Re-Applying with a 3.92 GPA and 30 MCAT

[FlapJack]

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I applied last year, 2014, for the Fall 2015 entering class. At that point I had a 3.92 GPA and a 3.92 sGPA all my requirements were completed and I had taken my MCAT and got a 26 (BS:11 PS:8 VR:7) at that time I had the following EC's:

~20 Hours of Shadowing (Cardiologist and Orthopedic Surgeon)
~200 Hours of Volunteering at a Spiritual Mental Health Center
4 Years Executive Board Member at my schools Pre-Health Honors Society
4 months ~200 Hours PVC Plasticizer Research For Surgical Tubing (No Pub)
3 Months ~400 Hours of Throat Cancer Research (No Pub)
Ongoing (1 Year at the time of app) Chief Neurocognitive Therapist/Clinician at a Neurological Clinic (Paid)
3 Years of Tutoring Students in both H.S. and College Math and Science (Paid)
6 Years of Electronic Music Production

I was a financially disadvantaged student and was a first time college graduate in my family.

I live in CA and applied to the following MD programs: Duke, Johns Hopkins, USC, Loma Linda, Michigan State, OHSU, Penn State, SLU, Stanford, Oklahoma, Arizona-Phoenix, Arizona-Tucson, UCSD, UCSF, UCD, Colorado, Hawaii, North Carolina, Utah, and Washington

I am now realizing I spent a lot of money applying to schools that I never should of even looked at. I got no interviews the only thing that happened is that I got waitlisted at UCSD for an interview (never happened). Still have not heard back from Stanford but I am sure nothing is going to come of it.

Since the last time I applied I have re-taken my MCAT and got a 30 (BS:11 PS:11 VR:8) its nothing special, but will hopefully do way more than a 26. Other changes I have made are that I became a Executive Board Member of a National Non-Profit which has given me about 400 more hours of volunteer work and leadership skills. I am still a board member in the non-profit and am still growing my volunteer hours. I continued my job as Neurocognitive Clinician for another 6 months for a total of ~17 months. I have been attending various pre-medical conferences and have learned a lot and am going to be doing some more shadowing soon before the next cycle. I have also continued my music production. Am currently looking to do more research.

My question is: based on my profile what MD schools do you guys think I have a reasonable chance at and what other things can I be doing to strengthen my application based on the information provided. Also the MD vs DO debate is burning pretty bright because I do not know how competitive I will be at a MD school

 

[DrMidlife]

i see three problems in that last app cycle, in priority order:
1. 7 on verbal
2. 26
3. OOS publics

(4. California.)

All the stuff about EC's before/after is NOT going to make a difference in your next app cycle. Your EC's are fine. Enjoy them. Spend no more time thinking about them with respect to MD admissions, other than describing them for AMCAS.

Nothing wrong with going DO, particularly if you want to stay in California, but I see your interest in DO as PTSD from your last cycle more than as interest in DO. And that's how DO schools will see it as well.

The 1st question for your next MD cycle is whether you can package your 4 pt improvement on the MCAT, your great GPA, and your 1st generation college grad status, into a compelling story that overcomes a worrisome-ish verbal score and a less-than-competitive-but-otherwise-fine 30.

The 2nd question for your next app cycle is whether you'll do a better job choosing schools. Your California schools are fine, and I'd expect LL and maybe UCI & UCD to give you some love now. But the rest of that list is all reach. Duke and Hopkins are as much a reach as Stanford, and your MCAT kept you out of Stanford. All those public med schools outside California have absolutely no interest in helping out a Californian whose parents didn't contribute one dime of tax money, and who has a bottom 10th percentile MCAT. Also, with out of state tuition at another state's public med school you might as well pay private school tuition. Private schools sometimes don't have preference for their own state's kids.

So what you do now is:
1. Find old unfriendly faculty to review your new PS (because you need a new PS) and mock interview you. Do not use friends or family for this. Get the negative feedback you need from somebody who isn't afraid of hurting your feelings.

2. Research schools. Buy the MSAR. From studying the MSAR, then study med school admissions websites. Then study SDN. You should have a minimum of 25 schools in your next cycle.

3. Apply early.

4. Whoever advised you on your last cycle, don't take any more advice from that person or those people.

Best of luck to you.

 

[FlapJack]

That is all great evaluation/advice it is deeply appreciated, thank you very much

 

[ShabbaRanks]

If you apply early and broadly this upcoming cycle I believe you will gain an acceptance to a MD school. Going from a 26 to 30 MCAT should help greatly. Your list for last cycle was brutal, and even with a mid 30s MCAT you would have had a difficult time with that list.

Schools to consider:
EVMS, VCU, Penn State, Creighton, FIU, NYMC, Albany, SLU, MCW, Vermont, Oakland, Western Michigan, RFU, Rush, Loyola, Quinippiac, Temple, Drexel, GWU. Keep in mind some of
these schools get a ton of applications.
I think you can also give UA tuscon and UA-phoenix a shot

 

[FlapJack]

Thanks Shabba not only one of the best artists but also gives solid advice on SDN nice

 

[j4pac]

I would throw in a few strong DO programs for good measure. I think that you have a real shot at MD...but having DO as a fall back would be wise as a reapplicant.

 

[Goro]

100% concur. You're fine for any DO program, including mine.

I suggest the following:
Rush
NYMC
Creighton
Albany
Rosy Franklin
Drexel
Temple
Loma Linda (but read their list of don'ts)
MCW
St. Louis U
Jefferson
Creighton
Tulane
Loyola
GWU
Georgetown
Tufts
U Miami
Wake Forest
EVMS
VCU
All new MD programs except Central MI, Va Tech

I would throw in a few strong DO programs for good measure. I think that you have a real shot at MD...but having DO as a fall back would be wise as a reapplicant.