DO discouraged from applying with my stats. 3.4 GPA, 3 semesters of research, EMT-B. need mcat

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adamrose

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Feeling very nervous. one more semester left at undergrad and need to decide between DO/PA

3.4 cGPA (will be around 3.39-3.41, i calculated it)
Science GPA (Not too sure how to calculate, i think it will be around a 3.0-3.1)


I joined a party frat freshman year so i sort of laid off my prereqs..
C in both gen chems
C+ in evo bio
I had a 2.3 GPA first semester and a 2.6GPA second, I have had to maintain a 3.6-3.85 for the past 2 years to even get this far.

After freshman year I realized I was being careless.. Here are some relevant course grades to get a feel at what kind of student I am
B physics 101, A- physics 102
B in both Orgos
B genetics
B in calc 1 A in calc 2
A in anatomy
A in physiology
A in general physiology
A in biostat
A in biopsych
A in biochem
B in genetics
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra curricular:
EMT-B certified, will be gaining a volunteership this semester for hours
Israel medical trip for 2 weeks (explored medical aspects of israel/hospitals/EM)
I have been a TA for 3 classes, Anatomy, Physiology, and Biopsych (LOR from atleast 2 of the teachers)
Virus Research for the past 3 semesters
Fraternity charity chair - raised $10k for cancer (good talking point?)
~130 hours of hospital volunteer in Front desk/Physical therapy
Shadowed 1 DO so far, Trying to shadow at least 2 more

I understand most of my chances depend on my mcat. I know the new mcat will be scored differently but i feel like i self identify with a score of around a 27-29

I am debating if i should be positive and approach this with confidence or i should be worried.

Thank you in advance

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I had a 2.3 GPA first semester and a 2.6GPA second, I have had to maintain a 3.6-3.85 for the past 2 semesters to even get this far.
EDIT: 2 Years, not semesters
 
Feeling very nervous. one more semester left at undergrad and need to decide between DO/PA

3.4 cGPA (will be around 3.39-3.41, i calculated it)
Science GPA (Not too sure how to calculate, i think it will be around a 3.0-3.1)


I joined a party frat freshman year so i sort of laid off my prereqs..
C in both gen chems
C+ in evo bio
I had a 2.3 GPA first semester and a 2.6GPA second, I have had to maintain a 3.6-3.85 for the past 2 years to even get this far.

After freshman year I realized I was being careless.. Here are some relevant course grades to get a feel at what kind of student I am
B physics 101, A- physics 102
B in both Orgos
B genetics
B in calc 1 A in calc 2
A in anatomy
A in physiology
A in general physiology
A in biostat
A in biopsych
A in biochem
B in genetics
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra curricular:
EMT-B certified, will be gaining a volunteership this semester for hours
Israel medical trip for 2 weeks (explored medical aspects of israel/hospitals/EM)
I have been a TA for 3 classes, Anatomy, Physiology, and Biopsych (LOR from atleast 2 of the teachers)
Virus Research for the past 3 semesters
Fraternity charity chair - raised $10k for cancer (good talking point?)

I understand most of my chances depend on my mcat. I know the new mcat will be scored differently but i feel like i self identify with a score of around a 27-29

I am debating if i should be positive and approach this with confidence or i should be worried.

Thank you in advance

Your grade replacement is good. Though your EC's are pretty cookie cutter. Would suggest shadowing some docs and getting involved some EC's that are beyond the campus. Just do something you like. If that means making beer or wine then do it.

Would also suggest getting some clinical experience asap. It will be seen as a red flag that you did not interact with patients your entire time in undergraduate.

Also, Virus Research is a very broad statement. What did you do? What was your project? If you didn't have one then what was the PI investigating and what role did you play in that lab?

Those are just some things to address. I would go MD/DO because PA schools require paid HCE and unless you're willing to spend another year or two racking those thousands of hours up then it may not be worth it. Just get some shadowing, some clinical exp (can be volunteer), get some hobbies, take the MCAT and go to med school. Good luck :)
 
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Your grade replacement is good. Though your EC's are pretty cookie cutter. Would suggest shadowing some docs and getting involved some EC's that are beyond the campus. Just do something you like. If that means making beer or wine then do it.

Would also suggest getting some clinical experience asap. It will be seen as a red flag that you did not interact with patients your entire time in undergraduate.

Also, Virus Research is a very broad statement. What did you do? What was your project? If you didn't have one then what was the PI investigating and what role did you play in that lab?

Those are just some things to address. I would go MD/DO because PA schools require paid HCE and unless you're willing to spend another year or two racking those thousands of hours up then it may not be worth it. Just get some shadowing, some clinical exp (can be volunteer), get some hobbies, take the MCAT and go to med school. Good luck :)

I appreciate the advice. I will continue to see other posters comment but I think you offer good things to consider. I also didn't include the specifics for my research due to TLDR issues.

Where can I learn about what hobbies to consider that could make myself a more well rounded applicant? (I know that sounds bad but I truly don't know what you can do to not be "cookie cutter")
 
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I appreciate the advice. I will continue to see other posters comment but I think you offer good things to consider. I also didn't include the specifics for my research due to TLDR issues.

Where can I learn about what hobbies to consider that could make myself a more well rounded applicant? (I know that sounds bad but I truly don't know what you can do to not be "cookie cutter")

Glad to help!

I think hobbies are simply just things that you find interesting. Whether that is sports or music. Just something that you feel you would want to pick up on. It's all up to you.

If the work you did in lab was for a disease then try and find a non profit org that supports people who suffer from the disease and volunteer for that org. I think that puts a lot of humanism to to research and is a great talking point for your med school app.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.
 
Get off campus and out of your comfort zone and do things in service to others. Think Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, Planned Parenthood, hospice, nursing homes, clinics, suicide/crisis hotlines.


I appreciate the advice. I will continue to see other posters comment but I think you offer good things to consider. I also didn't include the specifics for my research due to TLDR issues.

Where can I learn about what hobbies to consider that could make myself a more well rounded applicant? (I know that sounds bad but I truly don't know what you can do to not be "cookie cutter")
 
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Feeling very nervous. one more semester left at undergrad and need to decide between DO/PA

3.4 cGPA (will be around 3.39-3.41, i calculated it)
Science GPA (Not too sure how to calculate, i think it will be around a 3.0-3.1)


I joined a party frat freshman year so i sort of laid off my prereqs..
C in both gen chems
C+ in evo bio
I had a 2.3 GPA first semester and a 2.6GPA second, I have had to maintain a 3.6-3.85 for the past 2 years to even get this far.

After freshman year I realized I was being careless.. Here are some relevant course grades to get a feel at what kind of student I am
B physics 101, A- physics 102
B in both Orgos
B genetics
B in calc 1 A in calc 2
A in anatomy
A in physiology
A in general physiology
A in biostat
A in biopsych
A in biochem
B in genetics
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra curricular:
EMT-B certified, will be gaining a volunteership this semester for hours
Israel medical trip for 2 weeks (explored medical aspects of israel/hospitals/EM)
I have been a TA for 3 classes, Anatomy, Physiology, and Biopsych (LOR from atleast 2 of the teachers)
Virus Research for the past 3 semesters
Fraternity charity chair - raised $10k for cancer (good talking point?)
~130 hours of hospital volunteer in Front desk/Physical therapy
Shadowed 1 DO so far, Trying to shadow at least 2 more

I understand most of my chances depend on my mcat. I know the new mcat will be scored differently but i feel like i self identify with a score of around a 27-29

I am debating if i should be positive and approach this with confidence or i should be worried.

Thank you in advance
Nice comeback from a slow academic start.

What was your role with the ~130 hours of hospital volunteer in Front desk/Physical therapy? Depending on the answer, your active clinical experience might be fine already.

Aim for ~50 hours of physician shadowing, and get a DO LOR so more schools will consider you.

I totally agree with the recommendation to get some some-medical, hands-on, off-campus service to those in need. @Goro gave you a good list of possibilities to consider. Your teaching, leadership, and research activities look very good (assuming a compelling description of your role).

Memorable hobbies can be as mundane as becoming a specialist at cooking a holiday dish and describing how it connects you to your family, learning to tie fishing lures with a grandparent, or tatting/sewing/crocheting baby blankets for a local crisis nursery. You don't need something unique and rare.
 
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Nice comeback from a slow academic start.

What was your role with the ~130 hours of hospital volunteer in Front desk/Physical therapy? Depending on the answer, your active clinical experience might be fine already.

Aim for ~50 hours of physician shadowing, and get a DO LOR so more schools will consider you.

I totally agree with the recommendation to get some some-medical, hands-on, off-campus service to those in need. @Goro gave you a good list of possibilities to consider. Your teaching, leadership, and research activities look very good (assuming a compelling description of your role).

Memorable hobbies can be as mundane as becoming a specialist at cooking a holiday dish and describing how it connects you to your family, learning to tie fishing lures with a grandparent, or tatting/sewing/crocheting baby blankets for a local crisis nursery. You don't need something unique and rare.


I am working on getting hands on experience this semester with my local fire departments/hospitals/shadowing

Do you think it would be a good idea to do a Masters in my year off? My sGPA is a 3.1 and of course I have 3 C's in prereqs
 
I am working on getting hands on experience this semester with my local fire departments/hospitals/shadowing

Do you think it would be a good idea to do a Masters in my year off? My sGPA is a 3.1 and of course I have 3 C's in prereqs
No. Instead, take more undergrad upper-level Bio. If you send in a new transcript to AACOMAS, they will update the information schools have about your academics while they are considering your file.
 
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