Should I even bother applying?

[Cogitate]

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Hey Guys,

First post here in the allopathic forums!

I have a 3.6 GPA and 27 MCAT (10,10,7[verbal]). One poster presentation. Two great letters. Minor volunteering/ECs. BUT, I'm part Alaskan native (so URM).

Should I bother spending $1,000 applying to a few MD schools? I'm looking at DO schools right now.

Thanks for the help!

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

Toss up. It would be a long shot, but if you want to apply with the expectation of not getting in, then go for it, if only to assuage the doubts of what could have been. That's assuming it's worth 1000$ to you to do that.

 

[NorthOfBroad]

Why not if you have the cash? I am not too familiar with that part of the country but there is a WWAMI program that guarantees seats at Washington for Alaskan residents right? And you are an URM. Again assuming you have the money to spend, if not focus on DO schools.

 

[Cogitate]

So URM doesn't help that much? The AAMC MCAT/GPA grid said that 80% of people with my scores and race get accepted to MD schools. Am I missing something?

 

[GrapesofRath]

Well what race are you specifically? Saying from Alaska isn't an answer. Not all races that people think qualify for URM classification necessarily do for Medical School purposes. IF you do qualify for URM status yes you should apply.

You are fine for the majority of DO schools regardless of race.

 

[MyNameWasUsed]

unrelated to OPs concerns but how would you guys rate the influence of race/ethnicity on the application process? For example, let's say we have applicants from each race/ethnicity and they all have the exact same gpa/mcat/EC/volunteer/hce. Who would more likely be accepted? African Americans over Caucasians? Are Asians preferred over Caucasians?

 

[efle]

unrelated to OPs concerns but how would you guys rate the influence of race/ethnicity on the application process? For example, let's say we have applicants from each race/ethnicity and they all have the exact same gpa/mcat/EC/volunteer/hce. Who would more likely be accepted? African Americans over Caucasians? Are Asians preferred over Caucasians?

Native American and African American > Hispanic > White > Asian, according to chances per a standard set of numbers

@Cogitate With Native American URM you are fine with a 27 / 3.6 and the boxes checked, if you apply to a good list of schools.

 

[MyNameWasUsed]

Why is native american so highly valued? I understand the concept of affirmative action but i dont see why hispanics are not as valued as african americans. Also wow asians are ranked below cacuasians?

 

[efle]

Why is native american so highly valued? I understand the concept of affirmative action but i dont see why hispanics are not as valued as african americans. Also wow asians are ranked below cacuasians?

Its based on how competitive each race's pool is, not on value judgements between ethnicities. Asian is most competitive.

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

Why is native american so highly valued? I understand the concept of affirmative action but i dont see why hispanics are not as valued as african americans. Also wow asians are ranked below cacuasians?

I would guess that Native American is highly valued because there is a relative dearth of Native American applicants, yet a high amount of need in reservation communities etc. There is a push in medicine to have the minorities have representation in the demographics of doctors themselves, hence the term under represented minority (URM). As asians are over represented in the medical field and there are more applicants for a limited number of spots, those applicants face more competition.

 

[Jeffrety]

OP you should be typing AMCAS and AACOMAS @ 150 WPM if 80% of applicants with your stats are accepted. Send your transcripts immediately. Get more LoRs ASAP, 1 from another science prof, 1 from a DO, and 1 from a non-science prof (optional depending the schools youre targeting).

 

[Grace184]

Why is native american so highly valued? I understand the concept of affirmative action but i dont see why hispanics are not as valued as african americans. Also wow asians are ranked below cacuasians?

Not ALL Hispanics are URM, certain ethnic groups of Hispanics are considered URM. Native American are ranked highly bc they are underrepresented in medicine and likely to go back to their communities and continue to serve there.

 

[deleted702880]

Also wow asians are ranked below cacuasians?

Yay being a model minority!

 

[efle]

Yay being a model minority!

Yeah its pretty funny that they not only get to be a historically mistreated minority, and not only have to match white performance, but actually have to outperform whites! And the reasoning for the URM program (that people are more likely to visit and trust same-race docs) doesn't even work here, unless whites distrust Asian doctors...pretty much the ultimate short end of the stick for Asians.

 

[Goro]

Do you have a documented history of service to the Alaskan Native community? Med schools want to see you walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

If' you live in AK, then you might try U WA.

Hey Guys,

First post here in the allopathic forums!

I have a 3.6 GPA and 27 MCAT (10,10,7[verbal]). One poster presentation. Two great letters. Minor volunteering/ECs. BUT, I'm part Alaskan native (so URM).

Should I bother spending $1,000 applying to a few MD schools? I'm looking at DO schools right now.

Thanks for the help!

 

[deleted702880]

Yeah its pretty funny that they not only get to be a historically mistreated minority, and not only have to match white performance, but actually have to outperform whites! And the reasoning for the URM program (that people are more likely to visit and trust same-race docs) doesn't even work here, unless whites distrust Asian doctors...pretty much the ultimate short end of the stick for Asians.

America in general seems to have a very casually prejudiced stance against Asians. We're all bad drivers, have poor eyesight, and whenever we do moderately well in class it's considered a "racial passive". But whenever people talk about getting rid of racism we are conveniently left out of the discussion. I love this country but sometimes it just doesn't love me back.

 

[efle]

America in general seems to have a very casually prejudiced stance against Asians. We're all bad drivers, have poor eyesight, and whenever we do moderately well in class it's considered a "racial passive". But whenever people talk about getting rid of racism we are conveniently left out of the discussion. I love this country but sometimes it just doesn't love me back.

To be fair this imo is partly because Asian communities are not the most politically active lobbying for changes to AA. Seems the response to the prejudice isn't to try and get it removed, but instead to just buckle down and continue to reach the bar no matter how unfairly high it gets set. This may be changing soon through the court challenges to admissions practices though! In California race was succesfully removed from the app review process for the UCs which was followed by a big spike in Asian acceptances.