What do you think I should do?

[someday17]

Let me throw myself, my story and my scores out there to get ripped apart.

I completed my undergrad coursework last year with a poor GPA of 2.8 (AMCAS, my actual institutional GPA was 3.5, yes I know only AMCAS matters). I am currently in an M.S. program with a GPA of 4.0 (I will finish late 2009). I took the MCAT and achieved an overall composite of 41 (b15 p13 v13).

I have a decent amount of medical/research experience as follows...

I have worked for the past few years as a Paramedic/Firefighter in a busy metropolitan department, prior to that I was employed as an EMT in an Emergency Department. During my time in the ED I also assumed part-time roles in other departments (Cardiology, OR, PACU). I have 4 years of cumulative genetic research experience which netted me 1 publication, more abstracts then I can count and a couple of presentations at relatively prestigious conferences. I have been an Instructor for EMT, ACLS, BLS and PHTLS courses for the past couple of years as well. I also had the opportunity to serve voluntarily as a missionary for two years for my church in Thailand where I also became fluent in the Thai language. I have a bunch of other random volunteer/shadowing experiences that aren't worth going into detail in this forum.

I believe I have relevant factors that affected my performance as an undergrad (immediate family member suicide, failed marriage due to her infidelity) but I don't really want to use those as excuses for failure. My overall application is burdened by my poor performance (GPA) as an undergrad and I am worried that this will completely inhibit me from gaining admission. I am slightly older than the typical applicant (27) and worry that might hurt me as well.

I guess what I'm looking for is an outside opinion of what you perceive my chances to be as well as what else can I do to better my application. Yes, I would prefer a US allopathic school but I am not so closed minded as to not consider other options. Any advice/direction anyone could offer would be appreciated.

[jameslynton]

Apply to at least 16-20 of the US schools - Have a back up of the better Island schools. Your MCAT is very good. Keep working hard!

Here is what I wrote up for chances:

This year 2009 there are going to be around 18,000+ seat in MD/DO medical schools up from the previous year. Up from previous years. 2010 will see the first class at the totally new UGA medical school in Athens, Ga with 200 to 300 seats.

AMCAS is expecting around 35,000 applications for 2009. So chances are about 51% of the students will get in US schools. The fact is only around 25,000 of the students will be competitive. Thus you really have 72% make the grade and get in. The rejects of these 7,000 qualified candidates falls like so:
1. some try again next year
2. some give up or go to grad school
3. some go to the island schools or go the Europe route.

You have normally, 10,000 who have low grades, low MCAT scores or spotty records (bad freshman year, blew a pre-req, etc). These student who are the motivated ones go the Island schools or go the Europe route also.

For 2009 SGU will take around 900 students, Ross about 1,200 students, AUC around 700, Saba around 300. Not sure about how many do the Europe route. But I will estimate about 1,000+ go there and to Mexico.

So there are about 5,000+ seats at these alternate schools for roughly the lower 10,000 and the 7,000 who missed or 17,000 total. The upper 7,000 have about a 71% chance of getting into these schools.
The lower 10,000 have about a 30% chance of getting in a school.

If your school record is solid but not stellar - your chances are very good if you do the other right things (volunteer - very good LOR's - good MCAT).

It is all up to you.

[OneHourEssay]

Apply to many schools - I'd say 25, and do so EARLY next year.

[med etudiant]

Fellow EMT, that MCAT is amazing!

I echo what James said, you should be ok; esp. for D.O.