Reapplicant advice needed! (Post-Bacc?)

[premed2001]

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Hello all!

I was an applicant this past cycle (2022 - 2023) with the following stats and involvement who had a grand total of 1 interview with 0 acceptances.

MCAT: 508
Undergrad GPA: 3.64
Undergrad BCPM GPA: 3.45
Undergrad Non-BCPM GPA: 3.84

I attended a large, public university and had some the following involvement,
Emergency Department Admitting Specialist
Emergency Department Volunteer (~100 hrs)
Undergrad Research Assistant (2.5 years)
A Biomedical Research Summer Internship
I have also won several awards at my school, presented psychology research at several conferences (posters), had smaller volunteer activities and completed around 50 shadowing hours.

I submitted all secondary applications in early August.


Now, I know my stats were not the greatest, but several advisors told me to apply this past cycle anyway. This clearly did not work out for me, so I am seeking some advice.

EDIT: I graduated December 2022 with these new stats,
Undergrad GPA: 3.63
Undergrad BCPM GPA: 3.46
Undergrad Non-BCPM GPA: 3.84
Which are lower and where my predicament comes in. However, I know I can achieve a much higher MCAT score (515+) with the same extracurriculars, plus me working as a substitute teacher, completing a senior thesis, and additional shadowing hours.

My question is, would anyone recommend me completing a Post-Bacc program to improve my GPA? Or should I just try my luck reapplying this cycle (2023 - 2024) with a higher MCAT? I don't want to go through a whole Post-Bacc and lay down all this extra money and time if it will only improve my GPA a few points. However, I am fully committed to putting the work in if it seems necessary!

Any and all advice is appreciated!

 

[Faha]

Do you have any other clinical volunteering with patient contact besides the 100 hours in the ED ? Where is your state of residence ? Where was your interview ?

 

[premed2001]

Do you have any other clinical volunteering with patient contact besides the 100 hours in the ED ? Where is your state of residence ? Where was your interview ?

The 100 hours is my only official patient contact. I was a registration clerk in an ED as well, thought not technically a clinical experience. I am a TX resident who interviewed at UAMS!

 

[Faha]

Did you apply to all the Texas MD and DO schools ?

 

[premed2001]

Did you apply to all the Texas MD and DO schools ?

All TX MD, AZ, and CA (I was born in CA). My new stats are actually below (I calculated wrong haha),
Undergrad GPA: 3.63
Undergrad BCPM GPA: 3.46
Undergrad Non-BCPM GPA: 3.84

 

[Faha]

Since you had no Texas MD interviews, you could benefit from a post bacc in order to increase your cGPA and sGPA. The Texas schools like high GPAs. A higher MCAT will help but only it your score increases to 510+. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college for one year and take enough undergraduate level science course to increase your sGPA to 3.6 . When you reapply you should also apply broadly to DO schools and you are competitive for all DO schools. Include TCOM, SAM HOUSTON STATE, UIWSOM, KCU-COM, ATSU-COM and OSU-COM. You would also benefit from another 100+ hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact.

 

[premed2001]

Since you had no Texas MD interviews, you could benefit from a post bacc in order to increase your cGPA and sGPA. The Texas schools like high GPAs. A higher MCAT will help but only it your score increases to 510+. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college for one year and take enough undergraduate level science course to increase your sGPA to 3.6 . When you reapply you should also apply broadly to DO schools and you are competitive for all DO schools. Include TCOM, SAM HOUSTON STATE, UIWSOM, KCU-COM, ATSU-COM and OSU-COM. You would also benefit from another 100+ hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact.

This is so helpful, thank you so much!!

 

[Darrow O'Lykos]

I'd seriously consider UNT's SMP post-bacc program if I were in your position. They prep people extremely well for med school, and you'll be guaranteed an interview at TCOM this cycle.

I'd also recommend much more non-clinical volunteering.

GPA is hard to amend, but if you're going to do it, it looks a lot better (and is much more streamlined) doing a SMP rather than repeating/taking other undergrad coursework.