Non-trad applying for 4th time
Hi everyone,
I’m a non-trad applicant planning to apply this cycle, and would really appreciate some honest feedback. I’m 31, and this will be my 4th application cycle. I’m trying to figure out whether I realistically have a shot at MD or DO programs this year.
A little background: I always wanted to become a physician, but I didn’t really have a roadmap during undergrad and went through some personal challenges that contributed to a lower GPA. I had one particularly rough semester sophomore year that significantly hurt my stats, but my grades improved steadily every semester afterward. Despite cold calling/emailing/asking my professors I could never break into clinical research during undergrad.
I applied three previous cycles:
Traditionally - during my first senior year
The following cycle - during my 5th year (I took another year in undergrad to gain shadowing hours and improve my gpa by upgrading my neuroscience minor to a major)
2 cycles later- during my first master’s in bioethics/gap-year program (I worked a few jobs doing door dash, line cook, and then as a scribe after undergrad for a year first)
The third time, I only reapplied to schools where I had previously been waitlisted, and I ultimately didn’t receive any acceptances. Looking back, I think I underestimated how much my GPA and overall application strategy mattered. I’ve always had a strong MCAT and decent volunteering, and I assumed that would carry me through. I’ve also only ever applied MD.
Across those cycles, I’ve had:
7 interviews
4 waitlists
0 acceptances
This will be my first cycle applying after completing both a Master’s in Bioethics & Medical Humanities and an MPH. Since finishing my MPH, I’ve worked for my state’s Department of Health for the past 4 years.
Stats/Experience:
Undergrad GPA: cGPA 3.34, sGPA 3.02
dual degree BS in neuroscience and biochemistry
Bioethics & Medical Humanities GPA: 3.65
MPH GPA: 3.88
MCAT: 516
Research:
60 hrs political science research
80 hrs ecological research during an international volunteer experience
2 semesters of independent MPH capstone research/analysis on vaccination policies and outcomes
4 years assisting with coordination of public health/microbiology research through my work
Clinical:
400 hrs scribing
Medical Volunteering:
156 hrs hospital volunteering
Shadowing:
20 in-person hours
25 virtual shadowing hours
Leadership:
Coordinated a public health program
Supervised and mentored an employee on an interim basis for 4 months
Work Experience:
4 years in public health with my state Department of Health
Extracurriculars:
Film club during undergrad
My main questions:
Do I realistically have a shot this cycle?
Should I focus heavily on DO schools at this point?
Are there particular MD or DO programs that tend to be more receptive to non-traditional applicants with reinvention stories?
I really appreciate any advice. Thanks everyone.