Rejected from Medical school, looking to improve application for next time

[NameHere1]

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It is my first time posting here. I suppose it would have been a better idea to have made an account on this site and found out everything before applying and being rejected, but here I am.

My stats are:
MCAT: 27, 10 bio, 8 verbal, 9 physical science.
GPA: 3.147 cumulative, 2.85 Science GPA
Research: I spent a year and a half working at a cardiovascular research lab at Yale conducting my own research projects.
Clinical: I have not had much clinical exposure, just a few times traveling with my research professor to visit patients.

I just started the process of setting up phone conferences with every school that I was rejected from in order to figure out how best to improve my application. So far the conferences have been helpful, but not comprehensive. I don't know any specific paths or programs available.

I need to know my options. What types of paths can I follow that end up with an acceptance letter? I know that there are many different routes that end in a medical degree but I am not sure what they are specifically. Are there programs that .guarantee a spot in medicine if you maintain a certain GPA? Should I retake my pre-reqs? ..Are there any Medical Science Prep. programs or courses that would be helpful? What information was helpful to you if you were rejected from medical school?

My plan so far (which is by no means fully formed) is to get into a masters program in anatomy, physiology, or some other heavy science degree. Then retake the MCAT and do a year or more of volunteering in a clinical setting.

Are Caribbean medical schools worth looking into? Will residency be a problem?

What information do you need from me to better advise on my situation?

 

[lftbndlbrnchblk]

Don't do Carib. Yes, residency will be difficult to obtain and it's kind of a gamble. Go and do a one year master's. Find time to volunteer, shadow, get letters, write a PS. Do it all before that MCAT expires in three years. Re-apply early (think May or June as your month where you say, I need to get ready with my stuff!) and include DO. If your grad GPA is high 3.7-4.0 (as it should since these master's inflate their GPAs big time), you'll have a great shot at DO. If you can re-take any classes that you've gotten a C in, that would be helpful for DO. Your GPA could go through the roof with the grade replacement deal, which the MDs don't have. Re-take the MCAT to 33+ and you might have a shot at MD. Basically, the science needs to be a floating at around 3.3 or 3.4 to get into DO and 3.5 or 3.6 for MD. Cum GPA is usually about the same or higher. I think you got rejected because of low GPA and next to no clinical experience.

 

[flodhi1]

It is my first time posting here. I suppose it would have been a better idea to have made an account on this site and found out everything before applying and being rejected, but here I am.

My stats are:
MCAT: 27, 10 bio, 8 verbal, 9 physical science.
GPA: 3.147 cumulative, 2.85 Science GPA
Research: I spent a year and a half working at a cardiovascular research lab at Yale conducting my own research projects.
Clinical: I have not had much clinical exposure, just a few times traveling with my research professor to visit patients.

I just started the process of setting up phone conferences with every school that I was rejected from in order to figure out how best to improve my application. So far the conferences have been helpful, but not comprehensive. I don't know any specific paths or programs available.

I need to know my options. What types of paths can I follow that end up with an acceptance letter? I know that there are many different routes that end in a medical degree but I am not sure what they are specifically. Are there programs that .guarantee a spot in medicine if you maintain a certain GPA? Should I retake my pre-reqs? ..Are there any Medical Science Prep. programs or courses that would be helpful? What information was helpful to you if you were rejected from medical school?

My plan so far (which is by no means fully formed) is to get into a masters program in anatomy, physiology, or some other heavy science degree. Then retake the MCAT and do a year or more of volunteering in a clinical setting.

Are Caribbean medical schools worth looking into? Will residency be a problem?

What information do you need from me to better advise on my situation?

MCAT:- Two sections don't really have an impressive score (VR, PS)
GPA:- sGPA needs a lot of work
Clinical:- Need a lot more hours

I think this seems pretty obvious to me? and did you apply to D.O schools?

 

[StephenMaturin]

It is my first time posting here. I suppose it would have been a better idea to have made an account on this site and found out everything before applying and being rejected, but here I am.

My stats are:
MCAT: 27, 10 bio, 8 verbal, 9 physical science.
GPA: 3.147 cumulative, 2.85 Science GPA
Research: I spent a year and a half working at a cardiovascular research lab at Yale conducting my own research projects.
Clinical: I have not had much clinical exposure, just a few times traveling with my research professor to visit patients.

I just started the process of setting up phone conferences with every school that I was rejected from in order to figure out how best to improve my application. So far the conferences have been helpful, but not comprehensive. I don't know any specific paths or programs available.

I need to know my options. What types of paths can I follow that end up with an acceptance letter? I know that there are many different routes that end in a medical degree but I am not sure what they are specifically. Are there programs that .guarantee a spot in medicine if you maintain a certain GPA? Should I retake my pre-reqs? ..Are there any Medical Science Prep. programs or courses that would be helpful? What information was helpful to you if you were rejected from medical school?

My plan so far (which is by no means fully formed) is to get into a masters program in anatomy, physiology, or some other heavy science degree. Then retake the MCAT and do a year or more of volunteering in a clinical setting.

Are Caribbean medical schools worth looking into? Will residency be a problem?

What information do you need from me to better advise on my situation?

OP, I think MD schools are a long shot if not impossible for you unless you have a very forgiving state school or are URM. It's up to you of course, but why waste the time and money on a masters program when you'll still only have a minuscule chance of getting in? Just apply DO right now and you'll be starting medical school next fall.

https://www.aamc.org/download/157958/data/table25-w-mcatgpa-grid-white-0810.pdf.pdf

 

[gman33]

Check out the FAQs in this forum.
There are very comprehensive discussions of all of your questions.

In short, your gpa and mcat are just not competitive for MD schools.
You can try a SMP program. Some of them have linkages directly into med school if you maintain a certain gpa.

 

[TwinsFan]

With a 3.1 cGPA, a 2.8 sGPA, a mediocre MCAT and no clinical experience virtually no schools will look at you, MD or DO.

You need clinical experience to see if it's really what you want to do and a 3.8+ gpa post bacc to get over the 3.0 hump and prove you can handle med school. With these two things you have a shot a some DO schools and maybe a state school, but not a great shot.

If you are willing to invest more time you could do the post bacc to get over a 3.0, study your butt off for the MCAT and get 30+, then do an SMP with a high gpa and you would have a shot at a variety of schools. Keep in mind this whole time you should be getting clinical and shadowing experience.

 

[SoccerDocker]

It is my first time posting here. I suppose it would have been a better idea to have made an account on this site and found out everything before applying and being rejected, but here I am.

My stats are:
MCAT: 27, 10 bio, 8 verbal, 9 physical science.
GPA: 3.147 cumulative, 2.85 Science GPA
Research: I spent a year and a half working at a cardiovascular research lab at Yale conducting my own research projects.
Clinical: I have not had much clinical exposure, just a few times traveling with my research professor to visit patients.

I just started the process of setting up phone conferences with every school that I was rejected from in order to figure out how best to improve my application. So far the conferences have been helpful, but not comprehensive. I don't know any specific paths or programs available.

I need to know my options. What types of paths can I follow that end up with an acceptance letter? I know that there are many different routes that end in a medical degree but I am not sure what they are specifically. Are there programs that .guarantee a spot in medicine if you maintain a certain GPA? Should I retake my pre-reqs? Are there any Medical Science Prep. programs or courses that would be helpful? What information was helpful to you if you were rejected from medical school?

My plan so far (which is by no means fully formed) is to get into a masters program in anatomy, physiology, or some other heavy science degree. Then retake the MCAT and do a year or more of volunteering in a clinical setting.

Are Caribbean medical schools worth looking into? Will residency be a problem?

What information do you need from me to better advise on my situation?

 

[chidoman]

.

 

[NameHere1]

Holy moley, thats a lot of replies so fast! First and foremost, thank you all for your help!

Iftbndlbrnchblk - I got a C in Genetics and first semester Organic Chemistry, I will look into retaking those two courses. What does DO stand for and if I do a DO program instead of an MD what is the catch? Also, I didn't know that masters programs inflate their student's GPAs, is that a widespread practice (I live in CT)?

Also, I think you are right about being rejected for GPA and no clinical experience. Several of the schools I talked to over the last few days mentioned those problems.

As for clinical experience, what do you recommend I do to complete that part of the application? Should I shadow a doctor for a year? Try get a paid internship, or other paid job? Also how many hour a week should I volunteer?

flodhi1 - yes, I think you are spot on with the problem with my application. I did not apply to a D.O. school to the best of my knowledge, I applied to just over 30 schools. How is a D.O. degree different from an MD?

StephenMaturin - yes I saw that chart in my MCAT book when I was applying. Pretty dismal stats there. Why would my chances be minuscule if I completed a master's program and came out of it with a 3.8 and added a year or more of clinical exposure to my resume?

And again, what is a DO school?? 🙂

gman33 - I will definitely read over those FAQ's I figured I would start the ball rolling from now though instead of being a forum lurker, and then go back and read them. What does SMP stand for?

TwinsFan - can you give some examples of some clinical experiences I should be looking into?

SoccerDocker - yea, the MCAT really killed me I think. I was surprised because after I took it I felt like I really did well, then when the score came back I was left completely shocked. Would a biology masters be useful?

chidoman - Thanks for the encouragement, its good to know that there is still a bit of hope.

 

[nebratu]

do schools

sorry, don't want to be a d1ck, but searching isn't that difficult

 

[TwinsFan]

You need to find out what being a doc is about through clinical experiences such as hospital volunteering (ER and hospice are good), shadowing, possibly becoming an EMT, and find a free clinic to help at. Free clinics offer a lot and really have need, I would start there.

 

[flatearth22]

Wow....where to begin?


1) Do post-bac...I'd say at least 2 years of full courseload (emphasis on biomedical science classes). Need to basically get all A's TBH

2) While doing the post-bac study for MCAT re-tale like your life depended on it. Also find consistent clinical experience. To be competitive for MD with your stats I say you need to hit 12 on all sections. For DO hit 9 or 10 for all sections.

3) re-Apply EARLY (complete by August) and BROADLY (lots of schools - MD, DO, in-state, out of state) and SMARTLY (do thorough research on MSAR)

 

[ucsfstudents]

Work on your GPA via graduate school or extra courses and a post-bac program. Chances are your GPA is closing a lot of doors.

 

[flodhi1]

Everyone is ranting about DO schools when the OP doesn't even know what the hell they are.
OP you need to go to google and look up Osteopathic medical schools (D.O).
Long story short D.O = M.D they are the same exact thing it's just that with your stats it would be easier to get into D.O schools not a walk in the park but just easier their GPAs are close to 3.4 and their MCAT scores are close to 27-28.
Allopathic schools (M.D) are close to 3.6 and MCAT score of 31 which you are pretty far from in both dimensions.

 

[NameHere1]

I was also advised by one of the admissions people (this morning) to do post-bac grade enhancing course work for the next two years to bring up my science GPA rather then do a masters degree. After the phone call with the admissions lady I called Southern State University since it is pretty close to where I live, but none of the admissions people seem to have an idea what I am talking about. I sent an email to the pre-medical adviser asking for his help on the matter, but since I sent the email only a few minutes ago I don't have a reply yet.

Is the post-bac coursework offered in a "program" where the institution has a pre-arranged package of courses that you take to improve or is post-bac work up to me to choose the right courses?

 

[flodhi1]

I was also advised by one of the admissions people (this morning) to do post-bac grade enhancing course work for the next two years to bring up my science GPA rather then do a masters degree. After the phone call with the admissions lady I called Southern State University since it is pretty close to where I live, but none of the admissions people seem to have an idea what I am talking about. I sent an email to the pre-medical adviser asking for his help on the matter, but since I sent the email only a few minutes ago I don't have a reply yet.

Is the post-bac coursework offered in a "program" where the institution has a pre-arranged package of courses that you take to improve or is post-bac work up to me to choose the right courses?

Many schools have post-bacc where yes you are giving a wide variety of courses that you select but it's not too wide. These schools tend to have guidelines on what you should be taking or should not be taking. Of course the school advisors would help you. Instead of going a HUGE 2 year post bacc route, I would honestly suggest you look into D.O schools 👍

 

[peppy]

Wiki has a decent summary of the DO school thing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteopathic_medicine_in_the_United_States

Not to mention that there is a forum on here for people hoping to go to DO school:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=13

The nice thing about applying to DO schools is that, unlike the MD schools, if you retake a class and do better, the DO schools will replace your original grade with the new grade in their GPA calculations. That makes it a lot easier to raise your GPA if you run into problems with them because of your GPA. Personally, I think the DO route would be the way to go for you.
DOs can do everything an MD can. The only real downside to being a DO is just that a lot of people don't know what a DO is (but even that doesn't matter that muc).

 

[dragonfly99]

The most important thing you need to do is get more clinical experience to see if this is really what you want to do.

After that (or during) you need to retake more upper level undergrad science courses to raise your GPA. I think it's honestly going to be very hard for you to get into a US MD school. It's going to take at least 2-3 years of hard work, I would think, and be depenent on you improving both your GPA and your MCAT a lot. It would be quicker to go to a DO school, but I don't think you'll get in without significant more clinical experience. Another alternative would be to go to an Irish, Australian or Caribbean medical school, but I think it would be easier to get a residency if you go to a good solid DO school.