u/FreedomImpressive204

Hi everyone!

I have an upcoming interview at Baptist (BUCOM), and I am excited for the opportunity, as it's my first interview. I have been researching the school and preparing for common interview questions, but I would love to hear from anyone who has interviewed there or currently attends.

What was the overall atmosphere of the interview day like? Is there anything you wish you had prepared for differently? I would also appreciate any general advice about the format, what BUCOM values in applicants, or how to make the most of the experience.

Of course, I am not looking for confidential information or specific interview questions. Any advice you are comfortable sharing is great!

Thank you in advance, and good luck to everyone applying this cycle!

Hey everyone, I’m putting together my school list and would really appreciate some honest feedback/suggestions.

Stats:

• GPA: ~3.3 cumulative (~3.2 science)
• MCAT: Waiting on score from April 11th (practice exams consistently ~505 -->510)
• State: NJ resident
• URM

Background / Narrative:
My application is heavily centered around health justice, health disparities, and serving underserved communities. I grew up in an underserved area and have seen firsthand how the lack of access and education impacts health outcomes. That’s been a consistent theme across my experiences and why I’m pursuing medicine

I’m also a former Division I football player, which shaped a lot of my resilience, discipline, and leadership. I had a career-ending injury that shifted my perspective and ultimately pushed me further toward medicine.

Experiences (high level):

• ~4000+ clinical hours (medical assistant, patient navigator, etc.)
• ~4000 hours in Research (health disparities + behavioral health)
• Strong service/advocacy focus (working with underserved populations)
• Leadership (exec board roles, athletics leadership)
• Shadowing including orthopedics, ENT, Infectious Disease(goal specialty)

What I’m Looking For:

• MD + DO schools where I realistically have a shot
• Schools that value mission fit (service, underserved, health equity)
• Programs with solid outcomes for competitive specialties (ortho is long-term goal, but I understand that’s down the line and I open to seeing where school takes me)

Current Thoughts:

• Definitely applying DO broadly
• MD list will likely focus on mission-driven + mid-tier schools
• Considering schools like: Howard, Morehouse, Drexel, Temple, GW, etc.

Questions:

1. Based on my profile, what MCAT score range changes my strategy the most?
2. What schools should I DEFINITELY add that I might be missing?
3. Any that I should avoid given GPA?
4. How aggressive should I be with MD vs DO?

Appreciate any help—trying to be strategic and maximize my chances this cycle.