School list and taking the MCAT for the third time?

[BrsMD123]

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· Year in school: graduated in 2015- Biology major
· Country/state of residence: CA
· -Applying mainly to DO and maybe a few MD this upcoming cycle
· Cumulative GPA 3.5
· Science GPA 3.5
· 1st MCAT Scores: 23 (9, 5, 9)
· 2nd MCAT Score: 503 (127, 122, 130, 124)
· Research: 1.5 years in microbiology- on average 10 hours a week.
· Volunteering: 200 hours at the ER department at a busy hospital
· Physician shadowing: 0 hours right now. I am trying to find a DO to shadow.
· Non-clinical volunteering: O hours-going to be volunteering at a local community center that helps people in poverty
· Extracurricular activities: member of a small pre health club.
· Employment history: 2 years as a math tutor for middle, high school students and 3 years as science tutor on campus, manager at a small restaurant
· Immediate family members in medicine? No
· Came to the US at the age of 12. Low income.

My question is what schools would I have chance at? Would you recommend taking the MCAT the third time? I am just worried about my low Verbal, CARS section. Thanks. Any help is appreciated.

 

[MADD!!!]

You're definitely competitive for a number of DO schools, except for AZCOM, CCOM, and Coastal Touros in terms of stats. It seems like you got a 5 both times on your MCAT, so I wouldn't retake a 3rd time unless you think you can score significantly higher on it.

If you are low income and can be considered URM, then your chances of MD school go up a lot as well.

Your game plan should be as follows (in my opinion):
1. Shadow a Physician (preferably DO) immediately and get the experience and hours needed + LOR.
2. Engage in non-clinical volunteering
3. Apply at the beginning of the DO cycle.
4. Maintain your EC's and study for MCAT verbal in the meantime to see if it's possible to raise that score up. If not, you'll still be fine. Just make sure to explain your story well.

 

[exacto]

What did you get a 5 in the first time and what did you get a 122 in the second time? Also you NEEEEEED to do some Doctor shadowing... It shows that you know what the daily life of a doc entails and that you care enough to check it out firsthand.