West Point Graduate 32 yrs old

[ArmyMedic18D]

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Members don't see this ad.

So I’ll keep it short and sweet,


I’m a West Point graduate(3.4gpa 3.9sgpa) Math Major
Army Ranger Officer & SF Officer (10 years experience Rank Major)
MCAT: 527
URM : Black ( hate that this matters)

What are my chances of getting into The Top programs

 

[ThetisAntithesis]

Sounds like you have an awesome shot at any school you want.

 

[ArmyMedic18D]

Sounds like you have an awesome shot at any school you want.

You think so? I really appreciate it.

 

[candbgirl]

Congrats on the MCAT. Nice job. I think you’ll do well wherever you decide to apply. Thanks for your service.

 

[Dr. Anonymouss]

That's already an incredible application without talking about clinical experience, volunteering, research, etc. Apply anywhere.

 

[82Scout]

I know two west point grads who went to Harvard and Stanford med right after westpoint. I think given your experience you are a high shot for top 10 with.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Your cGPA is low. However, you're a Black veteran with a solid sGPA. If you have an upward trend, that is even better. How is your clinical exposure and shadowing? As long as you check the boxes for that, you should be golden at every school in the country. Not many Black applicants with ECs and MCATs as strong as yours. Good luck! @LizzyM’s an adcom member at a top school; I’d guess she would feel pretty good about this applicant’s chances as long as he checks the boxes for clinical exposure and shadowing!

 

[ArmyMedic18D]

Your cGPA is low. However, you're a Black veteran with a solid sGPA. If you have an upward trend, that is even better. How is your clinical exposure and shadowing? As long as you check the boxes for that, you should be golden at every school in the country. Not many Black applicants with ECs and MCATs as strong as yours. Good luck! @LizzyM’s an adcom member at a top school; I’d guess she would feel pretty good about this applicant’s chances as long as he checks the boxes for clinical exposure and shadowing!

I was in the military for 10 years so other than tending wounds of my men. None lol

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

@Goro, @gonnif, @LizzyM, @gyngyn, @Moko, @OrthoTraumaMD, @Catalystik: This guy has an interesting application, but needs better advice than I can give. My thoughts are that the complete lack of clinical exposure and shadowing are likely to prove quite detrimental, if not lethal. OP only needs to check boxes for these - 150 hours of clinical exposure and 50 hours of shadowing - in order to be a stellar candidate at any school in the country, Harvard included. As far as nonclinical volunteering is concerned, I'd think a decade of military service counts!

 

[LizzyM]

This guy has an interesting application, but needs better advice than I can give. My thoughts are that the complete lack of clinical exposure and shadowing are likely to prove quite detrimental, if not lethal. OP only needs to check boxes for these - 150 hours of clinical exposure and 50 hours of shadowing - in order to be a stellar candidate at any school in the country, Harvard included. As far as nonclinical volunteering is concerned, I'd think a decade of military service counts!

I agree that this applicant has a very strong MCAT, excellent sGPA, okay GPA. Excellent leadership and teamwork as evidenced by West Point and military service x 10 years. Will bring diversity to the med school class. Certainly a candidate for top 10 schools. Has some exposure to care of injured soldiers in pre-hospital settings. Needs some shadowing of physicians and some exposure to clinical care settings where patients receive clinical services directed by physicians. "Why medicine" will be the first question and "how have you tested this interest?" will be the follow-up question. Those need to be answered adequately.

 

[Moko]

My thoughts:
- Being an army medic would likely satisfy the clinical 'requirements' depending on the setting(s) and situations that the OP worked in.
- While military service is looked upon very highly, I personally do not see it as being volunteering per se. Not all who join the military do so out of a desire to serve -- for many, joining the military just happens to be their best option for a stable income in a respected field, or for other perks such as the educational credits, pathway to citizenship, etc.
- Other questions I am asking myself (which should be addressed in the application, not necessarily on here): what steps have you taken to explore whether medicine is right for you? Certainly being around the sick and dying is a start, but I haven't seen evidence of why being a physician is a better fit than say becoming a nurse, physical therapist, chaplain, PA, etc. How do we know that applying to medical schools wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision? Are you planning to pursue a military or civilian residency? If it's the latter, how have you explored whether that is the right path to you?
- I personally would still want to see shadowing and demonstration of altruism (which may be shown through your work in the military). Provided that these things are done, obtaining a 'top 10' spot is definitely a possibility.

Edit: basically what LizzyM said.