MD & DO Texas resident, lack of interviews please advise

[cavalierkingjames]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi y'all, I'm a Texas resident and I haven't been that successful at getting any interviews this cycle. I had a really poor uGPA and a not so great MCAT score, so I'm not sure if that is the main reason. To improve my GPA, I am currently enrolled in the Med Sci SMP program at UNTHSC and have finished the fall semester with a 4.0. I thought that updating TMDSAS with these grades would show the Texas schools that I can succeed in science classes if given a second chance. So far I've only received an interview from TCOM (The public DO school in Texas), for which I am very grateful and happy, but as would anyone, I'd like to receive more to better my chances at acceptance. I am aiming these MD schools in Texas: TT Lubbock, TT El Paso and Texas A&M. I've listed my stats, volunteering, ECs, shadowing and the schools I've applied to. Please advise and point me in the right direction to improve my application. Thank you for your time.

Year in school: ORM, Graduated from Top 25 undergrad, currently in UNTHSC SMP

Country/state of residence: TX

Schools to which you are applying: (Secondary received for all, expect those noted)

• Texas AM

• UT Houston

• UT Austin (No secondary)

• UT Southwestern

• UT San Antonio

• UTMB

• UT Rio Grande Valley (Received secondary after screen)

• TT Lubbock

• TT El Paso

• TCOM (DO)

• David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (Received secondary after screen)

• UC San Diego

• UC Davis

• Loyola Stritch

• Rosalind Franklin

• UI Chicago

• SUNY Buffalo

• New York Medical College

• Rochester

• Tulane

• Baylor

• Drexel

• Temple

• Penn State

• Sidney Kimmel

• Vermont

Cumulative GPA: 3.37; Top 25 university if that has any bearing

Science GPA: 3.24

Current SMP GPA: 4.00 Fall Semester 2017 (I have updated Texas schools and AMCAS schools with post submission updates)

MCAT Scores: 507 (127/126/128/126), 508 (127/125/125/131)

Applied disadvantaged due to parental issues/mental health causing initial low GPA, but massive upward trend.

Research: Undergraduate Research Assistant at Vision Molecular Lab (600 hrs), Individual Project (300 hrs), 1 Poster presentation at ARVO International Conference

Volunteering (clinical): Hospital Helper (268 hours): Interacted with patients, brought them food, cleaned their beds

Physician shadowing: Endocrinologist (35 hrs), Family Medicine (40 hrs)

Non-clinical volunteering: Local village translator during international trips in marginalized areas of nonprofit organization on campus/ organizer of community projects (400 hrs)
Local nursing home during summer after graduation (35 hrs)

Extracurricular activities: Weightlifting, Leisure Reading

Employment history: Supervisor/Customer relations at campus gym (530 hrs)

Immediate family members in medicine?: Yes

Specialty of interest: Endocrinology

Graduate degrees: Currently pursuing SMP

Interest in rural health (y/n) :Yes

II: TCOM

 

[USERX]

I think you have already answered your own question. The GPA is holding you back. You shouldn't have been expecting too much from MD schools but you probably have a chance with UNT (They actually admit a vast majority of their interviewees). Should wait to improve your GPA if you want a better chance with MD schools. You also applied to really hard to reach schools.

 

[Goro]

One semester in an SMP usually isn't enough to convince Adcoms that you can handle med school.

You're also a 2x MCAT take with nearly identical scores. That;s an issue because your score is OK, but below median, and more importantly, you didn't improve after already taking the exam once.

Your apps to out of state MD schools will be donations, because these schools know from historic norms that very few Texans leave the Lone Star State, and those that do are superstars.

IF you had applied to more DO schools, you'd probably have lots of IIs by now.

Hi y'all, I'm a Texas resident and I haven't been that successful at getting any interviews this cycle. I had a really poor uGPA and a not so great MCAT score, so I'm not sure if that is the main reason. To improve my GPA, I am currently enrolled in the Med Sci SMP program at UNTHSC and have finished the fall semester with a 4.0. I thought that updating TMDSAS with these grades would show the Texas schools that I can succeed in science classes if given a second chance. So far I've only received an interview from TCOM (The public DO school in Texas), for which I am very grateful and happy, but as would anyone, I'd like to receive more to better my chances at acceptance. I am aiming these MD schools in Texas: TT Lubbock, TT El Paso and Texas A&M. I've listed my stats, volunteering, ECs, shadowing and the schools I've applied to. Please advise and point me in the right direction to improve my application. Thank you for your time.

Year in school: ORM, Graduated from Top 25 undergrad, currently in UNTHSC SMP

Country/state of residence: TX

Schools to which you are applying: (Secondary received for all, expect those noted)

• Texas AM

• UT Houston

• UT Austin (No secondary)

• UT Southwestern

• UT San Antonio

• UTMB

• UT Rio Grande Valley (Received secondary after screen)

• TT Lubbock

• TT El Paso

• TCOM (DO)

• David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (Received secondary after screen)

• UC San Diego

• UC Davis

• Loyola Stritch

• Rosalind Franklin

• UI Chicago

• SUNY Buffalo

• New York Medical College

• Rochester

• Tulane

• Baylor

• Drexel

• Temple

• Penn State

• Sidney Kimmel

• Vermont

Cumulative GPA: 3.37; Top 25 university if that has any bearing

Science GPA: 3.24

Current SMP GPA: 4.00 Fall Semester 2017 (I have updated Texas schools and AMCAS schools with post submission updates)

MCAT Scores: 507 (127/126/128/126), 508 (127/125/125/131)

Applied disadvantaged due to parental issues/mental health causing initial low GPA, but massive upward trend.

Research: Undergraduate Research Assistant at Vision Molecular Lab (600 hrs), Individual Project (300 hrs), 1 Poster presentation at ARVO International Conference

Volunteering (clinical): Hospital Helper (268 hours): Interacted with patients, brought them food, cleaned their beds

Physician shadowing: Endocrinologist (35 hrs), Family Medicine (40 hrs)

Non-clinical volunteering: Local village translator during international trips in marginalized areas of nonprofit organization on campus/ organizer of community projects (400 hrs)
Local nursing home during summer after graduation (35 hrs)

Extracurricular activities: Weightlifting, Leisure Reading

Employment history: Supervisor/Customer relations at campus gym (530 hrs)

Immediate family members in medicine?: Yes

Specialty of interest: Endocrinology

Graduate degrees: Currently pursuing SMP

Interest in rural health (y/n) :Yes

II: TCOM

 

[cavalierkingjames]

One semester in an SMP usually isn't enough to convince Adcoms that you can handle med school.

You're also a 2x MCAT take with nearly identical scores. That;s an issue because your score is OK, but below median, and more importantly, you didn't improve after already taking the exam once.

Your apps to out of state MD schools will be donations, because these schools know from historic norms that very few Texans leave the Lone Star State, and those that do are superstars.

IF you had applied to more DO schools, you'd probably have lots of IIs by now.

Since it's getting kind of late in the Texas application cycle, do you think that TCOM is my best bet? And in regards to OOS MD's, should I essentially expect to be rejected from all of them? Also, if I have to reapply next cycle and maintain my 4.0 in the SMP, should I retake my MCAT? I really don't know how a 3rd time looks like to adcoms, and I definitely don't want to retake. I am aiming for the lower tier MDs in Texas like I mentioned. Thanks

 

[Goro]

Since it's getting kind of late in the Texas application cycle, do you think that TCOM is my best bet?
Yes


And in regards to OOS MD's, should I essentially expect to be rejected from all of them?
Yes


Also, if I have to reapply next cycle and maintain my 4.0 in the SMP, should I retake my MCAT?
I can't recommend it. Your score is still fine for a number of the TX MD schools, but not UTSW or Baylor.

 

[LibBum]

Finish the med-master program with a 4.0 and continue to work on your ECs. You should receive more love next year if you can do this.

I have at least 10 classmates that attended the program, several graduated with a 4.0 and are doing very well in medical school.