MD & DO TX resident, re-applicant

[chijumi]

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Hey y'all,

Here are my stats and some story: Hispanic male, Texas resident
My two MCATs were a 24-26, then 30-32 (both balanced)
sGPA 3.1-3.2
cGPA 3.4-3.5 (Upward trend since freshman year for both)
MPH Epidemiology (Top 5 program): 3.8 GPA

When I applied 2 years ago, I had my lower MCAT and a lower sGPA/cGPA because I had not sent in my senior year fall/spring grades, and managed to get an MD interview at one of my state schools. That turned into a waitlist and then a silent rejection. I also did not know anything about which schools to really apply to, and ended up applying to schools that I had no business applying to (BU and UCLA come to mind). I recognize that the GPA is what is holding me back the most, and an SMP would have benefited that more than an MPH, but I do not regret my choice because it has solidified why I need both degrees to be an effective physician, and that has translated into a much stronger personal statement.
Clinical Volunteering: 80 hrs
Shadowing: ED (20 hrs), Cardiologist (20 hrs)
Reseach: Several undergraduate abstracts presented at conferences, research with clinical faculty in graduate program
Worked as an EMT with my school for several years

Right now I am planning on applying TMDSAS, AMCAS, and AACOMAS.
(AMCAS - Eastern Virginia, Temple, Drexel, NYMC [top choice OOS], Michigan State, Rush, Rosalind Franklin, Morehouse, Howard)
(AACOMAS - PCOM, LECOM, TouroCOM-NY, CCOM)
Thoughts?

 

[DokterMom]

With your new MCAT, improved GPA and MPH, you're a solid candidate for TX schools -- especially if you speak Spanish. Apply to all of them.

I know you're trying to improve your odds with lower-tier OOS, but I'd suggest that won't be a good investment of your time. Why? Every med school knows how low TX In State tuition is. Low-to-mid-tier schools will factor that into their interview decisions, and in most cases, decide they would be wasting their time with an applicant who is likely to choose a TX school due to price. Yes, they could offer you a huge scholarship to make the price differential go away. But your numbers are merely good, not OMG That Good. Harvard/Hopkins-level OOS schools know that they're that famous/prestigious that Texans who qualify may choose them despite the price difference; but you're stats do not appear to be on that level.

Why would you choose an OOS low-to-mid-tier over a TX school at half the price? You probably wouldn't. They know this. End of story.

And rhetorically -- If you don't get accepted to one of the lower-cost Texas schools, would they want you anyway? Your numbers and ECs are good enough that it won't be your numbers/ECs that keep you out. So if 9/9 TX schools pass, the OOSs probably figure there's something in your app. they'd pass on too...

With the new MCAT, DO will probably not be necessary, so I'd skip that too...

Be brave. Apply IS and spend your money and time elsewhere.