The lowest ranked MD schools?

[RoboMedic]

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currently a junior with 3.52 sgpa (overall like 3.7) with most undergrad prereqs out of the way but still have to finish ochem 2 then biochem. MCAT next summer.

Assuming my stats finish with 3.5 gpa and average score on MCAT are there any MD schools that are so low ranked that I have a very good chance??

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Getting into any MD/DO school is a privilege. Regardless of rank, chances are slim if you only have metrics and no substantive ECs.

Invest in MSAR

GL!

 

[RoboMedic]

Getting into any MD/DO school is a privilege. Regardless of rank, chances are slim if you only have metrics and no substantive ECs.

Invest in MSAR

GL!

yes that is why I am targeting the lowest ranked schools because I know how competitive this is. I just started volunteering and plan to get EMT next summer. Apply first in 2019 for the 2020 cycle.

 

[Blanky]

Get your MCAT score and by then you can post in WAMC (What are my chances.) Also ECs are going to be relevant so pay attention to those or take a gap year.

 

[Terry Toma]

are there any MD schools that are so low ranked that I have a very good chance??

If you mean "average score on MCAT" literally (as in a score of ~500), then no, probably not.

 

[Lawpy]

currently a junior with 3.52 sgpa (overall like 3.7) with most undergrad prereqs out of the way but still have to finish ochem 2 then biochem. MCAT next summer.

Assuming my stats finish with 3.5 gpa and average score on MCAT are there any MD schools that are so low ranked that I have a very good chance??

DO schools are your best bet

 

[deleted804295]

DO schools are your best bet

DO schools are everyone's best bet when looking at metrics alone however is there a reason you are putting more emphasis on DO than MD for OP?

 

[Trollest]

OMG noone is answering the OP question. The lowest, i would say are the newest school. Beside that you might want to check us.news , it might give you an idea of which schools are the lowest ranked.

 

[RoboMedic]

DO schools are your best bet

yep that's what I was thinking. I knew I should not have slacked off 1st year. Would have near 3.8 gpa if not for one bad semester.

Oh well it's my own fault.

 

[eljefemdfuturo]

yep that's what I was thinking. I knew I should not have slacked off 1st year. Would have near 3.8 gpa if not for one bad semester.

Oh well it's my own fault.

DO schools will still get you to where you want to go

 

[Lawpy]

DO schools are everyone's best bet when looking at metrics alone however is there a reason you are putting more emphasis on DO than MD for OP?

If they are thinking about getting an average GPA (like a 3.5) and an average MCAT (say a 508), MD schools become harder to get accepted regardless of the tier. Questions like “what is the lowest ranked MD school to get into?” aren’t exactly optimistic.

I always say MD admissions is heavily driven by numbers, so being average is not enough. US MD schools uniformly want the best possible applicants, so it’s necessary to aim for the best possible MCAT scores and highest possible GPA to be confident in getting accepted to US MD.

yep that's what I was thinking. I knew I should not have slacked off 1st year. Would have near 3.8 gpa if not for one bad semester.

Oh well it's my own fault.

Aim for a solid MCAT score (think at least 515-516) and you will be good to go for US MD.

 

[700825]

Since no one has asked what state are you from? It makes a pretty big difference with regard to competitiveness. A 3.5 508 would probably be competitive for at least one if not both of the state schools in my home state.

 

[Trollest]

I would agree 3.5 gpa and 508 is competitive at most medical schools even some of the n=1. So OP, if i were you, i would focus on improving your app (ECS and else).
You are good for both DO and MD.

 

[Lawpy]

Since no one has asked what state are you from? It makes a pretty big difference with regard to competitiveness. A 3.5 508 would probably be competitive for at least one if not both of the state schools in my home state.

I would agree 3.5 gpa and 508 is competitive at most medical schools even some of the n=1. So OP, if i were you, i would focus on improving your app (ECS and else).
You are good for both DO and MD.

It’s good to see the optimism here. But saying a 3.5/508 is competitive at most schools is taking things too far when the US MD matriculant medians are 3.7/509-510. It’s possible to get in but i wouldn’t be too confident on it.

 

[700825]

It’s good to see the optimism here. But saying a 3.5/508 is competitive at most schools is taking things too far when the US MD matriculant medians are 3.7/509-510. It’s possible to get in but i wouldn’t be too confident on it.

I did not claim that it was competitive everywhere. I only pointed out that the state OP is from makes a HUGE difference. If he is from Tennessee, Mississippi, Montana, Georgia etc. a 3.5, 508 he will have a good chance of getting into his state MD school(s). If he is from California or another more competitive state then he would have really long odds. It is impossible to make definitive predictions of his odds without knowing his state of residency.

 

[Lawpy]

I did not claim that it was competitive everywhere. I only pointed out that the state OP is from makes a HUGE difference. If he is from Tennessee, Mississippi, Montana, Georgia etc. a 3.5, 508 he will have a good chance of getting into his state MD school(s). If he is from California or another more competitive state then he would have really long odds. It is impossible to make definitive predictions of his odds without knowing his state of residency.

I wasn’t referring to your post specifically, I just quoted with Trollest’s claim (that I countered) to show the optimism. Being from lucky states that favor in state residents definitely helps, but I have no idea whether in state advantage can compensate for average or below average stats (there are people who reported getting rejected pre-interview at their state schools at these lucky states despite having above average stats).

 

[Trollest]

It’s good to see the optimism here. But saying a 3.5/508 is competitive at most schools is taking things too far when the US MD matriculant medians are 3.7/509-510. It’s possible to get in but i wouldn’t be too confident on it.

True, but i would argue that 25 out of 40 is most. Competitive doesnt mean that you will get in, but with those stats, i garantee he has a shot at most medical schools in his home state unless OP is from cali.
Saw your second post, and i agree that where the EC comes in. I am pretty sure the adcom will pick someone with 3.5/ 508 and 500+ EC vs 3.9/511 and 100 EC. Point being the numbers alone dont tell the whole picture. But i do undertsand your point, however telling the OP that his best bet are DO schools is kind of short-sighted

 

[Lawpy]

True, but i would argue that 25 out of 40 is most. Competitive doesnt mean that you will get in, but with those stats, i garantee he has a shot at most medical schools in his home state unless OP is from cali.
Saw your second post, and i agree that where the EC comes in. I am pretty sure the adcom will pick someone with 3.5/ 508 and 500+ EC vs 3.9/511 and 100 EC. Point being the numbers alone dont tell the whole picture. But i do undertsand your point, however telling the OP that his best bet are DO schools is kind of short-sighted

I'm probably cynical, but I think MD schools emphasize numbers way too much and only give some weight to good ECs. Clearly, good numbers and good ECs = success for MD schools, but given the choices between good numbers and average ECs vs average numbers and good ECs, I think schools would pick good numbers over good ECs.

This isn't an absolute rule or anything, since there are applicants who have so strong ECs and application profile that their ECs can actually compensate for below average stats (there were a few people getting into top schools like JHU despite having a 3.7/511 and that's largely due to their super strong activities). These cases are rare though but something to keep in mind.

DO schools are a best bet for applicants with average stats if they want to get accepted somewhere. Unfortunately, and while SDN isn't representative of the overall applicant pool, MD admissions seems a bit brutal against applicants with average stats and ECs that applying to some DO schools is a nice "safety net" to get accepted.

 

[Lucca]

without an MCAT score, its impossible to chance. Focus on getting better grades and doing well on the MCAT. If you can't handle academics + a full EC load, cut ECs first before slacking on academics. There is always time to fill out your ECs but you only have one shot at a good undergraduate transcript.

 

[Goro]

currently a junior with 3.52 sgpa (overall like 3.7) with most undergrad prereqs out of the way but still have to finish ochem 2 then biochem. MCAT next summer.

Assuming my stats finish with 3.5 gpa and average score on MCAT are there any MD schools that are so low ranked that I have a very good chance??

On these stats alone,
Drexel/Albany class schools
Your state school(s)
Come back when you have an MCAT score and we can better advise.
And invest in MSAR Online. Pay very careful attention to the IS/OOS rations for public schools. Pay very careful attention to school's mission statements and websites.

 

[Trollest]

I'm probably cynical, but I think MD schools emphasize numbers way too much and only give some weight to good ECs. Clearly, good numbers and good ECs = success for MD schools, but given the choices between good numbers and average ECs vs average numbers and good ECs, I think schools would pick good numbers over good ECs.

This isn't an absolute rule or anything, since there are applicants who have so strong ECs and application profile that their ECs can actually compensate for below average stats (there were a few people getting into top schools like JHU despite having a 3.7/511 and that's largely due to their super strong activities). These cases are rare though but something to keep in mind.

DO schools are a best bet for applicants with average stats if they want to get accepted somewhere. Unfortunately, and while SDN isn't representative of the overall applicant pool, MD admissions seems a bit brutal against applicants with average stats and ECs that applying to some DO schools is a nice "safety net" to get accepted.

You are actually right, but with close to 50 schools w/ meduim states around 3.5 and 508. I mean we cant possibly say that DOs are his best bet when the pt question is about lowest ranked MD schools. I think we are arguing about semantics now. And i am not refuting that DOs are part of the OP "best bet" but i would include low tier MD school as well which is what the question asked.
But OP, lawper is right, DO will get you some love but so will all low tier and some mid tier MD schools.

 

[Lawpy]

You are actually right, but will close to 50 schools w/ meduim states around 3.5 and 508. I mean we cant possibly say that DOs are his best bet when the pt question is about lowest ranked MD schools. I think we are arguing about semantics now. And i am not refuting that DOs are part of the OP "best bet" but i would include low tier MD school as well which is what the question asked.
But OP, lawper is right, DO will get you some love but so will all low tier and some mid tier MD schools.

In the end, as Lucca and Goro said, it depends on OP's MCAT scores. We're just assuming the 508 case, which may not be true for OP. If OP does well on the MCAT, by all means I recommend going for US MD only.

 

[Ibn Sina MD]

There's no such thing as a safety MD school. If your stats are way too high for a school they may practice yield protection.

With a 3.7 (3.5 sgpa) it all depends on your MCAT.

Score a 502-506 apply DO and maybe a MD but you'd be unlikely to land one.

507-509 apply maybe even DO and MD like 10 of each.

510-513 apply mostly MD and maybe a few DO just in case.

514+ MD only and it's likely you'll get in.

Don't get below 125 on any section on the MCAT or else the fight gets harder. Not a lost cause but it does get harder with a sub-125 section.

 

[calivianya]

I'm probably cynical, but I think MD schools emphasize numbers way too much and only give some weight to good ECs. Clearly, good numbers and good ECs = success for MD schools, but given the choices between good numbers and average ECs vs average numbers and good ECs, I think schools would pick good numbers over good ECs.

It really depends on the school. My "easier to get into" state MD grilled me about one particular hole in ECs, even though others are very strong. I have a GPA above their median and an MCAT 9 points above their median (would be a >75th percentile accepted student) and I'm expecting a rejection any day now.

It all feels like a crap shoot sometimes...

 

[Mwooster]

currently a junior with 3.52 sgpa (overall like 3.7) with most undergrad prereqs out of the way but still have to finish ochem 2 then biochem. MCAT next summer.

Assuming my stats finish with 3.5 gpa and average score on MCAT are there any MD schools that are so low ranked that I have a very good chance??

The lowest ranked MD schools in my humble opinion are the ones where I applied yet did not garner an acceptance at the end of my app cycle, e.g. Harvahd and the Manhattan Titans