WAMC/School List: 508 MCAT, 3.53 cGPA, 3.1 sGPA

[jqs02]

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I'm a MI resident (UMich grad) looking to apply to MD/DO and I need help coming up with a realistic school list. I know my GPA is the glaring issue here. By the time of matriculation I'll have had 2 gap years. Not sure if my MCAT makes up for my GPA but I think I have some solid ECs, strong LORs, and my strongest point is my writing.

GPA: cGPA 3.52, sGPA 3.1 I have a big dip in sophomore year but slightly better junior/senior year though no strong upward trend. The low GPA is due to a string of family deaths which I will explain in my application, but I did retake all the classes I did poorly in and did significantly better.
MCAT: attempt 1: 501 (125/127/122/127), attempt 2: 508 (128/127/126/127)
Demographics: Asian female (filipino)
Clinical Experience: 1200 full-time MA, expected 1500 hours more by matriculation. 200 volunteer hours in a rural hospital in the Philippines where my family is from. 100 hours shadowing across multiple specialties.
Non-clinical Volunteering: 150 hours at a single place working with children from disadvantaged areas who are victims of sexual abuse and neglect.
Research: 1200 hours over the course of 3 years at the same lab. No pubs/posters.
Leadership: E-board for residential hall multicultural council
Honors/awards: Awarded by the Southeast Asian Language department for my performance and work for Filipino language.

I'm planning on applying very, very broadly and maybe focusing in the Midwest, but I'm open to wherever I would fit in best. I am going to send apps to all my in-state schools (Western, Oakland, Wayne, Michgan State, Central, UMich) but I would like help in building a bigger list. Again I know my GPA is the major issue here, so is there still a shot for me for MD?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

In what capacity are you "working with children from disadvantaged areas" for 150 hours? If you are currently on a gap year, how should I expect this number to be higher by the time you apply and plan to matriculate (next year)?

Separate the clinical experience you had in the US from those in the Philippines. How are you working as a medical assistant?

You cannot be picky; you must apply DO and MD, including both Michigan State programs. Many schools will average your MCAT attempts for initial screening, and I'm not sure you have demonstrated a solid mission fit from what you disclosed. However, Michigan has a lot of seats.

What are your GPA year-by-year trends?

 

[jqs02]

Welcome to the forums.

In what capacity are you "working with children from disadvantaged areas" for 150 hours? If you are currently on a gap year, how should I expect this number to be higher by the time you apply and plan to matriculate (next year)?

Separate the clinical experience you had in the US from those in the Philippines. How are you working as a medical assistant?

You cannot be picky; you must apply DO and MD, including both Michigan State programs. Many schools will average your MCAT attempts for initial screening, and I'm not sure you have demonstrated a solid mission fit from what you disclosed. However, Michigan has a lot of seats.

What are your GPA year-by-year trends?

1. I sit with children undergoing therapy and/or police interrogation for current sexual abuse/child neglect cases, basically providing them support and teaching them healthy coping mechanisms through the process. This number will be at about 350 hours by matriculation. Outside of that, I do weekly child care for at-risk parents who are undergoing interventional/preventative programs.

2. MA: taking vitals, EKGs, lab draws, communicating with patients at a internal medicine clinic. Mostly working with elderly individuals.

3. Not picky at all. It would be nice to get into an MD program but I am applying broadly to DO programs as well, and I would be happy getting into a DO program.

4. Fall Freshman: 3.94
Winter Freshman: 4.0 (cumulative 3.97)
Fall Sophomore: 2.65 (c 3.65)
Winter Sophomore: 3.29 (c. 3.55)
Fall Junior: 3.31 (c. 3.50)
Winter Junior: 3.7 (c. 3.54)
Fall Senior: 3.47 (c. 3.53)
Winter Senior: 3.52 (c. 3.53)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

1. I sit with children undergoing therapy and/or police interrogation for current sexual abuse/child neglect cases, basically providing them support and teaching them healthy coping mechanisms through the process. This number will be at about 350 hours by matriculation. Outside of that, I do weekly child care for at-risk parents who are undergoing interventional/preventative programs.

I appreciate the details. Do you have training or a certification to do this sort of counseling?

 

[Faha]

I suggest these MD schools with your stats:
Wayne State
Michigan State
Central Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
U Michigan
Toledo
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Ponce (St. Louis)
TCU
Roseman
Loma Linda (if you fit their mission)
Alice Walton
Belmont
NOVA MD
Methodist (when it opens)
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
You are competitive for all DO schools and I suggest these:
MSUCOM
MU-COM
CCOM
DMU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM
UIWSOM
AZCOM
TUNCOM
WVSOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
NYITCOM
Touro-NY

 

[jqs02]

I appreciate the details. Do you have training or a certification to do this sort of counseling?

For the actual therapy treatment and police interviewing, we have liscenced child psychologists. But I am completing training to be a court advocate and I do have proper certification and training to volunteer with CSA and child abuse survivors. I’m mostly just supporting with them before, after and in-between therapy sessions and communicating with therapists.

 

[jqs02]

I suggest these MD schools with your stats:
Wayne State
Michigan State
Central Michigan
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
U Michigan
Toledo
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Ponce (St. Louis)
TCU
Roseman
Loma Linda (if you fit their mission)
Alice Walton
Belmont
NOVA MD
Methodist (when it opens)
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
You are competitive for all DO schools and I suggest these:
MSUCOM
MU-COM
CCOM
DMU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM
UIWSOM
AZCOM
TUNCOM
WVSOM
PCOM (all schools)
LECOM (all schools)
NYITCOM
Touro-NY

Thank you!