Worth trying for MD/DO?

[orthomyxo]

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I graduated with a BS in biology in 2013 (currently 27 years old). My cGPA and sGPA are both 3.5, but I have a downward trend due to past anxiety issues, poor time management, etc. My ECs are not very notable. I have a few months of clinical volunteering that I did during undergrad and that's about it.

After graduating I was able to do volunteer research for a year in a major hospital. No publications, but I can definitely speak about this experience positively. I have work experience in a DNA sequencing lab and in medical device testing (contract animal research).

For the past year and a half, I have been working at a large dermatology practice assisting two Mohs surgeons. I will easily have a few thousand hours of clinical experience by the time I am ready to apply.

Before I put tons of effort into preparing for the MCAT, I guess I'm wondering if it sounds like I could have a shot. If I do take the MCAT, I am hoping to do some non-clinical volunteering, DO shadowing, and possibly take some more upper-level bio classes to increase my GPA. Any advice/recommendations?

 

[Dr. Basketball]

In my opinion, I think your GPA is pretty solid for DO schools and probably a good number of MD schools as well. You have a lot of great experiences and I think getting some non-clinical volunteering and DO shadowing/LOR is a great idea. I would even try to see if you can reach out to underserved populations in your volunteering if you´re interested in anything like that. There are a good number of heavily mission-based DO schools that like to see that. I think if you apply broadly to enough schools you have a really good shot if you can score around 500 or better on the MCAT.

Again, this is just my opinion from my own personal experience with applying as a non-trad, so take it with a grain of salt. Good luck to you!!

 

[NicMouse64]

I graduated with a BS in biology in 2013 (currently 27 years old). My cGPA and sGPA are both 3.5, but I have a downward trend due to past anxiety issues, poor time management, etc. My ECs are not very notable. I have a few months of clinical volunteering that I did during undergrad and that's about it.

After graduating I was able to do volunteer research for a year in a major hospital. No publications, but I can definitely speak about this experience positively. I have work experience in a DNA sequencing lab and in medical device testing (contract animal research).

For the past year and a half, I have been working at a large dermatology practice assisting two Mohs surgeons. I will easily have a few thousand hours of clinical experience by the time I am ready to apply.

Before I put tons of effort into preparing for the MCAT, I guess I'm wondering if it sounds like I could have a shot. If I do take the MCAT, I am hoping to do some non-clinical volunteering, DO shadowing, and possibly take some more upper-level bio classes to increase my GPA. Any advice/recommendations?

I got into a MD with a 3.4. I'm also not URM or anything. It's possible, just gotta kill the MCAT.

 

[Goro]

I graduated with a BS in biology in 2013 (currently 27 years old). My cGPA and sGPA are both 3.5, but I have a downward trend due to past anxiety issues, poor time management, etc. My ECs are not very notable. I have a few months of clinical volunteering that I did during undergrad and that's about it.

After graduating I was able to do volunteer research for a year in a major hospital. No publications, but I can definitely speak about this experience positively. I have work experience in a DNA sequencing lab and in medical device testing (contract animal research).

For the past year and a half, I have been working at a large dermatology practice assisting two Mohs surgeons. I will easily have a few thousand hours of clinical experience by the time I am ready to apply.

Before I put tons of effort into preparing for the MCAT, I guess I'm wondering if it sounds like I could have a shot. If I do take the MCAT, I am hoping to do some non-clinical volunteering, DO shadowing, and possibly take some more upper-level bio classes to increase my GPA. Any advice/recommendations?

You know, only you can answer this. You have some significant red flags and you have to fix those first.
Get the anxiety issues under control
GPA repair to fix the downward trend.

Only then could I recommend taking the MCAT.

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[libertyyne]

3.5 is within a sd of the median. It should not be a problem if you have a solid mcat score. 512+

 

[orthomyxo]

You know, only you can answer this. You have some significant red flags and you have to fix those first.
Get the anxiety issues under control
GPA repair to fix the downward trend.

Only then could I recommend taking the MCAT.

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

Couldn't the GPA be offset by a 510+ MCAT score? Surely a good MCAT score would demonstrate my readiness for med school, no? Just asking because I'm not sure I'm willing to dedicate 1-2 years solely to GPA repair. I have actually taken many upper-level science courses and have done well in all of them, getting As in many of them. The lower grades were mostly in courses that have no relevance to med school.

 

[NicMouse64]

Couldn't the GPA be offset by a 510+ MCAT score? Surely a good MCAT score would demonstrate my readiness for med school, no? Just asking because I'm not sure I'm willing to dedicate 1-2 years solely to GPA repair. I have actually taken many upper-level science courses and have done well in all of them, getting As in many of them. The lower grades were mostly in courses that have no relevance to med school.

By the time you apply, you'll need a 515+. I got a 515 and only got 3 interviews and a acceptance off the waitlist in May. I had a 3.4 and 515 with an otherwise impressive app AND an upward trend.

 

[Goro]

Couldn't the GPA be offset by a 510+ MCAT score? Surely a good MCAT score would demonstrate my readiness for med school, no? Just asking because I'm not sure I'm willing to dedicate 1-2 years solely to GPA repair. I have actually taken many upper-level science courses and have done well in all of them, getting As in many of them. The lower grades were mostly in courses that have no relevance to med school.

A declining GPA trend is always worrisome, and would be lethal at my school.

We need to know that OP has fixed the anxiety issues. Med school is a furnace, after all.

 

[orthomyxo]

By the time you apply, you'll need a 515+. I got a 515 and only got 3 interviews and a acceptance off the waitlist in May. I had a 3.4 and 515 with an otherwise impressive app AND an upward trend.

Are we talking DO schools though?

 

[NicMouse64]

Are we talking DO schools though?

I got in MD. I will defer to @Goro , as he is the expert on these matters. Take his advice.