WAMC - Re-applicant Looking For Advice (3.7/508)

[AlliesStardust]

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Hi all!

I'm fairly certain I'm out of luck for this cycle. I'm still waiting on two schools (Drexel and EVMS), but with everyone else only giving me Pre-II Rs, I have no reason to not start working on a second cycle list, just in case.

I'm a bit of a non-traditional applicant as I started my undergrad journey at a community college and I'm a low-income student with everything I've learned being researched myself, so any help or advice is much appreciated. I know my weaknesses are definitely my MCAT score and a couple of upperclass-STEM B's (and one C, ouch). I also applied very late in the cycle (secondaries submitted in early October 2024), so I plan to be a lot more on top of it this time.

My stats:

1. cGPA and sGPA as calculated by AMCAS or AACOMAS - 3.71, 3.44 (B+ both orgo/ochems, C in biochem)
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown. Include all (non-voided) attempts. - 508 (distribution 506-510), Chem/Phys 126, CARS 127, Bio/Biochem 127, Psych/Soci 128
3. State of residence or country of citizenship (if non-US) - Virginia
4. Ethnicity and/or race - White (from a low SES)
5. Undergraduate institution or category - Associates at Laurel Ridge Community College (Biology), Bachelors at The College of William & Mary (Kinesiology & Health Sciences, pre-med concentration)
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer)
   - Junior Volunteer (Freshman summer of uni). I worked mainly in the ED, but I also worked in The School of Radiology & Ultrasound.
   - Currently employed full-time as a Medical Scribe in a cardiology office (~1.5 years)
   - My current plan is to begin work as an ED tech in the next 2-3 months depending on when I can get my scribe position filled and replacement trained. That way I have more hands-on patient experience.
7. Research experience and productivity
   - Junior year summer (2 months) at VCU-MCV working in a basic science lab with cardiac fibroblasts. I also got to shadow around the hospital 1-2x per week and participated in a journal club. The experience culminated in a poster presentation in front of doctors, our research teams, and peers with their families.
   - Unfortunately, that's kind of it. Unless you count my final research project in undergrad for my Capstone course, which was on the history of Body Snatching/Organ Theivery in relation to medical studies and eventually organ transplants. If this counts, it was a semester-long thing. ~4 months.
   - Caspar score in the 4th quartile
   - I do a lot of personal non-fiction reading in the medical sphere and have learned a lot from this.
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
   - Emergency department (3 months)
   - Cardiology (ongoing, the doctors I work with sometimes take me with them on rounds or watch procedures)
   - Msc. through my research at VCU, though that was mostly cardiology as well
   - Radiology/Ultrasound (3 months)
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   - Tutor for my local middle school in math, science, and language arts
   - Library Internship - I mostly work with the youth services director with organizing and assisting with programs, curating book displays, and helping visitors find books or other materials.
   - Youth Leader for a community program through a large church (mostly underprivileged youth, my assigned group is 9th-10th grade girls, strong homeschooled / rural population)
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
    - See tutoring above
    - Various tutoring in college (biology, anatomy/physiology, organic chem, Latin)
    - Human physiology lecture TA (senior spring)
    - Dorm Student Council Secretary (senior summer)
    - Club synchronized swimming (1.5 years)
    - Worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor/coach for the last 7 years (2 years on-campus)
    - Campus tour guide (1.5 semesters)
    - Member of Eta Sigma Phi (honors society for classical studies, think Greek and Latin), which came with tutoring students in lower classes and putting together events.
    - Member of FGLI - First Generation/Low Income Association
    - Served on Willaim & Mary's Pride Council (senior spring)
    - Theatre (freshman fall, senior spring)
11. Relevant honors or awards
    - Member of Phi Theta Kappa (honors society of community colleges), which is what I did my middle school tutoring through
    - Magna Cum Laude from Laurel Ridge
    - Cum Laude from William & Mary
    - I have my BLS certification already (through my lifeguard certification)
    - Received a full academic scholarship through W&M for supporting women going into the medical field (I do not remember the name of the scholarship)
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important
    - I went to a private Christian school for upper (high) school. It was a classical school, so some of my classwork was a bit different than in traditional schools (Latin, logic, debate, etc were required, no opportunity for honors/AP courses). I have no idea if this makes any difference. I'm also the first person from that school to apply to medical school.
    - I skipped two grades, including my junior year of high school, so I'm on the younger side of applicants. Even with the 2-going-on-3 gap years.
    - I'm a first-generation med student. No one in my family anywhere has a medical background. No doctors, nurses, PAs, nothing.
    - Like a lot of us, most of my undergrad time was eaten by the pandemic, limiting my availability to get shadowing or research experience. Transfering schools in the middle likely didn't assist in this endeavor either.
    - I studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland for a J-term studying infectious disease management. I wasn't sure how to include this in my application the first time, but it was impactful.
    - I have a high AO GPA (3.91)
    - I have lots of experience working with underprivileged populations since the hospital I work at serves a large rural community. I also grew up on the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder, so I know the struggle to access/afford medical care on a personal level.

Schools So Far (the ones with a * would be re-applications):

• Reaches
  • John Hopkins (MD/MA, specifically their 5-year MD/MA in medical history. I would not apply for just their regular medical school because I do not have the stats)
  • UPenn (I regret not applying last time, I don't think I have a great shot if I'm honest)
  • * ?Yale? (considering trying again, they were my first choice last cycle)
• WAMC?
  • * Medical College of Virginia
  • * Eastern VA Medical School (still waiting for this cycle), also would apply MD/MA for them but I think you have to do one or the other
  • University of Virginia
  • * VA Tech-Carillion
  • Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • ?Georgetown?
  • * Drexel (still waiting for this cycle)
  • *Albany Medical College
  • Alice Walton School of Medicine
  • * Geisel School of Medicine
• Considering looking into (selected from the LizzyM score calculator):
  • Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
  • University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
  • Emory University School of Medicine
  • Tufts University School of Medicine
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
  • University of Rochester School of Medicine
  • University of Connecticut School of Medicine
  • Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center School of Medicine
  • New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine - NY

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who also did part of their education at a community college. From what I understand, we're a bit of a rare breed when it comes to medical school applicants, and at a greater disadvantage. Advice from anyone would be fantastic, but if that's anyone's wheelhouse, that would be awesome.

Additionally, I'm looking for schools that have strong financial aid and humanities program support. My non-STEM side is important to me and I'd like to keep building it in medical school because its one of the things that helps give me a unique perspective. Also, does anyone know of (other) schools that have MD/MA programs? I'm not above a 5th year if it'll get me into med school.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What feedback has your prehealth advisors given you about how your application cycle went? You seem to have only applied to one DO school; you haven't heard back from VCOM? I would have also asked you to apply to WVSOM and Pikeville COM for a better chance. PCOM, LECOM, and NYCOM have large class sizes and some rural satellite campuses that you should have looked into.

You underestimate how many current medical students have community college coursework, and some started there before getting their initial bachelor's degrees (it's not just the postbacs). Many schools have some form of medical humanities coursework, though not all of them organize it into a master's degree like you are asking. How do you want to incorporate this background as a physician?

You also have a ton of tutoring/teaching, which most prehealth students have so it won't help you stand out. Interestingly, despite your religious upbringing/background, you haven't listed any specific service orientation activities like food distribution, shelter volunteering, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. Maybe you did this as part of your faith community? I don't see it listed. You must have 150 hours to avoid getting screened out at most schools. Are you passionate about rural health as a future physician?

 

[Faha]

You could still be accepted this cycle as Drexel and EVMS will have significant waitlist movement starting late April. On your list, Johns Hopkins, UPenn, Yale, Pittsburgh, Rochester and Dartmouth are totally unrealistic with a MCAT of 508. Rutgers, Colorado and UConn admit very few non residents with a MCAT of 508. I suggest these schools if you reapply:
UVA
Virginia Commonwealth
EVMS
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
George Washington
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
Belmont
NOVA MD
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Creighton
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
For DO schools I suggest these:
VCOM (all schools)
WVSOM
CUSOM
UP-KYCOM
ACOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
NYITCOM
Also accumulate 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank, homeless shelter, etc. before you reapply.

 

[AlliesStardust]

What feedback has your prehealth advisors given you about how your application cycle went? You seem to have only applied to one DO school; you haven't heard back from VCOM? I would have also asked you to apply to WVSOM and Pikeville COM for a better chance. PCOM, LECOM, and NYCOM have large class sizes and some rural satellite campuses that you should have looked into.

You underestimate how many current medical students have community college coursework, and some started there before getting their initial bachelor's degrees (it's not just the postbacs). Many schools have some form of medical humanities coursework, though not all of them organize it into a master's degree like you are asking. How do you want to incorporate this background as a physician?

You also have a ton of tutoring/teaching, which most prehealth students have so it won't help you stand out. Interestingly, despite your religious upbringing/background, you haven't listed any specific service orientation activities like food distribution, shelter volunteering, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation. Maybe you did this as part of your faith community? I don't see it listed. You must have 150 hours to avoid getting screened out at most schools. Are you passionate about rural health as a future physician?

I haven't gotten in contact with my premed advisor, and I honestly don't know if she advises students after they graduated. Most of my research has been done on my own or with help of fellow applicants. And SDN now that I know this resource exists.

I didn't apply DO this past cycle and honestly don't know where to start other than VCOM for this upcoming one. Thank you for those suggestions, I will definitely look into and add them to my list.

That's excellent news about the community college work. I was only finding doom-and-gloom online about applying with CC courses even though I did well. Also exciting about the humanities courses. The research I did showed some of the schools I was looking at had it but not all, so I am pleased to hear its more widespread that I thought. As far as incorporating it into my medical practice, humanities can be a way to reach patients and assist in communication. I also am considering being a physician educator in the future, and that can also help in that aspect. However, I'm aware that is likely getting ahead of myself.

Most of my volunteering through my faith community has been through work with community youth. Helping with summer/after school programs and now the youth group. The community youth group is new since this past cycle (started late August/early September), so it was included in my secondaries but not primary. Community outreach and food distribution is a part of this. I plan to keep volunteering through it in the coming year. The library work is also all volunteer. Combined, they're well over 150 hours (closer to 300+). Would it be beneficial to also look into something like a food bank?

I wouldn't say rural health specifically is a passion of mine, but education and reaching underserviced communities in general very much is. I wrote a lot about teaching patients about their bodies and health and expanding this into the community with a strong focus on those who are often overlooked or struggle to access resources. This is something very important to me.

 

[AlliesStardust]

You could still be accepted this cycle as Drexel and EVMS will have significant waitlist movement starting late April. On your list, Johns Hopkins, UPenn, Yale, Pittsburgh, Rochester and Dartmouth are totally unrealistic with a MCAT of 508. Rutgers, Colorado and UConn admit very few non residents with a MCAT of 508. I suggest these schools if you reapply:
UVA
Virginia Commonwealth
EVMS
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
George Washington
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Wake Forest
Methodist (when it opens)
Belmont
NOVA MD
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Creighton
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
For DO schools I suggest these:
VCOM (all schools)
WVSOM
CUSOM
UP-KYCOM
ACOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
NYITCOM
Also accumulate 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank, homeless shelter, etc. before you reapply.

I hope so! I'd love to not have to re-apply. I didn't know they both went into April! I will keep some fingers crossed then. 🙂

I figured those schools were out of reach, but I needed someone else to tell me that. My family, though I love them dearly, are highly optimistic. I try and stay realistic, but I have a 'dream big' streak myself. Also, it's good to know Rutgers, Colorado and UConn prefer in-states. I'll take them off.

Thank you so much for the list, will definitely look into and add these schools to my consideration set. I really didn't know where to lconsider for re-application, especially since my stats are a bit on the low side. I will say VCU, Va Tech, George Washington, Temple, Jefferson, and Albany all rejected me without interview this past cycle. Does that tend to have an impact? I've heard so long as you make changes showing progress to your application, re-application doesn't count against you.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Clarify: were you interviewed at Drexel or EVMS, or are they still radio silent?

Make sure you read

The Meaning of Life: Finding Insights in the Humanities | SDN

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

www.studentdoctor.net

As for community service ideas -- and if you get offered by Drexel -- here is what can be available. Look up how each program coordinates community outreach.

Medical School Curriculum Community Service Opportunities - College of Medicine

drexel.edu

Student Community Engagement at Drexel University College of Medicine - College of Medicine

drexel.edu

Emphasis: "integrate meaningful community service and reflective learning to prepare medical students to address socioeconomic determinants of disease and become community-responsive physicians."

Food bank, housing security, other social services are examples (I list six categories routinely on WAMC profiles).

Also,

Medical Humanities for MD Students - College of Medicine

drexel.edu

Most of my volunteering through my faith community has been through work with community youth. Helping with summer/after school programs and now the youth group. The community youth group is new since this past cycle (started late August/early September), so it was included in my secondaries but not primary. Community outreach and food distribution is a part of this. I plan to keep volunteering through it in the coming year. The library work is also all volunteer. Combined, they're well over 150 hours (closer to 300+). Would it be beneficial to also look into something like a food bank?

For an opportunity to stretch, have you worked with families/parents? Families with eldercare responsibilities? I'm just saying that you can ask for suggestions from your spiritual advisors/leaders since they likely have a lot of partners in their ministry. Not saying that library work isn't of value, but I would find something where you can be more actively involved with others. (Library volunteering is a great activity for work-study premeds trying to sneak in MCAT prep, for example; however, it is also academic-adjacent for the most part... education doesn't happen well without a good library IMO.)

I wouldn't say rural health specifically is a passion of mine, but education and reaching underserviced communities in general very much is. I wrote a lot about teaching patients about their bodies and health and expanding this into the community with a strong focus on those who are often overlooked or struggle to access resources. This is something very important to me.

Giving time for EVMS:

Community-Engaged Learning

Integrating meaningful community service with structured learning to strengthen the knowledge and skills of our students.

www.evms.edu

 

[AlliesStardust]

Clarify: were you interviewed at Drexel or EVMS, or are they still radio silent?

Radio silence, unfortunately.

As for community service ideas -- and if you get offered by Drexel -- here is what can be available. Look up how each program coordinates community outreach.

Oh, perfect! Thank you for this.

Drexel is very high on my list for their community outreach and humanities. I didn't know about their medical humanities program, however. I'm glad to know about it now. Even if I don't get offered by them this year, I plan to re-apply if EVMS also falls through. I really like their program as a whole.

For an opportunity to stretch, have you worked with families/parents? Families with eldercare responsibilities? I'm just saying that you can ask for suggestions from your spiritual advisors/leaders since they likely have a lot of partners in their ministry. Not saying that library work isn't of value, but I would find something where you can be more actively involved with others. (Library volunteering is a great activity for work-study premeds trying to sneak in MCAT prep, for example; however, it is also academic-adjacent for the most part... education doesn't happen well without a good library IMO.)

Only insofar as my work as a swim instructor has required. I have worked with adults/families as a swim coach, but this is a paid position. I bet the leaders would have some ideas. We're a large church community and I'm sure there's plenty of other things for me to get involved in.

Giving time for EVMS:

Community-Engaged Learning

Integrating meaningful community service with structured learning to strengthen the knowledge and skills of our students.

www.evms.edu

Thank you for all the references! I'll be sure to read them and take notes so I can proceed with some ideas.

 

[Faha]

I hope so! I'd love to not have to re-apply. I didn't know they both went into April! I will keep some fingers crossed then. 🙂

I figured those schools were out of reach, but I needed someone else to tell me that. My family, though I love them dearly, are highly optimistic. I try and stay realistic, but I have a 'dream big' streak myself. Also, it's good to know Rutgers, Colorado and UConn prefer in-states. I'll take them off.

Thank you so much for the list, will definitely look into and add these schools to my consideration set. I really didn't know where to lconsider for re-application, especially since my stats are a bit on the low side. I will say VCU, Va Tech, George Washington, Temple, Jefferson, and Albany all rejected me without interview this past cycle. Does that tend to have an impact? I've heard so long as you make changes showing progress to your application, re-application doesn't count against you.

I thought you had interviewed at Drexel and EVMS. If you did not receive an interview then you will not receive one at this late date. Definitely plan on reapplying and accumulate those 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering.

 

[AlliesStardust]

I thought you had interviewed at Drexel and EVMS. If you did not receive an interview then you will not receive one at this late date. Definitely plan on reapplying and accumulate those 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering.

Okay, that's more what I figured. I knew they went late, but I figured this was a little too late to expect any interviews. It sucks, but I'd rather make plans than hope for an unusually late interview date.