My situation...

Potential123 · Aug 19, 2013

I come from a family of physicians and always wanted to do medicine from the very beginning. However, I was never the best test taker and didn't get the best of grades. Now, going into my senior year, I'm kind of at a crossroads. I recently submitted my application to various pharmacy schools around my area, however; I'm not satisfied. There's something telling me to give becoming an MD/DO a chance. I want your input, keeping it as real as possible, about my chances of getting into a DO program in the US or pursuing an MD degree from the Caribbean. My stats are kinda brutal: I have 3.4 Cum GPA, 3.5 Science GPA. I also have volunteer experience as well. Do you think I should just stick with going to my pharmacy school or do I have a legitimate chance, taking a year off, to pursue becoming a DO or getting into a Caribbean medical school like Ross?

cabinbuilder · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
I come from a family of physicians and always wanted to do medicine from the very beginning. However, I was never the best test taker and didn't get the best of grades. Now, going into my senior year, I'm kind of at a crossroads. I recently submitted my application to various pharmacy schools around my area, however; I'm not satisfied. There's something telling me to give becoming an MD/DO a chance. I want your input, keeping it as real as possible, about my chances of getting into a DO program in the US or pursuing an MD degree from the Caribbean. My stats are kinda brutal: I have 3.4 Cum GPA, 3.5 Science GPA. I also have volunteer experience as well. Do you think I should just stick with going to my pharmacy school or do I have a legitimate chance, taking a year off, to pursue becoming a DO or getting into a Caribbean medical school like Ross?

Science GPA is not bad. Don't have an MCAT score. Forget the Carib. Retake what you need for GPA boost for the DO route. Get a good MCAT. Apply the first day the cycle opens.

Dreamstoo · Aug 19, 2013

cabinbuilder said:
Science GPA is not bad. Don't have an MCAT score. Forget the Carib. Retake what you need for GPA boost for the DO route. Get a good MCAT. Apply the first day the cycle opens.

I think his gpa is perfectly fine. I'm in hte same scenario with -0.1 on both. Going to be a junior this fall

Potential123 · Aug 19, 2013

I've historically done bad with standardized tests and I'm very afraid of the MCAT so I will need a substantial amount of study time. When do DO app cycle open and when should the MCAT be completed?

verynice · Aug 19, 2013

Dreamstoo said:
I think his gpa is perfectly fine. I'm in hte same scenario with -0.1 on both. Going to be a junior this fall

OP scores a 27+ then OP is perfectly fine. With some more meaningful ECs as well.

Glhf gg no re

Potential123 · Aug 19, 2013

So if I get a 27+ on the MCAT, my GPA of 3.4 can be overlooked, and have a realistic shot?

Dreamstoo · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
So if I get a 27+ on the MCAT, my GPA of 3.4 can be overlooked, and have a realistic shot?

Depends on your ECs. If they are solid, then yes. If no, I would try to build up on them before applying.

My gpa is about 0.1 lower than yours. Hoping to bring it up to yours by next semester!

Good luck man, I think you have a realistic shot as long as your ECs are decent.

Dreamstoo · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
I've historically done bad with standardized tests and I'm very afraid of the MCAT so I will need a substantial amount of study time. When do DO app cycle open and when should the MCAT be completed?

Trust me standardized tests wasn't my thing either. You just got to work hard and figure out your weaknesses on the MCAT topics and build on it.

Someone on this forum (forgot who) got a ~1600-1700/2400 on the SATs and got a 35 or a 36 on the MCAT.

verynice · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
So if I get a 27+ on the MCAT, my GPA of 3.4 can be overlooked, and have a realistic shot?

Your gpa isn't bad for DO. Lower than average for some schools but for the most part acceptable. 2012 had a 3.4 sgpa and 3.5 cgpa for the average matriculant.

verynice · Aug 19, 2013

Dreamstoo said:
Depends on your ECs. If they are solid, then yes. If no, I would try to build up on them before applying.

My gpa is about 0.1 lower than yours. Hoping to bring it up to yours by next semester!

Good luck man, I think you have a realistic shot as long as your ECs are decent.

Hows your sgpa?

Dreamstoo · Aug 19, 2013

verynice said:
Hows your sgpa?

3.3cgpa/3.4sgpa

Minoring in nutrition to boost up my science gpa. I'm a chemistry major.
If I maintain a 3.7 last two years: 3.5cgpa/3.5sgpa.

verynice · Aug 19, 2013

Dreamstoo said:
3.3cgpa/3.4sgpa

Minoring in nutrition to boost up my science gpa. I'm a chemistry major.
If I maintain a 3.7 last two years: 3.5cgpa/3.5sgpa.

Destroy the mcat and you're golden 🙂

Dreamstoo · Aug 19, 2013

verynice said:
Destroy the mcat and you're golden 🙂

Already been studying for it! 👍.
Taking it probably in 7-8 months and I'm already around a 25. I think that's a pretty good start. Around a 10 in PS. 7 in verbal. 7-8ish in BS (my weakest section, I need to relearn biology)

My target is a 34-36.

verynice · Aug 19, 2013

Dreamstoo said:
Already been studying for it! 👍.
Taking it probably in 7-8 months and I'm already around a 25. I think that's a pretty good start. Around a 10 in PS. 7 in verbal. 7-8ish in BS (my weakest section, I need to relearn biology)

My target is a 34-36.

Keep it up! 😀

Goro · Aug 19, 2013

App cycle starts in June and MCAT should only be taken when you're ready for it. The cycle is longer than MD, and so you have until, say, the end of summer to get the thing done.

Potential123 said:
I've historically done bad with standardized tests and I'm very afraid of the MCAT so I will need a substantial amount of study time. When do DO app cycle open and when should the MCAT be completed?

pattr · Aug 19, 2013

don't go to Caribbean unless you've exhausted all other options.

Potential123 · Aug 19, 2013

I see. A lot of people seem to be really against going to the Carribean, what if its a school like Ross or SGU?

NontradCA · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
I see. A lot of people seem to be really against going to the Carribean, what if its a school like Ross or SGU?

No.

TriagePreMed · Aug 19, 2013

Stop scaring the guy. With a 25 it'll be enough.

gc91 · Aug 19, 2013

TriagePreMed said:
Stop scaring the guy. With a 25 it'll be enough.

Yup. I was 3.65/3.43/25 and had 4 interviews.

Columbia09 · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
I've historically done bad with standardized tests and I'm very afraid of the MCAT so I will need a substantial amount of study time. When do DO app cycle open and when should the MCAT be completed?

Don't worry. There's someone on here who scored a 21 on his ACT and scored a 25 on his first MCAT and a 32 on his second. You'll be good with a 25 but TRY to aim higher. I'm in the same boat as you. I also do crappy on standardize tests but after looking at a plethora of threads on here, the key to doing well is practice. I also scored a 21 on the ACT but scored a 610 on my bio SAT 2 and a 690 on my history SAT 2. What did I do differently? I took practice tests for my SAT 2s. Also the ACT has a pure math section and I'm terrible in pure math. When it's basic math intergraded in the sciences however it's a different story 😉

Dreamstoo · Aug 19, 2013

Columbia09 said:
Don't worry. There's someone on here who scored a 21 on his ACT and scored a 25 on his first MCAT and a 32 on his second. You'll be good with a 25 but TRY to aim higher. I'm in the same boat as you. I also do crappy on standardize tests but after looking at a plethora of threads on here, the key to doing well is practice. I also scored a 21 on the ACT but scored a 610 on my bio SAT 2 and a 690 on my history SAT 2. What did I do differently? I took practice tests for my SAT 2s. Also the ACT has a pure math section and I'm terrible in pure math. When it's basic math intergraded in the sciences however it's a different story 😉

For my SAT studying, I used to fall asleep on my books :laugh:

. Got a 700+ on math but didn't really care about the other sections. ACT, I took it and got like a 32 (did not study, dumb luck i guess). I got a 700 on Math 2 SAT 2 and a 700 on Chem SAT 2. Only did well on these probably because I found the material to be interesting.

cabinbuilder · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
I've historically done bad with standardized tests and I'm very afraid of the MCAT so I will need a substantial amount of study time. When do DO app cycle open and when should the MCAT be completed?

DO (AACOMAS) opens June 1st. I took the MCAT 4 times. I got into DO school (12 yrs ago) with a 24 but my science GPA for my post-bacc yr was 3.8 plus I had a great story to go with my lower marks. It's all about the total package with DO schools, not just numbers on paper. I hate standardized tests, passed all the boards on the first try but not with exceptionaly numbers. I would have the MCAT done prior to applying so you aren't left hanging with waiting for the numbers to come back.

Columbia09 · Aug 19, 2013

Dreamstoo said:
For my SAT studying, I used to fall asleep on my books . Got a 700+ on math but didn't really care about the other sections. ACT, I took it and got like a 32 (did not study, dumb luck i guess). I got a 700 on Math 2 SAT 2 and a 700 on Chem SAT 2. Only did well on these probably because I found the material to be interesting.

We're not all geniuses dream 😛

Columbia09 · Aug 19, 2013

cabinbuilder said:
DO (AACOMAS) opens June 1st. I took the MCAT 4 times. I got into DO school (12 yrs ago) with a 24 but my science GPA for my post-bacc yr was 3.8 plus I had a great story to go with my lower marks. It's all about the total package with DO schools, not just numbers on paper. I hate standardized tests, passed all the boards on the first try but not with exceptionaly numbers. I would have the MCAT done prior to applying so you aren't left hanging with waiting for the numbers to come back.

Did something happened that affected your studying ?

Potential123 · Aug 19, 2013

cabinbuilder said:
DO (AACOMAS) opens June 1st. I took the MCAT 4 times. I got into DO school (12 yrs ago) with a 24 but my science GPA for my post-bacc yr was 3.8 plus I had a great story to go with my lower marks. It's all about the total package with DO schools, not just numbers on paper. I hate standardized tests, passed all the boards on the first try but not with exceptionaly numbers. I would have the MCAT done prior to applying so you aren't left hanging with waiting for the numbers to come back.

Ahh so I should have the MCAT done prior to June 1st?

cabinbuilder · Aug 19, 2013

Columbia09 said:
Did something happened that affected your studying ?

Yes, my life. Tried to do it myself too many times. Did better with a study partner.

whatever5 · Aug 19, 2013

a 3.4cGPA and 3.5sGPA is not brutal by any standards. You'll be fine with a meh MCAT for DO, but you'll really need to kill it for MD.

Potential123 · Aug 19, 2013

A lot of people been telling me that, but it seems like all I see in these Osteopathic forums are people with > 3.7 GPA and like > 28 MCAT.

survivordo · Aug 19, 2013

Your GPA is fine for DO, maybe even state MD. It depends on your ECs and how well you do on the MCAT. It sounds like you much prefer this over being a pharmacist so it is certainly worth exploring the possibilities for a year. Take the time, beef up your resume and then rock the MCAT. With all these physicians in your family you must have some connections in your favor... seriously, pharmacy school and being a pharmacist is a LOT different than being a physician... you owe it to yourself to give it a shot!

Survivor DO

Columbia09 · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
A lot of people been telling me that, but it seems like all I see in these Osteopathic forums are people with > 3.7 GPA and like > 28 MCAT.

Believe me this isn't the norm for the majority of D.O applicants. That's like the top 10 - 20 %. Plus most of those people go to MD schools anyway

user3 · Aug 19, 2013

23 will get you in somewhere. Maybe 20 with liberty. For md, you would probably need around 32 though.

darklabel · Aug 19, 2013

Potential123 said:
A lot of people been telling me that, but it seems like all I see in these Osteopathic forums are people with > 3.7 GPA and like > 28 MCAT.

Don't let Class of 2018 thead or class specific threads get you down. I promise that most stats here aren't the norm.

While both MD and DO schools do get a lot of applications, they all aren't super stellar (I remember reading how some adcoms say that quite a few very low stat individuals apply).

I think with a 26+ you'll be fine.

Columbia09 · Aug 20, 2013

darklabel said:
Don't let Class of 2018 thead or class specific threads get you down. I promise that most stats here aren't the norm.

While both MD and DO schools do get a lot of applications, they all aren't super stellar (I remember reading how some adcoms say that quite a few very low stat individuals apply).

I think with a 26+ you'll be fine.

👍👍👍👍 Indeed there are A LOT of unqualified people who apply to med school. Did I ever tell you about my friend who applied with a 2.9c GPA and a 17 MCAT ? Also SDN is definitely the cream of the crop and not a good representation of the actually pre med population

whatever5 · Aug 20, 2013

Don't worry too much about the people with 28-29s applying with high GPAs, I'd say most if not all of them know they're borderline for acceptance at MD schools and are applying DO as back-up.

Goro · Aug 20, 2013

Strongly concur. Avg DO Matriculant is around 3.4-3.5 with an MCAT around 26+

Columbia09 said:
Believe me this isn't the norm for the majority of D.O applicants. That's like the top 10 - 20 %.

Columbia09 · Aug 20, 2013

Goro said:
Strongly concur. Avg DO Matriculant is around 3.4-3.5 with an MCAT around 26+

And still there are so many that get in with stats lower than that

Dreamstoo · Aug 20, 2013

Columbia09 said:
And still there are so many that get in with stats lower than that

But as an applicant, I would want to be above the norm 👍. I do hope to graduate with a 3.5+ gpa/ 28+ MCAT. Incoming junior. Really close to the 3.4-3.5 range (only about 0.03 away 🙂).

Ionz · Sep 5, 2013

Potential123 said:
I come from a family of physicians and always wanted to do medicine from the very beginning. However, I was never the best test taker and didn't get the best of grades. Now, going into my senior year, I'm kind of at a crossroads. I recently submitted my application to various pharmacy schools around my area, however; I'm not satisfied. There's something telling me to give becoming an MD/DO a chance. I want your input, keeping it as real as possible, about my chances of getting into a DO program in the US or pursuing an MD degree from the Caribbean. My stats are kinda brutal: I have 3.4 Cum GPA, 3.5 Science GPA. I also have volunteer experience as well. Do you think I should just stick with going to my pharmacy school or do I have a legitimate chance, taking a year off, to pursue becoming a DO or getting into a Caribbean medical school like Ross?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1031223

Mehd School · Sep 5, 2013

whatever5 said:
a 3.4cGPA and 3.5sGPA is not brutal by any standards. You'll be fine with a meh MCAT for DO, but you'll really need to kill it for MD.

No kidding.

I'm applying with those GPA's (barely higher) and everybody on here says "Dude! You have it made, relax!".

Then I get on this thread and people are throwing the "meh" vibe at OP. :laugh:

👍

Since when is a 3.5 science not good for DO schools?

Mehd School · Sep 5, 2013

Ionz said:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1031223

Holy ****. He got us good. :laugh:

NMC2010 · Sep 6, 2013

Ionz said:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1031223

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