Re-applicant for the 2009 class

[BellyDancer08]

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I would appreciate your advice:

I had a 3.2 GPA from an Ivy League, 26 MCAT, strong extra-curriculars, and well, I thought I was a pretty decent applicant. I'm in NY.
After not getting accepted for the 2008 cycle, I worked for a non-profit, taught at a poor private school, and started my own small business.

Do you guys think I can still apply to non-competitive schools on the AMCAS , or apply to Osteopathic schools and be accepted for the August/Sept 2009 class?
I think I can still file these applications, asap.

I'm also thinking of re-taking the MCAT in early 2009, maybe that will help.

I would love to start my medical studies soon. I don't know if you guys had a tough time after not getting accepted, but it was a very difficult year for me.

Any productive input would be appreciated.
Thanks🙂

 

[Sarg's kid]

Here is my advice, hope it is well received.

Do you have a hook to get them past your academics? By which I mean, URM or disadvantaged background? With your AWESOME extracurriculars, you could get in to a big name fancy school.

If not, thats fine. With your profile, I am POSITIVE you could get into DO. (And, I think DO is a great option. I personally like the DO philosophy.) The other plus to DO is that their cycle goes longer than MD. You still have TONS of time to get it all in for DO. My uncle went to KCOM and loved it.

Anyway, basically, for me, it all came down to thought, meditation, prayer and going with my gut on applications. I wish there was a formula, but that's all I got.

Good luck to you.

 

[Mobius1985]

You are not a competitive applicant for US MD schools. To become competitive at less selective schools, you'd need to spend some years getting your uGPA up, or you'd need to retake the MCAT and get a 36+.

You are a competitive applicant for DO schools now. It is not too late to apply. Here is a link to a booklet with all DO school's requirements and deadlines for application: http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/cib2009/2009_CIB_web.pdf

 

[BellyDancer08]

Thank you everyone.
I'll go for the Osteopathic schools, considering there's more time to apply. Best of luck to you all.

 

[dragonfly99]

You can still apply this year if you hurry up. Just check the web sites of various schools to make sure you didn't miss their application deadlines. Applying late like this doesn't help b/c it's rolling admissions, but you can still try.

I think the 3.2 GPA is your biggest problem. 2nd problem is the 26 MCAT which will probably deep-six your application at most MD med schools. So would the 3.2 GPA. Being from an Ivy school would help a little (i.e. they might take a 3.5 GPA instead of a 3.7) but the 3.2 will still hurt you.

Agree w/trying osteopathic schools. I think they will be more likely to forgive a less than perfect GPA and MCAT. Also I think you could try at some allopathic schools (i.e. your state schools), particularly if you could stomach retaking the MCAT, and after that perhaps take a couple of undergraduate upper level science courses (i.e. biochem, etc.), maybe one next semester and one next summer. Show them you are serious about your academics.

You also didn't mention your volunteer experience in health care, which they will look at when reviewing your application.

 

[fahimaz7]

~3.3 and a 31 MCAT.. but, I had a 3.9 Graduate GPA with a MS in Cellular and Molecular Biology (3 year, thesis-based MS).

It can happen!

 

[Blade28]

I would appreciate your advice:

I had a 3.2 GPA from an Ivy League, 26 MCAT, strong extra-curriculars, and well, I thought I was a pretty decent applicant. I'm in NY.
After not getting accepted for the 2008 cycle, I worked for a non-profit, taught at a poor private school, and started my own small business.

Your GPA and MCAT are hurting your chances at most allopathic schools. To be competitive you really need to get up to at least a 3.5 and 30, respectively. Remember that the mean GPA for allopathic matriculants is now around a 3.65.

If you're considering DO schools you could also retake classes where you didn't do well (if reapplying next year); retake the MCAT and rock it, plus do some post-bac work to further improve your GPA if you're still considering MD schools.

Best of luck.