Hi. I have seen others post on this website asking for help with school list after describing their activities and stats and stuff. I am here to ask for the same, please. I am posting here to remain confidential.
Information about me:
Non-traditional applicant. This will be my 3rd application cycle.
Florida Resident
White (I'm middle eastern born and have lived in Florida basically all of my life)
I went to what you can consider the least prestigious/known university in the state if that helps.
Graduated in 3 years with a B.S. in BMS through an Honors accelerated program, taking more credit-heavy semesters than typical premeds, ,if that helps. Not sure where I would mention this on my application, but I havent in the past.
4.0 Science GPA, 3.97 Cumulative GPA.
MCAT: 500 -> 508 (After 1 month) -> 513 (after 1 year, though I only studied for this one about a month) -> Potentially 516 if I retake (expect this to be my maximum potential)
Don't know if this helps but I scored badly on the first MCAT because I went to ER for severe allergic reaction few days before and was on corticosteroid pills for a week after the visit, which greatly impaired my cognition.
Activities: 900+ hours of volunteering to help the medically underserved (added throughout the 2nd application cycle), 300+ hours of medical shadowing with 200+ being with a primary care, ~150 hours of non-clinical volunteering at an institution that provided free housing to long-distance cancer patients receiving ongoing treatment at the adjacent hospital, ~200 hours of volunteering at the associated cancer hospital in CT Unit and Radiation Oncology. 600+ hours of research in a biology wet lab, completed a project but did not publish nor make a poster.
Here is my dilemma: I applied broadly both cycles and did not apply to reach schools. I applied to schools listed for applicants with similar situations like me on this website. Both cycles, I was rejected pre-II from ALL schools. I am not sure if this is because my higher MCAT scores all came in September of both cycles, but just wanted to mention that. This cycle, the improvements to my application include a rewritten from scratch personal statement, the 513 MCAT (128/126/130/129), and the 900+ hours of service to the medically underserved. Here are schools I have applied to in the past:
- All Florida Schools MD
- Quinnipiac*
- Seton Hall**
- Penn State
- Oakland Beaumont**
- University of Arizona - Tucson
- Wayne State**
- Tulane
- Albany**
- CUSOM
- Chicago Med School at Rosalind Franklin
- Cooper Med School of Rowan University
- Creighton University**
- Drexel University**
- Georgetown**
- Indiana**
- Loma Linda**
- Loyola**
- MCW**
- NYMC**
- Rush**
- Toledo**
- University of Washington School of Medicine
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
- Wake Forest**
- West Virginia University School of Medicine
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University*
- Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont*
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine*
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University*
- Tufts University School of Medicine*
Two asterisks indicates that I applied to that school both cycles. One asterisk indicates that I applied to that school only in my second cycle with the 513. If it is of any impact, I got the 513 score back in September of the 2nd cycle, although I submitted my secondaries early in July.
Please help me. Do I have any chance left for MD? Where should I apply this cycle then? Do I have any chances with the Alabama MD Schools since I was raised in Northern Florida and Florida is contiguous with Alabama? My dream is to be a general surgeon and I realize that DO will significantly hinder my path to that goal. I am open to all advice and criticism. Thank you in advance.
Edit: I am Roman Catholic all my life so that is why I applied to some of those religious schools.
