MD & DO WAMC - 22F, first-gen SAsian, MCAT 501, GPA 3.87

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HolyBasil25

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Hello! I recently got my discouraging MCAT retake result: 501 (126/124/127/124), and wanted to get some reccs for MD/DO schools. I have a 3.87 GPA and 3.78 sGPA.

I am a first-gen south asian female and Virginia resident. I graduated college a year early (2021-2024) and took a gap year to take care of my family, strengthen my app, study, etc. Last year, several women in my family, including my mother and grandmother, were diagnosed with breast cancer. I recently underwent several procedures and overcame a similar, but benign, condition.

I wanted to know if I have a shot at any MD schools, and if so any suggestions for my school list please!! I would be more than happy with a DO acceptance this cycle than waiting another year and retaking the MCAT, unless it is necessary in your opinion.

Extracurriculars:

—1300+ hours research (2 psychology labs, 1 anticipated co-authored manuscript, 2 poster presentations)

—300+ hours shadowing (trauma/GI surgery, neurosurgery, IM, EM)

—500 hours volunteer at hospital since high school (2017-2022)

—200+ hours volunteer at temple's community kitchen and local food bank

—100 hours leadership Chair for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Board/Honors Council

—200ish hours leadership in club advocating for Alzheimer’s awareness and club that makes art for children with illnesses

—1000+ hours EMT, PCA

—TA for gen chem and honors mindfulness course

—volunteer for a middle school science fair in an underserved community

—Provost Scholarship, Marianne E. Burns Scholarship, Presentation of Research Award (2), Honorable Mention (ACS Conference), Dean’s List (2022–2024), Magna Cum Laude, University Honors, and VCU Summer Academic Achievement Program - Interprofessional Exploration Award

—I expect strong LoR from one of my research PI, honors professor, trauma/GI surgeon, and neurosurgeon


Thank you so much!!
 
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You are competitive for the majority of DO schools and I suggest these:
VCOM (all 4 schools)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
ACOM
WCU-COM
NYIT-AR
ARCOM
UIWSOM
TUNCOM
MU-COM
KCU-COM
BCOM (both schools)
For MD schools I suggest these:
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
West Virginia
Methodist (when it opens)
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Drexel
Albany
 
You are competitive for the majority of DO schools and I suggest these:
VCOM (all 4 schools)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
ACOM
WCU-COM
NYIT-AR
ARCOM
UIWSOM
TUNCOM
MU-COM
KCU-COM
BCOM (both schools)
For MD schools I suggest these:
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
West Virginia
Methodist (when it opens)
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Drexel
Albany
Thank you so much sir! I really appreciate your help! Which DO schools are the best ones according to you? Should I try to apply to A.T. Still or MSUCOM? Ive heard those are top tier, but I'd like to know your perspective on it as well .

Thanks again!
 
Thank you so much sir! I really appreciate your help! Which DO schools are the best ones according to you? Should I try to apply to A.T. Still or MSUCOM? Ive heard those are top tier, but I'd like to know your perspective on it as well .

Thanks again!

If you had to take a gap year to be with your loved ones through their cancer journey, I don't know why you would want to move all the way out to Arizona (from Virginia) to be much further away from them.
 
Thank you so much sir! I really appreciate your help! Which DO schools are the best ones according to you? Should I try to apply to A.T. Still or MSUCOM? Ive heard those are top tier, but I'd like to know your perspective on it as well .

Thanks again!
MSUCOM has high non resident tuition.Your regional schools VCOM, CUSOM, PCOM, WVSOM are all good.
 
If you had to take a gap year to be with your loved ones through their cancer journey, I don't know why you would want to move all the way out to Arizona (from Virginia) to be much further away from them.
Well that is very true! I decided to take a gap year because my grandparents, who came to help out and also receive treatment for my grandma's breast cancer, went back to their country. My brother will be graduating next year, so he'll be able to help out my parents at home. If the events in our lives unfold favorably, which they haven't so far, I wouldn't mind going far from home!
 
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