WAMC

[Acylcoa]

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[trino]

I think you are perfectly fine to apply next cycle! I had a similar experience of getting involved with ECs late and am doing fine this cycle. You have a great spread of experiences. It's no secret that your gpa will not help you. In my opinion, I believe that you will be fine, but the MCAT does have the potential to make or break you. Work your butt off on that, do well, and I believe you will be a doctor! I know this is looking ahead, but once you get interviews, be prepared to answer questions about lack of involvement and gpa during freshman/sophomore year. Good luck!

 

[Acylcoa]

Thanks for your response trino! Do you think I have chances at MD? or should I be thinking DO? I would prefer MD simply because matching into residency would be easier for the field I am interested in, but I have no problem being DO.

Also, if you don't mind me asking, when did you get involved with your EC's? And I am planning on doing well on the MCAT I have started studying for it every weekend since the start of this semester and plan on taking it around May. What MCAT score should I be aiming for if I want to go MD?

 

[accMed]

Your ECs actually look pretty solid. Just keep doing them and keep the grades up. If you can score a 30 or higher on the MCAT you will be golden. I'm assuming you're Hispanic because you said all your family went back to Mexico.

If you are 3.4 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA, 30+ MCAT, AAMC is saying if you are Hispanic then you have about an 75-80% chance (https://www.aamc.org/download/321512/data/2012factstable25-1.pdf). Factor in good EC's/clinical exposure/research and you seem like a great shot at MD schools and should be completely fine for DO schools.

I didn't get hugely involved into my ECs until junior year as well, although I did have a few activities. But, I'm currently in my first gap year an will be applying next cycle, so I took a little extra time to make them better.

If you can pull off the 30+ MCAT I think your chances at MD schools are reasonable, if not high. Just my opinion though.

 

[Acylcoa]

ed

 

[Catalystik]

I am currently a senior at a state university. I have always wanted to be a doctor ever since a doctor saved my arm following an accident which threatened to affect the proper growth of it. My goal is to one day be able to do for someone else, the same thing that doctor did for me.

However, I am at a crossroads right now and I would love some advice. During my first two years of undergrad I was not involved at all and my grades do not make up for that (3.06cGPA freshman year). During junior year I stepped up my game and now I am at 3.3 GPA and plan on having a 3.47GPA by the time I graduate next spring. I made deans last semester 3.8cGPA, and so far this semester I am on track to getting a 4.00cGPA (fingers crossed).

One of my biggest concerns rests in my EC's, I will list them now:

---Club which organizes free clinics in an underserved community across the border, I am a translator for the doctors (1 school year experience by the time I apply)

What worries me about this is that I only got involved with this club this year... 🙁 I wish I would have joined earlier

---Pre-med club at my university (2 years...on and off but this year fully committed)

I have been involved with this club on and off since sophomore year, but I am an active member this semester.

--Research, in the field of surgery (1.5 years by the time i apply)

I joined the lab I'm currently in second semester junior year. So by the time I apply I will have 1.5 years experience.

--Volunteer at local hospital (400 hrs by the time I apply)

I started doing this the summer before my junior year. I have now moved my way up to mentor and I train new volunteer as well as go out to health fairs to promote our volunteer program, while still volunteering as usual.

--Shadowing (30 hrs so far 2 different doctors)

--Preceptor

I plan on being a preceptor next semester for a class that I am currently in. I hope to get a LOR from that professor.

--Big Brother Big Sister Program

I have an interview with them this afternoon, the main reason I want to join this is because I want to help a disadvantaged kid not miss out on all the things I did because my parents were uninformed.

--Attend Grand Rounds

Every week, starting this past summer.

--My activities include playing guitar, running and I will start riding mountain bikes this winter.

Sorry if its long, but I just need advice. I have also been working since last December (2012), to support my self because my family all went back to Mexico so I am pretty much here on my own 🙁

My biggest worry is my low GPA combined with the fact that most of my EC's started either last year or this year. Do you guys think I should be ok to apply next cycle? One of my advisors says I should but I am worried. I wonder if maybe I should do a SMP or do post back work or perhaps do a 5th year as an undergrad. Any advice would be appreciated.

Your list of projected ECs compares very favorably with those of the majority of applicants. They are nicely meaty and many will have a reasonable duration by the time you apply. And while 30 formal shadowing hours are sparse, the time spent as a physician-patient translator will also count toward the "physician observation" expectation, so you'll be fine there as well.

Your competitiveness for MD and DO will depend on your MCAT performance as well as your GPAs and continued upward grade trend. Keep up the good work.

What is your US citizenship status? What is your state of legal residence?

 

[Catalystik]

Should I just apply this cycle

No. Wait until June 2014 to apply. You need to get an MCAT score first, anyway.

 

[Acylcoa]

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[Catalystik]

1) With regards to my citizenship, I am a first generation born here in the US (New Mexico). My legal state of residency is Arizona and I am the first one in my family to try to attend any sort of professional school.

2) is there anything else I could be doing right now to better my chances?

1) Then you have several demographic characteristics that many med schools like to have represented in each class.

2) It sounds like you're aware that peer leadership is another experience that benefits an application. Perhaps some other opportunity will come along. Meanwhile, keep your GPA high. That is your first priority. And secondarily, to study adequately for the MCAT, scoring repeatedly in your target zone on practice tests before taking the real thing. Talk to your advisor about resources available to you to help with preparation. And whether you will qualify for a break on your application fees.

 

[Acylcoa]

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