Will this be enough improvement?

[hopelesslyhopeful]

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Sooo here's where I'm at as a reapplicant:

33 MCAT
3.5 cGPA, 3.2sGPA

Lots of non clinical employment and leadership in college.

Full time work as a scribe/surgery scheduler post college. (Currently still here)

100+ shadowing various specialties

Very Limited research. Very Limited non medical community service.

Submitted a bit late (wasn't verified until late July).

Since applying not a lot has changed from my previous app - I've just been working 40-50 hours at the hospital and my job role has vastly expanded. I've currently taken a step back (working part time starting in March) to try and patch some holes in my app.
- I'm starting spring quarter open science post bacc course work at a state school (CA) in March. I also plan to continue to take courses through the summer.
- I've started community service with a local shelter/dining hall on weekends and I'm in contact with the local boys and girls club as well about getting involved.
- I'm in talks with 2 universities about getting involved in some research asap.

I guess my question is, over the next 4 months if I can patch up some of the EC stuf with research and community service, and if I do well academically in the spring and summer quarters (~25-30 units), would I be okay to apply in June? I know some of my post bacc grades would be as updates in July/August, but could I still make it work?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm hoping to avoid the 2018 cycle since my MCAT score will expire after this upcoming cycle and Id have to take it again.


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[Faha]

Where did you apply this cycle and where is your state of residence?

 

[hopelesslyhopeful]

Where did you apply this cycle and where is your state of residence?

I'm a California resident. I applied to a variety of MD schools across the US. Here's a list:

CA: UCLA, UC davis, UC riverside, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, USC Keck

Other: Creighton, GW, VCU, Tufts, Tulane, Rosalind Franklin, Jefferson, NYMC, Colorado, Vermont, Loyola stritch, Albany, Temple, Einstein, Quinnapaic, Drexel, Penn State, Wake Forest, Iowa Carver, Rochester.

I believe that covers. I'm currently on pre-II hold at Drexel and Penn state, I'm small pooled at Vermont, I have silence from 10-11, and rejected from the rest.




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[gracie369]

I think if you would have replaced most of those schools with DO schools you would likely be starting this summer. For out of state MD schools you usually need a higher gpa and mcat score. California is one the most competitive states. I'm biased towards MD as well but you will need to change your strategy if you aren't accepted off of the wait list.

 

[hopelesslyhopeful]

I think if you would have replaced most of those schools with DO schools you would likely be starting this summer. For out of state MD schools you usually need a higher gpa and mcat score. California is one the most competitive states. I'm biased towards MD as well but you will need to change your strategy if you aren't accepted off of the wait list.

So then as you see it, the post bacc work and EC changes won't be enough? I would have to either consider an SMP or go DO?


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[JustAnother]

What are the projected cGPA and sGPA when you finish your postbacc? I have to say that you have a great shot at DO schools (including the ones in CA), and unless you have a great story or a unique experience as to why medicine, your GPA might be holding you back from MD. That limited research experience ain't helping either.

There is hope, however. It looks like you're in the right direction: postbacc, non-medical community service, and research. So I'd say if you don't get in this cycle, keep doing those things and reapply. Be sure to submit early this round (like June 1st early and turn those secondaries back within 2 days or less). I would add a few more lower-tiered/new MD schools and also a few DO schools just to be safe. I'm also biased towards MD, but at the end of the day, you'll be a doctor either way. Most of your colleagues and patients look more at how competent you are as a doctor, and less at the letters after your name. PM me if you need anything. Good luck!

 

[hopelesslyhopeful]

What are the projected cGPA and sGPA when you finish your postbacc? I have to say that you have a great shot at DO schools (including the ones in CA), and unless you have a great story or a unique experience as to why medicine, your GPA might be holding you back from MD. That limited research experience ain't helping either.

There is hope, however. It looks like you're in the right direction: postbacc, non-medical community service, and research. So I'd say if you don't get in this cycle, keep doing those things and reapply. Be sure to submit early this round (like June 1st early and turn those secondaries back within 2 days or less). I would add a few more lower-tiered/new MD schools and also a few DO schools just to be safe. I'm also biased towards MD, but at the end of the day, you'll be a doctor either way. Most of your colleagues and patients look more at how competent you are as a doctor, and less at the letters after your name. PM me if you need anything. Good luck!

If I calculated correctly, with 30 units of grade A science coursework, my GPAs would be as follows:

cGPA - 3.55
sGPA - 3.71

I appreciate all your guys feedback. Thanks for all your additional input.


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[Faha]

Your OOS schools were reasonable choices and I am surprised you received no interviews. You should be fine for DO schools with your stats. For MD you could add:
Oakland Beaumont
Western Michigan
St. Louis
California Northstate
Any new private MD schools that open in 2017 (Seton Hall, Roseman, Henricopolis, etc.).

 

[GrapesofRath]

If I calculated correctly, with 30 units of grade A science coursework, my GPAs would be as follows:

cGPA - 3.55
sGPA - 3.71

I appreciate all your guys feedback. Thanks for all your additional input.


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Double check the sGPA calculations because it sounds like you only have around 20 credits of science coursework if this type of jump is possible. The pre-reqs if you include labs ie Ochem 1/2, Bio 1/2, Physics 1/2, Gen chem 1/2 and biochem are about 30-35 credit themselves alone(and that's not even including other pre-reqs schools have). And this assumes you didnt take even one other science class in all of college.

I saw I already responded to a similar thread made earlier. I dont particularly advise reapplying this cycle if MD is the end goal but if you can make this type of jump in sGPA and improve other parts of your app, it might be possible to avoid an SMP while still having a realistic shot if you apply in the summer of 2017. Many schools will still accept the old MCAT for the 2017-18 cycle.

 

[hopelesslyhopeful]

Double check the sGPA calculations because it sounds like you only have around 20 credits of science coursework if this type of jump is possible. The pre-reqs if you include labs ie Ochem 1/2, Bio 1/2, Physics 1/2, Gen chem 1/2 and biochem are about 30-35 credit themselves alone(and that's not even including other pre-reqs schools have). And this assumes you didnt take even one other science class in all of college.

I saw I already responded to a similar thread made earlier. I dont particularly advise reapplying this cycle if MD is the end goal but if you can make this type of jump in sGPA and improve other parts of your app, it might be possible to avoid an SMP while still having a realistic shot if you apply in the summer of 2017. Many schools will still accept the old MCAT for the 2017-18 cycle.

Yeah that's a total mistype. I'm not sure how I didn't catch that. SGPA would only move to a 3.38 with the additional units. Thank you for catching that!


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