Hi guys, I recently finished my masters in biomedical engineering in Canada and I did my undergrad in biology. My masters GPA was pretty great (3.9x) but my undergrad GPA was horrible (3.2x) so Canadian schools aren't really an option for me.

I haven't taken the MCAT yet but I consistently score ~510-512 and I'm confident I can score in this range for the actual test.

I might be missing some prerequisite coursework for American med schools (orgo) but I wanted to ask and see what my available options would be in America. Should I be focusing solely on DO schools or do I have a shot for MD as well. Are there any schools that are easier for Canadians to get into? Or should I just try for the Carribean.

My ECs are pretty decent, I have a lot of volunteer leadership roles and basically worked throughout my entire undergrad and masters. I've also done 2ish years of research work. Unfortunately I don't have any shadowing or hospital volunteering since it isn't really normal here so I think it might be another area my application might fall short.

Does anyone have any advice and how I should be proceeding? Any advice would be helpful, thanks!

I posted here recently and deleted the post. Basically I had a career crisis lol. I decided becoming a doctor because I wanted it for the wrong reasons and I don’t think the process will make me happy long-term, but I am pursuing a career as an Anesthesiologist Assistant because I am interested in anesthesia and I still want to work in the field of medicine.

Yet, I don’t even feel competent enough for that. I still have to take prerequisites to get into that profession similar to the pre-med ones. I also have unmedicated ADHD, so it is so difficult imagining success for myself in any field. I love coming to this sub because I see so many positive posts about people getting accepted into medical school. I think that’s a really big deal. I am passionate about medicine but it’s kind of intimidating.

How did you believe in yourself enough to pursue this path? How did you beat imposter syndrome? How did you keep yourself going when classes got difficult? How did you pick yourself up after setbacks?

Hey guys, just a quick question! Planning on taking an extra year in undergrad to boost GPA with science courses and will take the MCAT in late 2026 but most likely the first months of 2027.

After looking through a lot of the feedback I’ve had on previous posts, I’ll use the time to just beef up my resume to what will probably be this…

3.40-3.50 GPA 512-517 MCAT (Shooting for around this) 3,000 patient care hours 700 Volunteer hours 100-200 research hours 200+ job shadowing hours

Yes I know the MCAT is an “easier said than done” sort of deal but this is purely just my goal. Higher or lower by a few points isn’t probably a huge issue.

I’m taking the extra year because I want to have taken biochem and not just learn it myself (without help). I also have a not very good GPA since I just switched to Pre Med.

I also wanted to mention I bought the AAMC self prep course ($300.00) before making this decision and am scoring around a 500 without having taken Biochem or Orgo 2.

My main question is if this would be a competitive MD or DO application?

Hey everyone, I am applying next cycle and was hoping for some feedback on my school list. Any recommendations for schools that I should remove or add? Any help is greatly appreciated!

Strong ties to IL, AL and UT

Trad, White male

GPA: 4.0

MCAT: 524

Dual major and masters w/ thesis

Wet-lab Research: close to 2000 hours by application (1 second author high impact pub, multiple first/coauthor manuscripts in progress, 10+ local, regional, and national posters, member of university nih research scholarship program)

Clinical research: helping physicians out with case studies and long term outcome projects, hoping to have name on multiple projects by application

Clinical: close to 3000 hours by application (medical assistant)

Volunteering: 500 hours by application

Shadowing: 250 hours by application (multiple specialities)

LOR: solid LOR from director of masters program, multiple physicians, PI, and professors

Leadership: multiple campus organizations, club president

Non-profit work: working with non profit to help direct health screenings at local high schools

Have some typical hobbies

Current school list:

Columbia John Hopkins Harvard Penn Duke Stanford UCSF Vanderbilt WashU Cornell NYU Yale Mayo Northwestern Pitt Mount Sinai Case western Virginia UChicago Emory UCLA UMich Brown UAB Colorado UCinci Umass Einstein Rochester UArizona Utah Ohio state Thomas Jefferson USF

Again, any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Hello! Is anyone interested in this book? It helped me during my interviews and I would love to pass it on to another BIPOC/first gen student! So if you identify as one of those, pls message me and I will mail it to you!

Currently studying for MCAT, test date in April. Getting through studying pretty well, but I am currently not working.

I was thinking of working 2 days a week at my old job (solid clinical experience with great providers) and studying 3 days a week.

The other option is using those 2 days to volunteer more to improve my application. (I volunteer on weekends about 4 hours now)

I currently have tons of clinical hours (4000 roughly) — I have taken a couple gaps years bc I didn’t know what career path I wanted. I have also saved a lot of money over this time so getting paid is not my priority at this moment (I have a side gig) - getting into medical school is. Side gig is not clinical btw

I will have about 400 volunteer hours by the time apps open up. (Clinical and non)

I want to apply to a few schools that are very community service oriented.

So I wasn’t sure where to allocate my time while I keep studying before my test date….. any advice? 😅

Also I realized typing this that I’m in a very blessed situation where I can choose not to work for about 4 months - I plan on returning to work after the MCAT regardless of what happens

Does anyone know someone, or personally experienced, an MD acceptance in the states with a 493 MCAT? Drop the schools!!

I have a strong application besides my MCAT, great letters of recommendation, good GPA, years of research experience, etc but it’s my MCAT holding me back i’m afraid. I’m about to finish up my post-bacc, and I think I’ll need to take a semester off after to study for the MCAT again if this score is too low:(

Advice?

I can't believe I am going to be a doctor! I almost did not retake and apply this cycle because I thought I wouldn't have enough time to improve my MCAT score and complete my application. However, something inside me told me that I had to do it, that I COULD do it. I put a lot of effort in my writing, completing secondaries by mid august to late september. 6/7 interviews later I got the call!!

It just goes to show that you have to be your biggest advocate above all else, especially when it's the hardest! Thank you to this sub for all your guidance!!

Unimportant side rant: I was visiting my sister after getting the call that afternoon. After a few hours, I couldn't hold it in anymore and had to tell her about the news. She was super excited and made me Facetime my whole family to tell them. It was great. However, I soon realized that if I could have shut my mouth for a few more weeks, I could have surprised my mom/family on Thanksgiving, which is also my mom's birthday. I could have her the official acceptance letter as a "gift," and it would have been awesome to see them freak out in person and great memory. The "gift" would have gone down in family history as the best sibling gift, and if you have siblings, that is a great title to have over them, lol. Sigh, great comebacks/ideas always come when it's too late

Recently, I've been helping my PI edit a lot of manuscripts and I have been given a co-author on all of them. It's just me editing and rearranging but will med schools count them as my own "pubs" once they've been published?

basically the title. i wanna send an update letter fs bc id love to go to sinai but if anyones had any success getting an II after sending an update letter, id really really appreciate any pointers or examples!!

hi all! i hope everyone is doing well.

i’m a junior in undergrad and i've been going back and forth (and its lowkey been driving me crazy) if i should withdraw from orgo 1 and take the W rather then a c+. my current exam grades in this class are a 65 and a 50, and the prof has told me that i need a 65-70 average to get a b-. this would mean an 80 on the next exam (in abt 2 weeks), but the content has been building up and i'm not sure if this is fully attainable for me as the content has been very difficult for me to grasp alongside other things in my life. for more context, i have a c, c+, and c- in bio, physics, and gen chem 1. the prof has also said he'd write me a letter of recommendation that highlights the reason for withdrawl in my support, after i'd do better in retaking it. please help me out! thank you <3

I'm a little confused on what to do. I'm a junior (ORM) in college and my first two years were absolute hell. I was straight up failing the last few semesters because I could not get out of my apartment most days. For context, I'm diagnosed with OCD and panic disorder, and it had been a shit show for the last 7 years of my life. I had no motivation, no will, nothing. I would not respond to emails out of extreme fear, and I was stuck in my tiny bathroom just doing rituals all day long. I've come a long way since then but it's a process and I'm willing to give my body and mind the time and energy before making a transition into medical school. It's going to be an uphill battle, but I would like some advice on how to build my application from here on out.

1) GRADES

So my last summer semester I got a 4.0 (this was 14 credits). I currently have a 2.3 gpa. (I know it's not pretty)

I have 2 options. Either way, I'll probably spend an extra semester/year for undergrad.

1. Either I bite the bullet and continue doing my courses, do the upward trend, DIY postbacc/SMP, masters, etc.

2. Void my grades prior to the time of improvement. My school has this program which allows a student, under reasonable circumstances, to void their grades given that they had performed well for the last 24 credits. I have strong hope for this semester. The problem lies in that I'll have to retake all of those courses, even though a good chunk of them were A's.

Also, this would mean that I would have to put higher level courses (which I'm taking rn) at a hold until I finish these pre-reqs again. I was thinking of CLEP-ing out of them for now and then going back to retake them. This would be expensive, laborious, etc which I'm not sure would benefit me in the long run given that I'm trying to take things slowly (it would put some pressure on me to get everything done before my scholarship runs out). But it's a second chance and it probably looks better than a botched undergrad GPA.

2) MCAT

I don't know much this helps but I got a 525 on my MCAT. It probably won't make up the shit GPA but I'm hoping it helps a little. Also I did it now so that I don't get pressed to study later on for it.

3) RESEARCH

Got kicked out of a lab (after one year) because of my lack of attendance. I overestimated myself and said okay to 15 hours a week (I know that was stupid of me but it was the only lab offering I got) but I may have around 300-400 hours. I need to get my thesis done but I'm unsure if my old PI might say something if the new PI were to ask around. It makes me sweat bullets but I don't want to delay it any further. And my attendance isn't as stellar as a lab PI would like so there's that too. I might miss out on a bunch of hours because of my OCD tendencies. I need help on what I should do?

4) EXTRACURRICULARS

So I'm thinking of doing shadowing, PCT and Americorps/Peace Corps after college since I want job experience and I currently have nothing to show for. It makes me anxious because I've been sitting on my ass with nothing at hand but an empty resume. I see people around me have a bunch of things under their belt and I'm not even sure the above said experiences would make me stand out enough.

Since it's been eating at my head, I've decided to just focus on research and my grades. Please let me know your critiques and don't hold back. I realize what I'm asking for is a tall order but something in me just gives me hope that I can get through this.

I'm a non-traditional student currently knocking off pre-reqs as a sophomore in university.

Unfortunately, I got my knee injured last year and tore ACL completely. To be honest, I did lots of PT, and now I'm able to function somewhat normally even without the surgery. But I still felt like I need to get it done to go back to sports, so I scheduled the reconstruction surgery with my ortho. during the winter break in December.

I already chickened out and postponed the surgery this summer, so was really hoping to get it done this year. Then I got a really cool clinical job opportunity through a friend from volunteering group. It's a TMS tech position, and I got my interview scheduled next week. To be honest, I really want to take the job, but at the same time, if I keep postpone the surgery, I'm afraid I'll never get this done. Life is keep happening and the long recovery time (6 months - 1 year) is keep stopping me to go for it.

I was wondering if anyone had to go through this injury while in premed? Also I need to take every classes online if I end up getting the surgery because all of my family members will be at work and won't be able to commute on my own.. Taking general chemistry, biology, both with the labs + calculus and sociology online seems really challenging too. (Idk how online asyn lab would work either tbh).

The class registration and the job interview is next week, and my surgery is in next month. If I decide to do the surgery, I'm gonna have to tell them to cancel the interview asap.. any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance -

So I know I’m a little late but I just submitted my primary application (osteopath) and I’d like to scribe meanwhile I go through the admissions process. If I were to get an A this cycle, would a physician/surgeon be ok with hiring me knowing I can only work until fall 2025?

I fucked up. I got caught cheating on a midterm, and now I am getting a C in the class, plus it's on my official record. I am actually shitting bricks right now because I worked so hard over the past 3 years, and now I feel like I ruined everything I have worked for in a span of 1.5 hours. I know that this might be a somewhat tone def question, but do I still have a shot at a T20 MD or MD in general? I think my GPA upon applying will be a 3.80 cumulative, and I really did kill it on the MCAT I got a 524. Everything about my application is extremely solid, I just made this one fucking stupid mistake and just ruined fucking everything I'm really freaking out. I was on SDN and that actually killed me inside because it sounds like I just threw my application down the drain I literally just laid on my bed staring at the ceiling for a solid hour.

Edit 1: currently sobbing in a cemetery parking lot rn. Never felt shittier in my entire life.

Edit 2: I’m actually taking a gap year already, but ig it’s time for another one. Also I am a current junior not a senior and was planning on applying the summer after my senior year.

I was scheduled to have an interview with a university today. However, they never sent my interview link. So I called and emailed the admissions team and administrative coordinator multiple times.

The coordinator emailed me back hours later and stated that I had already completed my interview. I knew for sure I didn’t get the date mixed up because I took a picture of it after it was booked and put it in my calendar. I also have an email from him confirming the date and time. I honestly don’t know what to. 🤦🏾‍♀️ Has this ever happened to anyone and is this “complication” gonna diminish my chances getting in to the school?

Hey all,

I've had a thought recently. I've been lucky enough to be admitted to a great school, but I feel like I diverge from a lot of applicants in terms of motivation.

I don't love science nor do I love the human body. I like interesting problems, but I don't really care if it's in science or not, I just happen to be good at science. I see science as a useful tool to help guide people who are struggling by providing them care and information. Without that context, I have little desire for learning it. I find doctors to be science communicators and stewards of patients socially and medically, and that's what drew me in. Looking on to everything I have to learn, I feel mixed, like I'll be good at it only because I have to be in order to be a good social-medical bridge.

The premed mythos seems much more focused on doctors as scientists, biomedical masterminds first and foremost. Loving the human body seems like a prerequisite, and one that I've never personally agreed with. The softer stuff seems glossed over.

I wanted to open a discussion on this topic--should it be a prerequisite? Was me looking to medicine for a social role of a doctor a misstep? And furthermore, what do you all think the role of a doctor should be?

any there any options for emts that dont involve driving ambulances? i am not confident at all in my regular driving plus the hours dont work for my schedule

I have been in college for the past 3 1/2 years, I’m about to finish with my degree. I have a 3.8 gpa, just now starting my premed journey after some time figuring out what I want to do with my life. My current sGPA is not fantastic, as I have two Cs in math, and two B-s in biology. I still have to take phy, ochem, and chem. I currently am enrolled in a chem course and bio.

If I were to get As in those courses, I would still be sitting at a 3.4 sGPA.

I am very concerned about my potential with getting into medical schools once I’m done. I still have about a year left

I feel like the only thing I have going for me is being a veteran and that’s not really saying much. What would you say my chances are?

Hello everyone, I am applying for medical school admission at TMU and I have some challenges on the pathway to choose since I have experiences that are related to other pathways. I am black, gay, from poor socioeconomic background in Africa, First-generation immigrant and in relationship with an Indigenous person. I have Master of Science degree in Kinesiology, faced racism, was the only black student in my graduate College, and have worked on various clinical trials including Nation-wide sponsored clinical trials in Canada, have lots of experience as a Teaching Assistant for various courses including Anatomy and Physiology, Exercise Physiology and Indigenous Studies. All my studies has been on scholarships since my family do not have the money to sponsor my education. I am a first child in a family of 6 including my parents, and I have experienced lots of life-threatening medical conditions and have been lucky to survive. I am really confused on the pathway to choose either black pathway or equity-deserving pathway. Also, I have no one to help review my essay. It contains some delicate information which I think some people may judge me on or discriminate me for. Please, what is your advice? I am not yet out to my family and some of my friends who got to know about my sexuality have separated from me and won’t associate with me. I am in tears as I am writing this and I hope to get your sincere feedback.

I'm OOS for both and am wondering which would would be best for someone eventually wanting to match into a surgical specialty. Have never been to Detroit but loved Lexington. However, I know WSU is more prestigious? Curious to hear y'all's two cents.

I was waitlisted this week to a DO school. I had a strong primary/secondary, but I kind of choked during the interview. I am feeling bittersweet. The waitlist is ranked and is private. I was trying to figure out the odds of acceptance and if time of WL does greatly affect odds even for a ranked WL - I hate being in limbo. I recently visited the school and the students said I had a high chance of getting the A. Are there any statistical resources for the boat I am in to feel more assured or have realistic expectations?

Hello all,

I graduated from undergrad 6 years ago with a very bad GPA (~2.9). I rerouted myself away from medicine, worked in research for a while, got a MS degree in molecular biology a year ago (~3.7 GPA), and am currently working in a lab at an academic institution while publishing a couple papers along the way. I reevaluated what I want to do with my life and found myself wanting to pursue medicine again so I took the MCAT and made a 522. I know I am capable enough to get into medical school but I am worried I will get filtered out due to my undergrad GPA.

Is it necessary to go back to school and do a SMP? Looking back I should have just done a SMP instead of a MS program since I was aware my uGPA was very low. But at the same time, I'm very glad I did a MS because I have a lot of experience in basic and clinical research now. It feels extra to go back and do SMP since a lot of the sciences are still fresh in my mind because I work in scientific research. What do you all think?

Is it better to attend a new nonprofit med school that hasn’t graduated a class yet, or to attend a for-profit med school that has shown to have strong first-time board pass rates and match rates? Both are DO btw. I know this question probably sounds silly, but I ask because there’s a lot of stigma around for-profit medical schools. Given the nature of for-profit med schools, does that make going to the non-profit more ideal despite being new? I’d appreciate hearing what you all have to say. Thanks in advance!

Edit: I got multiple schools like these but the main ones I’m curious about are Duquesne (nonprofit) and RVU (for-profit).

I know that some information about a school may be learned last minute, or that reading about a school’s website is not the same thing as actually being there in person. I know that medicine is a huge commitment and where you go to medical school is a big decision since you’re locked in for four years.

But given how competitive med school applications are, the uphill battle that you’re going to have as a reapplicant, and how negatively adcoms may view it if they hear that you turned down a previous chance to matriculate, I think you guys are doing yourselves a mega disservice by applying to schools you wouldn’t want to go to even if they were your only acceptance.

I’m sure some people make school lists with the hope that they’ll get more than one A, or that the schools they don’t like won’t even accept them in the first place, but guys: you need to treat every school on your list like they might be your only shot at medical school, like they might be the only school who says yes and gives you the A.

If you know that under no circumstances would you feel good attending a particular school…

…GET THEM OFF YOUR LIST!

Seriously. Save yourself whatever money you’ll be spending on their app and put it towards a different school that you actually wouldn’t mind attending, or just save the money period. It’s very concerning to see all these applicants putting all this effort into the application for a school, writing out their secondary and sitting through an interview, and then, when they’re extremely fortunate to be among the 49% of applicants who get an A, they want to pull out and reapply because they don’t like the school.

You realizing that you don’t like a school is a conclusion that you should be drawing well ahead of time. While the interview space is the closest you’ll get to learning the full truth about how a school is before being admitted, there are still other avenues you can get valuable information through before you go this route.

I know everyone hates being told stuff like “Shut up and be grateful!”; I hate that phrase with all my life too. But I really think people should be far more judicious with their school lists before applying. Being passionate about becoming a doctor and then turning down your one chance to get it feels like a situation that should be avoided.

I haven’t been able to find much after google searching

I just applied to it and want to know some information about it, like when the decisions are released and whether the fellowship is worth it.

I want to ask which type of financial aid is more common in the aid package after being accepted to med school (MD): Need based financial aid (Low ses) or an academic merit scholarship?

Today marks the 5th anniversary of my father’s passing, which also makes it the 5th anniversary of my promise to become a physician. Before we took my father off life support, although he was comatose, I made him the promise to save another father because I couldn’t save my own. It’s been five years since then, and I’ve devoted every second of my life to this.

36 programs, 4 rejections, zero interviews/acceptances. 510 MCAT, 3.4 GPA, 7000 patient care/research/shadowing hours, two conferences, one CNS first author publication, and a surgical procedure nicknamed after me. Excellent LORs, two of them serve as departmental chairs.

To come up empty handed during this cycle— especially on this day, I feel as if I’ve just been a failure, and I feel especially shot down.

Just wanted to get this out here because it’s a rough day for my family in general and I don’t want to be selfish and make it about my own concerns. But wouldn’t it be nice if a medical school decided to call me today?

Currently I have a 4.0 GPA as a sophomore in my Pre-Health Biology Major/Chemistry Minor. I have an EMT Certification but haven’t gotten my license and job yet. I have around 50 hours TA, 30 Volunteer, 30 Shadow, and I’m on a collegiate tennis team. I know these numbers are pretty low compared to other pre-med standards, but if I want to get into a mid level MD school, what should my numbers look like?