Which options to consider?

[Desensitized]

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Hey guys,

I will be taking the MCAT Summer 2013 along with applying shortly after, hopefully. I was wondering how I am looking as far as GPA and the like goes. I am of El Salvadorian/Guatemalan descent (Hispanic) if it matters. I have all of my extra curriculars completed (volunteering, research, shadowing, etc.), and just focusing on my grades at the moment. My major at the moment is philosophy. I know that my GPA isn't that high, so I am wondering what my best options are at the moment. What schools to consider, should I look at DO schools? Also, I still have to take Organic II and Physics II. Thanks for reading.

Pre-reqs I have completed:
Gen. Chem I - B-
Gen. Chem II - C
Biology I - A
Biology II - B
Organic Chemistry I - ~A
Physics I - A

cGPA: 3.35
sGPA: 3.2

 

[Aerus]

Hey guys,

I will be taking the MCAT Summer 2013 along with applying shortly after, hopefully. I was wondering how I am looking as far as GPA and the like goes. I am of El Salvadorian/Guatemalan descent (Hispanic) if it matters. I have all of my extra curriculars completed (volunteering, research, shadowing, etc.), and just focusing on my grades at the moment. My major at the moment is philosophy. I know that my GPA isn't that high, so I am wondering what my best options are at the moment. What schools to consider, should I look at DO schools? Also, I still have to take Organic II and Physics II. Thanks for reading.

Pre-reqs I have completed:
Gen. Chem I - B-
Gen. Chem II - C
Biology I - A
Biology II - B
Organic Chemistry I - ~A
Physics I - A

cGPA: 3.35
sGPA: 3.2

Giving you an idea of what kind of schools you should apply to is nearly impossible without knowing your MCAT.

Your GPA is lacking, however. With one year left (assuming you're applying next cycle), you don't have a lot of breathing room. Have you considered taking a gap year so that you can use your senior year grades too?

If you're taking the MCAT THIS summer, that means you won't have a score until later on. If you are waiting until you get your score back, it might put you at a disadvantage if you submit your application later in the summer.

My BEST recommendation is to take a gap year, so that you can work on your GPA a bit more and give yourself more time to study for and take the MCAT. This will also be a perfect time to continue your EC's.

After that, submit your application as early as possible (in June ideally), so you can be verified quickly and get secondaries, and later, interviews. As of now, look into DO schools too.

 

[ClemsonFirst]

Just adding to what Aerus said, applications open on June 5th I believe. The earlier you apply, the better, so I would take the MCAT in May if at all possible or June and apply to DO schools.

 

[alecseriously]

As a URM with those stats you have a good shot at mid to low MD schools and definite possibilities at DO schools. There is a list of med school stats based on ethnicity somewhere on the internets. I can't find it at the moment, but if you keep up that great orgo and physics grade you should be golden. This could be interesting for you.

http://www.umbc.edu/premed/pdfs/UMBCPreMedMedicalAcceptedApplicants.pdf

 

[occams_razor]

you can see the average stats for hispanic or latino matriculants here:

https://www.aamc.org/download/161696/data/table19.pdf

 

[Desensitized]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. And alec, I don't think URM status really gives that much of a preference to me haha.

 

[dsk89]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. And alec, I don't think URM status really gives that much of a preference to me haha.

You're Hispanic. Hispanic=URM.

 

[Desensitized]

You're Hispanic. Hispanic=URM.

I know. I'm just saying that URM won't give me as much of an advantage as people think...

 

[Desensitized]

Or maybe it will? I don't know. I saw the URM trend graph that swimmer linked up above, but I haven't compared it with anything else. Sorry for my ignorance in this area.