Should I delay my application?

[TX_MD12]

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Hi all,

Based on AAMC's report of what ADCOMs found to be the most important in the academic category, sGPA was of the most importance. My current sGPA is a 3.47 (3.73 cumulative) which is a result of too may high B's that are recorded as B's due to my university's grading system (not making it an excuse though). I have yet to take the MCAT but I'm worried about this being an issue with my application. Should I delay my application (currently next may/june) in order to take more science courses since they can't be updated once the app is submitted to AMCAS?

Thanks for the help!

 

[summergirl]

When are you taking the MCAT?

 

[TX_MD12]

@summergirl Planning for April or May 2017. The original plan was to take the MCAT then apply.

 

[summergirl]

@summergirl Planning for April or May 2017. The original plan was to take the MCAT then apply.

If you have not signed up for a MCAT date this summer at this point, then it's too late to apply this cycle (especially with your low sGPA). Prepare for next year and apply next cycle.

 

[TX_MD12]

If you have not signed up for a MCAT date this summer at this point, then it's too late to apply this cycle (especially with your low sGPA). Prepare for next year and apply next cycle.

I wasn't applying this cycle. I was planning on applying in the 2017-2018 cycle. I'm wondering if I should delay it until the next cycle to bring up the sGPA.

 

[penguinlove123]

If you have not signed up for a MCAT date this summer at this point, then it's too late to apply this cycle (especially with your low sGPA). Prepare for next year and apply next cycle.

I think OP's plan is to apply next cycle.
OP - you still have a year to get your sGPA up! Do that, take your MCAT, and come back next year and we'll help you reassess

 

[TX_MD12]

I think OP's plan is to apply next cycle.
OP - you still have a year to get your sGPA up! Do that, take your MCAT, and come back next year and we'll help you reassess

Well the problem is I really only have 1 semester (this fall) to bring it up because I was going to take the spring semester, starting in January, to just prepare for the MCAT in May.

 

[summergirl]

I wasn't applying this cycle. I was planning on applying in the 2017-2018 cycle. I'm wondering if I should delay it until the next cycle to bring up the sGPA.

Oh I see, I misinterpreted then. In that case, see if you are ready to take the MCAT this summer. Take it if you are ready, but obviously don't take it if you are not. Either way, as long as you get a great score before next July, it's all the same.

 

[TX_MD12]

If I delayed my application until the 2018-2019 cycle, that would give me 3 semesters of post-bac work which could be likely up to 6 courses which would bring it up to 3.59 with all A's.

 

[penguinlove123]

Well the problem is I really only have 1 semester (this fall) to bring it up because I was going to take the spring semester, starting in January, to just prepare for the MCAT in May.

In that case, I do think that 3.47 is on the lower side for MD schools. If you feel confident that you can get all A's, then taking a year off to raise your GPA will only benefit your application. It's hard to say without an MCAT score, but if you end up getting a stellar score, you still have a shot at getting in somewhere, although it would definitely be a risk that you have to decide to take. Have you considered DO schools?

 

[TX_MD12]

In that case, I do think that 3.47 is on the lower side for MD schools. If you feel confident that you can get all A's, then taking a year off to raise your GPA will only benefit your application. It's hard to say without an MCAT score, but if you end up getting a stellar score, you still have a shot at getting in somewhere, although it would definitely be a risk that you have to decide to take. Have you considered DO schools?

It would be 2 courses a term as a non-degree seeking student (to my understanding) so Im confident I could earn As in those courses. But I also have considered DO. However, even with the merger Im afraid of the bias still present among residency/fellowship programs between MD and DO students and I want to get into a good residency/fellowship. Therefore Im still gunning for MD.

 

[penguinlove123]

It would be 2 courses a term as a non-degree seeking student (to my understanding) so Im confident I could earn As in those courses. But I also have considered DO. However, even with the merger Im afraid of the bias still present among residency/fellowship programs between MD and DO students and I want to get into a good residency/fellowship. Therefore Im still gunning for MD.

Yes, from my understanding this is true if you are interested in certain specialities. It sounds like you have thought things through! What is holding you back from taking a year off? Whatever is it, you should ask yourself if this is more important to you, or if it outweighs the risk of applying right away. Only you can make that decision

 

[TX_MD12]

@penguinlove123 Well Im already taking a year off technically so another year would just seem like the process is dragging out. I guess in the grand scheme of things it doesn't seem like a long time.

 

[penguinlove123]

If you feel like you are dragging the process out for no productive reason, then I would go ahead and apply. But it takes time to strengthen an application. It's a hard choice to make, but think about your options and what's important to you. Good luck!

 

[TX_MD12]

@Catalystik @gyngyn @Goro Do you mind offering your opinion?

 

[Catalystik]

Based on AAMC's report of what ADCOMs found to be the most important in the academic category, sGPA was of the most importance. My current sGPA is a 3.47 (3.73 cumulative) which is a result of too may high B's that are recorded as B's due to my university's grading system (not making it an excuse though). I have yet to take the MCAT but I'm worried about this being an issue with my application. Should I delay my application (currently next may/june) in order to take more science courses since they can't be updated once the app is submitted to AMCAS?

You shouldn't need 5 months to study for the MCAT. Two to three months of dedicated study is generally sufficient. Perhaps you could adjust your time frames a bit. Take one class this summer, two in the fall, start studying next December full-time for the MCAT, then take one spring class, while continuing to study for the MCAT on a part-time basis. If necessary, you can delay the MCAT until June, with little negative effect on your application timing, since no AMCAS schools receive verified and completed applications until the end of June. You can still Submit for verification without an MCAT score in June (to one throw-away school, until you know how competitive you are, then add more later).

Considering your screen name, do you plan to apply primarily to TMDSAS schools, anyway? I realize that your strategy might need to differ in that case. But they do allow grade updates in that system after initial verification. So you could continue with grade redemption after initial submission.

 

[TX_MD12]

@Catalystik Thank you for the advice! I do plan on applying to the TMDSAS schools but based on MSAR I would still need to increase my sGPA for most schools to be competitive which is why I am considering OOS schools (and why I was considering AMCAS).

 

[Catalystik]

Last year TX had 4,254 IS applicants. Even with her statutory requirements, only 1,411 matriculated IS. 215 matriculated MD OOS. 2,628 didn't get into any MD school. The TX applicants that are accepted OOS into MD schools tend to be extremely well qualified. They usually qualify for recruitment $.

We, at other schools have come to realize that without a compelling reason to believe that you are one of the 5% of TX applicants that will leave the state, there is no real reason to interview.

And why won't TX applicants leave the state? Because of the extremely low (relatively speaking) tuition for med school. So if a non-Texas med school has limited resources for interviewing students, why would they choose to interview you, if there is such a low chance that you'll eventually fill one of their seats? One answer might be that you fulfill their special mission, which is not stats-based, to serve special populations. Do you qualify for that consideration?

 

[TX_MD12]

@Catalystik Thats a good point. So I guess the only real option is to get my sGPA as high as possible before the next cycle and apply TMDSAS and AACOMAS.

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik Thats a good point. So I guess the only real option is to get my sGPA as high as possible before the next cycle and apply TMDSAS and AACOMAS.

I agree that these are your best options.

 

[TX_MD12]

@Catalystik Sorry to drag this on more but do DO schools do the same thing as Goro mentioned MD schools do when receiving apps from TX residents?

 

[Catalystik]

@Catalystik Sorry to drag this on more but do DO schools do the same thing as Goro mentioned MD schools do when receiving apps from TX residents?

I don't know if AACOMAS DO schools discriminate against less-than-sterling stats Texas applicants, like MD schools tend to. But @Goro is on a DO school's adcomm, so let's ask him for an opinion.