Secondary Stress

[Ssan0417]

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I've recently applied for this application cycle and as of right now I've been denied, in review, or haven't been even given a supplementary. My cumulative GPA is a 3.73, but my science is a 2.91. My MCAT score is 492 (488 first time) and I really don't want to take the MCAT again. I've applied to 12 schools (6 DO and 6 MD) and I really don't know what I'm going to do if I don't at least get an interview. I've spent the last 2 years post undergrad getting my science GPA up, shadowing a family practice and a geriatric doctor for 100 hours each and have spent 2.5 years working at a homeless shelter. 100 hours volunteering in the emergency department and 100 hours being a research assistant. As of right now, I've been denied from 3 DO schools, have 3 more in supplementary review, and 2 MD schools in supplementary review. I'm debating whether it's worth my time doing the rest of my apps because at this rate I'm probably going to get denied anyway, but I don't want to sit around another year to try it again.

Indiana U - no response
U of I - no response
Loyola - supplementary review
MCW - Haven't submitted
Northwestern - supp. review
Rush - nothing
SIU - nothing
Pritzker - not submitted
U of Cincinnati - not submitted
AT Still Kirk - supp review
AT Still Arizona - denied
Ohiio U - denied
Midwest Chicago- supp review
Midwest Arizona - denied
Lincoln Memorial - supp review

 

[sixersfan]

@Goro

 

[Seihai]

I've recently applied for this application cycle and as of right now I've been denied, in review, or haven't been even given a supplementary. My cumulative GPA is a 3.73, but my science is a 2.91. My MCAT score is 492 (488 first time) and I really don't want to take the MCAT again. I've applied to 12 schools (6 DO and 6 MD) and I really don't know what I'm going to do if I don't at least get an interview. I've spent the last 2 years post undergrad getting my science GPA up, shadowing a family practice and a geriatric doctor for 100 hours each and have spent 2.5 years working at a homeless shelter. 100 hours volunteering in the emergency department and 100 hours being a research assistant. As of right now, I've been denied from 3 DO schools, have 3 more in supplementary review, and 2 MD schools in supplementary review. I'm debating whether it's worth my time doing the rest of my apps because at this rate I'm probably going to get denied anyway, but I don't want to sit around another year to try it again.

Indiana U - no response
U of I - no response
Loyola - supplementary review
MCW - Haven't submitted
Northwestern - supp. review
Rush - nothing
SIU - nothing
Pritzker - not submitted
U of Cincinnati - not submitted
AT Still Kirk - supp review
AT Still Arizona - denied
Ohiio U - denied
Midwest Chicago- supp review
Midwest Arizona - denied
Lincoln Memorial - supp review

Your science GPA is likely to get you screened at the vast majority of MD schools. It is also possibly too low for DO schools. For reference, the DO average sGPA is fairly high (3.56 sGPA with a standard deviation of 0.26 for the average matriculant). Your sGPA puts you in the ~0.6th percentile of all matriculants.

Your MCAT is very low (a 492 is the 23rd percentile). Your MCAT will kill you at every MD school I can think of (you fall far below the 10th percentile at almost every MD school). I don't know what the 10th percentiles are for DO, but the average DO matriculant had an MCAT score of 503.83 with a standard deviation of 5.21. For reference, that MCAT score puts you in the ~1st percentile of all DO matriculants.

The data I got is here: https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-...-profile-summary-report.pdf?sfvrsn=28753a97_8.

The percentiles I calculated for sGPA and MCAT are using basic statistics assuming a normal distribution for sGPA and MCAT scores. Take them with a grain of salt - they're essentially back of the hand calculations that assume normality where normality might not exist.

You need to strongly reconsider applying this cycle. @Goro has a guide here explaining what you can do in your gap years if you do decide to take them: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

You may not want to take the MCAT again, but you will likely have to as well as take multiple postbacc courses to try to bring your sGPA up to a more competitive range.

 

[Ssan0417]

Your science GPA is likely to get you screened at the vast majority of MD schools. It is also possibly too low for DO schools. For reference, the DO average sGPA is fairly high (3.56 sGPA with a standard deviation of 0.26 for the average matriculant). Your sGPA puts you in the ~0.6th percentile of all matriculants.

Your MCAT is very low (a 492 is the 23rd percentile). Your MCAT will kill you at every MD school I can think of (you fall far below the 10th percentile at almost every MD school). I don't know what the 10th percentiles are for DO, but the average DO matriculant had an MCAT score of 503.83 with a standard deviation of 5.21. For reference, that MCAT score puts you in the ~1st percentile of all DO matriculants.

The data I got is here: https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-...-profile-summary-report.pdf?sfvrsn=28753a97_8.

The percentiles I calculated for sGPA and MCAT are using basic statistics assuming a normal distribution for sGPA and MCAT scores. Take them with a grain of salt - they're essentially back of the hand calculations that assume normality where normality might not exist.

You need to strongly reconsider applying this cycle. @Goro has a guide here explaining what you can do in your gap years if you do decide to take them: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

You may not want to take the MCAT again, but you will likely have to as well as take multiple postbacc courses to try to bring your sGPA up to a more competitive range.

So I planned on taking biochem and a molecular bio class if I just so happened to get an interview and accepted. Since my MCAT is basically trash, should I just take it after these courses??? Should I volunteer, research, or shadow more as well??

 

[Seihai]

So I planned on taking biochem and a molecular bio class if I just so happened to get an interview and accepted. Since my MCAT is basically trash, should I just take it after these courses??? Should I volunteer, research, or shadow more as well??

You should look at the guide I linked in that post - it addresses all of these questions. The guide comes from an adcom who is infinitely more well-versed in these matters than I ever could be, and I can't summarize it well enough while keeping all of the information the same quality.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Save your money. I’m very sorry but you have absolutely no chance this year of an acceptance. Speak to your school about an smp program. That’s your best shot. If you can’t get into that or can’t handle it, then it’s just time to move on.

 

[ciestar]

Your school list is terrible. You have schools on there with median MCAT scores in the high 510’s.

Your MCAT isnt one that can get you an acceptance. Your sgpa is under a 3. You need to retake the mcat and get your spga over a 3.0.

Tbh, you shouldnt have applied at all

 

[Schwifty]

OP I’m sorry about your situation, but you have no shot of an acceptance with your MCAT/sGPA, you shouldn’t have applied, but that’s besides to point now. You need to do a postbacc or smp with linkage. Also, you have to retake the MCAT, I’m sorry, it sucks, but with a 488 and 492 on your record your chances are not good. You need to be over 500 to even have a shot at this point, and that would be with a sGPA over 3.0. I’m not trying to be harsh here, but the odds are not in your favor. If you can’t get your gpa up and have your next MCAT be over 500 (preferably over 505) it would be time to consider another career.

 

[dial1010usa]

Don't waste your time and money till you bring your sGPA to 3.0 and MCAT 500.

 

[Kardio]

Hi OP. It seems like you're feeling heart-broken with the results of your applications. It makes sense to feel devasted, especially considering the effort you've put in since graduating college. It was brave of you to come on here and post your story and try to resolve your problem.

Your cGPA is great. Can you provide year-by-year breakdown of your sGPA? Your sGPA is low - but trends can tell a story not captured in the final number. An upward trend might make your sub-3.0 sGPA acceptable.

Like @Seihai beautifully pointed out, your MCAT is really hurting your application - ~99% of current DO students scored higher. I'm hesitant to use expressions like "not a chance," but you're not looking great for MD or DO.

It might be worth it to spend a year getting more clinical experience, taking courses to bring your sGPA over a 3.0, and really rocking the MCAT. It's not going to be easy, but a conscientous premed makes for a conscientous physician. And that's what patients deserve.

If you can draw up some motivation to push yourself through one more year, you could become that doctor. If not, there are thousands of other applicants who were willing to fight it through to meet the standard academic benchmarks.

Good luck

 

[Ssan0417]

Hi OP. It seems like you're feeling heart-broken with the results of your applications. It makes sense to feel devasted, especially considering the effort you've put in since graduating college. It was brave of you to come on here and post your story and try to resolve your problem.

Your cGPA is great. Can you provide year-by-year breakdown of your sGPA? Your sGPA is low - but trends can tell a story not captured in the final number. An upward trend might make your sub-3.0 sGPA acceptable.

Like @Seihai beautifully pointed out, your MCAT is really hurting your application - ~99% of current DO students scored higher. I'm hesitant to use expressions like "not a chance," but you're not looking great for MD or DO.

It might be worth it to spend a year getting more clinical experience, taking courses to bring your sGPA over a 3.0, and really rocking the MCAT. It's not going to be easy, but a conscientous premed makes for a conscientous physician. And that's what patients deserve.

If you can draw up some motivation to push yourself through one more year, you could become that doctor. If not, there are thousands of other applicants who were willing to fight it through to meet the standard academic benchmarks.

Good luck

Sure... Did great freshman year, did not take any science classes sophmore year, and juinor year I transferred to a 4 year and took several of the prereq science classes there and got destroyed by Chem and Orgo. Senior year I finished with a 2.76 science GPA. After that I took time off for the MCAT to which I bombed and then I retook two of the sciences classes I did bad in again along with an additional class and got my GPA to 2.9.

 

[Goro]

I've recently applied for this application cycle and as of right now I've been denied, in review, or haven't been even given a supplementary. My cumulative GPA is a 3.73, but my science is a 2.91. My MCAT score is 492 (488 first time) and I really don't want to take the MCAT again. I've applied to 12 schools (6 DO and 6 MD) and I really don't know what I'm going to do if I don't at least get an interview. I've spent the last 2 years post undergrad getting my science GPA up, shadowing a family practice and a geriatric doctor for 100 hours each and have spent 2.5 years working at a homeless shelter. 100 hours volunteering in the emergency department and 100 hours being a research assistant. As of right now, I've been denied from 3 DO schools, have 3 more in supplementary review, and 2 MD schools in supplementary review. I'm debating whether it's worth my time doing the rest of my apps because at this rate I'm probably going to get denied anyway, but I don't want to sit around another year to try it again.

Indiana U - no response
U of I - no response
Loyola - supplementary review
MCW - Haven't submitted
Northwestern - supp. review
Rush - nothing
SIU - nothing
Pritzker - not submitted
U of Cincinnati - not submitted
AT Still Kirk - supp review
AT Still Arizona - denied
Ohiio U - denied
Midwest Chicago- supp review
Midwest Arizona - denied
Lincoln Memorial - supp review

Either do the post-bac or SMP or switch to Plan B.

With your stats, you're not going to medical school anytime soon. Infact, no med school would be doing you any favors by admitting you when you're such high risk for failing out.

 

[deleted807068]

Your science GPA is likely to get you screened at the vast majority of MD schools. It is also possibly too low for DO schools. For reference, the DO average sGPA is fairly high (3.56 sGPA with a standard deviation of 0.26 for the average matriculant). Your sGPA puts you in the ~0.6th percentile of all matriculants.

Your MCAT is very low (a 492 is the 23rd percentile). Your MCAT will kill you at every MD school I can think of (you fall far below the 10th percentile at almost every MD school). I don't know what the 10th percentiles are for DO, but the average DO matriculant had an MCAT score of 503.83 with a standard deviation of 5.21. For reference, that MCAT score puts you in the ~1st percentile of all DO matriculants.

The data I got is here: https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-...-profile-summary-report.pdf?sfvrsn=28753a97_8.

The percentiles I calculated for sGPA and MCAT are using basic statistics assuming a normal distribution for sGPA and MCAT scores. Take them with a grain of salt - they're essentially back of the hand calculations that assume normality where normality might not exist.

You need to strongly reconsider applying this cycle. @Goro has a guide here explaining what you can do in your gap years if you do decide to take them: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

You may not want to take the MCAT again, but you will likely have to as well as take multiple postbacc courses to try to bring your sGPA up to a more competitive range.

I'd just like to say that the DO average for sGPA is not 3.56, rather, 3.43 (SD of 0.37) for matriculates. The total GPA, however, is 3.54 (SD of 0.29) so you might have mixed them up.