MD WAMC: Non-trad NJ resident, Low-ish GPA High-ish MCAT

[Terps1128]

Hi all! I would like some advice as to my chances of getting into medical school (if any…) and what schools I should apply to. I would also welcome advice on ways to improve my odds. I really would like to go MD but am open to Rowans SOM and PCOM for DO. I plan on applying May 2026.

Application summary:

1. cGPA and sGPA: 3.35 and 3.3 without retroactive withdrawal / 3.45 and 3.44 with retroactive withdrawal (strong upward trend)
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown: 512 (130/127/128/127) Practice FL, haven’t taken the real exam yet hoping to score a few points higher
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US): New Jersey
4. Ethnicity and/or race: ORM/White male 25
5. Undergraduate institution or category: Penn State University
6. Graduate School: University of Maryland
7. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer):
   1. 700 hours volunteer EMT,
   2. 2000 Scribe at local hospital,
   3. General hospital volunteer at George Washington 75 hours,
   4. Volunteer at Robert Wood Johnson 200 hours,
   5. Local hospital volunteering Pride Center (LGBTQ+ health support) 400 hours.
   6. Local Free Clinic 150 hours
8. Research experience:
   1. 85 hours undergrad research lab in ecology,
   2. Grad research in Info Sci 600 hours (1 publication and 1 poster project)
   3. Carnegie Mellon University: SEI Research and development Intern 620 hours (Developed a prototype for US Air Force)
9. Shadowing experience and specialties represented (all are MD):
   1. 100 hours shadowing primary care family doc in suburban/rural area,
   2. 100 hours pediatric surgeon
   3. 50 hours pediatrician
10. Non-clinical volunteering:
    1. 400 hours local soup kitchen
    2. Youth Lacrosse coach 300 hours
11. Leadership experience:
    1. Anatomy and Physiology 1 Laboratory TA for 4 semesters
    2. Biology 220 TA for 2 semesters
    3. INST TA for 2 semesters,
    4. Resident Assistant for 2 years
    5. Treasurer of UXPA 1.5 years
    6. PSU Hackathon Design chair president 1 year
    7. Graduate TA UMD INST 2 years
    8. UXterps treasurer 1 year
    9. TerpsThon special advisory position 1 year
    10. Intramural soccer captain 8 semesters
        1. PSU Thon Org ATLAS: 300 hours (Dance marathon to raise money for children with cancer each group gets a family it is a vey moving experience)
        2. PSU Snowboarding Club: 300 hours
        3. PSU Club Lacrosse 1 season ( I stopped playing after covid-19 since 2 seasons were canceled)
        4. PSU Dems
        5. WeSkate UMD
        6. UMD Snowboarding Club
        7. UMD Club Track and Field
        8. UMD Dems

Current school list:
Rutgers RWJ
Rutgers Newark
Rowan Cooper
Hackensack Meridian
Drexel
Temple
Thomas Jefferson
Penn State
Pitt
UMD
Georgetown
George Washington
EVMS
VTech
VCU
Wake Forest
Albany
NYMC
Vermont
Dartmouth
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Rush
Loyola
Rosiland Franklin
Cincinnati (I heard they like non-trads)
Medical College of Wisconsin
Creighton
DO:
Rowan SOM
PCOM

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[Goro]

Can you give us a year by year for your GPAs?

For starters, add more DO schools and delete U Cincy.

 

[Goro]

Also delete VA tech and Pitt

 

[Faha]

Post your actual MCAT score here in the future and we can advise on both MD and DO schools. As long as your MCAT is 507+ you will be competitive for all DO schools.

 

[Terps1128]

Can you give us a year by year for your GPAs?

For starters, add more DO schools and delete U Cincy.

With retroactive withdrawal:
cGPA
Freshman - 2.77
Sophomore - 3.25
Junior - 3.26
Senior - 3.3
Post bacc - 3.45
sGPA
freshman - 2.72
sophomore - 3.156
junior - 3.163
senior - 3.169
post bacc - 3.440

Without retroactive withdrawal:
cGPA
Freshman - 2.5
sophomore - 3.034
junior - 3.065
senior - 3.176
post bacc - 3.35
sGPA
freshman - 2.138
sophomore - 2.799
junior - 2.907
senior - 2.952
post bacc - 3.30

 

[Terps1128]

Post your actual MCAT score here in the future and we can advise on both MD and DO schools. As long as your MCAT is 507+ you will be competitive for all DO schools.

What MCAT score would you recommend for a decent chance at MD schools? Thank you for reading my post!

 

[Terps1128]

Also delete VA tech and Pitt

What MD and DO schools would you consider as decent replacements given my info? I appreciate you looking at my post!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What schools would you consider as decent replacements given my info?

More DO schools was a suggestion. Duquesne opened in Pittsburgh. I presume you are thinking VCOM instead of VTC?

Contact the Medical Student Pride Alliance if they have mentorship slots available.

If you wind up with a 512, you should be in good range for MD and DO programs.

 

[Terps1128]

More DO schools was a suggestion. Duquesne opened in Pittsburgh. I presume you are thinking VCOM instead of VTC?

Contact the Medical Student Pride Alliance if they have mentorship slots available.

If you wind up with a 512, you should be in good range for MD and DO programs.

Good catch! I did mean VCOM. More DO schools I'll look into going forward. Its good to hear MD is a possibility if I score how I should. Thank you!

 

[Faha]

What MCAT score would you recommend for a decent chance at MD schools? Thank you for reading my post!

The GPA-MCAT grid shows you would have a 50% chance of a MD acceptance with a MCAT of 513 to 515.