Hey guys! I shared this on what are my chances but decided to post here as well.
I'd like to get some input/advise from the experts out there or anyone who's been in similar situation and had success. I'm an African American male, from a very disadvantaged background. I have my heart set on medical school. Unfortunately it has been very tough with little to no guidance. I graduated from a state school in NY with a BS in Biology.
My stats:
cGPA 3.56 sGPA 3.5
4 semesters of research, no publications.
Science tutor at my university learning center.
TA in organic chemistry for 3 semesters.
Worked as a medical scribe in the ER for 2 years.
MCAT: this is where my problem begins. After graduation I sat for the MCAT, out of pressure with relatively little prep and scored a 488. I was pretty discouraged and gave up for a bit. I bounced back a few months later and decided to try again but this time with more prep. Unfortunately things at home were tough and I had to work a lot which left me with little study time. I made the mistake of taking the exam for the second time and only scored 492.
Pretty bummed again. I did more studying and decided to go for it again. This time I scored a 501. unforunately I was completely unaware that taking the exam multiple times has dire consequences. I realized I shot myself in the foot. I knew my old scored would not get me in so I decided that my best bet would be to just try again. This time I reevaluated my strategy and took a step back and started prepping from the very beginning (read the review books all over again and kept taking practice exams under strict conditions. After proper studying I finally felt confident enough to sit for the exam a month ago and just for my score back. 510. I'm happy with this score as i came a long way. Unfortunately I am now afraid that I have completely hurt my chances. My question is given my stats and multiple MCAT scores do I have a chance at MD schools. How unfavorably will 4 attempts be viewed even if I improved each time. My ideal schools are the SUNY schools: upstate, downstate, buffalo, stony brook. As well as other NY schools: Rochester, Hofstra, NYMC. However at this point I'm willing to go anywhere. I reached out the pre medical advisor whom I have never talked to before and he recommended Caribbean schools, but I'm really against this. I'm really frustrated in myself and really need advice/input. If I wait until next June and apply will I stand a chance? Or did I completely ruin myself.