WAMC? Non-trad, reinventor

[Member2223]

Hello all,

Undergrad (humanities major): fresh 2.4, soph 3.1, junior 3.1, senior 3.7 || total 3.01
Postbacc (DIY): 4.0 (52 credits all BCPM)
cGPA: 3.35
sGPA: 3.68 or 3.77 (AMCAS)*, 3.81 (AACOMAS)
*depends on whether or not an undergrad sociology class (SOCY 220: "Statistics") will be counted as BCPM or not. If not, then 3.77.

MCAT: 514 (125/127/131/131) first attempt

~1000 clinical, 1000 + longitudinal volunteering (500+ clinical/500+ non-clinical), leadership (started a volunteer organization focused on my underserved community), 600+ clinical research (1 first author manuscript under review, 1 mid-author manuscript under review, 1 poster presentation, 1 abstract under review), Solid LORS

My ECs, narrative, and writing are heavily focused on underserved and disadvantaged communities, particularly in a rural/semi-rural setting. I'm also a reinventor after non-ideal performance in undergrad due to no direction and goals. Worked a few years after undergrad in non-stem related career, matured a lot, & realized that medicine is what I wanted to pursue.

I really want to go the MD route but I also want to be realistic. For MD, my list comprises of mission-fit schools and low-tier programs, along with my state school. I'm on the fence of applying MD only for cycle 1 and MD + DO if a second cycle is needed.

Curious what my chances at MD are? Also if there is anything from now until application time this summer that I can do to significantly enhance those changes?

• Take more classes? (1 more semester could get me to a cGPA of 3.38-3.40 and sGPA of ~3.8, at risk of breaking the 4.0 streak though)
• Retake the MCAT? (FL average was 516) also my 125 C/P is below the 10th percentile for a lot of schools on MSAR
• Focus more on the intangibles/writing and experiences?

Applying for the 2025-2026 cycle

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[Faha]

Where is your state of residence ? Taking more classes this semester to increase your GPA is a good idea. You do not need to retake an MCAT of 514.

 

[Member2223]

Where is your state of residence ? Taking more classes this semester to increase your GPA is a good idea. You do not need to retake an MCAT of 514.

It's a small state, non-CA/TX/NY/IL/MI/FL etc.

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

I think you would have solid chances at MD schools with your stats as long as you demonstrate mission fit. Your experience starting an organization that helps underserved communities is unique. I think it would be wise to apply both MD and DO this cycle and go to the best school you get into. Outside of your GPA, which you have already addressed/continue to address, nothing really stands out as needing improvement.

If you want to maximize your chances at MD, apply broadly.

 

[Faha]

Apply to both MD and DO cycles this coming cycle. There is no point in delaying your career another year if you do not receive a MD acceptance.
I suggest these MD schools with your stats:
Your public state schools:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Hackensack
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
Belmont
NOVA MD
Alice Walton
TCU
Creighton
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Roseman (when it opens)
For DO schools I suggest these:
DMU-COM
CCOM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM
AZCOM
TUNCOM
ACOM
PCOM
CUSOM
WVSOM
NYITCOM
Touro-NY

 

[Member2223]

I think you would have solid chances at MD schools with your stats as long as you demonstrate mission fit. Your experience starting an organization that helps underserved communities is unique. I think it would be wise to apply both MD and DO this cycle and go to the best school you get into. Outside of your GPA, which you have already addressed/continue to address, nothing really stands out as needing improvement.

If you want to maximize your chances at MD, apply broadly.

Thank you! Do you have any advice on how to effectively approach mission fit? I’m nearly finished with my personal statement, which highlights how my desire to address the healthcare barriers faced by my community was the primary motivation behind my career change to becoming a physician. Are there additional ways I can strengthen the mission-fit component of my application?

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

Thank you! Do you have any advice on how to effectively approach mission fit? I’m nearly finished with my personal statement, which highlights how my desire to address the healthcare barriers faced by my community was the primary motivation behind my career change to becoming a physician. Are there additional ways I can strengthen the mission-fit component of my application?

In my opinion, the content of your primary is what establishes your mission fit and your secondary application helps solidify it as well as elaborate on it. You can also show mission fit through "Why us?" essays — although not all schools have one!

Write your non-clinical volunteering and leadership experience starting the organization well to show what you have done to improve these underserved communities.

 

[Member2223]

Apply to both MD and DO cycles this coming cycle. There is no point in delaying your career another year if you do not receive a MD acceptance.
I suggest these MD schools with your stats:
Your public state schools:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Hackensack
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
Belmont
NOVA MD
Alice Walton
TCU
Creighton
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Roseman (when it opens)
For DO schools I suggest these:
DMU-COM
CCOM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM
AZCOM
TUNCOM
ACOM
PCOM
CUSOM
WVSOM
NYITCOM
Touro-NY

Thank you so much for sharing this school list! A majority of these schools are already on my list, so it’s great to see that alignment.

My gripe is whether it’s worth risking an additional year for a potentially unsuccessful cycle for a second chance at MD over DO.

My main reason is the desire to stay in-state to spend more time with my aging father, as there are no DO schools nearby. Beyond that, there are the other reasons of avoiding COMPLEX in addition to STEP1/2, improved residency match opportunities, not having to arrange rotation opportunities, a P/F curriculum, and so on. I feel like making the upfront sacrifice of one extra year could save me a lot of future stress and potential regret. I’ve spoken with a number of DO students about this, and the feedback I’ve gotten has been pretty evenly split.

 

[Member2223]

In my opinion, the content of your primary is what establishes your mission fit and your secondary application helps solidify it as well as elaborate on it. You can also show mission fit through "Why us?" essays — although not all schools have one!

Write your non-clinical volunteering and leadership experience starting the organization well to show what you have done to improve these underserved communities.

This is super helpful, I'm going to focus on these as I write my essays. I really appreciate it!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you! Do you have any advice on how to effectively approach mission fit? I’m nearly finished with my personal statement, which highlights how my desire to address the healthcare barriers faced by my community was the primary motivation behind my career change to becoming a physician. Are there additional ways I can strengthen the mission-fit component of my application?

Read

Practicing the Art of Reflection with a Prehealth Journal (or Podcast, or Online Blog) - SDN

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

www.studentdoctor.net

Finding Your Purpose as a Health Professional - SDN

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

www.studentdoctor.net

Charting Your Purpose by Writing Your Professional Oath - SDN

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

www.studentdoctor.net

Mission Fit: Key to Your Success - SDN

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

www.studentdoctor.net

My main reason is the desire to stay in-state to spend more time with my aging father, as there are no DO schools nearby. Beyond that, there are the other reasons of avoiding COMPLEX in addition to STEP1/2, improved residency match opportunities, not having to arrange rotation opportunities, a P/F curriculum, and so on. I feel like making the upfront sacrifice of one extra year could save me a lot of future stress and potential regret. I’ve spoken with a number of DO students about this, and the feedback I’ve gotten has been pretty evenly split.

You have a better idea about the situation with your father. You can look at your sacrifice as extra time with your father which could be complicated by having to handle your first year of medical school whether in MD or DO programs. If you flunk out of year one, the rest of your concerns become moot.