What are my chances?

[Ol'Lady]

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33 MCAT (10V/11PS/12BS)
undergrad (BS in Bio) cGPA 3.37, sGPA 3.30 (failed 2 classes-had some trouble my freshman year, but retook the 2 classes and got A's)
grad sGPA 3.68 (MS in bio)

co-author on a couple of small molecular bio publications.

non-trad.
Working as a med tech for 3 years now, (doing flow cytometry).

haven't had any interview invites this cycle at all...

 

[Ol'Lady]

also forgot to mention i finished my bachelor's in 2 years (i had ALOT of AP credits that transferred over favorably). i didn't think i was going to Med School back then. probably should have hung around in college an extra year or two and padded the GPA with extra A's. would have helped with my maturity level back then too

 

[gyngyn]

Where did you apply?

 

[kevinsword91]

What is your GPA with grade replacement? DO may be a more successful option next cycle.

Do you have experience in a healthcare setting? Research is great, but it doesn't convince admissions that you want to work with sick people.

 

[Ol'Lady]

Tufts
Loyola
OHSU
UCF
UF
FSU
USF
and of course a few really reaching schools...

i guess i thought the 33 MCAT was competitive at state and mid schools.

I have worked as a Med Tech (generalist in a hospital) and as Med Tech at a reference lab within the past 3 years-i would think that counts as clinical experience, but maybe not direct enough. i do volunteer outside of work as a math/science tutor at a junior high school associated with the juvenile justice system. but again, not sure if that's enough...

I can't remember exactly with grade replacement, but i think it's closer to 3.5 or 3.6 with grade replacement (those were really the 2 problem classes that i should have withdrawn, but i really didn't think it through at the time-over 10yrs ago now...).

i would like to be a pathologist (possibly physician/scientist) and mentioned that in my applications. i've heard there is a need for pathologists bc alot of ppl aren't as familiar with the field or just straight up find it boring interpreting test results and looking at slides (like the field of Medical Technology ). i didn't apply to MD/PhD since i already have a masters and am a non-trad. i didn't want to spend 8+ years in an MD/PhD learning alot of stuff i already learned at a masters student.

 

[Goro]

ECs seem weak enough to be lethal. Any patient contact experience?

 

[Ol'Lady]

some phlebotomy. some observations of bone marrow taps as a med tech student-(lot of screaming goes on there, my lab partner almost passed out). i didn't elaborate on it too much in my app since i guess i thought admissions ppl knew med techs do that kind of thing.

i had mentioned in my AAMC personal statement that i was a chairside dental assistant in high school and that i helped care for my uncle at home when he had his toe amputated (diabetes). So alot of (really fun gross) direct patient contact with those 2, but i'm not sure if they picked any of that out of all the other info, or if that experience is "too old." i don't think i put those in the "activities" area of the AAMC app, probably b/c they were old.

 

[Ol'Lady]

also, as a med tech i've been programmed not to go into too much detail about patients (HIPAA!). so that may have affected my writing style as well...maybe came off too dry

 

[gyngyn]

With what appears as weak clinical experience (high school and family experiences aren't in the same category) you had a fair to good at only 3 or 4 schools on your list. That's usually not enough. Have you been let go from any on your list already? There is still some chance at your state schools.

 

[Doug Underhill]

The GPA seems like it may be the major issue to me.

 

[Ol'Lady]

i thought that the upward trend in the grades would help the GPA.
I had straight A's in med tech school (which was a full year) and for the last year of regular undergrad (still 1 year of straight A's when you only went to college for 2 years is rough on the average, and they put the Med Tech school in with Graduate grades since I did that program after grad school- a little out of order i know...)

i have been rejected from a few, but they were OOS and really reach schools (JHU and Univ of Washington in Seattle for example).

i do feel that i am a borderline applicant:

33 MCAT is good but not blowing your mind.
a 3.5 or 3.6 GPA is good but not blowing your mind.
being a Med Tech is good and Flow Cytometry is cool but not blowing your mind.
Tutoring is good but not blowing your mind.
Being West Indian/1st generation to finish college is good, but not the same as other URMs...

i suppose i was hoping for the best. but maybe i will have to do some more work towards being accepted next year.

 

[Ol'Lady]

will i be crazy to apply next year at 33 years old?

basically the only thing i can change between now and next year is the clinical experience, which may now actually be possible since i'm not in the lab 60-70hrs a week anymore, working all sorts of weird random hours (there really IS a med tech shortage)...i had recently had a schedule change that has resolved this.

i don't see the point of taking any more college classes or re-taking the MCAT.