Riddle me this, and...

[ddukbokeeboi]

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LEND ME THINE AID, SDN!

bio: TX resident. After high school, spent 3 years in the West Bank teaching English thru an NGO. Recently graduated from top 5 school with a degree in Bio. First college grad within immediate family.

the stats: 2.9 sGPA, 3.2 cGPA, 30 MCAT (2nd try, even distribution)

EC's: Besides my time abroad, I was a summer intern in Project Healthcare (~200 hours with exposure to almost every department in the hospital, small research component), was an active member in my school's taekwondo team (4 time medalist in eastern collegiate conference) and now serve as an instructor.

LOR's: one from Project Healthcare (average), two from professors (good)

the problem: Obviously, I didn't apply myself enough/was not ready for the rigorous coursework offered by my school. It didn't help that I was in a toxic relationship, but I won't whine.

the solution: I hope to shadow a DO/MD in the upcoming weeks. Securing a job in clinical research for the upcoming gap year. Currently taking a couple upper div classes, but it's not enough to get my sGPA over 3.0

what next? I would prefer not to do an SMP, as my undergrad was quite costly. Should I retake the MCAT and try to raise it a few points? Perhaps, take a few more classes over the summer while working full time to get sGPA to 3.0? Forget MD* (even as a TX resident)?

I've thus bared my soul. I appreciate any and all comments. Thank you!

*btw, i do not have any bias against DOs. A good friend of mine is in DO school and I'm genuinely interested in pursuing that as a viable option. So no drama plz.

(insert obligatory emoji) 😛😎🙂😀😉🙄

 

[Unzbuzzled]

LEND ME THINE AID, SDN!

bio: TX resident. After high school, spent 3 years in the West Bank teaching English thru an NGO. Recently graduated from top 5 school with a degree in Bio. First college grad within immediate family.

the stats: 2.9 sGPA, 3.2 cGPA, 30 MCAT (2nd try, even distribution)

EC's: Besides my time abroad, I was a summer intern in Project Healthcare (~200 hours with exposure to almost every department in the hospital, small research component), was an active member in my school's taekwondo team (4 time medalist in eastern collegiate conference) and now serve as an instructor.

LOR's: one from Project Healthcare (average), two from professors (good)

the problem: Obviously, I didn't apply myself enough/was not ready for the rigorous coursework offered by my school. It didn't help that I was in a toxic relationship, but I won't whine.

the solution: I hope to shadow a DO/MD in the upcoming weeks. Securing a job in clinical research for the upcoming gap year. Currently taking a couple upper div classes, but it's not enough to get my sGPA over 3.0

what next? I would prefer not to do an SMP, as my undergrad was quite costly. Should I retake the MCAT and try to raise it a few points? Perhaps, take a few more classes over the summer while working full time to get sGPA to 3.0? Forget MD* (even as a TX resident)?

I've thus bared my soul. I appreciate any and all comments. Thank you!

*btw, i do not have any bias against DOs. A good friend of mine is in DO school and I'm genuinely interested in pursuing that as a viable option. So no drama plz.

(insert obligatory emoji) 😛😎🙂😀😉🙄

Decent experiences and MCAT, very uncompetitive grades. The top 5 undergrad and Project Healthcare bit looks great on paper, but that won't be enough to offset your 2.9 GPA unfortunately. If you want an MD, you'll need to do an SMP. No med school, including your state schools will even consider a 2.9, in fact they may automatically screen you out before they even see your file. Do an SMP and get As and Bs. You might get into a DO school as is, but that is not guaranteed even if you use a shotgun approach and apply all over the place. And don't attempt the Caribbean.

SMPs are still accepting for this fall. You could be an M1 in Aug of next year if you apply now and only $60,000 further in the hole. Sounds like a lot of money but it will all come out in the wash, especially if you don't see yourself in any other career. I'd start with EVMS, RFUMS, Drexel, UCinn, GWU, and BU in that order.

Best of luck!

 

[tpsreport]

Decent experiences and MCAT, very uncompetitive grades. The top 5 undergrad and Project Healthcare bit looks great on paper, but that won't be enough to offset your 2.9 GPA unfortunately. If you want an MD, you'll need to do an SMP. No med school, including your state schools will even consider a 2.9, in fact they may automatically screen you out before they even see your file. Do an SMP and get As and Bs. You might get into a DO school as is, but that is not guaranteed even if you use a shotgun approach and apply all over the place. And don't attempt the Caribbean.

SMPs are still accepting for this fall. You could be an M1 in Aug of next year if you apply now and only $60,000 further in the hole. Sounds like a lot of money but it will all come out in the wash, especially if you don't see yourself in any other career. I'd start with EVMS, RFUMS, Drexel, UCinn, GWU, and BU in that order.

Best of luck!

I agree with EVMS, Rosalind Franklin, and UCinn since they're linked programs, but the deadlines for those programs are fast approaching/may have passed. I remember looking into these programs a few years back and remembering how early they were compared to the other rolling SMPs. I'd put BU and Georgetown over GWU and Drexel for sure. NYMC also has one that sends almost their entire master's class to their med school (but it's only about 15 people). I think the linked programs and NYMC would be a good fit for OP if he/she can still apply.

Otherwise I would opt Georgetown Physiology = BU MAMS > Drexel=Tufts=GWU

I went to BU MAMS myself and benefited immensely. Price-wise they're pretty much all the same. Expect neither aid nor scholarship for these types of programs

 

[235009]

if you are absolutely opposed to going the SMP route (which I think is your best bet if you can get in though i feel that MCAT may not be high enough) you should retake science courses you did particularly poorly in so you can take advantage of DO grade replacement. forget the upper division courses. you should then focus your app on DO schools and feel free to throw an app at your TX state schools and see how that goes but don't expect anything.

 

[DokterMom]

North Texas DO is a great school and very well regarded. Grade-replacement could get you a good shot there...

 

[Goro]

Even with a 45 on the MCAT, you will not get interviews with that GPA. For DO programs, which will be your best bet, re-taking any F/D/C science courses will do wonders for your GPA. Get it >3.0 and you'll have a shot.

LEND ME THINE AID, SDN!

bio: TX resident. After high school, spent 3 years in the West Bank teaching English thru an NGO. Recently graduated from top 5 school with a degree in Bio. First college grad within immediate family.

the stats: 2.9 sGPA, 3.2 cGPA, 30 MCAT (2nd try, even distribution)

EC's: Besides my time abroad, I was a summer intern in Project Healthcare (~200 hours with exposure to almost every department in the hospital, small research component), was an active member in my school's taekwondo team (4 time medalist in eastern collegiate conference) and now serve as an instructor.

LOR's: one from Project Healthcare (average), two from professors (good)

the problem: Obviously, I didn't apply myself enough/was not ready for the rigorous coursework offered by my school. It didn't help that I was in a toxic relationship, but I won't whine.

the solution: I hope to shadow a DO/MD in the upcoming weeks. Securing a job in clinical research for the upcoming gap year. Currently taking a couple upper div classes, but it's not enough to get my sGPA over 3.0

what next? I would prefer not to do an SMP, as my undergrad was quite costly. Should I retake the MCAT and try to raise it a few points? Perhaps, take a few more classes over the summer while working full time to get sGPA to 3.0? Forget MD* (even as a TX resident)?

I've thus bared my soul. I appreciate any and all comments. Thank you!

*btw, i do not have any bias against DOs. A good friend of mine is in DO school and I'm genuinely interested in pursuing that as a viable option. So no drama plz.

(insert obligatory emoji) 😛😎🙂😀😉🙄

 

[ddukbokeeboi]

Thank you all for the responses. Luckily, the deadlines for most of the SMPs have not passed. I'll take a look at those.

Also, grade replacement during this summer might be a good idea for me. As I understand it, the course name and number of credits must match if taken at a different school, correct?

If I take that route, would I still be able to apply to DO schools early (June-ish) and send them an updated transcript around August?

 

[Goro]

For this fall, no. For next fall, certainly.


If I take that route, would I still be able to apply to DO schools early (June-ish) and send them an updated transcript around August?[/QUOTE]

 

[RUcereus]

UNTHSC-TCOM does NOT grade replace as it is part of TMDSAS.

 

[ddukbokeeboi]

UNTHSC-TCOM does NOT grade replace as it is part of TMDSAS.

this is sad news, indeed.

 

[ddukbokeeboi]

Even with a 45 on the MCAT, you will not get interviews with that GPA. For DO programs, which will be your best bet, re-taking any F/D/C science courses will do wonders for your GPA. Get it >3.0 and you'll have a shot.

Just a quick update, I followed Goro's advice. This past summer, I retook two courses and got A's on them, effectively raising my sGPA above 3.0. The day before Thanksgiving, I received my first acceptance to TouroCOM, where I'll likely be matriculating.

I didn't think it was possible, but I'm going to med school!! Thank you guys!!

 

[Goro]

That's great!!! I am very happy to hear this great news.
Which Touro?

Just a quick update, I followed Goro's advice. This past summer, I retook two courses and got A's on them, effectively raising my sGPA above 3.0. The day before Thanksgiving, I received my first acceptance to TouroCOM, where I'll likely be matriculating.

I didn't think it was possible, but I'm going to med school!! Thank you guys!!

 

[ddukbokeeboi]

That's great!!! I am very happy to hear this great news.
Which Touro?

Touro in Harlem, which is great since it's near where I currently reside 🙂