What are my chances in Texas?

[medschoolhopeful87]

Hey SDNers,

I have a 3.67 overall GPA with a 3.7 science GPA. I scored a 28 on my mcat (9/8/11). I had a bad freshman year before I decided that I wanted to go to medical school. I have an upward trend.

Freshman Year: (semester gpa)
1st semester: 2.5 (17 credits)
2nd semester: 3.5 (16 credits)

Sophomore Year:
1st semester: 4.0 (18 credits)
2nd semester: 4.0 (19 credits + credit/no credits courses)

Junior Year:
1st semester: 4.0 (19 credit + credit/no credit courses)
2nd semester: currently in it (15 credits)

Since Freshman year I had decided to buckle down and work hard to increase both my GPA and science gpa. The overall and science mentioned above is based on AMCAS/TMDSAS calculations so it does not forgive retakes, otherwise my GPA would be around a 3.85 with a sGPA 3.88, which is what my school GPA is currently. I just had one bad semester (D in calculus and a C+ in computer science course, originally intended to go engineering). I'm a traditional student with a Freshman year catastrophe! Not URM.

Clinical Volunteering - 150 hours
Non-Clinical Volunteering - 100 hours
Research - 3 semesters (ongoing to 4)
Shadowing - 20 hours
Leadership positions - Vice President for a Fraternity, Fundraising Coordinator for a Pre-Health Organization, Teaching Assistant for Biology, Instructor for Freshman based course, Freshman Mentor (2 years)

Any thoughts and suggestions would be great! I want to go to med school in Texas. I figured my chances would be best since I'm a Texas resident.

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[Faha]

I think you have a decent chance for acceptance to a Texas school. There may be a new state school (Dell) opening up in 2016 so more Texas applicants will be accepted instate. Also apply to several DO schools. Apply to all the Texas schools in June and submit your secondaries by July. Your GPA will be higher if you have a good senior year and applying after your senior year would be the best strategy.

 

[EParker37]

The D in calculus is not so good, retaking it wouldn't be a bad idea, have you taken a Statistics course taught by the math department? Several texas schools require the statistics class now, also, UTSW just updated their requirements, dropping one semester of gen chem and adding 3 hours of biochem. I recommend obtaining a copy of the MSAR and looking at the texas schools (it hasn't been updated just yet, but will this quarter, the online is good for one year).

 

[midweststudent1]

Apply to the state Texas MDs and apply to TCOM, the state DO school. Your stats may be a little low for the MD but are around the average for TCOM. Apply EARLY! You have a great chance at VERY low tuition rates that most people would love to have

 

[medschoolhopeful87]

The D in calculus is not so good, retaking it wouldn't be a bad idea, have you taken a Statistics course taught by the math department? Several texas schools require the statistics class now, also, UTSW just updated their requirements, dropping one semester of gen chem and adding 3 hours of biochem. I recommend obtaining a copy of the MSAR and looking at the texas schools (it hasn't been updated just yet, but will this quarter, the online is good for one year).

I have! I retook the courses I did badly in (both the computer science C and the Calculus D) and have Aced both of them. That's why although my MCAS/TMDSAS are low, my AACOMAS is significantly higher at 3.8-3.88.

 

[EParker37]

Scores aren't that bad then, continue with the EC's, get 2 LOR's from professors who know you and your abilities or if you have a committee, do it that way. Also, if you aren't planning to apply this cycle, you'll need to retake the MCAT, as it expires after 5 years as far as I remember. But for texas, you should be a relatively strong candidate.

 

[gyngyn]

TCOM may be the only DO school that does not practice grade replacement, though.