WAMC? Should I wait and apply for 2026-2027?

[malacheeto]

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Hi all! I posted this on Reddit already but I also wanted to gauge where my stats stand right now from an MD only and an MD/PhD perspective on whether I should wait for the 2026 - 2027 cycle or apply this upcoming cycle. My undergraduate GPA is a c3.48, s3.34. I did a SMP where I graduated with a c3.6, s3.6. I haven’t taken the MCAT yet but I’m averaging around 515 in my FL exams (I was planning on testing 5/31) I have about 150 hours of non-clinical volunteering, 30 hours shadowing and 30 hours of clinical volunteering. I have about 6,500 research hours and three publications in review. I’m also URM and a Texas resident. Let me know what you all think.

 

[Faha]

What is the nature of your 150 hours of non clinical volunteering? You need a minimum of 150 hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact. Otherwise, you would be screened out at many schools. Which URM community are you from? If Hispanic, are you fluent is Spanish?

 

[malacheeto]

Thank you for your reply! My non-clinical volunteering is a number of activities cleaning parks, student government roles (which now that I think of it might be more leadership hours), and recently my local fire department. I am working on clinical volunteering at three different hospitals. I'm Hispanic and yes, I'm fluent in Spanish!

 

[Faha]

You would be better off to wait until the 2026-2027 cycle. You should accumulate another 20 hours of physician shadowing, 150+ hours of clinical volunteering/employment with patient contact and 150+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank, homeless shelter, etc.. Post your MCAT score here when available.

 

[malacheeto]

Sounds good, thank you so much for your help!

 

[Dral]

Your stats are a bit low for MD/PhD (and on the lower side for MD tbh). You could check MSAR and try to get some feedback from the institutions on that one though.

 

[malacheeto]

Would you recommend I do a DIY postbacc?

Your stats are a bit low for MD/PhD (and on the lower side for MD tbh). You could check MSAR and try to get some feedback from the institutions on that one though.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

It might be helpful if you complete a WAMC template. That said, have you networked with other Texas schools or SNMA chapters?

 

[malacheeto]

Hi Mr. Smile, thank you for your reply.

It might be helpful if you complete a WAMC template. That said, have you networked with other Texas schools or SNMA chapters?

Okay, should I post one without my MCAT score? I'm considering pushing it back now.
I have not actually. Well, I'm a research assistant in a lab at a Texas medical school. I'm not a part of SNMA chapters either.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi Mr. Smile, thank you for your reply.

Okay, should I post one without my MCAT score? I'm considering pushing it back now.
I have not actually. Well, I'm a research assistant in a lab at a Texas medical school. I'm not a part of SNMA chapters either.

Others have posted without an MCAT, but we would ultimately want your official result for generating a school list.

I would encourage you to network with the schools and their SNMA chapter leadership.

 

[Dral]

Would you recommend I do a DIY postbacc?

Someone might have a different opinion, but I'm not sure a postbacc will help with MD/PhD.

A post bacc is good for filling in requirements and preparing for MCAT. A post bacc can also help with a little grade repair, but it can also show medical schools that an applicant can handle the vigors of several upper level science courses (like the first portion of medical school entails: upper level science courses).

I'm not sure a post bacc is going to really prove to MD/PhD programs that you are any better than the applicants with great GPAs straight away from undergraduate. Lots of applicants, few spots (especially since it's typically a 'free ride').

However, I wouldn't discourage you from contacting programs and applying. You never know, there may be a program that you connect with if you have a compelling enough research story. Luckily, I believe most schools work so that if you apply to MD/PhD but don't get a spot, you are still up for consideration for MD only at that school.