, your GPA can go up as much as 0.1!

 

[samac]

Grade replacement for DO is your best friend. Take C and below courses and go from there. You've got to fix your part first.

Now when it comes to your application do you have a lot of clinical experience already? If so then research would probably carry more weight. Same goes vice versa.

 

[IntheClouds4ever]

Get clinical experience if possible as well as retaking courses. I was in the same boat as you but had 6 years of clinical lab/hospital experience. You're not in a bad spot, just take this chance to polish it up a bit.

 

[JRB93]

Im an EMT and I love it. I get to do real patient care. Albeit Im in the field and you would be in the hospital as you say, but you'd still get to help.

However, if schools told you your GPA is too low and you need to get a post bacc, I would strongly urge you to take some classes even as a non-degree student to get your GPA up. Im in a similar boat (3.24 gpa)

 

[grapp]

EMT, EMT, EMT. I am not an EMT yet, but I have shadowed the paramedics and been able to do a lot of things I probably shouldn't have without my EMT-basic but they allowed me to anyhow. It's an amazing experience that I've had.

It gives you a job. [X]
Clinical Experience [X] *super important*

Many D.O. schools like EMT's!
@JRB93

 

[echo87]

Do you like research at all? If you ACTUALLY got a 30/31 with MINIMAL prep, then I'd say it's very possible to improve 4-5 points, imo. 2 years of research and a publication or two later, I'd say you have a good shot at MD/PhD as well. These programs are much more interested in past accomplishments and future direction in research and are much more willing to look past poor GPA's in lieu of MCAT/research/story. I think research will definitely help you no matter what direction you want to take, in regards to a career as a physician, but that's just, like, my opinion, man.

Just an option you might want to be aware of.

 

[mathnerd88]

Do you like research at all? If you ACTUALLY got a 30/31 with MINIMAL prep, then I'd say it's very possible to improve 4-5 points, imo. 2 years of research and a publication or two later, I'd say you have a good shot at MD/PhD as well. These programs are much more interested in past accomplishments and future direction in research and are much more willing to look past poor GPA's in lieu of MCAT/research/story. I think research will definitely help you no matter what direction you want to take, in regards to a career as a physician, but that's just, like, my opinion, man.

Just an option you might want to be aware of.

I would say he has very little chance into MD/PhD....those programs only take those with 3.7+ AND 35+ MCAT scores...

Plus, AMCAS doesn't allow you to replace grades, only average them.

 

[dd1548]

Thanks all!

I'll look into retaking a few classes, and hopefully I get my foot in the door with a few schools due to a strong MCAT (shooting for 35+, never taken a practice exam so we'll see what I project first).

MD/PhD is off the table. Research is more of a hobby that I don't plan on pursuing as a career. Similarly, research-focused schools are off my list.

After weighing options with family, I've narrowed to clinical lab work or EMT. In a way, rejection was a blessing and some time away from school will do good. Life at a big state school spread me too thin and I need to focus back on my priorities.

 

[echo87]

I would say he has very little chance into MDI/PhD....those programs only take those with 3.7+ AND 35+ MCAT scores...

Plus, AMCAS doesn't allow you to replace grades, only average them.

I'm not sure if you immediately jumped to the reply button when your eyes landed on "MD/PhD" but like I said, GPA isn't as important as regular MD apps, provided you have a story/upward trend/MCAT/research. They don't have an automated GPA filter to the extent that MD programs do, and since the ratio of applicants to matriculants are much lower, any individual app usually gets afforded much more attention and time.
If the OP truly lives near a top research university, then there will be faculty with labs who have close ties to said medical system and affiliated schools. Network and good research alone will get your foot in the door with MSTP programs.
I'm sure there are exceptions but its generally been this way for a while. This is probably the wrong forum to discuss this, in any case.

 

[mathnerd88]

I'm not sure if you immediately jumped to the reply button when your eyes landed on "MD/PhD" but like I said, GPA isn't as important as regular MD apps, provided you have a story/upward trend/MCAT/research. They don't have an automated GPA filter to the extent that MD programs do, and since the ratio of applicants to matriculants are much lower, any individual app usually gets afforded much more attention and time.
If the OP truly lives near a top research university, then there will be faculty with labs who have close ties to said medical system and affiliated schools. Network and good research alone will get your foot in the door with MSTP programs.
I'm sure there are exceptions but its generally been this way for a while. This is probably the wrong forum to discuss this, in any case.

Traditionally, if you look on websites from all MD schools, their MD/PhD average matriculant counterparts have much higher GPA and MCAT stats...

So what you say may be true, there will always be applicants who have stellar stats who get accepted. There are very limited spots for MD/PhD. I never said the OP has no chance of getting in; I said that his chances are very small, even lower than that of just going for MD programs.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321548/data/factstableb10.pdf

MD/PhD matriculants
Matriculant/Applicant: 626/1887=0.33
MCAT mean: 34.7
sGPA mean: 3.8
cGPA mean: 3.8

MD matriculants
Matriculant/Applicant:20631/52550=0.39
MCAT mean: 31.4
sGPA mean: 3.64
cGPA mean: 3.70

The table speaks for itself and it looks like GPA matters. There's even a significant difference in stats between MD/PhD matriculants and average MD matriculant. Also, it looks like it is harder to get into a MD/PhD program than just an MD program, based on a combination Matriculant/Applicant and GPA/MCAT. But all of this is moot. The OP does not have any interest in research.