WAMC Veteran 3.86 cGPA / 3.82 sGPA 499 -> 508 MCAT

[Sinkingwater]

Removed most info but left the basics up incase any other veterans wants to reference the responses with similar stats.

cGPA: 3.86 and sGPA: 3.83
MCAT: 499 (126/124/124/125) -> 508 (127/125/129/127)

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[Faha]

MD schools are not realistic with your MCAT of 499. You could a receive interviews at some DO schools and I suggest these:
VCOM (all schools except Monroe)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UIWSOM
TUNCOM
NYIT-AR
ACOM
MU-COM
LECOM (all schools)
PCOM (all schools)
Rowan
Noorda-COM
Many of these schools have MCAT medians in the 498 to 502 range so you could receive interviews.
Let us know what your new MCAT score is in July and you may be able to apply to MD schools or add more DO schools.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for your service. You need to focus on the MCAT and identify military-friendly programs through networking.

Read

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[theoceanman]

You will be screened out at every single MD school with your current MCAT and unless you’re scoring 510’s on your FL exams, MD is not a realistic route unfortunately.

DO schools are your only option and I would apply to every single DO school on Faha’s list, given that you’re mission-fit. Do you have any community service hours targeting specific populations, such as underserved or rural, through your military? Or would you have any non-clinical volunteering experiences that may pertain to more human-related activities such as mentorship, etc.?

 

[Sinkingwater]

MD schools are not realistic with your MCAT of 499. You could a receive interviews at some DO schools and I suggest these:
VCOM (all schools except Monroe)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UIWSOM
TUNCOM
NYIT-AR
ACOM
MU-COM
LECOM (all schools)
PCOM (all schools)
Rowan
Noorda-COM
Many of these schools have MCAT medians in the 498 to 502 range so you could receive interviews.
Let us know what your new MCAT score is in July and you may be able to apply to MD schools or add more DO schools.

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate the DO school list. Unfortunately, most of the schools I listed were chosen based on family reasons with my wife, so that cuts down the list to primarily the northeast. I decided that I'm going to retake the MCAT this summer with the goal of mid-July if I'm scoring >510 on FL's or later otherwise.

If I take in July, i was considering a late application cycle pending the results, but otherwise am completely ok with pushing my cycle back to next year so I'm not rushing things unnecessarily. At the end of the day, I just want to get into any school that suits my families life well so I'm happy to apply a bit later than normal (if that's generally suggested), or apply next year if need be.

Again, thanks for your help.

 

[Sinkingwater]

Thank you for your service. You need to focus on the MCAT and identify military-friendly programs through networking.

Read

Seeking Leverage in “Strong Ties” - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

Much appreciated. I have a strong contact within the local schools here that helps admissions for one and is heading up a program for another (intentionally vague), but unfortunately my wife and I were trying to move back to where we're both from for family reasons. Otherwise I would feel more confident with this situation.

I wrote back to Faha about applying later with a mid-July MCAT as long as FL's are going well, but I'm still unsure of the idea yet. I was scoring well prior to my 499, but I was also working and taking classes full time during then whereas I'm now out of classes. I'm working towards that date but always willing to push back to August and apply next year if necessary.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Sinkingwater]

You will be screened out at every single MD school with your current MCAT and unless you’re scoring 510’s on your FL exams, MD is not a realistic route unfortunately.

DO schools are your only option and I would apply to every single DO school on Faha’s list, given that you’re mission-fit. Do you have any community service hours targeting specific populations, such as underserved or rural, through your military? Or would you have any non-clinical volunteering experiences that may pertain to more human-related activities such as mentorship, etc.?

Yeah that's kind of what I figured would end up happening. I was scoring well, 508 FL average prior to the real deal, but had some pretty intense family issues arise the week prior and I think I got a bit overwhelmed with everything. I'm now out of classes and in a better personal place, so I'm shooting for a mid-July MCAT but not pressing it unless FL's are solid. If I can, I'd love to apply a bit later with the July score, but otherwise I'm happy to apply next year too if needed.

Reason for disregarding part of Faha's list is due to location, which is a huge driver for both my wife and I. We're kind of confined to the northeast for location, which still leaves some DO's available at least.

I have sporadic community service, but had nearly zero time to volunteer during the past 2 years with full time school, full time work, and monthly military reserve duties that always required more time than just the normal "weekend per month." I'm hoping to get started with a fitness volunteering group for disables individuals, but that wouldn't be until after I separate from the reserves in August. Most of my "service" otherwise is military oriented in additional duties like fitness program manager, mentoring sessions for new airmen (finance, general adulthood stuff), and public speaking.

Thanks for your reply, it's genuinely super helpful to hear everything straight because it's so common to hear that "military can get into medical school with a pulse and a 480" lol

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Much appreciated. I have a strong contact within the local schools here that helps admissions for one and is heading up a program for another (intentionally vague), but unfortunately my wife and I were trying to move back to where we're both from for family reasons. Otherwise I would feel more confident with this situation.

That makes sense. You should also be able to reach out to those target schools then. Your experience networking with your local schools should help you there.

I have sporadic community service, but had nearly zero time to volunteer during the past 2 years with full time school, full time work, and monthly military reserve duties that always required more time than just the normal "weekend per month." I'm hoping to get started with a fitness volunteering group for disables individuals, but that wouldn't be until after I separate from the reserves in August. Most of my "service" otherwise is military oriented in additional duties like fitness program manager, mentoring sessions for new airmen (finance, general adulthood stuff), and public speaking.

Your military service counts as community service already. After you move, starting such a group sounds great.

Give us an update after you get your MCAT score, and if you are comfortable, let us know the schools you will target due to your geographic constraints.

 

[Sinkingwater]

MD schools are not realistic with your MCAT of 499. You could a receive interviews at some DO schools and I suggest these:
VCOM (all schools except Monroe)
CUSOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UIWSOM
TUNCOM
NYIT-AR
ACOM
MU-COM
LECOM (all schools)
PCOM (all schools)
Rowan
Noorda-COM
Many of these schools have MCAT medians in the 498 to 502 range so you could receive interviews.
Let us know what your new MCAT score is in July and you may be able to apply to MD schools or add more DO schools.

I retook and got a 508 (127/125/129/127). Any idea if I should change my original list? Mostly looking at schools in the northeast still due to family, so I don't expect anything major. I don't have a great shot at most MA or NY schools based on MCAT alone, and I'm a FAP recipient so I can fill any gaps with reaches. Mostly focused on NJ, PA, NY, and CT i guess. Thank you by the the way, you're a blessing to this community.

 

[Sinkingwater]

That makes sense. You should also be able to reach out to those target schools then. Your experience networking with your local schools should help you there.

Your military service counts as community service already. After you move, starting such a group sounds great.

Give us an update after you get your MCAT score, and if you are comfortable, let us know the schools you will target due to your geographic constraints.

Update posted, 508 MCAT and similar school list. Mostly focused on NJ, PA, NY, and CT for family.

 

[Faha]

You could receive interviews at MD schools with your new MCAT of 508 and I suggest these:
Your 3 South Carolina state public schools
East Tennessee
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
George Washington
Georgetown
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Penn State
Hackensack
The 3 New Jersey state public schools
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Dartmouth
Quinnipiac
Tufts
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
Creighton
TCU
For DO schools I suggest these:
NOVA
LECOM (all schools)
VCOM (all schools except Monroe)
CUSOM
WVSOM
PCOM (all schools)
NYITCOM
Touro-NY
Rowan