"The definition of URM has an enormous impact on the diversity and ultimately the cultural and linguistic competency of the health care workforce. We strongly recommend that AAMC revise the definition of URM to include all AAPI [Asian American Pacific Islander] sub-populations that are currently underrepresented. It is clear that when lumped together (their numbers "aggregated"), the true physician-to-population ratios are masked, resulting in a very misleading indication of appropriate physician supply. We urge the AAMC to review and potentially revise the databases that it uses in order to capture the necessary race/ethnicity information. We urge AAMC to seek out the data on all the AAPI groups (such that their numbers are "disaggregated" as much as possible)."
What was the AAMC's response to the letter that was sent back in 2002?
It may be something worth sharing with APAMSA and/or the AAMC-OSR.
Let us know how it progresses or has progressed.
i was actually hoping someone else knew. also, does anyone know about AACOM's policy as well?
also this would be a good place to dialogue for API's, mostly not east-asian and south-asian, that suffer from being lumped into this overly broad category.
In addition to lumping API into a big category, students from the Middle East are also lumped, but with no category. Some could argue that the Middle East IS in asia, but middle easterners are not asian in the typical sense. So, what do they put? White? They clearly are not white. The are not hispanic, even though that race is the closests phenotypically.
AAMC should work on representing people from all areas of the world because right now they are doing a crappy job of it.
So I am getting ready to take the MCAT. again. I was stumped by the question asking for minorities to be placed on a list. I have searched this site for the bonus/drawback of being labeled URM. I am still somewhat confused. mostly by if I am one. That may sound funny- I consider myself hispanic. But I am from Spain/Honduras origins and not the ones listed on the URM details (puerto rico/ mexico). I would imagine I fit in a category that is even less represented. But am I not in this category since I am of hispanic origin of "other"? Or am I? Does the MSAR service work? Thanks for any suggestions.
It sounds like you have 2 questions, the first refers to the Medical Minority Applicant Registry (MedMAR).
You may want to consider contacting the AAMC about your specific situation.
Let us know how it goes for you.
Just wondering what applying with URM means exactly. I am a full hispanic applying this summer, and I have never heard of URM until recently. If anyone could fill me in that would be great, just post or even PM me.
Just wondering what applying with URM means exactly. I am a full hispanic applying this summer, and I have never heard of URM until recently. If anyone could fill me in that would be great, just post or even PM me.
yeah I wanna know if I am too. IS there a list of races that are considered URM?There is an e-mail link from this page where you can post your question directly. There is also a PDF file that you can download.
im graduating in june 08 and am signed up for the mcat this august. im really short on money and dont come from money so i was trying to debate whether to apply right off the bat this year and see what happens or wait a year and have more time to prep for the mcat. quite a few questions.
1. does being a URM (hispanic) make any difference when applying? (i.e. lower acceptable gpa or mcat scores?)
2. having a 3.1 cum gpa with a 2.8 science what would be a respectable mcat score to recieve to get accepted into a MD or DO school? (gen chem and bio 2.6 -2.8, ochem and physics 3.7-4. including labs)
3. im taking a full credit load this summer, (schools on quarter systems) so i wont have a lot of time this summer to prep for mcat but am doing the best i can thus far. but im just kind of wondering where i should apply too and how many schools? i have about 8 DO schools in mind and about 10 MD schools, all of broad range averages for gpa mcat etc.
4. i was also wondering how MD and DO schools calculate out ug gpa, i was told for some schools they take your freshman gpa cum times 1 and soph times 2 and junior times 3 and that makes up your ug gpa. is this true for all schools? (frosh gpa 2.8 so 3.0 jr 3.7 )
5. kind of not related but for lors, is it better to have a professor that doesnt know me that well write me a letter or should i have a ta whom has known me for a few years now write one and have a professor cosign it? i was told this was also acceptable. my university has science class sizes around 300+ avg even in upper division biochemistry courses.
thanks for takin the time to check this out its greatly appreciated, any advice/info would be awesome!
have a good one.
The URM getting in with lower grades and MCAT scores is something of a myth. No matter what your ethnicity, you are going to be screened out at schools that do an automatic screen based on GPA/MCAT. Go to the AMCAS website and look at the averages of ethnic minorities matriculating into medical school for 2005. You can make your own conclusions from those numbers but largely, don't count on your ethnicity to get you into medical school if you are well below average for matriculants (3.6 GPA/30 MCAT).
Many schools will take an upward trend in GPA into consideration as many people get off to a slow start at university. Just make sure that you are not applying to a school that automatically screens by GPA. In that case, your overall GPA might not be high enough for you to get past their screen. How do you find this information? It may be on their website but generally, schools that have high GPA averages are screener schools.
Don't take the MCAT unless you can devote plenty of time for preparation and are ready to take the exam. If you feel that your course load is too demanding, put off taking the MCAT until you can thoroughly prepare for this important exam. Taking this exam when you are unprepared is setting yourself up for not doing well (as well as a waste of precious dollars). A mediocre score on the MCAT coupled with a below the average GPA can be a "deathblow" for your application to medical school.
In terms of calculating GPA, go to the AMCAS website and download the PDF file that explains GPA calculation for the AMCAS application. You can do the same for osteopathic schools too (Google AACOMAS).
Strong letters of recommendation come from faculty (at least one should be science) who know you well. You might speak with the teaching assistant who can discuss the letter with your professor but the strongest letters come from faculty. Also be sure that you have "checked in" with your pre-med committee in that your school may need to send a committee letter. If that is the case, your TA letter may be OK if you have plenty of letters from other faculty.
Apply broadly and get the best grades that you can. You also need to make sure that your extracurriculars and LORs are as strong as possible. Again, don't take the MCAT unless you can prepare thoroughly. You cannot afford to do poorly on this important exam.