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I applied in the 2015-2016 cycle and received only one II that turned into a WL. I believe my low MCAT and the downward trend in GPA were the two biggest issues. I had to take a semester off in my junior year due to family emergency and my own health issue that required a surgery. I wasn't ready to go back to school after that summer ended but I did anyway, and as a result my grades suffered. It's a decision that I regret to this day.
This past year I've retaken the MCAT, and I've also got into VCOM and LECOM's post-bacc programs that start this summer/fall. Both VCOM and LECOM offer great linkage to their DO programs if I can maintain a certain GPA in the program, so I want to take advantage of that. It will also allow me to prove to myself that I can handle the rigor of the med school coursework. However, I still want to apply to other MD and DO schools just in case something happens. What are your thoughts on applying and doing post-bacc program in the same year? I want to practice EM or primary care so I don't care if I become an MD or a DO.
MCAT:
27 (first attempt)
509-515 (second attempt, score will come back in mid-June; scored 514 on AAMC FL 1 and 2)
GPA:
4.00 (freshman)
3.85 (sophomore)
2.98 (junior, one semester only, got a C in biochemistry)
2.74 (senior, 4 C's in upper division science classes)
4.00 (DIY post-bacc at local CC, some retakes and some new classes)
cGPA: 3.57
sGPA: 3.43
ECs:
>2000 hrs ED Tech (one LOR from an ER doctor)
2000 hrs EMT on ambulance
1500 hrs biochemistry research with one publication (one LOR from the PI)
20 hrs shadowing a general surgeon (one LOR from the surgeon)
>1000 hrs of various community services
MD School List (median MCAT, cGPA, sGPA):
I'm a FAP recipient so I can apply to 15 schools for free. Should I take out more schools that I'm a reapplicant to and add more new schools? I'm a CA resident and that's why I'm applying to all the UC's even though I basically have zero chance of getting into any of them. Should I take them out and add more OOS schools? I'll also be applying to ~10 DO schools.
Besides the three LOR's mentioned above, I also have one science and one non-science LOR's. However, I'm only able to get the ER doctor and the PI to update their letters for this cycle. Is this going to be a problem?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
This past year I've retaken the MCAT, and I've also got into VCOM and LECOM's post-bacc programs that start this summer/fall. Both VCOM and LECOM offer great linkage to their DO programs if I can maintain a certain GPA in the program, so I want to take advantage of that. It will also allow me to prove to myself that I can handle the rigor of the med school coursework. However, I still want to apply to other MD and DO schools just in case something happens. What are your thoughts on applying and doing post-bacc program in the same year? I want to practice EM or primary care so I don't care if I become an MD or a DO.
MCAT:
27 (first attempt)
509-515 (second attempt, score will come back in mid-June; scored 514 on AAMC FL 1 and 2)
GPA:
4.00 (freshman)
3.85 (sophomore)
2.98 (junior, one semester only, got a C in biochemistry)
2.74 (senior, 4 C's in upper division science classes)
4.00 (DIY post-bacc at local CC, some retakes and some new classes)
cGPA: 3.57
sGPA: 3.43
ECs:
>2000 hrs ED Tech (one LOR from an ER doctor)
2000 hrs EMT on ambulance
1500 hrs biochemistry research with one publication (one LOR from the PI)
20 hrs shadowing a general surgeon (one LOR from the surgeon)
>1000 hrs of various community services
MD School List (median MCAT, cGPA, sGPA):
- UCI* (512, 3.82, 3.80)
- UCR* (508, 3.74, 3.70)
- UCLA* (508, 3.79, 3.77)
- UCSD* (517, 3.84, 3.81)
- UCSF* (516, 3.84, 3.83)
- UCD* (509, 3.72, 3.67)
- USC (515, 3.76, 3.73)
- Loma Linda* (508, 3.86, 3.82)
- California Northstate (513, 3.58, 3.49) (not sure if I should apply here)
- George Washington* (511, 3.72, 3.65)
- Tulane* (511, 3.62, 3.51)
- Howard* (502, 3.41, 3.23)
- Oakland* (507, 3.79, 3.73)
- Penn State* (509, 3.82, 3.78)
- Albany (510, 3.68, 3.62)
- Medical College of Wisconsin* (510, 3.76, 3.72)
- Chicago Medical School* (511, 3.62, 3.56)
- Drexel (511, 3.73, 3.69)
- Rush* (512, 3.73, 3.68)
- Quinnipiac* (512, 3.68, 3.61)
- Creighton* (510, 3.81, 3.76)
I'm a FAP recipient so I can apply to 15 schools for free. Should I take out more schools that I'm a reapplicant to and add more new schools? I'm a CA resident and that's why I'm applying to all the UC's even though I basically have zero chance of getting into any of them. Should I take them out and add more OOS schools? I'll also be applying to ~10 DO schools.
Besides the three LOR's mentioned above, I also have one science and one non-science LOR's. However, I'm only able to get the ER doctor and the PI to update their letters for this cycle. Is this going to be a problem?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
