URM 502/3.95 WAMC

[deleted905755]

State/Country of Residence: MD

Ties to other States/Regions: college in VA

URM? (Y/N): Y, Puerto Rican Male. No Spanish fluency.

Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology

cGPA/sGPA: 3.95

MCAT: 502 on my MCAT (126/122/127/127).


Thousands of hours of employment(non-medical) 3000+

Clinical volunteering as patient transporter for about 350 hours

Non-clinical volunteering for my local food bank totaling around 300 hours

Shadowing 60 hours in family med

Research laboratory assistant for about 70 hours

I have also mentored many students as a TA for my school for 200 hours

My extracurriculars feel fine. I also have coached basketball.




I am wondering what my school list should be? Should I apply to MD, and if so which schools? Am I competitive for most of the DO programs?

Thank you

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[Mr.Smile12]

Have you done any networking yet? We're you ever part of any academic enrichment programs like SHPEP? Who will write you strong letters?

 

[deleted905755]

Have you done any networking yet? We're you ever part of any academic enrichment programs like SHPEP? Who will write you strong letters?

I do not know what SHPEP is. What do you mean by networking? I have a strong science letter, mediocre science & non-science letter, an MD letter, and a strong food bank volunteering letter at this moment.

Can you tell me what SHPEP is and how I can get involved?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I do not know what SHPEP is. What do you mean by networking? I have a strong science letter, mediocre science & non-science letter, an MD letter, and a strong food bank volunteering letter at this moment.

Can you tell me what SHPEP is and how I can get involved?

You can search for it, but it targets college freshmen and sophomores from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds so you are not eligible as far as I know. The question was to see if you had any connections to these or similar programs.

Why do you have people writing you mediocre letters if you are serious about your application to medical school?

 

[deleted905755]

You can search for it, but it targets college freshmen and sophomores from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds so you are not eligible as far as I know. The question was to see if you had any connections to these or similar programs.

Why do you have people writing you mediocre letters?

Oh ok no problem.

I graduated from college during COVID-19 thus it was very hard for me to develop relationships with professors virtually. I asked a science and non-science professor I'm not close to because that is all I had. I transferred to university one semester before the pandemic. I don't have many options

 

[deleted905755]

You can search for it, but it targets college freshmen and sophomores from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds so you are not eligible as far as I know. The question was to see if you had any connections to these or similar programs.

Why do you have people writing you mediocre letters if you are serious about your application to medical school?

do you have any suggestions for me? Thank you for your time

 

[Mr.Smile12]

do you have any suggestions for me? Thank you for your time

I defer to my colleagues to provide you a list, but I definitely want you to connect with students at the schools where you want to attend, particularly those who are involved with the Latino Medical Student Association or Student National Medical Association. If any of the physicians you have shadowed are part of the local chapter of the National Medical Association or Hispanic Medical Association, the connections will serve you to get insight into the schools and how much support you get at each program.

Yes, I know you mentioned you have challenges making relationships with others through virtual networking. They recognize this and want to connect with you.

 

[deleted905755]

I defer to my colleagues to provide you a list, but I definitely want you to connect with students at the schools where you want to attend, particularly those who are involved with the Latino Medical Student Association or Student National Medical Association. If any of the physicians you have shadowed are part of the local chapter of the National Medical Association or Hispanic Medical Association, the connections will serve you to get insight into the schools and how much support you get at each program.

Yes, I know you mentioned you have challenges making relationships with others through virtual networking. They recognize this and want to connect with you.

Thank you. Who are these colleagues that may be able to provide a list? I'm trying to get involved in a nonclinical volunteer opportunity for puerto rico now I'm talking to the supervisor of the program. Is there anything you suggest I be doing?

I'm not picky about what medical school I go to. I just want to go to school.

 

[chilly_md]

Most competitive for DO schools right now. Please check cutoffs though for the 122 CARS score. I am unsure which schools enforce that, I think Campbell (CUSOM) had something for sure regarding 40th percentile at least. If you were scoring higher on full length practice tests, it might be worth trying to study more and retake to better your chances.

For the time being, for DO:

UIWSOM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
MU-COM
PCOM (all schools)
ACOM
VCOM (all schools except Monroe)
LECOM (all schools)
WVSOM
WCU-COM

For MD, chances would be best at some of your state schools. I’ll include a few more you can try that might be receptive. Would be a good idea to network, including with the dean of diversity at your state schools.

VCU
EVMS
TCU-UNT
NOVA MD
Miami
Creighton
Loyola
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Georgetown
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Seton Hall
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac

Having a higher MCAT score would improve your chances a lot for these MD schools. One of the Puerto Rican MD schools is opening up a branch stateside.

I came back to edit this, it was Ponce I believe with a St Louis campus. But some students said there are still Spanish lectures so that might rule that out if you don’t have any fluency in the language.

 

[Faha]

The most important thing you can do at this point is to work on your Spanish language skills.
For MD schools I suggest these:
Maryland
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Eastern Virginia
NOVA MD
Miami
TCU-UNT
Creighton
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Hackensack
Einstein
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
You are competitive for most DO schools and I suggest these:
Touro-NY
NYITCOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UIWSOM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
MU-COM
TUNCOM

 

[deleted905755]

The most important thing you can do at this point is to work on your Spanish language skills.
For MD schools I suggest these:
Maryland
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Eastern Virginia
NOVA MD
Miami
TCU-UNT
Creighton
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Hackensack
Einstein
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
You are competitive for most DO schools and I suggest these:
Touro-NY
NYITCOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UIWSOM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
MU-COM
TUNCOM

is it common for an interviewer to speak to you in strict Spanish?

 

[deleted905755]

The most important thing you can do at this point is to work on your Spanish language skills.
For MD schools I suggest these:
Maryland
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Eastern Virginia
NOVA MD
Miami
TCU-UNT
Creighton
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Hackensack
Einstein
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
You are competitive for most DO schools and I suggest these:
Touro-NY
NYITCOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UIWSOM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
MU-COM
TUNCOM

what are my chances of getting into one of these MD programs

 

[deleted905755]

I defer to my colleagues to provide you a list, but I definitely want you to connect with students at the schools where you want to attend, particularly those who are involved with the Latino Medical Student Association or Student National Medical Association. If any of the physicians you have shadowed are part of the local chapter of the National Medical Association or Hispanic Medical Association, the connections will serve you to get insight into the schools and how much support you get at each program.

Yes, I know you mentioned you have challenges making relationships with others through virtual networking. They recognize this and want to connect with you.

is there any "colleagues" that you can refer to me? thank you

 

[Mr.Smile12]

is there any "colleagues" that you can refer to me? thank you

@Faha and @chilly_md already replied. @Goro may reply, as will others who will read your post on the forums here.

 

[deleted905755]

@Faha and @chilly_md already replied. @Goro may reply, as will others who will read your post on the forums here.

I see. I see the average matriculant for Hispanic groups has a 506.6 MCAT paired with a 3.64 GPA. I think my odds should be decent right?

 

[deleted905755]

The most important thing you can do at this point is to work on your Spanish language skills.
For MD schools I suggest these:
Maryland
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Eastern Virginia
NOVA MD
Miami
TCU-UNT
Creighton
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Hackensack
Einstein
New York Medical College
Vermont
Quinnipiac
You are competitive for most DO schools and I suggest these:
Touro-NY
NYITCOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UIWSOM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
MU-COM
TUNCOM

if I speak Spanish then that increases my odds of acceptance? Is that what you mean

 

[chilly_md]

if I speak Spanish then that increases my odds of acceptance? Is that what you mean

Yes, as it means you could be more involved with that community and be a physician who can speak with patients in their native language. That is a major need in medicine.

I would not bet on MD, hence why you should apply to both. Some MD schools may be receptive to your application since you had done well grade wise despite a lower MCAT. It would help to have a narrative for why you want to pursue medicine that could relate to your Puerto Rican background or a sense of serving Spanish-speaking, immigrant populations.

 

[gyngyn]

if I speak Spanish then that increases my odds of acceptance? Is that what you mean

One's value as an applicant is largely dependent on the ability and validated commitment to serve a community that needs that care.
Without language skills, this value is greatly diminished.
It's not too late to learn.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'll also say it helps for admission, but it's not a guarantee to already have Spanish fluency. One can always learn the language if you are not familiar. I do remind evaluators there is also no single "Spanish" for all Latinx nationalities or ethnicities. and one's value as a Latinx applicant should not be overweighted on the ability to be Spanish-fluent. You still have to show the fundamental areas of your application are strong enough to succeed in the curriculum.

 

[Faha]

if I speak Spanish then that increases my odds of acceptance? Is that what you mean

Yes.

 

[Faha]

what are my chances of getting into one of these MD programs

The GPA-MCAT grid shows you have approximately a 75% chance for a MD acceptance.

 

[Goro]

@Faha and @chilly_md already replied. @Goro may reply, as will others who will read your post on the forums here.

I agree with the wise Faha.

 

[deleted905755]

I agree with the wise Faha.

Hey goro what are you agreeing about? The school list or the MCAT/GPA grid?

 

[deleted905755]

@Goro @Faha @chilly_md

How is this final school list?

Touro University California

Touro University NY MiddleTown (NO HARLEM)

Touro University NV

Marian University COM

NYIT-COM _- both campus

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences COM

Philadelphia COM: Philly

Philadelphia COM: Georgia

Edward Via COM – Virginia (all campus except monroe)

Edward Via COM – Alabama (only submit one secondary

Edward Via COM – Carolinas

Rocky Vista COM CO only- (for profit, still good school)

University of New England COM

Midwestern University COM (arizona only)

Lake Erie (LECOM) strict policy tho: Bradenton

Lake Erie (LECOM) strict policy tho: Erie

Pacific NorthWest COM

Alabama COM(rural)

Campbell COM

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences: Missouri

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences: Arizona

Des Moines COM

WVU COM

University of Incarnate Word COM

Western University COM

23 MD:

Eastern Virginia

West Virginia

Oakland Beaumont

Wayne State

Medical College Wisconsin

Creighton

Wake Forest (502 min)

Drexel(no section less than 123, 499 min)

Temple

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine(Seton hall)

New York Medical College

Albany

Vermont

University of Illinois College of Medicine

Wright

Rosalind Franklin

Quinnipiac

Tufts

Jefferson

George Washington

Northeast Ohio

Tulane

Einstein

 

[gyngyn]

Is there anything you suggest I be doing?

I recommend intensive Spanish language acquisition.

 

[chilly_md]

I would not suggest UIC, Wright, or Neomed. Take off Rocky Vista too. UNE prefers applicants from the region, same with Pacific Northwest. I would try to not apply to more than 40 schools.

 

[deleted905755]

I would not suggest UIC, Wright, or Neomed. Take off Rocky Vista too. UNE prefers applicants from the region, same with Pacific Northwest. I would try to not apply to more than 40 schools.

why would u not recommend the first 3? I just took pacific northwest off and UNE. I like RVU lol

 

[deleted905755]

I recommend intensive Spanish language acquisition.

i know a little but there is no way I could hold a fluid conversation

 

[chilly_md]

why would u not recommend the first 3? I just took pacific northwest off and UNE. I like RVU lol

They prefer in-state applicants. Illinois takes more OOS, but their tuition is very high and will likely consider students with a higher MCAT.

It is your choice to keep RVU, but you have many other DO schools on your list and it’s an easy one to remove.

You should also apply to your state school Maryland.

 

[deleted905755]

They prefer in-state applicants. Illinois takes more OOS, but their tuition is very high and will likely consider students with a higher MCAT.

It is your choice to keep RVU, but you have many other DO schools on your list and it’s an easy one to remove.

You should also apply to your state school Maryland.

you dont like rvu because it is for profit?

 

[gyngyn]

i know a little but there is no way I could hold a fluid conversation

This happens.
There are ways to address it. I'm sure it has been nagging at you (to some extent) for a long time.
One of the strengths of your application is the community you represent. Sadly, your relative utility to serve is dramatically reduced without language skills. Fluency may take time but it won't happen until you confront the issue.
Heck, you are a good candidate for the 3 Puerto Rican schools that consider mainlanders, even with the 502! ...except for the lack of language skills.

 

[deleted905755]

This happens.
There are ways to address it. I'm sure it has been nagging at you (to some extent) for a long time.
One of the strengths of your application is the community you represent. Sadly, your relative utility to serve is dramatically reduced without language skills. Fluency may take time but it won't happen until you confront the issue.
Heck, you are a good candidate for the 3 Puerto Rican schools that consider mainlanders, even with the 502! ...except for the lack of language skills.

so im SOL lol

 

[gyngyn]

so im SOL lol

You can learn. You've learned other things.

 

[deleted905755]

You can learn. You've learned other things.

but application opens this month. Honestly would love to learn the language anyways as I know I want to represent the community one day.

is there a way to mark on the application I am in the process of learning?

 

[gyngyn]

but application opens this month. Honestly would love to learn the language anyways as I know I want to represent the community one day.

is there a way to mark on the application I am in the process of learning?

You are representing already, every day.
There are opportunities in the secondary as well as the Work and Activities section.

 

[zorcandpals]

is it common for an interviewer to speak to you in strict Spanish?

Nah; I put on my amcas that I speak 5 languages (4 fluently) and had interviewers who spoke each of these languages and none of them tried to engage me in anything but english.

 

[Goro]

I agree with the wise Faha.

On his list