What are my Chances

[anthnerd]

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Hi everyone,

I am planning on applying to medical school for the first time this May at the end of my senior year of undergrad, and was wondering what my chances are realistically at MD schools. I am generally more interested in DO schools, but I live super close to one of Temple's campuses, have lived here my whole life, stayed here for undergrad, and would save significant money living at home and would love to stay in my community.

Here are my stats:
Majors: BS Neuroscience and BA Anthropology
cGPA: 3.75
sGPA: 3.6 (but with strong upward trend in my last two years of undergrad, like 3.98)
MCAT: 506 (i know...)
Clinical Hours: I will have 500 hours by the time I apply as a patient care assistant, same teaching hospital that I am applying to.
Shadowing: 60 hours by the time I apply, also same teaching hospital that I am applying to. Split across ED, peds, ortho, general surgery, internal med
Nonclinical stuff: Lots of cooking for local religious community, specifically around Ramadan time, also just general volunteering in religious community. Started MSA at my undergrad college, ~400 hours of tutoring, ~400 hours of tour guiding and orientation leading at undergrad.
Research: 400 hours of behavioral neuro lab and about 200 hours as a research assistant in 2 different projects in Anthropology.

I know it's all pretty underwhelming/average, but here is what I hope sets me apart. I did ~600 hours of (basically) completely independent research in Anthro focusing on healthcare access (specifically the long term impact of the lack of proper health access) in refugee camps in Jordan, including all of the IRB, background research, and fieldwork. This is all going into my honors thesis for that degree and I'm submitting for publication. I'm also doing a Masters in Health, Medicine, and Society with a concentration in Medical Anth at the University of Cambridge during my gap year, with a dissertation that is looking to expand on my research in the camps. This research and my interest in med anth is critical to who I am as an applicant and who I want to be as a doctor.

I'm hoping that my Anthro/refugee camp work in combination with my ties to this community and specifically the teaching hospital will pull through for my low MCAT and lack of clinical volunteering. Is there anything you think I can do that can strengthen my application within the next few months before I hit submit.

 

[deleted1119806]

Great app but like you already know, that MCAT will hold you back at higher tier places you’d otherwise get a chance at. However, I think you’ll be fine for low-mid tier MD

 

[Goro]

You'll need DO schools on your list.

 

[chilly_md]

Moved to WAMC.

Are you a resident of Pennsylvania then?

 

[Faha]

I suggest these MD schools with your stats:
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Commonwealth Geisinger
Penn State
Hackensack
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Oakland Beaumont
Wayne State
Medical College Wisconsin
Creighton
TCU
George Washington
Wake Forest
NOVA MD
Belmont (when it opens)
For DO schools I suggest these:
PCOM
NYITCOM
Touro-NY
LECOM
WVSOM
CUSOM
MU-COM
DMU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
KCU-COM

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Your masters thesis work is very interesting and will garner some interest. However, you need to bring the work home with your nonclinical volunteering.

It appears you have primary interest in the Muslim community so make sure you diversify your community service impact. Contact AMMSA about gathering a workable list that leverages your background and your graduate work.

 

[anthnerd]

Great app but like you already know, that MCAT will hold you back at higher tier places you’d otherwise get a chance at. However, I think you’ll be fine for low-mid tier MD

Temple is a mid-tier right?

 

[anthnerd]

You'll need DO schools on your list.

Most of the schools on my list are DO schools! I've been more interested in them for years, but this one specific MD campus is too close to home for me to not apply and miss out on possible saving huge amounts of money on living costs.

 

[anthnerd]

Moved to WAMC.

Are you a resident of Pennsylvania then?

Thank you for moving it. I'm new to this and wasn't sure how things work. And yes, PA resident, born and raised but unfortunately, PA doesn't seem to have the same residency biases for residents compared to other states.

 

[anthnerd]

Your masters thesis work is very interesting and will garner some interest. However, you need to bring the work home with your nonclinical volunteering.

It appears you have primary interest in the Muslim community so make sure you diversify your community service impact. Contact AMMSA about gathering a workable list that leverages your background and your graduate work.

Thank you so much, I had no idea AMMSA was a thing, I'll be sure to check them out! And so you mean to really drill down on my nonclinical volunteering and research in my application?

 

[chilly_md]

Thank you for moving it. I'm new to this and wasn't sure how things work. And yes, PA resident, born and raised but unfortunately, PA doesn't seem to have the same residency biases for residents compared to other states.

Apply to Faha's list. Yes, the PA schools accept many OOS students but Drexel, Temple, Penn State and Geisinger could all be interested in your application. They know a PA student is more likely to accept an offer too.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you so much, I had no idea AMMSA was a thing, I'll be sure to check them out! And so you mean to really drill down on my nonclinical volunteering and research in my application?

I mean make sure you have a community impact in the United States. Make sure you don't just help the Muslim community. (I say the same for applicants who have a lot of activities based on their faith connections.)