WAMC School List/Should I apply this cycle?, MA resident and ORM, 508 MCAT with 3.80cgpa/3.71 sgpa and strong LORs + ECs

[cabbageconsumer]

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Hi SDN!! I just received my MCAT score and ended up with a 508. I wasn’t in the best headspace to take it due to a high stress full time job that significantly affected my ability to study and my mental health, but I’m trying to decide whether I should still apply this cycle given that I feel my application is strong otherwise. I’d appreciate any guidance on whether I should move forward with applying this year. Regardless, I will still plan for an MCAT retake in January.

Stats:
MA ORM entering 2nd gap year
T30 Undergrad
cGPA: 3.80/sGPA: 3.71
Major: Chemistry
MCAT: 508

Clinical Experience (Paid)
1,200 hours as lead CRC on Phase 2/3 drug trials (full-time).

Clinical Volunteering
50 hours doula/labor support
140 hours at a free clinic that serves a large uninsured/immigrant/refugee population

Research
I believe I have a strong research theme that connects to my narrative.

1. ~1,000 hours as lead CRC for women's health (full-time paid) 1 abstract in progress
2. 1,600 hours honors thesis with highest honors in translational research, multiple posters and poster award
3. 380 hours in maternal PTSD research, 1 publication
4. National summer scholarship awarded to conduct research

Other extracurriculars/Leadership

1. 800+ hours competitive dance with 2 national awards, leadership as a coach/exec board, taught dance classes, organized events with 150+ attendees, and founded volunteer program teaching adapted dance classes to cancer patients and nursing homes. Truly my passion project!
2. ~200 hours orientation leader
3. 75 hours Health education club executive board: tabled and distributed health education materials in the community
4. ~400 hours cashier in food service
5. 75 hours with a nonprofit connecting underserved patients to free medications
6. 50 hours TA

Shadowing
~10 hours official (will probably leave off app as I have spent a lot of time observing my PIs in my CRC role)

Gap year:
Continue full time job as CRC
start non-clinical volunteering

LOR: 5 letters in total/committee letter
2 from research PIs
2 from CRC job from physicians (have been told they are the strongest possible letters)
1 from science professor

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

Non-clinical service orientation activities seem to be marginally existent. Need more information about your role with 75 hours non-profit. The rest of the activities do not fit "service orientation". You must have 150 hours at submission to avoid having your file screened out.

If you plan to retake the MCAT in January, why don't you wait until the next cycle? Most MD's won't take a January score/update.

 

[cabbageconsumer]

Welcome to the forums.

Non-clinical service orientation activities seem to be marginally existent. Need more information about your role with 75 hours non-profit. The rest of the activities do not fit "service orientation". You must have 150 hours at submission to avoid having your file screened out.

If you plan to retake the MCAT in January, why don't you wait until the next cycle? Most MD's won't take a January score/update.

Thank you so much for the feedback! I worked with a charitable pharmacy nonprofit dedicated to providing free medications to underserved patients. I led the organization's social media, developed educational content, and also led a team of volunteers to build a digitized charitable pharmacy map to connect patients to low-cost medications.

My situation is that I’m currently extremely burnt out, and I don’t have the bandwidth to prep for a summer retake while also completing a strong application. My thinking is to apply this cycle with the understanding that my chances may be limited, but I still want to have the opportunity to be considered. At the same time, I want to prepare for a reapp and treat the january mcat as a long-term plan to set myself up for a stronger reapplication. I'm still not entirely sure on the best path forward for me!

 

[Faha]

You are competitive for all DO schools. You could receive MD interviews and I suggest these schools:
UMass
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
Drexel
Temple
Penn State
George Washington
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
Wake Forest
Methodist
NOVA MD
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Ponce (St. Louis)
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
For DO schools I suggest these:
UNECOM
NYITCOM
Touro-NY
LECOM (all schools)
PCOM
WVSOM
CUSOM
MU-COM
CCOM
DMU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM
AZCOM

 

[Mr.Smile12]

My situation is that I’m currently extremely burnt out, and I don’t have the bandwidth to prep for a summer retake while also completing a strong application. My thinking is to apply this cycle with the understanding that my chances may be limited, but I still want to have the opportunity to be considered. At the same time, I want to prepare for a reapp and treat the january mcat as a long-term plan to set myself up for a stronger reapplication. I'm still not entirely sure on the best path forward for me!

Have you pre-written secondaries? I assure you if you feel burned out now, you won't complete all your secondaries, which would further damage your chances.