WAMC - 3.55 (sGPA 3.27),

[doctry23]

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It's my first time posting here so sorry for the formatting!

I'm a current senior at a top liberal arts college with a cumulative GPA of 3.55, SGPA 3.27

GPA shows an upward trend:
Freshmen: ~3.6
Sophomore: 2.94 (was dealing with depression, idk if this will be good enough to explain my grades)
junior: 3.9
senior: estimating a ~3.7 at the end of next sem

Shadowed: 40 hours primary care, 30 hours various specialties
Clinical volunteering: 1 year of hospice volunteering (~150 hours), 2 years of volunteering at a hospital (~150)
Non-clinical volunteering: Tutoring for 3 years (250+ hours)
Have had multiple small jobs, including being a TA for a lab
Limited research (lab experience only in STEM courses, but I think I will be a research assistant at a lab next semester which is my last so i'll have at least a 100 hours but probably no publications)

Schools I'm really interested in (but let me know if I don't stand a chance!)
- UNC
- Wake Forest
- ECU
- Drexel
- Temple
- U of R
- PCOM

What other schools should I add?

My pre-med advisor says I don't have a good chance of getting into any MD schools due to my grades and suggests doing a SMP...
Unfortunately, I have no money for that, so I was hoping to just apply during this cycle and see if I can get in - is this a bad idea? Do I need to raise my GPA even more?

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

It's my first time posting here so sorry for the formatting!

I'm a current senior at a top liberal arts college with a cumulative GPA of 3.55, SGPA 3.27, MCAT 517 (130/127/132/128) looking (hoping?) to apply to MD (and a few DO) schools this upcoming cycle.
My state of residence is NC, I'm an asian female, but first gen/immigrant

GPA shows an upward trend:
Freshmen: ~3.6
Sophomore: 2.94 (was dealing with depression, idk if this will be good enough to explain my grades)
junior: 3.9
senior: estimating a ~3.7 at the end of next sem

Shadowed: 40 hours primary care, 30 hours various specialties
Clinical volunteering: 1 year of hospice volunteering (~150 hours), 2 years of volunteering at a hospital (~150)
Non-clinical volunteering: Tutoring for 3 years (250+ hours)
Have had multiple small jobs, including being a TA for a lab
Limited research (lab experience only in STEM courses, but I think I will be a research assistant at a lab next semester which is my last so i'll have at least a 100 hours but probably no publications)

Schools I'm really interested in (but let me know if I don't stand a chance!)
- UNC
- Wake Forest
- ECU
- Drexel
- Temple
- U of R
- PCOM

What other schools should I add?

My pre-med advisor says I don't have a good chance of getting into any MD schools due to my grades and suggests doing a SMP...
Unfortunately, I have no money for that, so I was hoping to just apply during this cycle and see if I can get in - is this a bad idea? Do I need to raise my GPA even more?

SMP might be overkill. A DIY post-bacc would probably be better for your situation--take a year or two of science courses that are similar to those offered in medical school and ace them all. Example courses would be: immunology, genetics, endocrinology, neurobiology, developmental biology, etc. Get your GPAs up to at least 3.6 for a better shot at MD.

Perhaps more clinical experience, either paid or volunteering, can help your application.

As for DO schools, you're competitive nearly everywhere. If you're going this route, I suggest shadowing a DO and getting a LOR.

 

[doctry23]

As for DO schools, you're competitive nearly everywhere. If you're going this route, I suggest shadowing a DO and getting a LOR.

Is the LOR from a DO required when you apply to DO schools?

Also, I read that UNC/ECU's min overall and science gpa for in state students is 3.2, so since I meet those criteria, I was hoping I could somehow get in there... Is this a long shot?

 

[oldjoe97]

Is the LOR from a DO required when you apply to DO schools?

Also, I read that UNC/ECU's min overall and science gpa for in state students is 3.2, so since I meet those criteria, I was hoping I could somehow get in there... Is this a long shot?

As someone who is an NC resident, that is not a long shot. You definitely have a chance at those two. Obviously a DIY post bacc will boost your chances at UNC, ECU, and other med schools!

 

[doctry23]

As someone who is an NC resident, that is not a long shot. You definitely have a chance at those two. Obviously a DIY post bacc will boost your chances at UNC, ECU, and other med schools!

Thanks so much! Since I've recently started even looking into SMPs and thinking of a post-bac, I am not sure how to go about a DIY post-bac year. Do I just take graduate level courses at the nearest college/university? How many should I take? like 4 per semester? Would it look better if I did a DIY post bac at a reputable college (or is that not possible for the universities that offer their own SMPs)?

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Is the LOR from a DO required when you apply to DO schools?

Also, I read that UNC/ECU's min overall and science gpa for in state students is 3.2, so since I meet those criteria, I was hoping I could somehow get in there... Is this a long shot?

The average sGPA for UNC is 3.79 so I'd say it is risky to apply now (not impossible). Keep in mind that being a re-applicant lowers your shot of acceptance at that school in subsequent application cycles.

Certain schools require DO letters, others recommend it or accept MD letters. Check out: Osteopathic Medical School List (2019-2020) and see the letter requirements for each school.

 

[Faha]

I suggest these MD schools with your stats:
UNC
Wake Forest
ECU
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
Hofstra
New York Medical College
Seton Hall
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
TCU-UNT
You are competitive for all DO schools and I suggest these:
VCOM (all 4 schools)
CUSOM
PCOM
CCOM
DMU-COM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
TUNCOM
AZCOM
MU-COM
You do not need to do a SMP but you could do a DIY post bacc. That would consist of taking undergraduate level science courses at a local college.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Thanks so much! Since I've recently started even looking into SMPs and thinking of a post-bac, I am not sure how to go about a DIY post-bac year. Do I just take graduate level courses at the nearest college/university? How many should I take? like 4 per semester? Would it look better if I did a DIY post bac at a reputable college (or is that not possible for the universities that offer their own SMPs)?

Go to any college, preferably your home institution, and request to take courses as a non-degree student. Another option is to defer your graduation and take courses as a "super senior."

I'd suggest taking courses full time to show adcoms that you can handle a medical school course load.

 

[doctry23]

I suggest these MD schools with your stats:
UNC
Wake Forest
ECU
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
Hofstra
New York Medical College
Seton Hall
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
NOVA MD
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Western Michigan
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
TCU-UNT
You are competitive for all DO schools and I suggest these:
VCOM (all 4 schools)
CUSOM
PCOM
CCOM
DMU-COM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
TUNCOM
AZCOM
MU-COM
You do not need to do a SMP but you could do a DIY post bacc. That would consist of taking undergraduate level science courses at a local college.

Thank you so so much!

I thought a DIY post bacc consisted of graduate courses, or is it better to take undergrad science courses?

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Thank you so so much!

I thought a DIY post bacc consisted of graduate courses, or is it better to take undergrad science courses?

Upper-level undergrad sciences. Graduate courses are unnecessary and hard to obtain permission for.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

I'd add RowanSOM and NYITCOM to @Faha 's list

 

[bluepeony]

I'd add RowanSOM and NYITCOM to @Faha 's list

Doesnt Rowan have an instate bias?

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

Doesnt Rowan have an instate bias?

There's still a decent shot with that MCAT.

 

[Faha]

Thank you so so much!

I thought a DIY post bacc consisted of graduate courses, or is it better to take undergrad science courses?

Only undergraduate science courses will count towards your sGPA.

 

[doctry23]

Only undergraduate science courses will count towards your sGPA.

Sorry again for asking another silly question, but would the diy postbac of undergrad stem courses show up as a separate GPA or would the grades get factored into my undergrad GPA? this seems like it's different from taking classes in a SMP, right?

Thanks again though for all the help!

 

[bluepeony]

Sorry again for asking another silly question, but would the diy postbac of undergrad stem courses show up as a separate GPA or would the grades get factored into my undergrad GPA? this seems like it's different from taking classes in a SMP, right?

Thanks again though for all the help!

Separate postbacc entry as well as factored into your undergrad sgpa and cgpa.

 

[Faha]

Sorry again for asking another silly question, but would the diy postbac of undergrad stem courses show up as a separate GPA or would the grades get factored into my undergrad GPA? this seems like it's different from taking classes in a SMP, right?

Thanks again though for all the help!

Any undergraduate science courses you take are included in your sGPA.