What is best for backup?

[alexrgross]

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Hello,

cGPA 3.19
sGPA 3.8
MCAT 32R
100+ hrs volunteer
50 Shadow
1.5 yrs research
150+ hrs Red Cross Youth Services Leader
3+ months teaching english in foriegn country this summer
other community based ECs

Applying early and broadly this cycle. Obviously my GPA will be a weakness (strong upward trend).

In case of complete rejection, what type of work is better suited for me (with the aim to reapply next year or the year after) to
do next year
masters, SMP, or clinical lab work?

 

[gravitywave]

be sure to apply DO in addition to MD. the GPA bias isn't nearly as bad. otherwise, SMP. be aware though that a SMP is risky and may hurt you if you don't do well. you shouldn't have to get to that point however, as you look very good for DO as it is.

 

[deleted357625]

I'm sure you can get in somewhere with those stats. D.O. would be your best bet

 

[Owlch]

some type of post-bacc program (choose carefully) that'll allow you to demonstrate a high gpa, since that's what needs fixing the most

 

[alexrgross]

okay, thank you for the advice - I have been in a post-bacc for the past 2 years with a cGPA of 3.8 sGPA 3.8 (only in the post bacc, my overall is listed in the first post on this thread). I am leaning towards SMPs because I feel I have exhausted the post-bacc route, I need to move beyond undergrad. This is important so that I have a degree to show for the current years I am spending preping for MD school. In case I do not get in an SMP degree will be good leverage towards a job.

I will submit DO applications as well.

Thanks!

 

[Retinam]

Well I think it is definitely a strength that you science GPA is a 3.8! I think you'll be competitive for allopathic schools, esp with your mcat. Just apply broadly and like the others said - apply to some DO schools as back ups!.

Good luck!

 

[DoctorDermis]

.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Nice EC's and a solid MCAT. Your cGPA is low, but I think your science will be a great advocate for you. I would expect you to get a few interviews, especially if you apply broadly. I don't know if SMP would be right for you, but if you don't get in I suppose you should consider it. You would definitely be an ideal candidate stats-wise.

 

[rhesuspieces]

Alex, i'll shoot you straight. With those stats, I strongly recommend you apply Early Decision to your state school(s) - it would be wise to contact adcoms and see what % is filled from the ED pool - most likely, it will be fairly high.

No, no, no, no. Sorry, but this would be a poor decision. With your stats you need to apply early and broadly. At most schools, your chance of getting in ED isn't that much higher than your chance of getting in regular decision. By applying ED you are barring yourself from sending in regular pool apps until you get a rejection from the school you applied ED at.

 

[alexrgross]

3.8 sGPA - does this include upper levels such as cell bio, biochem, med micro, anatomy, etc? or is this based off the min req courses?

good luck!

Yes the sGPA includes about 40-50% upper division credits (Human genetics, Microbial-Host Interactions, Neurobiology, Neurophysiology of concussion, Cell bio, microbio and lab, and anatomy).

How do you respond to the Rhesuspieces comments about barring myself from the normal pool by applying ED? (Meanwhile, I will read what ED actually means and come back here in a few hours.)

 

[patel2]

Alex, i'll shoot you straight. With those stats, I strongly recommend you apply Early Decision to your state school(s) - it would be wise to contact adcoms and see what % is filled from the ED pool - most likely, it will be fairly high.

Prepare your regular pool apps In Case you don't get in via ED - In the Regular pool, with those stats and without being an affirm action benefactor (AA,hisp,Native A), you will get you a lot of thin envelopes and a big hole in your pocket.

3.19 does not look fondly to ad-coms, and will serve as a major crux - sorry to remind you of something you are already well aware.

The above average extracurrics and experiences can help you - but keep in mind that a lot of your "qualified" applicants will have pretty heroic experiences as well.

3.8 sGPA - does this include upper levels such as cell bio, biochem, med micro, anatomy, etc? or is this based off the min req courses?

This is a grueling feat, but I recommend doing all of these together.
1) Apply early decision for MD
2) Apply to several DO programs (do not apply to PCOM satellite campus in Duluth, GA)
3) Apply to the few Post-Bac-to-MD programs (i.e. Temple, Drexel, etc).
4) Concurrently prepare your Regular Pool applications so you can simply click and submit if ED doesnt work.
5) Apply for a Masters program

Note: Be WAY early with everything. Interfolio is your best friend.

good luck!

notsureifsrs

early decision doesn't increase your chances of getting in at all...the only people it benefits are the schools because they get to fill up a portion of their class early, and the students who get in EDP would have gotten in regular decision anyways. It screws you over if you don't get in.

Early, broadly, DO, or do an SMP is your best bet.

 

[gravitywave]

don't apply ED, it will kill your chances at every other allo school, and you need to be able to spread yourself around as much as possible.

i think you have a shot at MD, especially if you have a friendly state school option. go to the school specific forums here and research all the secondary essay prompts. start working on them now. aim to submit AMCAS no later than mid-June, and to be complete everywhere by August 1st. if you still have to go through committee, make sure they know that this is your plan, so they don't procrastinate on getting your letter out before October.

i do not think 40 schools would be too many if you have the stomach/wallet for it. but that would only be manageable if you started writing now.