WAMC and should I consider DO?

[white.coat.aspirer]

Hi guys. This is my first time posting here, and I apologize if I am posting in the wrong place. My inspiration to become a physician came from my aunt who is the best psychiatrist in the world and introduced me to this passion when I was young.

I am an immigrant from Brazil, and completed both undergrad (UMBC, BA in Biological Sciences; GPA 3.47 with significant increase in grades in junior and senior year) and grad school (Columbia University, MS in Human Nutrition; GPA 3.9) in the US. I am currently a research coordinator in a clinical peds research lab, and am planning on applying this cycle.
My one issue and monster under my bed in the MCAT. I took it twice already (2022 and 2023) and got the same grade twice, a 499. I am retaking it this month and am much more confident in getting around a 510. I know that 3 MCATs are kind of a red flag and that adcoms normally average scores anyway (optimistically I would average a 501ish) so I am bit worried in general. Being an immigrant means I can only apply to a handful of MD schools and most of them are really competitive schools. I am contemplating maybe also applying to DO schools? Though MD is really my goal (personal reasons), I do think that I should also apply to DO schools given my stats.

Any thoughts or words of wisdom?

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[gyngyn]

Do you have a green card?

 

[white.coat.aspirer]

Do you have a green card?

Nope. I can only apply as an international.

 

[gyngyn]

A DO application is your best bet.

 

[white.coat.aspirer]

A DO application is your best bet.

Thank you so much! Do you think MDs are an absolute no go/waste of money to even apply?

 

[gyngyn]

Do you think MDs are an absolute no go/waste of money to even apply?

Yes, I do.
Since the time this was published, it has become even more difficult for international applicants.

Applying to Medical School as an International Applicant

Information for international applicants who want to apply to U.S. medical schools.

students-residents.aamc.org

 

[Goro]

Thank you so much! Do you think MDs are an absolute no go/waste of money to even apply?

Internationals who matriculate into US MD schools tend to be superstars

 

[dscmn]

Internationals who matriculate into US MD schools tend to be superstars

Is it any better for DO schools? Out of curiosity, I have rarely heard of anyone going to US med skwl without a greencard

 

[Goro]

Is it any better for DO schools? Out of curiosity, I have rarely heard of anyone going to US med skwl without a greencard

Yes, for the 16ish DO schools that take internationals.

 

[dscmn]

Yes, for the 16ish DO schools that take internationals.

Do internationals have disadvantage in those DO schools though? What is the acceptance rate? If you do know...

 

[Goro]

Do internationals have disadvantage in those DO schools though? What is the acceptance rate? If you do know...

Dont know to either question.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your 499 MCATs puts you at a disadvantage, period. You are not competitive for MD programs with that trend as an international applicant.

Nail the retake and/or determine your plan B. You already have a nutrition masters and a good job in clinical research as far as you have described.

If you want to be a healthcare professional in mental health, why not a PsyD/Clinical Psychology? Entry into other graduate programs is more hospitable to international students, in general, as you know from your nutrition masters.

 

[white.coat.aspirer]

Your 499 MCATs puts you at a disadvantage, period. You are not competitive for MD programs with that trend as an international applicant.

Nail the retake and/or determine your plan B. You already have a nutrition masters and a good job in clinical research as far as you have described.

If you want to be a healthcare professional in mental health, why not a PsyD/Clinical Psychology? Entry into other graduate programs is more hospitable to international students, in general, as you know from your nutrition masters.

Hi! Just wanted to update this thread. I got into 1 DO school, and have 2 other DO interviews scheduled. I also have 1 MD interview schedule as well. Just wanted to reiterate the thing I heard from others that each applicant is different and that some things (story, experiences, etc) can make up for 499 MCATs, etc, even for international students!!!!

Super early in the cycle and I still have so much to accomplish during this one year-ish application cycle, so this is very exciting. I was kinda discouraged by you guys' comments though I know you did not mean to be discouraging. I am making it though! Hopefully this also helps others out there (with hope and encouragement) who had/have crippling anxiety about this process when your stats are lower than average.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi! Just wanted to update this thread. I got into 1 DO school, and have 2 other DO interviews scheduled. I also have 1 MD interview schedule as well. Just wanted to reiterate the thing I heard from others that each applicant is different and that some things (story, experiences, etc) can make up for 499 MCATs, etc, even for international students!!!!

Super early in the cycle and I still have so much to accomplish during this one year-ish application cycle, so this is very exciting. I was kinda discouraged by you guys' comments though I know you did not mean to be discouraging. I am making it though! Hopefully this also helps others out there (with hope and encouragement) who had/have crippling anxiety about this process when your stats are lower than average.

Wow. Congratulations! Again, we only know overall trends, but if you are able to argue mission fit and belonging with a school, take advantage.

Please share your story to help us better learn if trends are changing.

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[gundelfingen]

Nope. I can only apply as an international.

I was international before. Get your green card ASAP otherwise you’ll meet A LOT OF problems even if you could get into DO schools.

 

[white.coat.aspirer]

I was international before. Get your green card ASAP otherwise you’ll meet A LOT OF problems even if you could get into DO schools.

I should be okay, I have been here for 8 years so far and my whole education has been funded by my family (never had any issues so far with government or schools). What issues would I run into outside of admissions struggles?

 

[gundelfingen]

I should be okay, I have been here for 8 years so far and my whole education has been funded by my family (never had any issues so far with government or schools). What issues would I run into outside of admissions struggles?

Suppose you are rich enough to fund the tuition, and then your need visa sponsorship for residency. Some schools no longer accept international students like Georgetown due to this reason. For sure if you finish your residency you need a job here also required for sponsorship right?

 

[white.coat.aspirer]

Suppose you are rich enough to fund the tuition, and then your need visa sponsorship for residency. Some schools no longer accept international students like Georgetown due to this reason. For sure if you finish your residency you need a job here also required for sponsorship right?

Yeah, as I said not worried about tuition at all. The long-haul plan with my partner is to get married, so I should be set before residency (immigration status wise). Also, I have been gambling with my short list of schools due to being international for way too many things (bachelors, masters, now med school) so I am really not worried about having only a small pool of schools/places to attend if I don't have a green card by that time.

I appreciate your concern, and as an immigrant for 8 years here, I truly know all of that from experience. Medical school and after will not be much different. I haven't been there (as in an IM med student or graduated physician) but already disagree with your emphasis on facing "A LOT" of trouble after completing the degree.

Unsure if you heard of something called "F1 doctors" but you should check it out! Soooooo many people made (and are making) it through without a green card. When things are supposed to be, they happen without us having to jump through 9348475 hoops!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

... Unsure if you heard of something called "F1 doctors" but you should check it out! Soooooo many people made (and are making) it through without a green card. When things are supposed to be, they happen without us having to jump through 9348475 hoops!

Article posted

F1 Doctors: Supporting International Future Healthcare Professionals - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net