MD & DO School list, Academic Fresh Start

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esob

Article 14
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Subpar, but balanced MCAT: 509 (126/127/127/129)
Texas Resident
Texas GPA (Academic Fresh Start) 4.0
OOS GPA: BCPM (3.84) cGPA (3.55)
- last 140+ hrs of coursework were all A's, and were all UG classes because I changed majors and had not yet earned a degree
- Over 40, but under 45 by matriculation
- Prior Military
- 7k+ paid clinical hrs
- 1k+ community service hrs (Veterans groups/hospice/food bank/habitat/tutoring)
- 100+ hrs shadowing
- Published research, but not a lot of hrs (~ 100)
- Good letters (but I guess everyone assumes this, lol), including a strong D.O. letter.
- 1st generation college, financially disadvantaged growing up, but ORM and not financially disadvantaged now


Obviously, I'm going to apply to all Texas schools. The question then becomes, what OOS schools should I apply to, or with my MCAT and OOS GPA am I dead in the water for OOS MD? I would prefer to stay in the south if possible.
- The other caveat is that I am approved for Ch. 31 VA education benefits, so I prefer a school that is eligible to receive federal benefits (not sure, but it seems like some of the new schools are not eligible yet).
- I am already applying to UIWSOM, but also want to expand my osteopathic school list.
 
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You are competitive for all DO schools. If you want to stay in the south consider all these schools:
BCOM
ACOM
ARCOM
NYIT-Arkansas
LMU-DCOM
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
LECOM-Bradenton
CUSOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
You could also add Tulane and NOVA MD for MD schools.
 
For MD schools, TX alone will have you well-covered. I'm not seeing OOS MD as a great option since your MCAT is pretty average and TX will be by a wide margin, you least expensive (hence probably also most attractive) option.

For your safeties, I'd go straight DO
 
You are competitive for all DO schools. If you want to stay in the south consider all these schools:
BCOM
ACOM
ARCOM
NYIT-Arkansas
LMU-DCOM
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
LECOM-Bradenton
CUSOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
You could also add Tulane and NOVA MD for MD schools.

Is there any reason you might not recommend EVMS? My MCAT and cGPA are within their 25th percentile and BCPM is in their 75th, and they seem to be a very military and nontrad friendly school. I know that's "sort of north" lol but the climate is still temperate enough for my old creaky bones 😀
 
For MD schools, TX alone will have you well-covered. I'm not seeing OOS MD as a great option since your MCAT is pretty average and TX will be by a wide margin, you least expensive (hence probably also most attractive) option.

For your safeties, I'd go straight DO

Expenses are less of a concern because of my Ch. 31 VA benefits, which will pay for all tuition, books, etc. Mainly I would like to know what MD programs I might still be competitive for from a holistic point of view (given that I am prior military, am technically a "reinvention" student, etc.) I know where stand statistically b/c I have the MSAR, but I would very much appreciate any information from the community that is not readily apparent from MSAR stats alone, such as MD schools that are mil friendly or nontrad friendly.
 
You are competitive for all DO schools. If you want to stay in the south consider all these schools:
BCOM
ACOM
ARCOM
NYIT-Arkansas
LMU-DCOM
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
LECOM-Bradenton
CUSOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
You could also add Tulane and NOVA MD for MD schools.

Great, how does this list sound for being broad enough?

- All the Texas Schools (10 schools, all of which I have a 4.0 GPA because of AFS)

OOS MD:
- Tulane
- Nova
- EVMS
- Wake Forest (I'm within range for them according to MSAR, and like the school and the area).

OOS DO:
- ACOM
- ARCOM
- LECOM Bradenton
- LECOM Erie (not in the south but I have family here so I would be OK with this)
- UIW SOM (not OOS, but not part of TMDSAS)


That's 19 total schools, only 1 of which is technically a reach (UTSW) and it is only a reach because of my MCAT (GPA is in the 90th percentile). Should I add more DO schools or perhaps some other northern schools like Rosalind Franklin or is this a pretty safe list?
 
Great, how does this list sound for being broad enough?

- All the Texas Schools (10 schools, all of which I have a 4.0 GPA because of AFS)

OOS MD:
- Tulane
- Nova
- EVMS
- Wake Forest (I'm within range for them according to MSAR, and like the school and the area).

OOS DO:
- ACOM
- ARCOM
- LECOM Bradenton
- LECOM Erie (not in the south but I have family here so I would be OK with this)
- UIW SOM (not OOS, but not part of TMDSAS)


That's 19 total schools, only 1 of which is technically a reach (UTSW) and it is only a reach because of my MCAT (GPA is in the 90th percentile). Should I add more DO schools or perhaps some other northern schools like Rosalind Franklin or is this a pretty safe list?
Your list is good. Apply soon and submit all your secondaries by August.
 
Your list is good. Apply soon and submit all your secondaries by August.

Thanks, TMDSAS is done and all Texas secondaries are either submitted or prewritten at this point. AMCAS is still verifying coursework and AACOMAS should be verified by the end of the week.

Thank you again for your time.
 
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