WAMC Previous Matriculant

[mediwars4]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey everyone, this is my first time posting and I’m a little nervous but here we go! I’m looking for advice from mainly adcoms but anyone can feel free to advice me.

I matriculated into AUC school of Med in St Maartens a few years back due to some financial challenges and my grandfather (who lived in Sint Maartens) condition at the time. Long story short, while I was there I fell ill and went to the ER numerous times and then during the week of finals I lost my grandfather. I withdrew voluntarily to get myself together physically and mentally and I’ve honestly thought about other professions but being a doctor is all I can see myself doing.
I think I’m a well rounded applicant overall:

URM , from CA but recently moved to Tx
cGPA - 3.69 (transfered halfway through undergrad and earned 3.8-4.0 after that each term)
sGPA - 3.48
DIY post bacc 4.0
MCAT 49x but retaking in April 2025
Paid Medical/Clinical - 3,900 hrs (medication technician, Covid screener, IHSS provider)
Paid Non-Medical/Clinical - 6,930 hrs (math tutor for kids with learning disabilities, small business owner, little league sports coach)
Volunteer Medical/Clinical - 3,475 hrs (community health clinic volunteer, medical mission trip, OTA volunteer, palliative care/hospice volunteer)
Volunteer Non-Medical/Clinical - 240 hrs (church health fair organizer)
Research - 150 hrs (socio-cultural factors and predisposed health conditions on maternal/child mortality rates in West Africa)
Others - 60 hrs (in the process of writing two children’s books about medicine and when to recognize danger)
Shadowing - 20 hrs
Social Jus - 230 hrs (created Health Education Pamphlet for Disadvantaged Populations)
Awards - deans list, local community presentation award, summa cum laude

I am looking to apply to both DO AND MD so please advice if I should even bother given my baggage..

 

[mediwars4]

I’m looking for advice from mainly adcoms but anyone can feel free to advice me 🙂

I matriculated into AUC school of Med in St Maartens a few years back due to some financial challenges and my grandfather (who lived in Sint Maartens) condition at the time. Long story short, while I was there I fell ill and went to the ER numerous times and then during the week of finals I lost my grandfather. I withdrew voluntarily to get myself together physically and mentally and I’ve honestly thought about other professions but being a doctor is all I can see myself doing.
I think I’m a well rounded applicant overall:

URM , from CA but recently moved to Tx
cGPA - 3.69 (transfered halfway through undergrad and earned 3.8-4.0 after that each term)
sGPA - 3.48
DIY post bacc 4.0
MCAT 49x but retaking in April 2025
Paid Medical/Clinical - 3,900 hrs (medication technician, Covid screener, IHSS provider)
Paid Non-Medical/Clinical - 6,930 hrs (math tutor for kids with learning disabilities, small business owner, little league sports coach)
Volunteer Medical/Clinical - 3,475 hrs (community health clinic volunteer, medical mission trip, OTA volunteer, palliative care/hospice volunteer)
Volunteer Non-Medical/Clinical - 240 hrs (church health fair organizer)
Research - 150 hrs (socio-cultural factors and predisposed health conditions on maternal/child mortality rates in West Africa)
Others - 60 hrs (in the process of writing two children’s books about medicine and when to recognize danger)
Shadowing - 20 hrs
Social Jus - 230 hrs (created Health Education Pamphlet for Disadvantaged Populations)
Awards - deans list, local community presentation award, summa cum laude

I am looking to apply to both DO AND MD so please advice if I should even bother given my baggage..

 

[karaya]

The MCAT is the biggest hurdle for you. Get >500 for DO schools. >510 will give you a chance at MD. Check out the MCAT subforum for study strategies. How much did you study for the 1st attempt?

 

[mediwars4]

The MCAT is the biggest hurdle for you. Get >500 for DO schools. >510 will give you a chance at MD. Check out the MCAT subforum for study strategies. How much did you study for the 1st attempt?

In all honesty I did not study at all as my uncle was kind of the one to persuade me in the first place, he said I just needed to take the exam for AUC and would get in regardless
Edit: are you saying that I still have a chance to be considered for admission and not DOA if I get a better score on the MCAT?

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

Not an ADCOM, but your experiences are great and I would think all DO schools + some MD schools (depending on MCAT retake) would be in play. Hope to see this updated in the Spring with a new MCAT.

 

[mediwars4]

Not an ADCOM, but your experiences are great and I would think all DO schools + some MD schools (depending on MCAT retake) would be in play. Hope to see this updated in the Spring with a new MCAT.

Thank you, I really hope it’s the case! I’m just petrified of being DOA simply because they see I previously matriculated to Med school.

 

[AJS59]

In all honesty I did not study at all as my uncle was kind of the one to persuade me in the first place, he said I just needed to take the exam for AUC and would get in regardless
Edit: are you saying that I still have a chance to be considered for admission and not DOA if I get a better score on the MCAT?

It's possible but an uphill battle. How many years back were you at AUC, and what have you been doing in the meantime?

I think your chances at DO are significantly better than MD. MD not impossible but I would focus mainly on DO.

 

[wysdoc]

If you moved to Texas recently, are you working in Texas or attending school in Texas?
Being in Texas for the purposes of education will not count towards establishing you as a Texas resident, but living and working in the state for more than 12 months will.
If a low-ish repeat MCAT score puts you in the range of applying to DO schools, the state of residence won't matter as much because most of the DO schools are open to OOS applicants.

 

[Faha]

As long as your new MCAT score is at least 498 you should be able to receive interviews at some DO schools. Post your score here when available next year and I will suggest schools that you can apply to.

 

[mediwars4]

It's possible but an uphill battle. How many years back were you at AUC, and what have you been doing in the meantime?

I think your chances at DO are significantly better than MD. MD not impossible but I would focus mainly on DO.

I was there 2022. I would say most of my major ECs including some shadowing have been since I left. ( for example, the IHSS provider, pamphlet creation, health fair organizer, and small business owner)

 

[mediwars4]

If you moved to Texas recently, are you working in Texas or attending school in Texas?
Being in Texas for the purposes of education will not count towards establishing you as a Texas resident, but living and working in the state for more than 12 months will.
If a low-ish repeat MCAT score puts you in the range of applying to DO schools, the state of residence won't matter as much because most of the DO schools are open to OOS applicants.

I do hope to practice in TX but I truly am open to anywhere in the US that would even consider me. I’ve still been trying to find work so in the meantime I’m with my sister. Since it would be 12 months when applying, will me just living with her be enough? Or do I need to work asap?

 

[mediwars4]

As long as your new MCAT score is at least 498 you should be able to receive interviews at some DO schools. Post your score here when available next year and I will suggest schools that you can apply to.

Thank you so much. This thread has been very helpful. DO schools do have a more holistic approach for admissions process correct? So I won’t be DOA due to my circumstances? At least for the most part

 

[Faha]

Thank you so much. This thread has been very helpful. DO schools do have a more holistic approach for admissions process correct? So I won’t be DOA due to my circumstances? At least for the most part

You should be fine for some DO schools with a good MCAT score.

 

[mediwars4]

You should be fine for some DO schools with a good MCAT score.

Okay! Should I incorporate this ordeal into my personal statement and/or TMDSAS optional essay in some way? Or would I be fine just answering in the primary app and any questions in secondaries that pertain to it?

 

[AJS59]

Okay! Should I incorporate this ordeal into my personal statement and/or TMDSAS optional essay in some way? Or would I be fine just answering in the primary app and any questions in secondaries that pertain to it?

Your personal statement should be focused around why you want to be a physician (still). If you find it appropriate to mention in your arc of what motivates you to be a physician, I would include it but you'll also be addressing it elsewhere - almost every school has a prompt asking if you've matriculated at another school.

 

[mediwars4]

Your personal statement should be focused around why you want to be a physician (still). If you find it appropriate to mention in your arc of what motivates you to be a physician, I would include it but you'll also be addressing it elsewhere - almost every school has a prompt asking if you've matriculated at another school.

Appreciate it! That’s what I thought initially too

 

[Goro]

I’m looking for advice from mainly adcoms but anyone can feel free to advice me 🙂

I matriculated into AUC school of Med in St Maartens a few years back due to some financial challenges and my grandfather (who lived in Sint Maartens) condition at the time. Long story short, while I was there I fell ill and went to the ER numerous times and then during the week of finals I lost my grandfather. I withdrew voluntarily to get myself together physically and mentally and I’ve honestly thought about other professions but being a doctor is all I can see myself doing.
I think I’m a well rounded applicant overall:

URM , from CA but recently moved to Tx
cGPA - 3.69 (transfered halfway through undergrad and earned 3.8-4.0 after that each term)
sGPA - 3.48
DIY post bacc 4.0
MCAT 49x but retaking in April 2025
Paid Medical/Clinical - 3,900 hrs (medication technician, Covid screener, IHSS provider)
Paid Non-Medical/Clinical - 6,930 hrs (math tutor for kids with learning disabilities, small business owner, little league sports coach)
Volunteer Medical/Clinical - 3,475 hrs (community health clinic volunteer, medical mission trip, OTA volunteer, palliative care/hospice volunteer)
Volunteer Non-Medical/Clinical - 240 hrs (church health fair organizer)
Research - 150 hrs (socio-cultural factors and predisposed health conditions on maternal/child mortality rates in West Africa)
Others - 60 hrs (in the process of writing two children’s books about medicine and when to recognize danger)
Shadowing - 20 hrs
Social Jus - 230 hrs (created Health Education Pamphlet for Disadvantaged Populations)
Awards - deans list, local community presentation award, summa cum laude

I am looking to apply to both DO AND MD so please advice if I should even bother given my baggage..

You're going to need to score very high on the mcat, to remove the stain of the Caribbean School. It's not lethal, because the reason you left was that you got sick as opposed to failing out

 

[Goro]

In all honesty I did not study at all as my uncle was kind of the one to persuade me in the first place, he said I just needed to take the exam for AUC and would get in regardless
Edit: are you saying that I still have a chance to be considered for admission and not DOA if I get a better score on the MCAT?

Under no circumstances should you listen to any of your relatives for advice on applying to medical school.

 

[mediwars4]

Under no circumstances should you listen to any of your relatives for advice on applying to medical school.

Yeah noted. Never again lol

 

[mediwars4]

You're going to need to score very high on the mcat, to remove the stain of the Caribbean School. It's not lethal, because the reason you left was that you got sick as opposed to failing out

So I should aim between 510-515 or so?

 

[Goro]

So I should aim between 510-515 or so?

Yes.