MD & DO Re-applicant 3.61 cGPA/3.51 sGPA with 31 MCAT

[deleted380953]

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Re-applicant here, just trying to gauge the results of my exam

Michigan resident
MCAT: 28 (10PS/8VR/10BS)
31 (12PS/8VR/11BS)
cGPA: 3.61
sGPA: 3.51

ECs

• 150+ hours of hospital volunteering
• 50+ hours of gastroenterology/cardiology shadowing
• 1.5 years research in nuclear physics with 1 abstract, 1 conference proceeding, 1 publication (co-author on all)
• 1 year research in biophysics (ongoing)
  
• 80+ hours as volunteer instructor at a public school (related to a non-profit my father and I are trying to set up, but we're having some difficulty getting some things going)
  
• 14 years playing the violin (used to do formal groups in high school, but now I just play for pleasure)
• 6 months as violin teacher, 45 min/week (I'm still debating whether I should even include this. While I was getting paid, it was done through a family friend, and was pretty informal)

I think I overestimated the number of hours for one of my past posts, and I tried to do an accurate recount on the hours for AMCAS; What you see here is current. GPA is also revised based on whatever corrections they made on the app I sent out last year.


Any advice?

 

[WillburCobb]

State of residency and schools to which you applied will help greatly with advice.

 

[deleted380953]

State of residency and schools to which you applied will help greatly with advice.

Michigan resident. I think I really shot myself, as 1) my primary was complete by July, but my transcripts across 2 schools didn't arrive till August and 2) My school list wasn't nearly expansive enough. Here's where I was complete:

Drexel
George Washington
Medical College of Wisconsin
Penn State
Rosalind Franklin
Michigan State
Virginia Commonwealth
Wayne State (rejected pre-secondary. I assume it was because of my 8VR)

 

[bearded frog]

​

 

[deleted380953]

Why didn't you apply everywhere in MI?

Personally, I was not really interested in staying in Michigan. Also, my family is most likely going to move from here as well. However, there are personal reasons why I kept Wayne and MSU on the list.

I realize that I don't have the luxury of being picky, and will be applying to all 6 this time.

 

[bearded frog]

​

 

[solitarius]

You need to apply to more schools. Apply early. Expanding to DO is a good move.

 

[deleted380953]

I understand, don't apply anywhere you wouldn't want to go, I'm just surprised you want to get out of MI but you'd be okay staying in detroit 😉. Where/When are your family moving? If its soon you might qualify for in-state status at a new state, but you have to check with the requirements for each school in that state to see if you have had to live there for a certain period of time.

I think your issues were your MCAT which you've improved, but you'll have to check the MSAR to see where that 8vr puts you in tough territory, too selective with schools, and average ECs (research above average though, which is good). Apply widely in-state, wherever that is, and to OOS schools with MCAT/GPA in your range that take 20% or more OOS.

I always tell people Downtown Detroit is rather nice. The rough part is the area around it

My parents have said that they're aiming for around a 2 year time frame, So there's no doubt I'll remain as an MI resident for my cycle. While they're thinking about places like Texas and Florida, they've also said that they want to know where I'll end up (among other things) before they finalize a location.

Is 20% accepted OOS a good number to go by? I would've thought that it seems kinda low

You need to apply to more schools. Apply early. Expanding to DO is a good move.

Will do.

Do you think it's a bad idea re-applying to schools where I was rejected? I'd love to take another shot at places like GW or VCU

 

[Goro]

Aim for all MI schools, and low-tiers, all new MD programs, and any DO program.

Re-applicant here, just trying to gauge the results of my exam

Michigan resident
5/18/13 MCAT: 28 (10PS/8VR/10BS)
4/5/14 MCAT: 31 (12PS/8VR/11BS)
cGPA: 3.61
sGPA: 3.51

ECs

• 150+ hours of hospital volunteering
• 50+ hours of gastroenterology/cardiology shadowing
• 1.5 years research in nuclear physics with 1 abstract, 1 conference proceeding, 1 publication (co-author on all)
• 1 year research in biophysics (ongoing)
  
• 80+ hours as volunteer instructor at a public school (related to a non-profit my father and I are trying to set up, but we're having some difficulty getting some things going)
  
• 14 years playing the violin (used to do formal groups in high school, but now I just play for pleasure)
• 6 months as violin teacher, 45 min/week (I'm still debating whether I should even include this. While I was getting paid, it was done through a family friend, and was pretty informal)

I think I overestimated the number of hours for one of my past posts, and I tried to do an accurate recount on the hours for AMCAS; What you see here is current. GPA is also revised based on whatever corrections they made on the app I sent out last year.


Any advice?

 

[deleted380953]

Aim for all MI schools, and low-tiers, all new MD programs, and any DO program.

Actually now that I think about it, should I really include UMich? It seems like my mcat isn't even in the 10th percentile, and an 8VR is outside their range

 

[solitarius]

Will do.

Do you think it's a bad idea re-applying to schools where I was rejected? I'd love to take another shot at places like GW or VCU

Treat them like dream schools. Apply to enough schools and balance the list properly among reaches, possibles, DOs, and you should be good to go.

Do you know those schools' admission rate for re-apps? Can you show improvement to them on a 2nd go?

 

[Goro]

Yup, delete U MI. If you reapply to any school, you'd better show some improvement. Imagine the interviewer asking you: "So how have you improved since your last app cycle?" The key thing is to apply strategically.

Actually now that I think about it, should I really include UMich? It seems like my mcat isn't even in the 10th percentile, and an 8VR is outside their range