WAMC| Non-Canadaian International 3.87/510

[ChungO.o?]

Hello everyone,

I am a non-Canadian International student (East Asian) applying for the upcoming cycle. My cGPA is 3.87 and sGPA is 3.98 while my MCAT is a bit on the lower end (130/124/127/129) and got this score with second attempt. I had strong research profile (5 pubs when applying with 4500+ research hours since I worked in the research lab full-time during my 1st gap year) and clinical experience (volunteering for hospice and local hospitals, total around 500+ hours). As for shadowing, I shadowed multiple specialties during my undergrad years and cumulated around 300 hours. I have also attended the school program focusing on non-clinical volunteering for about 200 hours. Taking 2 gap years and received some awards from the school (cultural & academic). As an international applicant, I know that my score is low and may not get into any MD school, so I will mainly apply for some mid tier M.D. and D.O. schools. Here are some schools on my list:

MD:

• Tufts
• UCLA
• Dartmouth
• U Pitt
• Virginia Commonwealth
• Sidney Kimmel
• Saint Louis
• Tulane
• George Washington
• University of Illinois
• TCU

DO:

• Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
• Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Any recommendation on the list or how I should narrate my application will be greatly appreciated!

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[Faha]

Your best chances are at DO schools and I suggest these:
AZCOM
CCOM
KCU-COM
MSUCOM
LUCOM
MU-COM
NSU-KPCOM
UNECOM
Touro-NY
WCU-COM
WESTERN
ROWAN
For MD schools you could try these:
Wayne State
Central Michigan
Michigan State
George Washington
Georgetown
Jefferson
Loma Linda (if you fit their mission)
New York Medical College
TCU
Tulane
Illinois

 

[candbgirl]

What was your first MCAT. Score? .Be aware that many schools average multiple scores. And even if they don’t average, all of your scores are visible to schools.
What exactly did you do for nonclinical volunteering?
Have you applied before? It seems that you might have but I’m not sure.
Why not a PHD?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If it is your intention to stay in the United States, why not go to graduate school (PhD) until you get secure a green card? Of course the current education climate in the United States may force you to go look for PhD opportunities in your home country. Heaven knows if you have to return home and cannot return to the US...

I don't know how you "narrated" your application given the lack of detail about community service activities that don't deal with health/medicine. I am certain you can give us your personal journey narrative, but your "why medicine (in the United States)" is not obvious from what has been provided.

 

[ChungO.o?]

What was your first MCAT. Score? .Be aware that many schools average multiple scores. And even if they don’t average, all of your scores are visible to schools.
What exactly did you do for nonclinical volunteering?
Have you applied before? It seems that you might have but I’m not sure.
Why not a PHD?

Got a 501 the first time. This is my first application. I know that all of my scores will be visible, that's why I am not confident about getting into a MD school. Regarding the why not PhD position, I will say that I really enjoy the interaction between the physicians and patients and want to devote myself into helping others with my ability. To me, research is more like fulfilling my scientific desire instead of directly interacting with human and help them. That's what stop me from pursuing a pure PhD.

 

[ChungO.o?]

If it is your intention to stay in the United States, why not go to graduate school (PhD) until you get secure a green card? Of course the current education climate in the United States may force you to go look for PhD opportunities in your home country. Heaven knows if you have to return home and cannot return to the US...

I don't know how you "narrated" your application given the lack of detail about community service activities that don't deal with health/medicine. I am certain you can give us your personal journey narrative, but your "why medicine (in the United States)" is not obvious from what has been provided.

Agree with you on the current academic climate. I am not sure if I can stay here even during the cycle (my OPT ends at June). As for the "why medicine," I will say it is mainly the idea of helping others with science that keeps driving me forward. Yes, PhD is essentially the same thing. Using science to help the society. However, I really appreciate the smile I saw during my shadowing time when the patient was finally recovered from cancer. The joy, the relief, the emotion, I think these things will be relatively hard to get if I only work toward a PhD degree.