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I was hoping that some of you could give me some feedback/thoughts on my current plans, whether they are realistic or not, etc...
Background:
I've wanted to be a doctor since I was young, but until recently it did not seem possible. Through my time in High School I suffered from chronic migraines, resulting in my missing about 40 days of school each year. This resulted in my GPA being around 2.4. After I graduated, I got reading glasses that significantly reduced the number of migraines I experienced per year, to the point it was a non issue. Despite my excellent ACT (35) and SAT (2350) scores, I was rejected from all of the colleges I applied to so entered community college. My first year there I was suffering from diagnosed major depression, due to which I essentially "gave up": I failed 4 classes. The next year, after treatment, I was feeling better and took a challenging schedule, including retaking all classes failed, to see if I could actually do the work I needed to do. I managed to complete that year of 34 credits for an overall GPA of 3.88 ("A"s in everything, including Orgo 1 and 2, except Physics 1 in which I earned a "B", also worth noting that the science classes were not curved). Currently my cGPA according to AMCAS stands around 2.94, sGPA around 3.37 at this time. I've now transferred to a reasonably well regarded small liberal arts college (top 40) where I intend to complete my Undergrad (Chem major), I currently have 49 credits and as such will have 5 semesters in which to raise my GPA
Plans and Projections:
I have planned out my likely schedule for the next 5 semesters and calculated out that according to AMCAS, with this schedule, the maximum possible cGPA I can achieve is a 3.54, and sGPA of 3.7 assuming nothing but "A" grades. More realistic projections (assuming a few "A-"s maybe a "B+") place my cGPA in the 3.4-3.5 range.
I have not taken the MCAT yet but am banking on a fairly high score, as I do well on standardized testing in general, and intend to use a rigorous study schedule. Assuming all of that comes to be true my stats will be slightly lopsided, with the GPA being the major concern.
As Far as ECs go, I have a fair amount of volunteer work (done primarily through the college branch of rotary club, more diverse volunteering to come soon), some shadowing and plans for more such that I will have upwards of 120 hours by the end of next summer. I have no research or clinical volunteering as of yet but intend to catch up on these quickly. I am willing to take a Gap Year to build these to well above average levels
Applications:
Given all this I am assuming I will be a candidate for mostly low tier MD schools and DO schools. I would prefer to avoid DO, on the grounds that I have dual French/American citizenship, and DOs are not recognized in France. I am from New Jersey so my state schools are not hyper competitive, though they do have higher than average mcat averages. I looked through Wedgedawg's spreadsheet and with a few minor changes, compiled my potential schools to apply to list from there.
So this is my plan:
Do well in school and build ECs as needed, Take a gap year if needed.
First cycle apply to MD and SMPs only, no DO. If I am not accepted anywhere, do an SMP (assuming acceptance with higher than average stats) and apply the next cycle, to both MD and DO schools.
I like to think I have put together a good road map, but I am concerned with the issue of explaining the depression to ADCOMs, as I think the failed classes will be a red flag.
Any questions, comments, and/or suggestions would be very appreciated.
Thank you for reading that wall of text.
Background:
I've wanted to be a doctor since I was young, but until recently it did not seem possible. Through my time in High School I suffered from chronic migraines, resulting in my missing about 40 days of school each year. This resulted in my GPA being around 2.4. After I graduated, I got reading glasses that significantly reduced the number of migraines I experienced per year, to the point it was a non issue. Despite my excellent ACT (35) and SAT (2350) scores, I was rejected from all of the colleges I applied to so entered community college. My first year there I was suffering from diagnosed major depression, due to which I essentially "gave up": I failed 4 classes. The next year, after treatment, I was feeling better and took a challenging schedule, including retaking all classes failed, to see if I could actually do the work I needed to do. I managed to complete that year of 34 credits for an overall GPA of 3.88 ("A"s in everything, including Orgo 1 and 2, except Physics 1 in which I earned a "B", also worth noting that the science classes were not curved). Currently my cGPA according to AMCAS stands around 2.94, sGPA around 3.37 at this time. I've now transferred to a reasonably well regarded small liberal arts college (top 40) where I intend to complete my Undergrad (Chem major), I currently have 49 credits and as such will have 5 semesters in which to raise my GPA
Plans and Projections:
I have planned out my likely schedule for the next 5 semesters and calculated out that according to AMCAS, with this schedule, the maximum possible cGPA I can achieve is a 3.54, and sGPA of 3.7 assuming nothing but "A" grades. More realistic projections (assuming a few "A-"s maybe a "B+") place my cGPA in the 3.4-3.5 range.
I have not taken the MCAT yet but am banking on a fairly high score, as I do well on standardized testing in general, and intend to use a rigorous study schedule. Assuming all of that comes to be true my stats will be slightly lopsided, with the GPA being the major concern.
As Far as ECs go, I have a fair amount of volunteer work (done primarily through the college branch of rotary club, more diverse volunteering to come soon), some shadowing and plans for more such that I will have upwards of 120 hours by the end of next summer. I have no research or clinical volunteering as of yet but intend to catch up on these quickly. I am willing to take a Gap Year to build these to well above average levels
Applications:
Given all this I am assuming I will be a candidate for mostly low tier MD schools and DO schools. I would prefer to avoid DO, on the grounds that I have dual French/American citizenship, and DOs are not recognized in France. I am from New Jersey so my state schools are not hyper competitive, though they do have higher than average mcat averages. I looked through Wedgedawg's spreadsheet and with a few minor changes, compiled my potential schools to apply to list from there.
So this is my plan:
Do well in school and build ECs as needed, Take a gap year if needed.
First cycle apply to MD and SMPs only, no DO. If I am not accepted anywhere, do an SMP (assuming acceptance with higher than average stats) and apply the next cycle, to both MD and DO schools.
I like to think I have put together a good road map, but I am concerned with the issue of explaining the depression to ADCOMs, as I think the failed classes will be a red flag.
Any questions, comments, and/or suggestions would be very appreciated.
Thank you for reading that wall of text.
