Schools known to be more "holistic" in reviewing application?

[njtrimed]

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Let me preface this by stating that I'm aware numbers are the top criteria for acceptance to all medical schools, and that I know it's for a good reason. I am also aware that I can boost my chances for allopathic schools by taking graduate classes, which I plan to do this fall, but I'm applying now anyway because life is short and I think I have a shot at getting into MD or DO this cycle.

I just took the MCAT, so I'm waiting for my scores. This is based solely on GPA. After high school, I made the mistake of leaving college without officially withdrawing, and then did poorly during the following year when I went back, leaving me with 31 credits of mostly F grades. That was a long time ago...let's just say before some of you started kindergarten. More recently, I went back and started undergrad from scratch. My cumulative and science GPAs are around a 3.7 for the last four years. For AACOMAS, that means around a 3.7 sGPA and slightly lower cGPA (around 3.63) because I didn't retake some humanities courses from the 1990s that were F/D grades. For AMCAS, however, my cGPA is 3.213, and BCPM 2.997. That puts me below the cutoff for some schools, obviously, and I'm just crossing them off my list.

I'd love to know if anyone can suggest schools may be more likely to look past those initial numbers to at least scan my application. I've been a healthcare professional for 15 years and done plenty of community service at home and abroad (which inspired me to go back to college to pursue medicine), and I have solid ECs and research experience, including publications and presentations at national conferences.

I'm fine with not going the allopathic route, which is why I'm not waiting for a year of high grades in graduate school to submit my AMCAS, but I would like to apply broadly, which means at least a dozen each MD/DO programs. I'm waiting for my MCAT scores to decide if I'll applying to Tulane, since my understanding is that they look past GPAs like mine with a solid recent MCAT. Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[Gandyy]

For a second I thought you were saying that your 3.7 was bad enough to make this post. I was about to facepalm for the 400th time at this neurotic behavior.

As for your actual question, I have no idea what MD schools look at you holistically. I'm assuming most of them do at least a little bit.

 

[ChrisMack390]

My suggestion is to take 1 more science class to push that sGPA above 3.0.

A drastic number of schools will toss a 2.9 in the trash compared to a 3.0.

Once you get a school to actually look at your file, they will see a massive upward trends and a PS/secondaries about what you learned from your past failure, and you are in business.

 

[njtrimed]

Good point. I thought I was well over a 3.0 because I had As in advanced pharmacology classes and didn't realize that they didn't count as biology courses! If I had noticed that earlier, it would've been so easy just to take a class this past spring to get over that hurdle. Will taking classes this fall help if I indicate that's the plan? Or at that point, is it better to stick to graduate classes I can apply towards a Master's degree? If that extra little bit (because one course actually will put me over a 3.0) will matter this cycle, it's worth it. But I'm thinking that if my application is going in the trash for that, it'll happen well before December? Maybe I should try contacting individual schools?

 

[gyngyn]

Good point. I thought I was well over a 3.0 because I had As in advanced pharmacology classes and didn't realize that they didn't count as biology courses! If I had noticed that earlier, it would've been so easy just to take a class this past spring to get over that hurdle. Will taking classes this fall help if I indicate that's the plan? Or at that point, is it better to stick to graduate classes I can apply towards a Master's degree? If that extra little bit (because one course actually will put me over a 3.0) will matter this cycle, it's worth it. But I'm thinking that if my application is going in the trash for that, it'll happen well before December? Maybe I should try contacting individual schools?

Grades in graduate programs will not remediate undergraduate performance.
Re-takes will be especially helpful for DO, but as noted, sub 3.0 will be hard to swallow at most MD schools.

 

[njtrimed]

Grades in graduate programs will not remediate undergraduate performance.
Re-takes will be especially helpful for DO, but as noted, sub 3.0 will be hard to swallow at most MD schools.

Yes, with retakes, my GPA for DO is competitive. Do I just skip applying MD altogether, or contact schools individually to ask this question?

 

[ChrisMack390]

What is your DO GPA with all of the re-takes factored in?

 

[gyngyn]

Yes, with retakes, my GPA for DO is competitive. Do I just skip applying MD altogether, or contact schools individually to ask this question?

If you are in a good state, public schools may be worth a try with a good MCAT.

 

[njtrimed]

With retakes factored in, for AACOMAS it's 3.69. Since AMCAS doesn't count pharmacology, my BCPM would be 3.62 if I didn't have to factor in my old transcripts.

 

[njtrimed]

If you are in a good state, public schools may be worth a try with a good MCAT.

I'm in NJ. It just occurred to me that I could probably take a summer course at a local community college just to nudge it over 3.0 and get schools to at least open my application?

 

[ChrisMack390]

With that GPA and a solid MCAT, you have your pick of DO schools.

Personally I think you have a shot at MD schools to given a very clear upwards trend. Again, that is assuming a solid MCAT.

 

[njtrimed]

Thank you! So what are your thoughts on taking an extra science class this summer if I can? Seriously, I'm so close to a 3.0 that even with 126 BCPM credits, it would still only take a single one credit course to bump me over 3.0.

EDIT: Nevermind: I can't find a summer course that would fit my schedule. My only options are to contact schools to explain my situation and see if there's an unwritten cutoff that I won't make, or just take a gamble and hope that there isn't one!

 

[ChrisMack390]

Well I suggested it, so I feel good about it 😛

Would you consider waiting an extra year and takino even more science classes? That is, unless youd be happy with DO school in which case apply ASAP and you should be all set.

 

[mehc012]

Thank you! So what are your thoughts on taking an extra science class this summer if I can? Seriously, I'm so close to a 3.0 that even with 126 BCPM credits, it would still only take a single one credit course to bump me over 3.0.

EDIT: Nevermind: I can't find a summer course that would fit my schedule. My only options are to contact schools to explain my situation and see if there's an unwritten cutoff that I won't make, or just take a gamble and hope that there isn't one!

I'd even take an online class just to bump yourself above the cutoffs. It won't help you for prereqs, sure, and it's frowned upon in general, but the auto-screens are going to be off your AMCAS gpa, which will include even online courses.

 

[njtrimed]

Well I suggested it, so I feel good about it 😛

Would you consider waiting an extra year and takino even more science classes? That is, unless youd be happy with DO school in which case apply ASAP and you should be all set.

I'm going to apply this year. The only thing that would make me hesitate to apply is if I could practically guarantee admission to the medical school (Rutgers NJMS) that's within a half hour of where we live now, because that would be ideal for my family. But from what I can gather, despite guaranteeing interviews for those with a strong MCAT and 3.5+ in their SMP, it doesn't sound like they admit too many students from that program even with 4.0 GPAs. While I'm planning to start the SMP this fall, I'm not going to wait another year based on those chances. Aside from NJMS, which is my top choice, I'm open-minded and will be happy with MD or DO.

I'd even take an online class just to bump yourself above the cutoffs. It won't help you for prereqs, sure, and it's frowned upon in general, but the auto-screens are going to be off your AMCAS gpa, which will include even online courses.

Okay, you've both convinced me; I'm looking into online classes right now! Should I still indicate on AMCAS that I am registering for whichever class I find, and submit my AMCAS with just one or two schools for now? I don't want to hold up my application, given that my stats are low!

 

[ChrisMack390]

If NJMS is ~30 minutes from your house, so is UMDNJ, right? I'd bet you have a great shot there.

I am a New Jersey applicant as well - really hoping for NJMS or Cooper.

 

[Coleworld]

All schools say they're holistic in reviewing applicants, but don't count on anything or be goaded into believing those lofty claims (this process is insanely competitive). Just do what you want to do to get everything in order.

This process is seriously depleting in every way, you don't want to be put yourself at a disadvantage in any way.

 

[mehc012]

I'm going to apply this year. The only thing that would make me hesitate to apply is if I could practically guarantee admission to the medical school (Rutgers NJMS) that's within a half hour of where we live now, because that would be ideal for my family. But from what I can gather, despite guaranteeing interviews for those with a strong MCAT and 3.5+ in their SMP, it doesn't sound like they admit too many students from that program even with 4.0 GPAs. While I'm planning to start the SMP this fall, I'm not going to wait another year based on those chances. Aside from NJMS, which is my top choice, I'm open-minded and will be happy with MD or DO.



Okay, you've both convinced me; I'm looking into online classes right now! Should I still indicate on AMCAS that I am registering for whichever class I find, and submit my AMCAS with just one or two schools for now? I don't want to hold up my application, given that my stats are low!

Oh, shoot...didn't see that you were aiming for application right now.
If you're submitting now, I wouldn't bother with it. It won't help your GPA unless you can finish before you submit, and since now is the window for submission (you don't want to be late with low stats)...no point.

When is your MCAT date? You realllly don't want to apply late with borderline stats.

 

[njtrimed]

Oh, shoot...didn't see that you were aiming for application right now.
If you're submitting now, I wouldn't bother with it. It won't help your GPA unless you can finish before you submit, and since now is the window for submission (you don't want to be late with low stats)...no point.

When is your MCAT date? You realllly don't want to apply late with borderline stats.

Gotcha. I won't bother, then. I took my MCAT 5/22. Waiting for my results before I start adding a bunch of schools to my list. I have been in touch with one MD school that says they don't have a specific cutoff, but won't look at ridiculously low (<2.5) numbers unless there's a strong MCAT and grad classes, and that with numbers near 3.0 I won't be screened out. I haven't reached out to any others, but I have seen a 3.0 cutoff for some, like Hofstra and USF, which I found listed as a "holistic review" school. I'll do a more thorough search and talk to more schools, and I'll be able to make a more informed decision about where to apply when I get my MCAT scores.

So my AMCAS is all proofread and ready to submit. What would you recommend? Submit it now with just one school selected?

 

[mehc012]

Gotcha. I won't bother, then. I took my MCAT 5/22. Waiting for my results before I start adding a bunch of schools to my list. I have been in touch with one MD school that says they don't have a specific cutoff, but won't look at ridiculously low (<2.5) numbers unless there's a strong MCAT and grad classes, and that with numbers near 3.0 I won't be screened out. I haven't reached out to any others, but I have seen a 3.0 cutoff for some, like Hofstra and USF, which I found listed as a "holistic review" school. I'll do a more thorough search and talk to more schools, and I'll be able to make a more informed decision about where to apply when I get my MCAT scores.

So my AMCAS is all proofread and ready to submit. What would you recommend? Submit it now with just one school selected?

Yup...that way your risk is minimal.

Check places like Wayne State - they have a 20 credit policy where if your GPA is low, they substitute it with your last 20credits instead.

Actually, go to the WAMC forum and search for a thread started by me...I also had low gpa, high MCAT, not exactlyt he same numbers, but similar idea. Goro and some others gave me some great schools to look into for it.

 

[njtrimed]

And should I add grad school courses for this fall even though I don't have my schedule, so at least they can see that I'm planning to take grad classes? Maybe that combined with the fact that my recent academic record being better will at least put me in the "maybe" pile? For the record, I took 46 credits senior year, most of which were pharmacology, physiology, and challenging lab courses and my senior thesis project, and my GPA for that year was 3.93.

 

[njtrimed]

Yup...that way your risk is minimal.

Check places like Wayne State - they have a 20 credit policy where if your GPA is low, they substitute it with your last 20credits instead.

Actually, go to the WAMC forum and search for a thread started by me...I also had low gpa, high MCAT, not exactlyt he same numbers, but similar idea. Goro and some others gave me some great schools to look into for it.

Wow! I had no idea! Thank you for your insight, and congrats on your amazing MCAT score! Should I post this question there too?

 

[mehc012]

Wow! I had no idea! Thank you for your insight, and congrats on your amazing MCAT score! Should I post this question there too?

You can...I'd provide more info and come up with a preliminary school list. You get more responses if you ask for opinions rather than answers.

The list I gave in mine as "rewards reinvention" was all info I was given straight from Goro, so it's pretty solid. I'd include those in your prelim list, as well as the others he mentions in my thread.

And should I add grad school courses for this fall even though I don't have my schedule, so at least they can see that I'm planning to take grad classes? Maybe that combined with the fact that my recent academic record being better will at least put me in the "maybe" pile? For the record, I took 46 credits senior year, most of which were pharmacology, physiology, and challenging lab courses and my senior thesis project, and my GPA for that year was 3.93.

Graduate courses aren't helpful. Your upward trend will be. Your goal now is to make sure you get in the door so that the adcoms have a chance to see your incredible turnaround!