WAMC / 501 MCAT (took 3 times) / 3.91 gpa & 3.89 sgpa

[HungryHungryGippo]

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I was planning on applying mostly DO schools, but wanted to throw in some MD schools like the SUNY schools and NJ schools because of my close connection to both Upstate NY and Upstate NJ. I'd rather not take the MCAT a fourth time and instead spend more of my gap year having clinical and non-clinical experiences, but let me know if you think it is best to take a fourth one.

1. 3.91cGPA and 3.89sGPA (Just Graduated)
2. 494, 492, 501 (126,124,125,126) MCAT scores (in order of taking them).
3. NY State residence
4. White and first generation immigrant (moved with my family when I was 8)
5. University at Albany (Biology undergrad)
6. 800 hrs PCT paid clinical experience / 400 hrs Volunteer Ambulance at University
7. 450 hrs X-ray Optics research in Physics department - no publications, but worked on 2 projects with one being industry-based and the other medical imaging based
8. 32 hrs shadowing at Pediatric Clinic, Rutgers ER, and Hackensack Organ Transplant. I will continue to do shadowing in Hackensack Organ Transplant for the Summer and gap year.
9. No non-clinical volunteering
10. Other extracurricular activities... Head Chess Instructor for Parks and Rec (seasonal work), worked at Panera for 6 months during freshman year before my PCT job, I was in the chess and tennis club in college, I play piano and guitar as a hobby, ski, and hike (mostly the Adirondack high peaks)
11. Awards: Dean's list and 2024 Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Research Award
12. I also lived in Upstate NJ before moving to Upstate NY so I have close family ties to that area.
13. I have strong letters of rec from my advising committee, 2 research professors, 2 science professors, 1 nurse, and 1 MD doctor

I realize I am a better applicant for DO schools but please let me know if anyone has any suggestions for my school list of both MD and DO. Thank you!

School List:
MD...
Albany Medical College, Suny Upstate, Suny Downstate, Buffalo, Hackensack, Rutgers Newark, Rutgers Robert Wood, Howard, Marshall University, Med College of Wisconsin, Michigan State College of Human Medicine, University of Kentucky, University of Minnesota
DO...
LECOM Elmira, NYIT, Touro NY campuses, Rowan, UNECOM, PCOM, Campbell, Edward Via, Liberty, Nova Southeastern, Burrel, WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista, Marian, Des Moines, Chicago COM, Ohio Heritage, Idaho, Kansas COM, Lincoln Memorial

 

[Drjc1977]

My only suggestion is for you to stop being concerned about being accepted into a medical program. You have an impressive resume and if you have done the best you can, then step back and enjoy life a little. It is unlikely retaking the MCAT will significantly change your score. I appreciate this may be your dream but if it does not come true, then have a new dream.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

Get some community service. You should have at least 150 hours of service orientation activities before submitting. DO schools may be a bit more forgiving, but you should have some experience: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. What feedback did you get from your prehealth advisors about applying?

 

[Faha]

There are no MD schools that are realistic with MCAT scores of 494, 492 and 501 and NO non clinical volunteering. You could receive interviews at some DO schools and I suggest all these:
ROWANCOM
LECOM (all schools)
UNECOM
DUQCOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
MU-COM
TUNCOM
BCOM (both schools}
UIWSOM
NYIT-AR
ARCOM
WCU-COM
BUCOM
ACOM
LMU-DCOM (all schools)
OCOM
Noorda-COM

 

[HungryHungryGippo]

Welcome to the forums.

Get some community service. You should have at least 150 hours of service orientation activities before submitting. DO schools may be a bit more forgiving, but you should have some experience: food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. What feedback did you get from your prehealth advisors about applying?

My advisor recommended getting some other forms of volunteering, like you said, at shelters or food distribution, but said it would be ok to apply now and get these experiences during the gap year instead of studying for another MCAT. She said I'm a good applicant for the DO schools in the northeast, but I should definitely get more hours volunteering. I realize that the ambulance organization is a clinical volunteering role, but would you say it hinders my application that I only have volunteering in a clinical setting though it was community-based, and only getting the non-clinical during my gap year?
Thank you very much for responding to my question