What can I improve?

[taemush512]

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[I'mJustCurious]

Your MCAT is really good. Some schools will screen out certain scores/GPAs. I feel like if you did a post bacc and get A's, you will definitely get an interview at some schools.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

What state do do you reside in?
Do you have a LOR?

 

[taemush512]

What state do do you reside in?
Do you have a LOR?

I'm a CA resident and yeah I have 3 LOR's, 1 from a professor and two from physicians that I shadowed

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Do some retakes and get both GPAs to about 3.2. And you will have success. You need to apply more broad as well

 

[adrian710]

Increase that GPA to at least around 3.2 or else you will face many rejections especially with such a small and top heavy list

 

[adrian710]

I'm a CA resident and yeah I have 3 LOR's, 1 from a professor and two from physicians that I shadowed

You are going to need probably more LoR's (1 more science and 1 non-science)

 

[0dee]

PCOM requires 2 science, 1 Non science and 1 physician LoR. Your gpa is on the lower side but your urm status might help. One thing that you need to do as a urm is show your involvement in your own community, so if you haven't done that then work on it from now until the cycle opens.

 

[jaguar33]

You need to apply to a lot more schools. I had a similar MCAT and higher GPA and only heard back from 1 school on your list. Sub 3.0 will get you a lot of rejections, unless you are an AA URM. If you are AA I would add MD schools cause you would have a ~75% chance of acceptance per the AAMC matriculant data table

 

[taemush512]

You need to apply to a lot more schools. I had a similar MCAT and higher GPA and only heard back from 1 school on your list. Sub 3.0 will get you a lot of rejections, unless you are an AA URM. If you are AA I would add MD schools cause you would have a ~75% chance of acceptance per the AAMC matriculant data table

i'm mexican, do you think that counts at all? lol
also, did you get into the school that you heard back from?

 

[jaguar33]

i'm mexican, do you think that counts at all? lol
also, did you get into the school that you heard back from?

Actually, you have a decent shot for MD according to the table (~48%). I'm not too sure how significant the URM advantage is on the DO side of things, but I bet it would help. I did get in, I was accepted to Touro-Ca but didn't attend due to cost/fit. It's so expensive over there lol.

If your sGPA & cGPA are both >3.0 I bet you would have a chance at getting in somewhere this coming cycle if you apply broadly. You still might get in somewhere if they are a little below, but you would miss out on the schools that screen out <3.0. A lot will also depend on if you have an upward trend and your upper level science grades.

Since your MCAT is good I woud try to get in somewhere before it expires. If you want to maximize your chances/have more options I would retake some science classes to boost the GPA to >3.2-3.3. Heres that chart im referencing for MD chances if youre interested:

https://www.aamc.org/download/321512/data/factstablea24-1.pdf

 

[TheOther]

I personally think you'll get some interviews as long as you present your application well (personal statement, work/volunteer/ECs, etc) even with your current numbers. But since you're applying for next year anyway, you have a little over a year to brush up on your stats - so if you can retake some classes, I'd do that. I'm not sure if you're too late on deadlines for post bacc programs for this fall.

As others have said, apply broadly and early - the earliest possible. Don't take the chance of having to apply again because you were too picky. Have a good spread between reach schools, reasonable ones, and back ups.

 

[mathnerd88]

Actually, you have a decent shot for MD according to the table (~48%). I'm not too sure how significant the URM advantage is on the DO side of things, but I bet it would help. I did get in, I was accepted to Touro-Ca but didn't attend due to cost/fit. It's so expensive over there lol.

If your sGPA & cGPA are both >3.0 I bet you would have a chance at getting in somewhere this coming cycle if you apply broadly. You still might get in somewhere if they are a little below, but you would miss out on the schools that screen out <3.0. A lot will also depend on if you have an upward trend and your upper level science grades.

Since your MCAT is good I woud try to get in somewhere before it expires. If you want to maximize your chances/have more options I would retake some science classes to boost the GPA to >3.2-3.3. Heres that chart im referencing for MD chances if youre interested:

https://www.aamc.org/download/321512/data/factstablea24-1.pdf

I'm sure that statistic is skewed somewhat. Yes, 48.9% Hispanics get in with those stats, but the majority are probably in-state somewhere in the Midwest or the South. The ones near major cities (where OP seems to want to go to by his list,) probably accept those who have higher stats. I know plenty of Mexicans who have gotten into medical schools around a major city, but they have stats such as a 4.0 GPA and 35 MCAT. Another has a 3.7 GPA and a 37 MCAT. They all got their pick of medical schools in major cities.

The OP is from California, which makes it incredibly competitive to get into those in-state MD schools. Either way, I feel that those who were accepted had exceptional EC's.

If the OP had a GPA near 3.4-3.5, then he would probably be accepted to an MD school easily. He would also have his pick of DO schools.

 

[Goro]

What community do you represent? Fastest path is to retake all F/D/C science coursework.

Hi, so I want to apply to the following schools next year:

PCOM
LECOM (both campuses)
PNWU-COM
CCOM
ASU-COM
Tuoro (NY and CA)
Western

Here are my stats:

graduating from UCSD
cGPA: 3.0
sgpa: probably a little lower if not the same as cgpa
MCAT: 31
I'm also a URM
EC's:
-200 hrs volunteering at local hospital and hospice
-60 hours shadowing (2 different doctors- 30 hours each)
-1000 hours working as a CNA
-1 week medical mission trip to Mexico

Is my GPA still way too low? Should I retake a few classes or do a post bacc? would it be better to try and bring my gpa up to at least a 3.3 or 3.4 before applying? or do you guys think I should try applying first?

thanks..

 

[taemush512]

.

 

[taemush512]

What community do you represent? Fastest path is to retake all F/D/C science coursework.

i'm mexican

 

[Goro]

As desirable as you are as a URM candidate, no med school will be doing you any favors by admitting you if you can't hack a med school curriculum, so I'd like to see a boost in the GPA.

i'm mexican

 

[taemush512]

As desirable as you are as a URM candidate, no med school will be doing you any favors by admitting you if you can't hack a med school curriculum, so I'd like to see a boost in the GPA.

do you think just retaking all my C courses will make a difference..? or is doing a formal post bacc better?

 

[Goro]

Calculate your GPAs via AACOMAS retake policy, and you tell us.

do you think just retaking all my C courses will make a difference..? or is doing a formal post bacc better?

 

[TUVIX]

You will probably get interviews as you stand now. I am not a URM and I have very similar stats and have had interviews at several of the schools you listed. However, I have a masters with 4.0 GPA. Given that you are URM with a good MCAT and a bunch of clinical experience I think you will get in. That being said, you should consider retaking C/D/F courses as @Goro said or doing an SMP. If you do an SMP you may even be good for some low-tier MD schools because you are URM. You may want to enroll in an SMP and also apply. If you don't get in then just apply again after the SMP. Good luck!