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The purpose of this thread is requesting assistance and feedback with respect to: medical schools which may be a fit for my background and goals, if it is imperative that I put focus on and apply to DO programs, and if there is anything glaring that needs attention or may make me a no go this cycle. I am a 41 year old Caucasian male military veteran, Arizona resident, from the CA central valley and qualified to use VA Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation benefits for medical school. This is the first cycle I am applying.
I have a strong interest in community care, health care/resource equity and access. I also greatly enjoyed hospice volunteer work and seeing that what I was doing as a patient care volunteer was helping the family and friends of the patient. Getting to see first-hand how what a physician does goes beyond what’s on the SOAP notes and impacts other people in their lives was a great experience.
1. cGPA 3.21, sGPA 3.69
4. Caucasian
5. Undergrad degree from the UC system completed in 2006, post-bacc courses at CA CC system 2020-2024
6. Clinical experience as follows and is all volunteer
8. Shadowing experience as follows
The included schools are my “definitely applying” list based on being around the average MCAT, reputation for veteran friendliness and school’s mission statement. I wanted to include those that I put down after my first pass and ask for feedback rather than a more sprawling list. Since TMDSAS is a flat fee, I’ll be applying to all of them that take CC classes and don’t have anything GPA wise disqualifying me.
Any feedback on programs that may be a fit for my experience and interests, or areas for attention regarding my candidacy profile are appreciated. I am on here a fair bit for work and will do my best to answer any questions in the thread or direct message within a few hours. Thank you for your time and assistance.
UC Davis
Wayne State
Michigan State
Western Michigan Horner
University of Arizona at Phoenix
Brown
Geissinger
Boonshoft
Ohio State
ETSU
CWRU
KU SOM
Quinnipac
UNLV
WVU
UVM
I have a strong interest in community care, health care/resource equity and access. I also greatly enjoyed hospice volunteer work and seeing that what I was doing as a patient care volunteer was helping the family and friends of the patient. Getting to see first-hand how what a physician does goes beyond what’s on the SOAP notes and impacts other people in their lives was a great experience.
1. cGPA 3.21, sGPA 3.69
- undergrad degree completed in 2006 w/ cGPA 2.7 and sGPA 2.51. Only took stats, college algebra, astronomy and an intro bio course
- DIY post-bacc at local CC system beginning in 2020 w/ 4.0 in all courses, including one year each of bio, gen chem, orgo and physics
2. 511 (126/129/126/130) - Score above is from January of this year
- First attempt 505 from March 2024
3. Arizona resident from Central California4. Caucasian
5. Undergrad degree from the UC system completed in 2006, post-bacc courses at CA CC system 2020-2024
6. Clinical experience as follows and is all volunteer
- 227 hours scribing at non-profit, community, primary care free clinic (Jan. 2022-Aug. 2024)
- 70 hours hospice patient care (Oct. 2022-Aug. 2024)
- 104 hours medical assisting at urology clinic (Aug. 2023-Aug. 2024)
7. Research is n/a8. Shadowing experience as follows
- 12 hrs cardiology (2023)
- 20 hrs EM (2022)
- 31 hrs urology (2023)
- 12 hrs urological surgery (2024)
9. Non-clinical volunteering- 55 hrs hospice bereavement coordinator support (2023)
- 72 hrs community garden providing free fruits and vegetables for members of low-income BIPOC community (2024)
10. Other- Service in the United States Naval Construction force with multiple deployments in support of nation building operations in the Pacific theatre (2015-2020)
- Member of the Health Professional Student Association (parent organization of SDN) Oct. 2021-present
11. Awards- US Department of State Meritorious Honor Award (2018)
12. Other information- Will be taking biochemistry and at least one other upper division biology course this Fall at local state university. There will be research opportunities there, but not sure if that moves the needle given that application season is well underway by this time. I'm looking forward to the research portion of medical education, it's just not an area I pursued the last few years, for better or worse.
- I was in sales management for years before the military, but wanted to do something that went beyond profit and loss and went to the service. That wasn't my long-term calling, but I saw enough while deployed to become interested in medicine and pursue going to medical school. The science part is interesting and provides opportunities to hit the ground and help people that need help.
- I moved to AZ last fall, immediately went into MCAT prep, and after the test spent a good bit of time travelling. I am beginning local volunteering again this week since I can now consistently commit my time.
My goal is a public allopathic program with a community medicine emphasis, as this is my best chance to mitigate debt load via use of VA benefits while being in the environment that most strongly draws my interest. Easier said than done, though, and know that it isn't advisable to apply solely to those programs and call it a day.The included schools are my “definitely applying” list based on being around the average MCAT, reputation for veteran friendliness and school’s mission statement. I wanted to include those that I put down after my first pass and ask for feedback rather than a more sprawling list. Since TMDSAS is a flat fee, I’ll be applying to all of them that take CC classes and don’t have anything GPA wise disqualifying me.
Any feedback on programs that may be a fit for my experience and interests, or areas for attention regarding my candidacy profile are appreciated. I am on here a fair bit for work and will do my best to answer any questions in the thread or direct message within a few hours. Thank you for your time and assistance.
UC Davis
Wayne State
Michigan State
Western Michigan Horner
University of Arizona at Phoenix
Brown
Geissinger
Boonshoft
Ohio State
ETSU
CWRU
KU SOM
Quinnipac
UNLV
WVU
UVM
