WAMC 3.78 507

[Sosayitditto]

First-time applicant here. I applied to 19 MD schools this cycle and currently don’t have any II’s so far (3 R’s and 1 pre-II-hold). I do think the low MCAT score (507) and competitive school list are the biggest factors but I just wanted to seek advice. Here were my stats for the primary application:

• CA Traditional Low-income ORM (graduated 2022)
• T20 Biology major
• 3.78 cGPA (3.68 sGPA), 507 MCAT (128/124/127/128)
• 2 Clinical research presentations
• 1 gap year working as a medical assistant
• 30 hours of Physician shadowing
• 400 Clinical research hours
• 20+ Private Scholarships
• 150 Clinical volunteer hours
• 1000 Non-clinical volunteer hours
• Part-time server and tutor jobs
• School list (All CA schools & urban MD Schools on the East Coast/Chicago)
• LOR (Physicians that I work for, close science professor, research PI, science & non-sci professor)

Currently:

• Second gap year working as an MA
• Working on 3 publications in a clinical research lab (First authorship, Second authorship, and 4th/5th authorship)
• Considering the MCAT retake in Spring

All feedback is welcome!

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[Faha]

Which OOS schools did you apply to ?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

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[Sosayitditto]

Sure thing! I'm a first-time applicant. Based on the primary application, here it is:

1. 3.78 cGPA (3.68 sGPA)
2. 507 MCAT (128/124/127/128) -> Taken April 2023
3. CA/Permanent Resident
4. Asian
5. T20 Public School (Community College Transfer) - Class of 2022 with a degree in Biology
6. 1500 hours as a Medical Assistant, 120 hours of Hospital volunteering, & 50 hours on a medical mission trip to Latin America.
   1. I am still working as an MA.
7. 350 hours of COVID-19 Clinical Research, 2 poster presentations
   1. I recently submitted a paper to a journal as a Co-First author which requested minor edits.
   2. Working on one second authored paper and another fifth authored paper
8. 30 hours of Shadowing <Internal Medicine>, 100+ hours Shadowing as an MA <Urology>
9. 2000 hours serving my local church with mostly first-generation Korean elderly congregation (worship team, serving food, cleaning tables)
10. Summer Tutor for elementary students. In-person Tutor/Supervisor elementary students who had no daytime supervision due to school lockdowns. Server/waiter for three restaurants.
11. 20+ Private Scholarships: I was ineligible for financial aid/loans and had to search for private scholarships to fund my first three years of undergraduate education.
12. Extensively lived in three different countries (7 years in Korea, 8 years in India, 8 years in the US). Low-income family. I had to decline my college acceptance offers due to poor financial status leading me to attend a community college. Bilingual (Korean & English). Financial contribution to the family from high school to college.

[EDIT]
School List:
Albert Einstein
Rush
Cooper Rowan
Rosalind Franklin
UCSF
UCLA
UCSD
UCI
UCR
UCD
CUSM
Keck USC
Sidney Kimmel
Temple
Stony Brook
Drexel
Tufts
UChicago
Boston University

 

[Faha]

I see 5 or 6 schools where you might receive an interview with a MCAT of 507. If no success this cycle come back here in May and we can suggest a better list of schools. Also include DO schools if you reapply.

 

[Sosayitditto]

I see 5 or 6 schools where you might receive an interview with a MCAT of 507. If no success this cycle come back here in May and we can suggest a better list of schools. Also include DO schools if you reapply.

Thank you so much! When do you think is a good time to consider retaking the MCAT if I do not receive any II's?

 

[Faha]

Thank you so much! When do you think is a good time to consider retaking the MCAT if I do not receive any II's?

If no interview invites by January then start studying for a Spring MCAT.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

When did your submit your application? How did you come up with your list? Did you talk to financial aid officers at the schools before applying, if you have had a history of not receiving much financial aid before?

 

[Sosayitditto]

When did your submit your application? How did you come up with your list? Did you talk to financial aid officers at the schools before applying, if you have had a history of not receiving much financial aid before?

Primary verified early July. 2/3 Secondaries submitted July and 1/3 submitted August. I received CUSM's secondary last month and plan to submit it soon.

Regarding the school list, location was probably my most important factor. Since medical school is four years, I felt that I wanted to spend this time in a diverse environment where I get to encounter people from different backgrounds.

For financial aid, I was a legal resident but was ineligible for federal financial aid/loans due to my immigration status. I did communicate to the adcoms regarding my financial issue and was able to receive extra grants but was still a big burden.