Should I apply to med school in 2020 or take gap year? (cGPA 3.65/sGPA 3.5/521)

[madguru]

Hey guys! I'm a current junior trying to figure out my life. Note that all numbers are estimates of what they'll be at start of 2020 application cycle.

• cGPA 3.65 and sGPA 3.5 (strong upward trend w/ 3.2 freshman year, 3.75 sophomore year)
• MCAT 521 (131/132/127/131) --> retaking in January bc B/B was rough
• State of residence: IN
• Ethnicity/race: South Asian female
• Undergrad: T20
• Clinical experience: unpaid clinical research assistant (~200 hrs)
• Research experience: Clinical research at a private practice (~200 hrs), clinical research at university medical center (~120 hrs), bioinformatics research (~100 hrs + published paper)
• Shadowing experience: 50 hours w/ cardiologist, spine/pain specialist, and ER doctors
• Non-clinical volunteering: health education at local high school (~50 hrs), tutoring middle schoolers in math/science (~50 hrs), miscellaneous for service oriented club (~30 hrs)
• Other extracurricular activities (keeping it vague on purpose): organized event for X00+ people (leadership position), CS club (leadership position), teaching assistant (finance and statistics), venture capital club, consulting program, peer ambassador, medical service club
• Relevant honors/awards: Dean's list
• Anything else: I'm a finance + healthcare management major (which is why I've had such a hard time fixing my subpar sGPA) and will likely be working in finance/business this summer - would like to do an MD/MBA OR get an MBA later on down the road

I know I don't have a lot of clinical/research experience, and my grades aren't great, but this is where I'm at. I'd prefer to not take a gap year, but should I consider it? What sorts of schools should I be looking at? If I do take a gap year, what should I do/how can I improve my application?

I appreciate feedback/advice!

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[HappyPerson]

I think with your current stats you should be a competitive applicant for MD schools such as Wayne State, William Beaumont School of Medicine, University of Toledo, etc. I do think you should spend your senior year committed to a single EC such as volunteering. If you do want to take a gap year, consider programs such as teach for America (2 years), peace corps, etc. anything that would stand out when applying.

 

[bluepeony]

Hey guys! I'm a current junior trying to figure out my life. Note that all numbers are estimates of what they'll be at start of 2020 application cycle.

• cGPA 3.65 and sGPA 3.5 (strong upward trend w/ 3.2 freshman year, 3.75 sophomore year)
• MCAT 521 (131/132/127/131) --> retaking in January bc B/B was rough
• State of residence: IN
• Ethnicity/race: South Asian female
• Undergrad: T20
• Clinical experience: unpaid clinical research assistant (~200 hrs)
• Research experience: Clinical research at a private practice (~200 hrs), clinical research at university medical center (~120 hrs), bioinformatics research (~100 hrs + published paper)
• Shadowing experience: 50 hours w/ cardiologist, spine/pain specialist, and ER doctors
• Non-clinical volunteering: health education at local high school (~50 hrs), tutoring middle schoolers in math/science (~50 hrs), miscellaneous for service oriented club (~30 hrs)
• Other extracurricular activities (keeping it vague on purpose): organized event for X00+ people (leadership position), CS club (leadership position), teaching assistant (finance and statistics), venture capital club, consulting program, peer ambassador, medical service club
• Relevant honors/awards: Dean's list
• Anything else: I'm a finance + healthcare management major (which is why I've had such a hard time fixing my subpar sGPA) and will likely be working in finance/business this summer - would like to do an MD/MBA OR get an MBA later on down the road

I know I don't have a lot of clinical/research experience, and my grades aren't great, but this is where I'm at. I'd prefer to not take a gap year, but should I consider it? What sorts of schools should I be looking at? If I do take a gap year, what should I do/how can I improve my application?

I appreciate feedback/advice!

Dont retake the MCAT!

 

[madguru]

Dont retake the MCAT!

My premed advisor is actually the one who told me to retake, but I've been having doubts about it too! She said it would look bad for me to have a B/B thats ~75th percentile when my sGPA is already on the low side - should I not be concerned about this?

 

[bluepeony]

My premed advisor is actually the one who told me to retake, but I've been having doubts about it too! She said it would look bad for me to have a B/B thats ~75th percentile when my sGPA is already on the low side - should I not be concerned about this?

Yes, do not retake because it's already a 99th percentile score. It would look really bad if you get the same or lower score. You’re better off spending that time improving the intangible parts of your app.

 

[ihoop24]

Your advisor is an idiot. Please don't retake a 521.

 

[ihoop24]

Also, your clinical experience is very minimal. Clinical research =/= clinical experience. Do something like volunteering at a hospital, hospice, free clinic, etc. Also, your non clinical volunteering is a little low. Pick one activity, preferably with the underserved, and stick with it.

 

[Faha]

You do not need to retake the MCAT. You do need 200+ hours of clinical volunteering or employment with patient contact before you apply. A gap year would be a good idea since your senior grades would be on your application.
I suggest these schools with your stats:
Indiana
Western Michigan
Wayne State
Oakland Beaumont
Tufts
Vermont
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Pittsburgh
Case Western
Cincinnati
Jefferson
George Washington
USF-Morsani
Washington University
Tulane
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Kaiser

 

[Dr panda]

My premed advisor is actually the one who told me to retake, but I've been having doubts about it too! She said it would look bad for me to have a B/B thats ~75th percentile when my sGPA is already on the low side - should I not be concerned about this?

Bring that DA to this forum and we will give em a hard time!

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

I'd recommend a gap year so you can put (hopefully strong) senior year grades on your application and get more clinical and nonclinical volunteering. As you are now, you're a decently strong applicant if that clinical research assistant job involved extensive patient contact, although your GPA may keep you out of the top 20. If you got strong senior grades plus more volunteering, you might stand a better chance.

Don't retake the MCAT. A 127 on one section with a 521 total score doesn't warrant a retake. Your advisor was so misinformed as to be almost malicious.

 

[madguru]

You do not need to retake the MCAT. You do need 200+ hours of clinical volunteering or employment with patient contact before you apply. A gap year would be a good idea since your senior grades would be on your application.
I suggest these schools with your stats:
Indiana
Western Michigan
Wayne State
Oakland Beaumont
Tufts
Vermont
Hofstra
Einstein
Rochester
Pittsburgh
Case Western
Cincinnati
Jefferson
George Washington
USF-Morsani
Washington University
Tulane
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Kaiser

Thank you, having a list like this is very helpful!

Quick clarification, there are a few schools on here that I really thought would be reaches for me (Pittsburgh, Kaiser, Case Western, and especially WashU, assuming you meant the one in St. Louis) - is there a reason these are on here that I'm missing?

edit: fixed typo lol

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Quick clarification, here are a few schools on here that I really thought would be reaches for me (Pittsburgh, Kaiser, Case Western, and especially WashU, assuming you meant the one in St. Louis) - is there a reason these are on here that I'm missing?

I'm guessing it's the sky-high MCAT, madguru.

 

[Faha]

Washington University loves high MCAT scores-and so do the others.

 

[Kirby Smart]

Good lord whatever you do don't retake a 521...

The way I see it, you could apply next cycle and probably squeak into a "lower tier" school like one of your state schools with that awesome MCAT score being really the only compelling thing about your application, or you could take a gap year and really get involved in a good clinical experience or two and also do more volunteering and be a shoe in to those schools + very competitive at some T40+ level schools.