MD & DO WAMC: 3.1/515 + school list (Will my GPA be too big of a red flag?)

[uv.lite]

Stats

1. AMCAS cGPA: 3.0 / AMCAS sGPA: 3.1 (trends per semester pictured below; some school quarters for BCPM are omitted because I didn't take STEM classes in them)

2. MCAT: 515 (127/129/131/128)
3. Georgia
4. ORM (Vietnamese)
5. Top liberal arts college (currently US News #11; rural location)
6. Clinical hours: 280 (projected 1300+ by May 2024)

a. Ophthalmic technician and scribe: 210, projected 1000+​

b. Pediatric hospital volunteer: projected 300+​

c. Free clinic volunteer: 70​

7. Research: 400 hours over 1 semester and 1 summer; 1 poster
8. Shadowing: 130 hours (projected 160+)

a. Internal medicine​

b. Family medicine (DO)​

c. OB/GYN (DO)​

d. Dentistry​

e. Optometry​

9. Non-clinical hours: 100, front lobby hospital volunteer
10. Extracurriculars:

a. MAPS co-leader: 3 years​

b. Spanish major educational committee member: 3 years​

c. STEM class mentor: 200 hours over 4 school quarters​

d. Youth group leader: 5 years​

11. I was put on academic suspension for two semesters for failing classes in 2021, but after one semester, I successfully petitioned to return earlier after working with a mental health professional and continuing to be active on campus. I will emphasize how my semester off helped me cultivate resilience and gave me time to volunteer with a free clinic, which deepened my understanding of healthcare for rural and underserved communities.

School list

(sorted by lowest to highest average GPA)

1. Zlatko School of Medicine
2. LMU DeBusk COM
3. West Virginia School of OM
4. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences COM
5. Touro University Nevada COM - Las Vegas
6. Nova Southeastern University COM - Fort Lauderdale
7. University of Pikeville Kentucky COM
8. PCOM - South Georgia
9. Meharry Medical College
10. Lake Erie COM - Bradenton
11. Lake Erie COM - Erie
12. University of New England COM
13. PCOM - Georgia
14. PCOM - Philadelphia
15. ATSU - Arizona
16. Rocky Vista University COM - Colorado
17. Rowan University School of OM
18. Arizona COM - Midwestern University
19. Liberty University COM
20. Touro University California COM - Mare Island
21. Edward Via COM - Spartansburg
22. Marian University COM
23. Edward Via COM - Blacksburg
24. ATSU Kirksville COM
25. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences COM
26. Western University of Health Sciences COM - Pacific-Northwest
27. Michigan State University COM
28. New York Institute of Technology COM - NY
29. University of North Texas Health Science Center - Texas COM
30. University of South Carolina School of Medicine
31. Western University of Health Sciences COM - Pacific
32. Chicago COM - Midwestern University
33. Howard University
34. Kansas COM
35. Morehouse
36. Des Moines University
37. Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences COM - KC
38. Ohio University Heritage COM
39. Central Michigan University
40. Mercer University
41. University of Minnesota
42. Medical College of Georgia
43. University of Iowa
44. University of Missouri-Kansas City

Conclusion

• I hope that I can demonstrate my growth through essays and some of my academic capability through my MCAT score, but I am well aware that my GPA is far too low to be competitive, even with a 90th percentile MCAT. Therefore, my current school list is 99% DO, which I am comfortable with since I am very interested in osteopathic medicine.
• I plan to apply to 30 schools, and so far, I have only been considering the lowest average GPA schools, although I am wondering if I have to worry about yield protection due to my higher MCAT. I will investigate each school's mission and curriculum to make sure I truly want to attend.
• I was told that there is no problem with applying to HBCUs (my uncle went to one), but I am always willing to hear more perspectives.
• I recognize that I have very little research, so I am hoping that the schools on my list value clinical hours more.
• If the 2024 cycle doesn't work out, I have a list of 1-year SMPs to obtain a more competitive GPA.
• Given my low GPA, good MCAT, and current experiences, how likely am I to have a successful cycle if I only apply to the lowest stat schools? Thank you so much in advance!

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[Faha]

Your GPA is not competitive for MD schools but it would be worth trying Mercer, Medical College Georgia and Morehouse.
You may be screened out at VCOM with your GPAs. I suggest these DO schools with your stat
PCOM Georgia and South Georgia
LMU-DCOM
ACOM
WCU-COM
LUCOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
LECOM (all schools)
UIWSOM
TUNCOM
AZCOM
NOVA
NYIT-AR
MU-COM
KCU-COM
ATSU (both schools)
OCOM
BUCOM
DUQCOM
BCOM (both schools)