Sub 500 MCAT App --> Multiple DO Acceptances.

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chemislovechemislife

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Hello everyone!

First, let me preface this by saying how BLESSED I've been this past cycle. It's been a long time coming, but I'm happy to be moving forward on this journey.

I also want to say that I am definitely the exception to the rule and can not in good faith recommend anyone do what I did and apply with an MCAT score like mine. The fact is that higher stats increase the likelihood of acceptance, and there is such a thing as too low.

And let me tell you... this process is EXPENSIVE $$$$

BUT... if you were in my position where retaking the MCAT was not feasible in the slightest, then I am here to tell you that it is possible to get in.

Now for the fun part....
I am a nontrad applicant, female ORM from the northeast that graduated undergrad before COVID
Completed a one year SMP recently with a 3.2 GPA
GPA - 3.6 cumulative, 3.5 science.
MCAT - 495 --> 498 (ouch...)

Clinical ECs
Volunteer EMT and crew leader for 5-6 years (2500+ clinical hours)
PCT during COVID at an urgent care - (250 hr)
Medical Scribe - (1500+ hr)
100-150 hr shadowing MD

Non-Clinical ECs
EMS leadership for >3 years (3000+ hours)
Church Volunteering (600-800 hours)
Executive board of a pre-medical club on campus x1 academic year
Materials chemistry research for 2 semesters - no pubs or presentations (900 hr)
Chem Lab TA x1 semester - (30 hr)
AmeriCorps @FQHC doing community outreach (300 hr)


Honors and Awards -
2 Academic Excellence Awards
Deans list
Multiple awards for lifesaving interventions of patients I responded to as an EMT

Only had an MD LOR, no DO LOR.


Applied to 14 DO schools (complete between Nov 2023 and Feb 2024)
8 interview invitations (declined 1 interview)
5 acceptances, including 1 top 10 DO school.
1 waitlist
1 rejection (thanks LECOM)

This was my first cycle applying.

Best of luck on all of your journeys. If you want it enough, it's possible.

Now stop procrastinating and study for your MCAT.
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Hey I am in a similar boat as you
slightly different situation but
3.6CGPA 3.67SGPA 3.15 grad (non clinical) GPA.
Didn't take Mcat yet but just wanted to ask you how did you make sure your grad GPA didn't hurt you?
 
I wouldn't say there's really any way to make sure of it because that's something you are transparent about, unless you have an extenuating circumstance which I did not. I wasn't asked about my grades at all during interviews actually, or my MCAT. My strengths came through my ECs and how I connected what I learned and experienced to being a doctor, I think schools appreciated that more.
 
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chemislovechemislife said:
I wouldn't say there's really any way to make sure of it because that's something you are transparent about, unless you have an extenuating circumstance which I did not. I wasn't asked about my grades at all during interviews actually, or my MCAT. My strengths came through my ECs and how I connected what I learned and experienced to being a doctor, I think schools appreciated that more.
Click to expand...
Do you think your 6k+ EC hrs helped you or were they an overkill?
 
dscmn said:
Does being non traditional help?
Click to expand...
I doubt it's anything significant. Me being nontrad just allowed me to gain more experience for a stronger app. If you waste your time after graduating, I can't imagine you'd get slack because you're "nontrad"
 
chemislovechemislife said:
Hello everyone!

First, let me preface this by saying how BLESSED I've been this past cycle. It's been a long time coming, but I'm happy to be moving forward on this journey.

I also want to say that I am definitely the exception to the rule and can not in good faith recommend anyone do what I did and apply with an MCAT score like mine. The fact is that higher stats increase the likelihood of acceptance, and there is such a thing as too low.

And let me tell you... this process is EXPENSIVE $$$$

BUT... if you were in my position where retaking the MCAT was not feasible in the slightest, then I am here to tell you that it is possible to get in.

Now for the fun part....
I am a nontrad applicant, female ORM from the northeast that graduated undergrad before COVID
Completed a one year SMP recently with a 3.2 GPA
GPA - 3.6 cumulative, 3.5 science.
MCAT - 495 --> 498 (ouch...)

Clinical ECs
Volunteer EMT and crew leader for 5-6 years (2500+ clinical hours)
PCT during COVID at an urgent care - (250 hr)
Medical Scribe - (1500+ hr)
100-150 hr shadowing MD

Non-Clinical ECs
EMS leadership for >3 years (3000+ hours)
Church Volunteering (600-800 hours)
Executive board of a pre-medical club on campus x1 academic year
Materials chemistry research for 2 semesters - no pubs or presentations (900 hr)
Chem Lab TA x1 semester - (30 hr)
AmeriCorps @FQHC doing community outreach (300 hr)


Honors and Awards -
2 Academic Excellence Awards
Deans list
Multiple awards for lifesaving interventions of patients I responded to as an EMT

Only had an MD LOR, no DO LOR.


Applied to 14 DO schools (complete between Nov 2023 and Feb 2024)
8 interview invitations (declined 1 interview)
5 acceptances, including 1 top 10 DO school.
1 waitlist
1 rejection (thanks LECOM)

This was my first cycle applying.

Best of luck on all of your journeys. If you want it enough, it's possible.

Now stop procrastinating and study for your MCAT.
Click to expand...
Why did you do SMP though? Seems like it hunted you more than helping you
 
dscmn said:
Why did you do SMP though? Seems like it hunted you more than helping you
Click to expand...
I wouldn't classify 5 acceptances as hurting more than help haha

But at the time, I was not confident in my app and wanted a way to matriculate to school this year, so I enrolled. Also been a few years since undergrad and wanted to get back into study mode before med school
 
This can happen, but it's in part due to a very strong application in other areas. I would highly caution people against thinking they will have a decent shot with lower scores if they don't have an extremely strong background with years of experience proving their passion for medicine like OP. As a trad with relatively low clinical and volunteer experience I had to really spread my school list wide even for DO and get higher scores to sell myself.
 
How did you discuss your MCAT in your application (specifically in secondaries) when asked about weakness in your app?
 
moosesloth said:
How did you discuss your MCAT in your application (specifically in secondaries) when asked about weakness in your app?
Click to expand...
I said how I didn't truly know how to study when I was taking it, but when I went to my MS program, I learned better study techniques which will help me in med school. That's really the furthest it went in my secondaries. I was never asked about my MCAT in interviews surprisingly
 
chemislovechemislife said:
Hello everyone!

First, let me preface this by saying how BLESSED I've been this past cycle. It's been a long time coming, but I'm happy to be moving forward on this journey.

I also want to say that I am definitely the exception to the rule and can not in good faith recommend anyone do what I did and apply with an MCAT score like mine. The fact is that higher stats increase the likelihood of acceptance, and there is such a thing as too low.

And let me tell you... this process is EXPENSIVE $$$$

BUT... if you were in my position where retaking the MCAT was not feasible in the slightest, then I am here to tell you that it is possible to get in.

Now for the fun part....
I am a nontrad applicant, female ORM from the northeast that graduated undergrad before COVID
Completed a one year SMP recently with a 3.2 GPA
GPA - 3.6 cumulative, 3.5 science.
MCAT - 495 --> 498 (ouch...)

Clinical ECs
Volunteer EMT and crew leader for 5-6 years (2500+ clinical hours)
PCT during COVID at an urgent care - (250 hr)
Medical Scribe - (1500+ hr)
100-150 hr shadowing MD

Non-Clinical ECs
EMS leadership for >3 years (3000+ hours)
Church Volunteering (600-800 hours)
Executive board of a pre-medical club on campus x1 academic year
Materials chemistry research for 2 semesters - no pubs or presentations (900 hr)
Chem Lab TA x1 semester - (30 hr)
AmeriCorps @FQHC doing community outreach (300 hr)


Honors and Awards -
2 Academic Excellence Awards
Deans list
Multiple awards for lifesaving interventions of patients I responded to as an EMT

Only had an MD LOR, no DO LOR.


Applied to 14 DO schools (complete between Nov 2023 and Feb 2024)
8 interview invitations (declined 1 interview)
5 acceptances, including 1 top 10 DO school.
1 waitlist
1 rejection (thanks LECOM)

This was my first cycle applying.

Best of luck on all of your journeys. If you want it enough, it's possible.

Now stop procrastinating and study for your MCAT.
Click to expand...

Wow congrats! Can I get a list you the schools you applied to please?
 
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