WAMC ORM, 511, 3.6 SMP GPA, Upward Trend In Undergrad)

[cosmickidfullcostumedress]

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Hey all. Just got my June MCAT back and am feeling really disappointed about my score. I'm in an SMP right now and have been told that my ECs and story/narrative are my strongest points for my application. Essentially all of my activities revolve around one clinical interest that is the reason why I want to go into medicine in the first place. It's good stuff and I know my rec. letters are phenomenal but my stats otherwise are weak for MD schools. Would be curious to hear people's thoughts.

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Stats:​

• cGPA: 3.4
• sGPA: 3.1
• Post-bacc GPA: 3.6
• MCAT: 511 (First attempt)

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Demographics:​

• White female
• NH resident
• Not disadvantaged

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Education:​

• T5 LAC in New England (‘23), Biology (Cell & Molecular) + English minor

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Clinical Experience (Paid):​

• Ophthalmic Technician: ~1,300 hrs across 2 stints

Research Experience:​

• Current lab (infectious disease): ~2,440 hrs complete + 1,600 anticipated (Most Meaningful)
• Abstract for conferences pending
• SMP thesis project continuation in current lab
• Ophthalmology summer research during undergrad: 300 hrs

Shadowing:​

• Infectious Disease Shadowing: 40 hrs

Non-Clinical Volunteering:​

• HIV Testing + Advocacy: 700 hrs (Most Meaningful, the woman who wrote my rec has really good things to say about me)
• HIV harm reduction work: 20 hrs
• College Peer Health Mentor: 200 hrs

Other Extracurriculars:​

• Editor-in-Chief of satire paper in college (Most Meaningful): 1200 hours
• College Social House President + Residential Life Committee Member: 200 hours
• Tour guide + Theater department involvement: 250 hours
• Podcast producer + oral history project editor: 300 hours

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Letters of Rec:​

• My PI (Director of virology research)
• Executive Director of HIV organization I volunteered with
• SMP committee letter (includes faculty endorsements)
• Additional letters from BU MAMS professors and research mentors

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School List (working):​

• BU
• Tufts
• Einstein
• UMass
• Drexel
• Temple
• Jefferson
• Rush
• Vermont
• Quinnipiac
• NYMC
• GWU
• Georgetown
• Tulane
• Rosalind Franklin
• Loyola
• Albany
• Miami
• Emory (reach-ish)
• Brown (reach with strong narrative)
• OHSU (public health emphasis)
• Possibly DOs if needed (TBD)

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Questions:​

1. What on Earth am I supposed to make of a 511 MCAT?
2. Are schools like BU, Rush, and Einstein realistic targets with this profile?
3. Should I toss Harvard, UCSF, etc. in for funsies or focus on mission-fit MDs?
4. Are my ECs strong enough to carry a non-traditional GPA and MCAT combo into interviews?

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[Faha]

Some of your schools are unrealistic with a MCAT of 511. I suggest these schools with your stats:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
Drexel
Temple
Penn State
Eastern Virginia
Methodist (when it opens)
NOVA MD
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Ponce (St. Louis)
Rosalind Franklin
Rush
Loyola
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Also apply to DO schools and I suggest these:
UNECOM
NYITCOM
Touro-NY
LECOM
PCOM
WVSOM
CUSOM
MU-COM
KCU-COM
DMU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
AZCOM
TUNCOM
CUSOM

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Focus on mission-fit programs. Harvard, UCSF, Brown, and similar Ivy+ schools appreciate your money towards their losses from federal grant rescissions, but you don't need to help.

I'm a little divided on your HIV advocacy; I think places like Rush and Jesuit schools will appreciate the amount of time in those activities if your descriptions point out social needs and public policy deficiencies vs. clinic-adjacent needs. Again, this is a question of details. It's possible you could have enough hours there. What do your SMP directors think? What schools do your SMP advisors feel are strong fits?