Hello SDN,
I'm a non-trad ORM MI Resident who is looking to apply for the upcoming 2025/2026 cycle.
GPA & Story:
I had a 3.3 cGPA/ 3.1 sGPA as an undergrad. I was originally premed, but my low GPA deterred me from even bothering with the MCAT.
I ended up going to law school but flunking out after 2 semesters (1.7 GPA). It just was not the field of study for me and I did it because I had no sense of direction at the time.
I then completed a Master's in Accounting (3.6 GPA) and worked in public accounting. Although I liked accounting, I still couldn't stop thinking about pursuing medicine.
Last year, I did a DIY post-bacc (31 credits in 2 semesters) from a university and got a 3.76 cGPA/sGPA, all 300 and 400 level Bio courses. I secured 3 LoRs from faculty.
I took the MCAT in January and received a 510 (B/B 128, C/P 127, P/S 130, CARS 125).
My ECs are as follows:
Public Accounting Experience - 1 year.
Hospital security - 1 year (2000 hours). Mostly stationed in the psych hall of the emergency department (ED) where I was excellent at securing belligerent patients in restraints. While not clinical experience per se, I definitely got plenty of patient contact (including contact with their bodily fluids). Given that this was a hospital in Detroit, I witnessed a lot of things in the ED.
Shadowed 2 D.O.s. for 40 hours each. Once last year (primary care) and one in 2016 (PM & R). I have a LoR from the physician I recently shadowed. I got one from the Dr I shadowed in 2016, but I do not plan on using it due to how old it is.
200 hours of volunteering at a different hospital including as a volunteer trainer. Good leadership experience in a clinical setting. The problem with this EC is that the hospital in question closed down and I lost contact with the head of the volunteer dept. If schools attempt to verify these hours, it will be difficult to do so. Should I even include this as an EC?
200 hours of volunteering for the Crisis Text Line. No problem verifying hours.
100 hours as a Scribe for a hospital neurological dept. Mostly scribed for NPs and PAs.
Spent one summer (160 hours) during my undergrad years doing psych research. Presented the findings at a psych convention, but the research was never published.
Biology tutor during undergrad (100 hours). Although my uGPA was low, I did get several top grades in a few lower level bio classes and was able to tutor other students in those subjects.
Director of Security for a Hospitality Group (5 years) - I supervised a team of 30 security personnel across three venues. Indicative of leadership experience.
Avid powerlifter with over a decade of experience. 1650 lbs total between the three main lifts (bench, squat, deadlift). No PED use.
There are others, but I believe these are my best EC's.
Schools:
Because of my checkered academic history (especially the law school failure) I doubt that I will be competitive for MDs. I am focusing on D.O. schools for this reason.
My list includes:
MSUCOM (Probably a reach, but this is my IS school and would be my top choice),
ATSU - both campuses
BCOM - both campuses
CUSOM
DMU-COM
DUQCOM
Edward Via
Idaho Com
KCUMB
LECOM
LMU
Marian
Meritus
Noorda
PCOM - all campuses
Rocky Vista
Touro - all campuses except NY & CA
William Carey
I am trying to keep my list under 25. As I work full-time, I don't want to be overwhelmed by primaries and secondaries.
Questions:
1. So, WAMC?
2. Should I add or omit any schools?
3. From what I understand, TX favors in-state students heavily so I did not add Incarnate Word, North TX or Sam Houston . I have no interest in applying to universities like Liberty. NY and CA seem to require stats that are significantly higher than mine. Should I bother with schools in NY, CA and TX?
4. How are my ECs? Would it help to get more volunteering hours or even drop hospital security for something more clinical like being a tech or nurse aide?
5. Should I include the hospital volunteer experience that is potentially unverifiable?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I'm a non-trad ORM MI Resident who is looking to apply for the upcoming 2025/2026 cycle.
GPA & Story:
I had a 3.3 cGPA/ 3.1 sGPA as an undergrad. I was originally premed, but my low GPA deterred me from even bothering with the MCAT.
I ended up going to law school but flunking out after 2 semesters (1.7 GPA). It just was not the field of study for me and I did it because I had no sense of direction at the time.
I then completed a Master's in Accounting (3.6 GPA) and worked in public accounting. Although I liked accounting, I still couldn't stop thinking about pursuing medicine.
Last year, I did a DIY post-bacc (31 credits in 2 semesters) from a university and got a 3.76 cGPA/sGPA, all 300 and 400 level Bio courses. I secured 3 LoRs from faculty.
I took the MCAT in January and received a 510 (B/B 128, C/P 127, P/S 130, CARS 125).
My ECs are as follows:
Public Accounting Experience - 1 year.
Hospital security - 1 year (2000 hours). Mostly stationed in the psych hall of the emergency department (ED) where I was excellent at securing belligerent patients in restraints. While not clinical experience per se, I definitely got plenty of patient contact (including contact with their bodily fluids). Given that this was a hospital in Detroit, I witnessed a lot of things in the ED.
Shadowed 2 D.O.s. for 40 hours each. Once last year (primary care) and one in 2016 (PM & R). I have a LoR from the physician I recently shadowed. I got one from the Dr I shadowed in 2016, but I do not plan on using it due to how old it is.
200 hours of volunteering at a different hospital including as a volunteer trainer. Good leadership experience in a clinical setting. The problem with this EC is that the hospital in question closed down and I lost contact with the head of the volunteer dept. If schools attempt to verify these hours, it will be difficult to do so. Should I even include this as an EC?
200 hours of volunteering for the Crisis Text Line. No problem verifying hours.
100 hours as a Scribe for a hospital neurological dept. Mostly scribed for NPs and PAs.
Spent one summer (160 hours) during my undergrad years doing psych research. Presented the findings at a psych convention, but the research was never published.
Biology tutor during undergrad (100 hours). Although my uGPA was low, I did get several top grades in a few lower level bio classes and was able to tutor other students in those subjects.
Director of Security for a Hospitality Group (5 years) - I supervised a team of 30 security personnel across three venues. Indicative of leadership experience.
Avid powerlifter with over a decade of experience. 1650 lbs total between the three main lifts (bench, squat, deadlift). No PED use.
There are others, but I believe these are my best EC's.
Schools:
Because of my checkered academic history (especially the law school failure) I doubt that I will be competitive for MDs. I am focusing on D.O. schools for this reason.
My list includes:
MSUCOM (Probably a reach, but this is my IS school and would be my top choice),
ATSU - both campuses
BCOM - both campuses
CUSOM
DMU-COM
DUQCOM
Edward Via
Idaho Com
KCUMB
LECOM
LMU
Marian
Meritus
Noorda
PCOM - all campuses
Rocky Vista
Touro - all campuses except NY & CA
William Carey
I am trying to keep my list under 25. As I work full-time, I don't want to be overwhelmed by primaries and secondaries.
Questions:
1. So, WAMC?
2. Should I add or omit any schools?
3. From what I understand, TX favors in-state students heavily so I did not add Incarnate Word, North TX or Sam Houston . I have no interest in applying to universities like Liberty. NY and CA seem to require stats that are significantly higher than mine. Should I bother with schools in NY, CA and TX?
4. How are my ECs? Would it help to get more volunteering hours or even drop hospital security for something more clinical like being a tech or nurse aide?
5. Should I include the hospital volunteer experience that is potentially unverifiable?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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