Rebuilding application for upcoming cycle

[dedicated1989]

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Hi all,

I've been rebuilding my application since I graduated from undergrad in 2011 and am looking for some advice on how to narrow down the schools I am applying to for this coming cycle.

Here are the basic stats:
-Went to state school with a full scholarship
-graduated with a 3.59 GPA (science and overall).
- got an MS from Mount Sinai in NY with published Masters Thesis work; graduated in 2013 with a 3.5 GPA
- 2 publications ...1 first author
- Several shadowing and volunteering experiences
- ER scribe with ScribeAmerica
- Highest and most recent MCAT score of 29 (VR: 8 PS: 9 and BS:12)
- strong LORs from MDs, DOs and PhDs

I know that my biggest weaknesses are my GPA and MCAT scores. I have taken the MCAT 4 times in total (starting from 2010 up until my most recent in 2014) and I am well aware of its negative impact towards my application as a whole, however I will not let that define me.

I live in Maryland so unfortunately there is only one public for me to apply to. I have a list of DO schools already compiled which include: MSUCOM, PCOM, NYIT-COM, CCOM, TouroCOM-NY, VCOM-VC and RowanCOM. Any advice on how to go about narrowing down MD programs would be very much appreciated.

 

[Tungsten5]

Commonwealth medical college, quinnipiac, Hofstra, New York medical college, Loyola, FIU, UCF and rosalin franklin is a start

 

[GM2006]

University of Toledo, EVMS, and Western Michigan

 

[dedicated1989]

thanks for the suggestions. Based off of MSAR a complied a list of 30 schools that I think I have a shot at - this is based off of GPA and MCAT scores alone. I put a "?" next to schools where my chances may not be as high given certain situations (financial, social, public vs private, etc). I would love to get some feedback on those schools if anyone has some to share.

I am also not opposed to applying to more schools.



Drexel University
Frank H. Netter Quinnipac University
Howard University (?)
Meharry University (?)
Temple University
University of Maryland
Eastern Virginia Medical School (?)
Western Michigan university
Commonwealth Medical College
Chicago Rosalind Franklin
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Hofstra
GWU
Georgetown
Indiana University (?)
Jefferson college
Loma Linda(?)
Loyola
NYMC
Tufts
Rutgers RWJ (?)
University of Toledo (?)
Albany
VCU (?)
FIU (?)
Rush Medical College
Michigan State (?)
Pennsylvania State
University of Central Florida (?)
University of South Florida (?)

Next step is really looking into the schools and narrowing/widening accordingly.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Hi all,

I've been rebuilding my application since I graduated from undergrad in 2011 and am looking for some advice on how to narrow down the schools I am applying to for this coming cycle.

Here are the basic stats:
-Went to state school with a full scholarship
-graduated with a 3.59 GPA (science and overall).
- got an MS from Mount Sinai in NY with published Masters Thesis work; graduated in 2013 with a 3.5 GPA
- 2 publications ...1 first author
- Several shadowing and volunteering experiences
- ER scribe with ScribeAmerica
- Highest and most recent MCAT score of 29 (VR: 8 PS: 9 and BS:12)
- strong LORs from MDs, DOs and PhDs

I know that my biggest weaknesses are my GPA and MCAT scores. I have taken the MCAT 4 times in total (starting from 2010 up until my most recent in 2014) and I am well aware of its negative impact towards my application as a whole, however I will not let that define me.

I live in Maryland so unfortunately there is only one public for me to apply to. I have a list of DO schools already compiled which include: MSUCOM, PCOM, NYIT-COM, CCOM, TouroCOM-NY, VCOM-VC and RowanCOM. Any advice on how to go about narrowing down MD programs would be very much appreciated.

Your stats are good, but you shouldn't put all eggs in upper tier DO. Include Marian, CUSOM, and Touro-Middletown at the very least.

 

[dedicated1989]

Your stats are good, but you shouldn't put all eggs in upper tier DO. Include Marian, CUSOM, and Touro-Middletown at the very least.

Good point- I will definitely add those mentioned schools to my list. I'm probably going to stay away from most state schools as well. Is Touro-Middletown an additional site of TouroCOM-NY? In terms of my application, would I apply to one or the other?

 

[jeffreylei]

You have a good shot at MD schools. Your MCAT and GPA are fine as long as you demonstrate good communication skills via your personal statements, essays, and activity descriptions. Also, choose your schools wisely!

 

[dedicated1989]

You have a good shot at MD schools. Your MCAT and GPA are fine as long as you demonstrate good communication skills via your personal statements, essays, and activity descriptions. Also, choose your schools wisely!

Are there any schools that you recommend? I posted a list of what I have so far - any schools from there you recommend me taking out or strongly applying to? Since there is only 1 public school I can apply to (Maryland) I have to look at more private schools…I'm still planning on applying to a few other public schools and taking my chances...

 

[pink/\floyd]

Wouldn't apply to Jefferson they average the MCAT

 

[gyngyn]

Have you looked at Loma Linda's mission and abstinence policies? Similarly, the historically black colleges are not interested in your stats if you don't fit their mission.

 

[Goro]

Goro's list:

Drexel University
Frank H. Netter Quinnipac University
Temple University
University of Maryland
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Western Michigan university
Commonwealth Medical College
Chicago Rosalind Franklin
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
GWU
Jefferson college
Loma Linda
Loyola
NYMC
Tufts
Albany
VCU
Rush Medical College
Pennsylvania State
Wake Forest
Creighton

You're competitive for most DO programs, but avoid the schools that avg (like mine) the MCAT.

 

[dedicated1989]

Thanks to everyones comments and suggestions.

Gyngyn - I have definitely thought about the point you brought up- thats actually why I put a '?' mark besides Howard and Meharry haha. My question is should I still apply?

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks to everyones comments and suggestions.

Gyngyn - I have definitely thought about the point you brought up- thats actually why I put a '?' mark besides Howard and Meharry haha. My question is should I still apply?

Do you have a validated commitment of service to this community? If not, they will still appreciate the donation.

 

[dedicated1989]

Do you have a validated commitment of service to this community? If not, they will still appreciate the donation.

Definitely and I have a substantial amount of experiences o back that up. I applied to both schools the first time I applied and wasn't given an interview. Granted, my application is a lot stronger and I have a lot more to show for...but I am more skeptical about applying to those specific schools because I am not Hispanic/Black. Maybe I am missed guided about this?

 

[gyngyn]

Definitely and I have a substantial amount of experiences o back that up. I applied to both schools the first time I applied and wasn't given an interview. Granted, my application is a lot stronger and I have a lot more to show for...but I am more skeptical about applying to those specific schools because I am not Hispanic/Black. Maybe I am missed guided about this?

If you already had the evidence of commitment to the African American community on your last round and didn't get an II I would probably move on.

 

[hughnguyen22]

All the MD schools in DC are flooded with 10000 or more apps every year. You will find that they are more competitive than their admitted stats suggest. I suggest you apply to more Mid West schools. U Toledo, Michigan State U, UVM.

 

[dedicated1989]

All the MD schools in DC are flooded with 10000 or more apps every year. You will find that they are more competitive than their admitted stats suggest. I suggest you apply to more Mid West schools. U Toledo, Michigan State U, UVM.

My only concern with mid west schools is that most are state schools and I will be at a disadvantage because of that. My main goal is to practice in a more urban area so ideally I would like to be exposed to that during medical school however I'm def not putting all my eggs in one basket for schools in the more urban areas.

Any mid west school suggestions?

 

[hughnguyen22]

Toledo, Michigan State, UVM, WMC, Oakland U. You can get a residency spot in a big city later on. Right now you should concentrate on getting in to get your MD.