MD WAMC 3.01 cGPA, 2.97 sGPA, 516 MCAT, URM

[prairiemusic]

Hello all! My MCAT score is hot off the press and I really need help forming a school list.

Current standing: Senior at a top 10
cGPA: 3.01, sGPA: 2.97 (U trend (not upward, had a rough sophomore/junior year))
MCAT: 516 (127/130/127/132)
Not CA/TX, but don't meet the course requirements for my state school :/
URM (AA lesbian)

Clinical experience: None yet, planning to do clinical volunteering during my gap year
Research experience: None, willing to do during gap year if necessary but it's just not my thing
Shadowing experience: 75 hrs, about 25 in primary care (peds and ophthalmology) and 50 with a gynecological oncologist (clinic and surgery)
Non-clinical volunteering: 300 hrs, some Women's Health Clinic escorting, Political volunteering, majority of the hours crisis counseling
Other extracurriculars: SMDEP alum (which is SHPEP now?), 500 hrs in orchestra, 400 hrs working in fast food (during school breaks), 350 hrs with LGBTQ+ in STEM affinity group (co-founder and on Executive Board), 300 hrs with performance group
Other information: I decided to take biochem instead of the second semester of orgo so that's limiting my school options a bit. I'd also like to be in a city if at all possible.

School List: (yes, I'm aware that pretty much everywhere is a reach with my GPA)
Dream is UWashington because my partner just got a job in Seattle, hoping to move there with her and apply as In-State

UCSF
Weill Cornell
Tufts
BU
Charles Drew (UCLA)
SUNY Brooklyn
Mt. Sinai
Georgetown?
UC Davis?
Cooper
Jefferson
Drexel
Temple
Howard
Morehouse?
Case Western
Duke?
Loyola
OHSU
Rush
St. Louis University
UChicago
KU?
WashU

I don't know anything about DO schools and would like to go MD but I'm open to it if you all think it's a good idea. I'm not even sure that I should apply this cycle but I told myself if my MCAT was competitive I'd give it a shot, so here we are. I'd be happy to confirm my stats if necessary, as I know this GPA/MCAT discrepancy is a tad unusual. Any and all advice is appreciated.

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[DrStephenStrange]

Your MCAT score would be between 33-35. If I were you, I'd first get some clinical volunteering, some research, and add some DO schools to your list just to be safe.

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[Dr. Meliodas]

Based on AAMC data (https://www.aamc.org/download/321514/data/factstablea24-2.pdf) if it was just based on MCAT and GPA you would have about a 76% chance of getting an MD acceptance. That being said, in my personal opinion I think you complete lack of clinical volunteering is your biggest problem. On the AMCAS I've heard of some reporting future hours. For example if you were to start volunteering at a hospital tomorrow and they require 90 hours of commitment and you have already been approved to start you could report those hours.

Your current list as of now has a couple more reach schools than I would chose if I were you but if you have the funds then go for it. This admissions process is so mercurial you never know who might offer you an interview. You should definitely consider adding a couple more schools that are more on target. You should get the MSAR and look into schools where you are at or above their median MCAT and as close as possible to their GPA 10th percentile in for matriculants/or accepted students. Some off the top of my head that might be good:
- Drexel
- Creighton
- Emory
-Quinnipiac
- Tulane

 

[sixersfan]

Hello all! My MCAT score is hot off the press and I really need help forming a school list.

Current standing: Senior at a top 10
cGPA: 3.01, sGPA: 2.97 (U trend (not upward, had a rough sophomore/junior year))
MCAT: 516 (127/130/127/132)
Not CA/TX, but don't meet the course requirements for my state school :/
URM (AA lesbian)

Clinical experience: None yet, planning to do clinical volunteering during my gap year
Research experience: None, willing to do during gap year if necessary but it's just not my thing
Shadowing experience: 75 hrs, about 25 in primary care (peds and ophthalmology) and 50 with a gynecological oncologist (clinic and surgery)
Non-clinical volunteering: 300 hrs, some Women's Health Clinic escorting, Political volunteering, majority of the hours crisis counseling
Other extracurriculars: SMDEP alum (which is SHPEP now?), 500 hrs in orchestra, 400 hrs working in fast food (during school breaks), 350 hrs with LGBTQ+ in STEM affinity group (co-founder and on Executive Board), 300 hrs with performance group
Other information: I decided to take biochem instead of the second semester of orgo so that's limiting my school options a bit. I'd also like to be in a city if at all possible.

School List: (yes, I'm aware that pretty much everywhere is a reach with my GPA)
Dream is UWashington because my partner just got a job in Seattle, hoping to move there with her and apply as In-State

UCSF
Weill Cornell
Tufts
BU
Charles Drew (UCLA)
SUNY Brooklyn
Mt. Sinai
Georgetown?
UC Davis?
Cooper
Jefferson
Drexel
Temple
Howard
Morehouse?
Case Western
Duke?
Loyola
OHSU
Rush
St. Louis University
UChicago
KU?
WashU

I don't know anything about DO schools and would like to go MD but I'm open to it if you all think it's a good idea. I'm not even sure that I should apply this cycle but I told myself if my MCAT was competitive I'd give it a shot, so here we are. I'd be happy to confirm my stats if necessary, as I know this GPA/MCAT discrepancy is a tad unusual. Any and all advice is appreciated.

Given your GPAs a DO school is probably not a bad idea. They typically have slightly lower acceptance GPAs. They teach on a slightly different model than MD schools simply in the fact that they teach based on treating the body as a whole. However, once you're a doctor (whether that be MD or DO) you are capable of doing literally any specialty that the other degree can do (e.g. DOs can be surgeons, family doctors, etc. just as MDs can be). One important thing that may not be well known, however, is that when applying to MD school they will accept letters of recommendation from either an MD or a DO whereas in applying to a DO school they typically only like DO letters and an MD letter will be of no use to you. Hope this helps

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Given your GPAs a DO school is probably not a bad idea. They typically have slightly lower acceptance GPAs. They teach on a slightly different model than MD schools simply in the fact that they teach based on treating the body as a whole. However, once you're a doctor (whether that be MD or DO) you are capable of doing literally any specialty that the other degree can do (e.g. DOs can be surgeons, family doctors, etc. just as MDs can be). One important thing that may not be well known, however, is that when applying to MD school they will accept letters of recommendation from either an MD or a DO whereas in applying to a DO school they typically only like DO letters and an MD letter will be of no use to you. Hope this helps

When you go DO, you have less options than an MD because typically when you're going to apply for residency the very competitive ones will favor MDs. But if you like primary care or less competitive residency options, going DO is fine.

Only a handful of DO schools strictly requires a DO letter, and most of them accept MD letters. Some might say DO letters preferred, but they still accept MD letters. I know some people that were accepted this cycle that only had an MD letter as their physician letter.

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[prairiemusic]

Based on AAMC data (https://www.aamc.org/download/321514/data/factstablea24-2.pdf) if it was just based on MCAT and GPA you would have about a 76% chance of getting an MD acceptance. That being said, in my personal opinion I think you complete lack of clinical volunteering is your biggest problem. On the AMCAS I've heard of some reporting future hours. For example if you were to start volunteering at a hospital tomorrow and they require 90 hours of commitment and you have already been approved to start you could report those hours.

Your current list as of now has a couple more reach schools than I would chose if I were you but if you have the funds then go for it. This admissions process is so mercurial you never know who might offer you an interview. You should definitely consider adding a couple more schools that are more on target. You should get the MSAR and look into schools where you are at or above their median MCAT and as close as possible to their GPA 10th percentile in for matriculants/or accepted students. Some off the top of my head that might be good:
- Drexel
- Creighton
- Emory
-Quinnipiac
- Tulane

Thank you all for your feedback. I agree about the clinical volunteering, and I was planning to do it this semester but had a family emergency come up that prevented me from spending the time there.

I'm adding Tulane and Drexel is already on there, thank you! I don't meet the course requirements for Creighton or Emory and I don't think I could spend four years in the middle of Connecticut.

Would the esteemed @gyngyn and @Goro be so kind as to take a look at this thread as well?

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you all for your feedback. I agree about the clinical volunteering, and I was planning to do it this semester but had a family emergency come up that prevented me from spending the time there.

I'm adding Tulane and Drexel is already on there, thank you! I don't meet the course requirements for Creighton or Emory and I don't think I could spend four years in the middle of Connecticut.

Would the esteemed @gyngyn and @Goro be so kind as to take a look at this thread as well?

UCD rarely considers OOS applicants.In the last several years the OOSers actually attended high schools in CA.
I recommend all the HBCU's and any schools in your region that consider OOS applicants.

It is difficult to predict interviews with the gpa/MCAT split here, but the mix you have outlined is not bad.

 

[Goro]

Hello all! My MCAT score is hot off the press and I really need help forming a school list.

Current standing: Senior at a top 10
cGPA: 3.01, sGPA: 2.97 (U trend (not upward, had a rough sophomore/junior year))
MCAT: 516 (127/130/127/132)
Not CA/TX, but don't meet the course requirements for my state school :/
URM (AA lesbian)

Clinical experience: None yet, planning to do clinical volunteering during my gap year
Research experience: None, willing to do during gap year if necessary but it's just not my thing
Shadowing experience: 75 hrs, about 25 in primary care (peds and ophthalmology) and 50 with a gynecological oncologist (clinic and surgery)
Non-clinical volunteering: 300 hrs, some Women's Health Clinic escorting, Political volunteering, majority of the hours crisis counseling
Other extracurriculars: SMDEP alum (which is SHPEP now?), 500 hrs in orchestra, 400 hrs working in fast food (during school breaks), 350 hrs with LGBTQ+ in STEM affinity group (co-founder and on Executive Board), 300 hrs with performance group
Other information: I decided to take biochem instead of the second semester of orgo so that's limiting my school options a bit. I'd also like to be in a city if at all possible.

School List: (yes, I'm aware that pretty much everywhere is a reach with my GPA)
Dream is UWashington because my partner just got a job in Seattle, hoping to move there with her and apply as In-State

UCSF
Weill Cornell
Tufts
BU
Charles Drew (UCLA)
SUNY Brooklyn
Mt. Sinai
Georgetown?
UC Davis?
Cooper
Jefferson
Drexel
Temple
Howard
Morehouse?
Case Western
Duke?
Loyola
OHSU
Rush
St. Louis University
UChicago
KU?
WashU

I don't know anything about DO schools and would like to go MD but I'm open to it if you all think it's a good idea. I'm not even sure that I should apply this cycle but I told myself if my MCAT was competitive I'd give it a shot, so here we are. I'd be happy to confirm my stats if necessary, as I know this GPA/MCAT discrepancy is a tad unusual. Any and all advice is appreciated.

What were your GPAs for your Junior and Senior year?

 

[prairiemusic]

What were your GPAs for your Junior and Senior year?

Junior fall - 1.88
Junior spring - 2.71

Took a year off here and recovered from mono

Summer before senior year - 3.7 (took physics sequence)
Senior fall - 3.27
Senior spring - TBD, on track for similar performance to senior fall though. I just have a lot of Bs.

 

[Goro]

Junior fall - 1.88
Junior spring - 2.71

Took a year off here and recovered from mono

Summer before senior year - 3.7 (took physics sequence)
Senior fall - 3.27
Senior spring - TBD, on track for similar performance to senior fall though. I just have a lot of Bs.

Chances best with your state schools, the HBCs (including UCLA/Drew), U Miami, IU, U WV, and a sprinkling of DO schools. The reason I'm hesitating is that your GPAs are all over the place.

 

[mybluedog]

I could only give you advice for the UW. UW really focuses on clinical experience and has a mission to produce docs to service their WWAMI region. So I echo the above advice on getting on that clinical exp ASAP. I don’t know if you’re interested in serving LGBTQ+ pts in the future, as they face a lot of health disparities, but I think that would be a good exp and I think UW would value exp like that, geared toward a specific population, parts of your essays could include any adversities you faced as a LGBTQ+ and if you saw similar struggles in pts you helped.

UW is very much region favoring. If you get screened out, which you may bc of your gpa, contact their admissions office and say you plan to settle down in Seattle bc of your SO and say how much your interests match up with their mission, etc. they have a computer screen for secondaries. (You should do this to any school that doesn’t give your a secondary though)

I also wanted to mention two other med schools in WA: PNWUCOM (DO) and WSU (new MD school) These are far from Seattle though, but may be options. Better than living states apart from your SO.

Good luck, I think you’re going to have a great cycle!! And great job on that MCAT


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[prairiemusic]

Thank you all for your input! I'm not sure what to expect from this cycle but your encouragement and advice are much appreciated.

 

[candbgirl]

Skip Rush . You don’t have anywhere near the ECs they require so save your money!

 

[prairiemusic]

Okay, I have an updated school list after some reconsideration:

UWashington
UCSF
Cornell
Tufts
BU
Harvard
Mt. Sinai
Charles Drew (UCLA)
Georgetown
OHSU
George Washington
Howard
Morehouse
Cooper
Jefferson
Drexel
Temple
Loyola
St. Louis University
KU
Tulane
UMiami
UMKC
UWisconsin
CalMed and/or Kaiser if they open

I would love to hear from @Faha @LizzyM @Goro if you all have time, and anyone else who has advice. I'm also considering pushing my application back a year to get in more clinical experience, but I'm worried about potentially being a reapplicant and then having my MCAT expire. Reallly don't want to retake that exam lol. Thank you all!

 

[LizzyM]

You are way below the interview pool for my school in terms of GPA and clinical (and MCAT, for that matter), so I have nothing to add.

 

[prairiemusic]

You are way below the interview pool for my school in terms of GPA and clinical (and MCAT, for that matter), so I have nothing to add.

Thank you for your time!

 

[Faha]

I suggest these schools with your stats:
Howard
Meharry
Morehouse
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Georgetown
Eastern Virginia
Oakland Beaumont
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Loyola
Indiana
St. Louis
Tulane
Miami
Drew-UCLA
California University (new school)
NOVA MD (new school)
Seton Hall (new school)
Also consider applying to at least 8 DO schools.

 

[MarineMDHopeful]

@Goro @Faha With OP being URM AND LGBTQ would Northwestern be a possibility. I know the GPA is a scare but NW has specifically stated they view LGBTQ as a positive.

 

[Goro]

@Goro @Faha With OP being URM AND LGBTQ would Northwestern be a possibility. I know the GPA is a scare but NW has specifically stated they view LGBTQ as a positive.

It's possible that they might I repeat might get an interview to see first hand if the school wants to take a risk on this person.

 

[gyngyn]

Okay, I have an updated school list after some reconsideration:

UWashington
UCSF
Cornell
Tufts
BU
Harvard
Mt. Sinai
Charles Drew (UCLA)
Georgetown
OHSU
George Washington
Howard
Morehouse
Cooper
Jefferson
Drexel
Temple
Loyola
St. Louis University
KU
Tulane
UMiami
UMKC
UWisconsin
CalMed and/or Kaiser if they open

I would love to hear from @Faha @LizzyM @Goro if you all have time, and anyone else who has advice. I'm also considering pushing my application back a year to get in more clinical experience, but I'm worried about potentially being a reapplicant and then having my MCAT expire. Reallly don't want to retake that exam lol. Thank you all!

UMKC's OOS matriculants tend to be from "special programs."

 

[prairiemusic]

UMKC's OOS matriculants tend to be from "special programs."

According to the website I'm considered in-region, although their admissions timeline is weird and has the class of 2019 start in January so I'm not sure if I'll apply anyways.

 

[gyngyn]

According to the website I'm considered in-region, although their admissions timeline is weird and has the class of 2019 start in January so I'm not sure if I'll apply anyways.

Like I said, "special programs."

 

[DrStephenStrange]

UMKC's OOS matriculants tend to be from "special programs."

And UMKC's spots are mostly filed by their 6 year medical program, and when you apply you're basically competing for about 10 to 12 spots which is why their deadline is August 31st.

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[prairiemusic]

And UMKC's spots are mostly filed by their 6 year medical program, and when you apply you're basically competing for about 10 to 12 spots which is why their deadline is August 31st.

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This is exactly the kind of content I come to SDN for, thanks for the heads up!

 

[DrStephenStrange]

This is exactly the kind of content I come to SDN for, thanks for the heads up!

You're very welcome.

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