WAMC URM 3.25cGPA 3.3SGPA 523 MCAT

[FROSTYFLORIDA]

What’s up, I’m a URM( AA male) and I currently have a 3.25cGPA, 3.3SGPA, and 523 on the MCAT. I’m planning on applying next cycle to give myself time to build my Clinical and volunteer hours up to make myself a better applicant. Should I do a SMP or DIY Postbacc to raise my gpa to give my self a better chance at these schools??

List of schools I will apply to
BROWN
EMORY
DARTHMOUTH
GEORGETOWN
UMD
GWU
BU
TUFTS
LOYOLA
UILLNOIS
ROSALINDFR
RUSH
QUINNIPIAC
UCONN
ROCHESTER
CORNELL
NETTER
TEMPLE
DREXEL
JEFFERESON
INDIANA
UVA
VCU
TULANE
WAKE FOREST
MARSHALL
AZPHEO
COLO
PENNST
WAYNEST
OAKLAND
CREIGHTON
SLU
The Rest will be State schools in Florida

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[Mr.Smile12]

Are you involved in any mentoring organization for aspiring Black (male) physicians? Most of them are connected to SNMA.

 

[FROSTYFLORIDA]

Are you involved in any mentoring organization for aspiring Black (male) physicians? Most of them are connected to SNMA.

I’m not but I will look into it. Thanks!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Fill out a WAMC template when you can.

 

[Stuaccount]

If you do decide to take more classes, don’t do an SMP. Do the cheapest available DIY (but if possible, not cc) because you have a very strong mcat.

 

[Faha]

A DIY post bacc is a good option. Take undergraduate level science courses at a local college in order to increase your sGPA. In the coming year you should also accumulate 200+ hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact, 50 hours of in person physician shadowing (including primary care) and 200+ hours of non clinical volunteering (homeless shelter, food bank, etc.). For schools including Loyola and Rush you need 500+ hours each of clinical and non clinical volunteering.

 

[Faha]

Also apply to Einstein, NYU and Johns Hopkins (they all have free tuition).

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Other impressions: You can be more choosy.

Suggesting to take off (other experts can contradict my hunches) from your list of 33, not including your in-state Florida options, which I would think are all in play for you.
Illinois (and expensive OOS tuition)
RFU/CMS
Rush
Loyola IL
Indiana
Brown (which has a lot of students from articulation agreements but also seems to like other Ivy+ schools, but ask around)
Creighton
Oakland
Wayne State
St. Louis
GWU
Georgetown
Penn State
Arizona Phoenix
Drexel
Marshall
Wake Forest
Quinnipiac
UConn

Agree with taking a shot at the free tuition schools: NYU, Einstein, and now Hopkins (presuming your family income is below threshold). That gets you to 21 + Florida.

I would consider
Vanderbilt
UAB
Cincinnati
CWRU including CCLCM
WashU St Louis
UMichigan
UChicago
Northwestern

I would also add the HBCU schools
Howard
Meharry
Morehouse
Charles Drew

 

[FROSTYFLORIDA]

Other impressions: You can be more choosy.

Suggesting to take off (other experts can contradict my hunches) from your list of 33, not including your in-state Florida options, which I would think are all in play for you.
Illinois (and expensive OOS tuition)
RFU/CMS
Rush
Loyola IL
Indiana
Brown (which has a lot of students from articulation agreements but also seems to like other Ivy+ schools, but ask around)
Creighton
Oakland
Wayne State
St. Louis
GWU
Georgetown
Penn State
Arizona Phoenix
Drexel
Marshall
Wake Forest
Quinnipiac
UConn

Agree with taking a shot at the free tuition schools: NYU, Einstein, and now Hopkins (presuming your family income is below threshold). That gets you to 21 + Florida.

I would consider
Vanderbilt
UAB
Cincinnati
CWRU including CCLCM
WashU St Louis
UMichigan
UChicago
Northwestern

I would also add the HBCU schools
Howard
Meharry
Morehouse
Charles Drew

Wow! Thanks so much for your help!

 

[FROSTYFLORIDA]

A DIY post bacc is a good option. Take undergraduate level science courses at a local college in order to increase your sGPA. In the coming year you should also accumulate 200+ hours of clinical volunteering with patient contact, 50 hours of in person physician shadowing (including primary care) and 200+ hours of non clinical volunteering (homeless shelter, food bank, etc.). For schools including Loyola and Rush you need 500+ hours each of clinical and non clinical volunteering.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[jvquarterback]

It depends. Your gpa will be below 25% of the median at any school you apply no matter what you do with a post bacc. So what you really need to show is you can hack medical school classes. If you’ve got 3-5 semesters in a row with solid grades > 3.7 you’ve checked that box. If not then the post bacc may help.

For example if your gpa by semester is 2.3, 2.3 3.2, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9 and you’re applying with no gap year there’s no need for a post bacc. But if the gpa is 3.2 every semester it would help to show you can do well with a full load of med school classes.

With that in mind I think you should reach for the stars with that mcat score. Apply to your home state schools, the hcbus, the free tuition schools and some other top schools.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Also apply to Einstein, NYU and Johns Hopkins (they all have free tuition).

These are worth it but long shots unless the OP has a strong upward trend. With a flat 3.2...the differential there cashes out to competing demands on the OP's time and energy. Undiagnosed ADHD/other neurodivergence, not caring a lot about academics in college till they decided on medicine either late in college or after graduating, needing to work to support themselves, physical or mental health issues, poor organization/laziness/arrogance...

I'd need to know more about the OP's grade trend to really advise them, but I also think that many are a little optimistic about the "boost" being an URM would give our hero. I say this as a Black man, for what it's worth.