WAMC (Texas Resident)

[Julie3443]

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Hello, I'm seeking advice on my current situation. I am a Texas resident (Asian) planning on applying to all schools on TMDSAS and a few AMCAS schools (TCU, AWSOM, Creighton, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson). I took my MCAT in late april and scored a 504 (C/P 127, CARS 123, B/B 128, P/S 126). I am now taking the Princeton review 515+ course with an end date of July 30th and planning on retaking my MCAT Aug 15th. I would really prefer applying this cycle but I am unsure of what my chances would be compared to taking a gap year and especially because my application won't be processed until much later. I also have interests in competitive specialties and am not considering applying DO.

MCAT: 504
GPA: 3.88
Shadowing: 260 hrs (Family Med, Mohs Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery)
Research: 700 hrs (Presented at APHA (poster) as 3rd author 2025, waitlisted APHA 1st author poster this year, 2 3rd author posters at school conference)
Clinical: 480 hrs (Phlebotomy internship + paid work as an MA in family med)
Teaching/Tutoring: 330 hrs
Service: 1000+ (Received a service award past 2 years w/ scholarship)
Leadership (various exec positions): 1000+

Please let me know your thoughts!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Please let us know when your new MCAT comes in. Until then...

AAMC Table A-23 says applicants with 3.8+ GPA and MCAT 502-505 had gotten accepted at roughly 40%. Mission fit is going to be very important, and you need to be a superstar Texas applicant on metrics to be taken OOS. TMDSAS averages for matriculants is 3.8/511, so your MCAT is well below average.

Please provide details of your service, leadership, and clinical experiences. Mission cannot be determined from hours alone.

 

[Julie3443]

Thank you for your response! Here’s a brief summary. Please let me know if you would like to know more
Service:
I am a part of a student-run service department of our college. Working in a team of 14-16, our responsibility is connecting students to local non-profits in the area who are needing volunteers. I received a scholarship through the department and have just completed my second year where I was also Co-Chair. In this leadership role, I led meetings and ensured that everyone was on task. We host a variety of events (packing meals, fundraising, etc) throughout the year that are aimed to bring the student body together for the purpose of service and have put out over 18,000 hours this year alone. We are the department that organizes Alternative Spring Break trips. I went on ASB twice (once before my involvement in the department and once after as a student leader). My service also comes from my membership in a national service fraternity where I volunteered throughout several different organizations.

Leadership:
This past year I was Co-Chair for the service department, Co-President of our Indian Cultural Association (ICA), and President of our only Pre-Health organization (PHS). I have been in an executive position in the Indian Cultural Association and Pre-Health org since freshman year. ICA’s aim is to bring cultural awareness and diversity to our campus through a variety of cultural events featuring authentic food, performances, and music. We also fundraise for our service org which we choose every year. PHS is focused on providing a supporting community to all pre-health students through workshops, service Saturdays, suture clinics, fundraising etc.

Clinical:
I worked as a back office Certified Clinical Medical Assistant under a family medicine clinic for three months. This was a traditional 8-5, M-F job. My responsibilities included:

• rooming patients and obtaining vital signs
• giving shots as part of nurse visits
• scheduling patients and answering calls
• Administering EKG
• prepping for other small procedures.

I worked hand-in-hand with providers at the facility to provide the best care I could and learned a lot during my time here. As this was my first job, it was an incredibly insightful experience into healthcare in private practice. It was a job that allowed me to experience both clinical and administrative work. As I was also shadowing at this clinic, I had the unique opportunity to follow patients both through my work as an MA rooming these patients and additionally as a shadowing student getting to see the treatment plans for them as well.

In receiving my CPT (Certified Phleb Tech), I was placed at an outpatient clinic to complete my live-draw hours. I was required to complete 200 live draws and 100 hours. My college is located in an underserved region. I volunteered at a local hospital there and was able to practice phlebotomy.

In addition, the research I do is public health and community based (educating victims of intimate partner violence on women's health issues).

My focus is definitely more community and service based.

Please let us know when your new MCAT comes in. Until then...

AAMC Table A-23 says applicants with 3.8+ GPA and MCAT 502-505 had gotten accepted at roughly 40%. Mission fit is going to be very important, and you need to be a superstar Texas applicant on metrics to be taken OOS. TMDSAS averages for matriculants is 3.8/511, so your MCAT is well below average.

Please provide details of your service, leadership, and clinical experiences. Mission cannot be determined from hours alone.

 

[Julie3443]

Please let us know when your new MCAT comes in. Until then...

AAMC Table A-23 says applicants with 3.8+ GPA and MCAT 502-505 had gotten accepted at roughly 40%. Mission fit is going to be very important, and you need to be a superstar Texas applicant on metrics to be taken OOS. TMDSAS averages for matriculants is 3.8/511, so your MCAT is well below average.

Please provide details of your service, leadership, and clinical experiences. Mission cannot be determined from hours alone.

My main dilemma is whether I should submit my primaries now or wait to apply next cycle. Please let me know if you have any advice!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

My main dilemma is whether I should submit my primaries now or wait to apply next cycle. Please let me know if you have any advice!

Read

The Time is Right: Prehealth Application Timelines | Student Doctor Network | SDN

What is the best timeline for applications to health professional schools? HPSA/SDN breaks down our application experience survey results.

www.studentdoctor.net

If you want to become a doctor through the DO route, you can apply this cycle. I think you are best served waiting until next year for MD, depending on your mission fit.