Reapplying to med school HELP!

[ChickwithAbs]

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Hey Everyone,

I'm reapplying this year but still have my concerns and would like to get some input on what you guys think on my chances, if I'll even get an interview, or just any suggestions would be great. So here's the deal:

Undergrad - BS in Nutrition '08, no clinical experience or research, 3.65 GPA, 21 MCAT....all terrible and unworthy of applying...waste of my time and the schools

Now I'm completing my Master's in Biology and this is what I've been up to following my Bachelor's:

1) 2 years clinical experience as a Clinical Care Extender - very hands on, direct interaction with patients, one-on-one with physicians/nurses/etc, I've been in the OR, L&D, the ER, GI Lab, & Cardiac Rehab

2) 2 years stem cell & cancer research - My Master's thesis is based on using neural stem cells as therapeutic delivery vehicles to target brain and other metastatic cancers because they innately migrate to tumors.

3) Earned a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) grant & one year internship at the City of Hope Cancer Center & Research Institute - very competitive award and great opportunity

4) Teacher's Associate - Independently Teach Undergrad Biology Labs at Cal Poly Pomona (Master's students get this opportunity)

5) Stats: 4.0 GPA for the Master's but still a low MCAT - 24

6) Pretty solid letters of rec - 3/4 - One I'm a little worried about. I have 1 MD, 1 DO, 2 Professors (1 is the Director of the CIRM Program & she is also my thesis chair)

Basically, I've shown improvement in every area but only very slightly in the MCAT. I don't know what it is, but I freak on the real test. What do you guys think? Sorry it's such a long post but I'd really appreciate any feedback!

Thanks,
Kenna

 

[giggle]

Even though you've shown improvement in most areas, the only thing still lacking are your stats. Your undergrad GPA wasn't terrible to begin with. The only thing killing your chances at MD programs is your 24 MCAT. That score seems low even for DO programs... someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Retake your MCAT first. Gotta figure out why you got a low score even though you are doing great in your science classes. You're almost there! 👍

 

[FIREitUP]

Unless your mcat is really unbalanced, I don't foresee you having any issue getting into a DO school.

 

[swamprat]

Unless your mcat is really unbalanced, I don't foresee you having any issue getting into a DO school.

I disagree.. i mean u MAY be able to get in to one luckily if u have good interview skills and u get that far but a 24 mcat is pretty low esp after a 21 mcat i feel like u need like 26 to be competitive for DO.. not that its not possible but def apply to like every DO school and ud prob get lucky

 

[GoZags]

If you could bump your score to a 26-27. I think there is a slight chance at MD. Your ECs are incredible it looks like, not to mention I was in touch with s fellow who got into MD with EC's like yours with a 27O MCAT. I mean, chances are slim for MD but not unheard of. DO I think youve got a shot. Now this 27O person may have been the exception but still something to think about.

 

[ChickwithAbs]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I do agree my MCAT is super low...my practice tests were on average 28-29 which isn't great but I'd have been far happier with that. Like I said, something about the real test messes with me. And I've taken it more than once. Anyway, if you guys have any other helpful advice or comments or even stories about people that are "exceptions to rule" with low mcats that got accepted feel free to let me know! Thanks again.

 

[PTWOB02]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I do agree my MCAT is super low...my practice tests were on average 28-29 which isn't great but I'd have been far happier with that. Like I said, something about the real test messes with me. And I've taken it more than once. Anyway, if you guys have any other helpful advice or comments or even stories about people that are "exceptions to rule" with low mcats that got accepted feel free to let me know! Thanks again.

I don't have personal experience with preparing for MCAT yet, but it looks like your MCAT score is really holding you back. How exactly are you preparing for it? How much time have you invested into it? Maybe a formal MCAT prep course could help you? Universities do offer discounted courses from time to time. Might be worth looking into it.

 

[dragonfly99]

Being in California, I think you will not be able to get into your state MD schools with that MCAT. You can give it a shot, but the chances are slim I would think.
I do think you'd have a good shot at DO schools...the MCAT score is not great but the GPA is pretty good for DO I would think, and the master's degree and newly improved research and clinical experience is very good.

I suggest that you NOT use the 1 LOR you are unsure of, if you can get by with just the three. You don't want a weak one because that can deep six your application.

Since you are in California, have you considered Western U? I believe that are in the LA area and it's a DO school. I've worked with several interns who trained there and they seem to be pretty good. I think their avg. MCAT used to be around 26, from what I heard.

You other option is retake the MCAT again, but I think if you do that then you need to really commit and take an MCAT prep course and/or get a paid formal tutor type of situation. Right now this is the thing holding you back. You could cross-apply to MD and DO schools, plus retake the MCAT at the same time. You really need to make sure your score doesn't go down instead of up, though.

Another option is bail and just go to Ireland, Australia or the Caribbean and get an MD. I would avoid all the Caribbean schools except 2 or 3 of them, however. These foreign schools seem like a risky option now, however, with the US MD schools and DO schools ramping up their admissions in the past few years, and the government threatening to cut funding for residency spots. The Caribbean trained students may get squeezed out of the residencies in the US, which you have to have in order to get a license to practice.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

personally, i think if you were to apply very broadly at DO schools, you might have a chance, but you would basically be set if you had a 26+. Clearly you know what you did wrong the first time and fixed that. even last year I think a 24 would have been a better chance, but the schools with 24 averages from 2010 admissions now have 27 averages for 2011 admissions. DO schools are getting a lot more competitive.