~2008-2009~"What Are My Chances/Where Should I Apply/What Should I Do" Thread

[Richie Truxillo]

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You'd be ok at WVSOM. 👍

 

[Bacchus]

I hope you're instate for MSUCOM. I think you'll fair at those schools. I didn't apply to MSUCOM but we have very similar numbers and I got secondaries from every school and feel I'll get a few interviews.

 

[kestrel3386]

I am in-state for MSUCOM, so that does help out a lot! 🙂 I think I have found a possible solution. I have already submitted my application and am still waiting for it to be processed. I am going to sign up for the Aug 26th exam, study my butt off for the next 2 weeks and hopefully get a higher score. As for moving a long in the application process, I think my 26 and my ex-curr will get me secondaries and maybe some interviews. I know I can do better than a 26 because my average on my practice exams was a 29 with a high of 32.

My testing day was hell too. I arrived at the testing site at 7:15am thinking I could start at 7:30am, with the latest start time at 8am. The aamc had not sent the roster to our testing site before and was having "TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES" trying to get it there. After waiting around until 9:30, the proctors began talk of sending us home. Finally, at 9:45am they had our roster and our exams and we began the test 2 1/2 hours after arriving to the testing site. I have never had more test anxiety in my life, not to mention I had lost all the adrenaline that I had when I arrived.

I'm not claiming that as my excuse for my low score, I just know I can do better and want to prove it, and I think, with me having a 26 and above average excurr and good gpa, it will do until I get my next mcat score back in september.

 

[clankfu]

Find one. As you surely aren't asking about this admission cycle you've got some time. I'm not sure what schools you'll have a chance at, but I am sure you've got no shot at the ones you don't apply to. Apply early and broadly. Find a DO, shadow, get a letter.

How did you go about finding and approaching a DO?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

How did you go about finding and approaching a DO?

From my signature. You don't even have to do that, though. You can always do it older school and cold call/email after finding names here.

 

[clankfu]

From my signature. You don't even have to do that, though. You can always do it older school and cold call/email after finding names here.

Gotcha...much appreciated.

 

[JoeC]

I got in on page one of this thread, but I'm back for more.

GPA (AACOMAS)
Cum: 2.84
Sci: 2.67

MCAT: 37P
14 VR/12 PS/11 BS

ECs:
-Short stints in research/general lab work while in UG
-Current job: clinical laboratory (been there a year, research and testing for diseases of neurotransmitter metabolism)
-Other current job: teaching MCAT prep for Kaplan
-Shadowing: with one of my bosses, an MD
-Volunteering: Grady ED (since April)
-Various other UG activities and groups

So... recommendations? I know the GPA is terrible and I'd love to be able to pull it up, but that would require quitting my wonderful job, which is something I would rather not do.

 

[clankfu]

Sorry, I'm new to the board and oblivious to some of these terms. What exactly does "shadowing" entail?

 

[RySerr21]

Sorry, I'm new to the board and oblivious to some of these terms. What exactly does "shadowing" entail?

You basically just follow the physician around while he/she sees patients. If the doctor is a surgeon, you might observe surgical procedures. Basically, you are the doctors "shadow" on the wall, hence the term. You can get involved, ask questions about patients, about procedures or whatever. They are generally pretty relaxed...ask questions about anything...med school, residency, COMLEX, USMLE, etc etc.

Its a good way to get teh feel for teh "a day in the life of a doctor" and you can also get good exposure to different fields of medicine.

For a good link to find DOs to shadow, check out chocolate bears signature on the previous page of this thread.

 

[clankfu]

Cool...thanks for the info. This site is awesome but I'm still trying to get a handle on everything.

 

[dreams]

ok so I have been waiting for my MCAT scores and now that they are out I need some help. I am doing post-bac work now (and have been for 4 semesters with a BCPM of 3.7ish in that time) however my overall undergrad BCPM is 2.9ish and overall GPA of 3.35. My first time MCAT scores : VR:9, PS:6, and BS:8 total 23M. I have not yet submitted for this year and was going to do so at the end of this week if I have any chance in hell at any DO schools. Also if I do have a shot I was going to retake in Sept, but being that it is so late I would have to submit before I knew those scores. So I am wondering if I should give it a shot for this year or wait for next and apply early??? (I am a FL resident if that matters) Thanks for the help.

 

[Saregamapadanis]

ok so I have been waiting for my MCAT scores and now that they are out I need some help. I am doing post-bac work now (and have been for 4 semesters with a BCPM of 3.7ish in that time) however my overall undergrad BCPM is 2.9ish and overall GPA of 3.35. My first time MCAT scores : VR:9, PS:6, and BS:8 total 23M. I have not yet submitted for this year and was going to do so at the end of this week if I have any chance in hell at any DO schools. Also if I do have a shot I was going to retake in Sept, but being that it is so late I would have to submit before I knew those scores. So I am wondering if I should give it a shot for this year or wait for next and apply early??? (I am a FL resident if that matters) Thanks for the help.

Are you planning to take the mcat again? You should apply broadly this year , and if you don't get in, take the mcat and score 30+, then you should be ok.

 

[Kal222]

Science GPA: 3.2
Overall GPA: 3.3
MCAT: 28M (8 VR, 9 BS, 11 PS)

Strong EC's, applying broadly... what do you think my chances are?

 

[dreams]

Are you planning to take the mcat again? You should apply broadly this year , and if you don't get in, take the mcat and score 30+, then you should be ok.

I was planning on submitting at the end of this week, and then taking the MCAT again in Sept - if I am going to apply this year, if not then I will take it again in the spring and just apply next year. I really want to go for it this year if I have a shot, if not then I will just go for next year. So are you saying apply this year without taking it again, and then if I dont get in apply next year with a new MCAT score???

 

[Deepa100]

Science GPA: 3.2
Overall GPA: 3.3
MCAT: 28M (8 VR, 9 BS, 11 PS)

Strong EC's, applying broadly... what do you think my chances are?

Looks good to me👍

 

[anon y mous]

I was planning on submitting at the end of this week, and then taking the MCAT again in Sept - if I am going to apply this year, if not then I will take it again in the spring and just apply next year. I really want to go for it this year if I have a shot, if not then I will just go for next year. So are you saying apply this year without taking it again, and then if I dont get in apply next year with a new MCAT score???

I'm retaking mine in August and hope it's not too late. My gpa is strong so that should help. Why does your MDApplicants say "MD" next to several of your DO schools? I didn't think they had MDs too?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Why does your MDApplicants say "MD" next to several of your DO schools? I didn't think they had MDs too?

It's MDapps' mistake. Every school says MD by it now.

 

[hopefuldoc35]

soooooooo if I think that I have a very slim chance of getting into a school for class of 2013, should I still apply or should I wait till next year? oh gosh this is sooo anticlimactic/depressing

 

[Chocolate Bear]

soooooooo if I think that I have a very slim chance of getting into a school for class of 2013, should I still apply or should I wait till next year? oh gosh this is sooo anticlimactic/depressing

Care to expand on your reasoning?

The only thing you have to lose is time, money, and perhaps having to find a new letter or two next year, for that(those) school(s).

 

[dreams]

Care to expand on your reasoning?

The only thing you have to lose is time, money, and perhaps having to find a new letter or two next year, for that(those) school(s).

so if we apply one year and dont get in an d apply the next year to those same schools we need new LOR's from profs and docs? What about the PS and other essays??

 

[Chocolate Bear]

so if we apply one year and dont get in an d apply the next year to those same schools we need new LOR's from profs and docs? What about the PS and other essays??

Some schools will want new letters, some will want ONE new letter, and some won't care if you use the old ones. It is recommended that one try to improve all aspects of their application to increase the chance of success, meaning you should at least look at your PS and essays for ways to make them stronger. If they're perfect, as they are, and nothing happened in the past year to make you want to update them, then okay. However, this would be a somewhat rare case, I think. After all, something kept you from getting in.

 

[MJ2008]

Hey guys, does anyone know if a somewhat strong science GPA (3.79) could off set an averge cGPA(3.3) and MCAT (25)?

I havent received any secondaries yet. . . getting worried

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Hey guys, does anyone know if a somewhat strong science GPA (3.79) could off set an averge cGPA(3.3) and MCAT (25)?

I havent received any secondaries yet. . . getting worried

Your numbers are not bad. They're not the reason you don't have any secondaries yet. Time is.

 

[MJ2008]

Your numbers are not bad. They're not the reason you don't have any secondaries yet. Time is.

Hmmm you mean med schools are being over loaded with applicants? Or transit time of my info to the school?

My acomas was released Aug 6th and I submitted July 1st. I'm a scribe and I was talking to a doc I work with, anyway he said that schools can see your application as soon as you submit. So I was thinking they've had plenty of time to weed through apps and pass out secondaries.

This process is so intense!

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Hmmm you mean med schools are being over loaded with applicants? Or transit time of my info to the school?

My acomas was released Aug 6th and I submitted July 1st. I'm a scribe and I was talking to a doc I work with, anyway he said that schools can see your application as soon as you submit. So I was thinking they've had plenty of time to weed through apps and pass out secondaries.

This process is so intense!

I know it's hard to do, but try to relax! 😀

Many/most schools take weeks to send out secondaries, AFTER BEING RELEASED. It sucks, but at least you know you don't have to worry!

 

[deleted172531]

Yeah, hang in there and relax. Maybe take a look at the secondary thread and get started on a few of them so you're ready to fill them out once they start filling up your inbox.😉

 

[engineeredout]

From my signature. You don't even have to do that, though. You can always do it older school and cold call/email after finding names here.

I filled that form out like two weeks ago without any luck. How long does it usually take to hear somethinG?

 

[SurfnChic6]

Ok guys, so I'm starting to freak out a bit:

Non-Science: 3.42
AACOMAS science: 2.84
Overall: 3.15
MCAT: 31Q


About to submit my primary app (i know, i know it's late...long story). Does anyone know if I have a chance at TUCOM-CA?? 😳

 

[RySerr21]

Ok guys, so I'm starting to freak out a bit:

Non-Science: 3.42
AACOMAS science: 2.84
Overall: 3.15
MCAT: 31Q


About to submit my primary app (i know, i know it's late...long story). Does anyone know if I have a chance at TUCOM-CA?? 😳

you might want to double check if they have a GPA cutoff, because I know they have an MCAT cut off (which you clearly do not have to worry about). No possible way you can retake some of those science courses to boost the gpa above 3.0?

 

[doodlesmcdoodle]

Ok guys, so I'm starting to freak out a bit:

Non-Science: 3.42
AACOMAS science: 2.84
Overall: 3.15
MCAT: 31Q


About to submit my primary app (i know, i know it's late...long story). Does anyone know if I have a chance at TUCOM-CA?? 😳

According to their website:
"Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine is one of the few medical schools that pre-screens off of the primary (AACOMAS) application. The qualifying bar is reviewed every year. Typically, successful candidates earn Science and Cumulative GPA's of 3.0 or greater and have obtained a minimum combined MCAT score of 23, though the Admissions and Standards Committee will, on a case by case basis, look below these figures."

I would say that you aren't necessarily going to be immediately dismissed because of your science GPA, but it might happen. I would say if you have the funds to go ahead and apply, it can't hurt to have more options! GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[SurfnChic6]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm going for it 😀


Good Luck this year!

 

[AMEHigh]

Any advice or suggestions:

3.47 science gpa
3.8 nonscience
23O MCAT - 10V, 6BS, 7PS (This is after a pretty horrible 1st exam)

URM, psychology major, nontraditional student, college athlete, decent ECs, letter from an M.D.

I'm applying to: PCOM-Philly & Atl, UMDNJ, NYIT, Touro NY, CCOM, Ohio, VCOM (although I know I need a D.O. letter too)

I'm trying to stay on the east coast because my husband doesn't want to move to the west coast, but I'm open to any suggestions or what you think my chances are. Thanks

 

[MJ2008]

Ok so right after I posted "I'm worried no med schools like me" comment, I received 3 secondaries.

I'm sending them out today and then I'm CHILLAX-ing.

 

[MJ2008]

Any advice or suggestions:

3.47 science gpa
3.8 nonscience
23O MCAT - 10V, 6BS, 7PS (This is after a pretty horrible 1st exam)

URM, psychology major, nontraditional student, college athlete, decent ECs, letter from an M.D.

I'm applying to: PCOM-Philly & Atl, UMDNJ, NYIT, Touro NY, CCOM, Ohio, VCOM (although I know I need a D.O. letter too)

I'm trying to stay on the east coast because my husband doesn't want to move to the west coast, but I'm open to any suggestions or what you think my chances are. Thanks

Whats your cumulatie GPA?

 

[MJ2008]

cumulative GPA?

sorry, my v key gets sticky sometimes.

 

[AMEHigh]

Whats your cumulatie GPA?

I think it's 3.6, I can't remember exactly! I can't seem to find it on my aacomas application.

 

[engineeredout]

Ok so right after I posted "I'm worried no med schools like me" comment, I received 3 secondaries.

I'm sending them out today and then I'm CHILLAX-ing.

Not to bust your chops, but you do know that a lot of schools send out the secondaries automatically right? You'll get plenty of secondaries, they love collecting easy money.

But btw with your stats you shouldn't be worrying anyway. Save that for people like me.

 

[SurfnChic6]

Any advice or suggestions:

3.47 science gpa
3.8 nonscience
23O MCAT - 10V, 6BS, 7PS (This is after a pretty horrible 1st exam)

URM, psychology major, nontraditional student, college athlete, decent ECs, letter from an M.D.

I'm applying to: PCOM-Philly & Atl, UMDNJ, NYIT, Touro NY, CCOM, Ohio, VCOM (although I know I need a D.O. letter too)

I'm trying to stay on the east coast because my husband doesn't want to move to the west coast, but I'm open to any suggestions or what you think my chances are. Thanks

You're GPA is great! You said you had a horrible first exam...would you be willing to take the MCAT again? Clearly you know your science from your GPA...maybe its worth taking some time (i know i know, taking time sucks when you wanna start now) to beef up the MCAT. I know about the whole staying on one coast because of a sig other, I'm trying for Touro-CA because my fiancee and I live in SF...

I say apply now and see how it goes, if you don't get in, you know you should retake the MCAT

 

[angelaRN]

Hi everyone, I'm new to posting on this forum but I've been reading all these posts. Here are my stats:
-27yo female, PA resident
-3.2cum, 3.0science
-Jul07 5V,6P,7B,O; May08 7V,7B,7P,Q; retake 9/6/08 (I have a Kaplan private tutor)
-graduated with BSN 2002
-working as a registered nurse since 2002
-volunteer as an educator with Planned Parenthood
-shadowed a DO (LOR)
-LOR from Dean of college (FSU nursing)
-applied to all 27 DO schools (I really really want to be a DO, I would go to Alaska if I needed to)
-top choices: PCOM, NSU, UMDNJ-SOM, NYCOM, TOURO-NY, LECOM-Bradenton
I am very concerned about retaking the MCAT again in Sept. Has anyone gotten in with similar stats as mine? My GPA is low so I was hoping to off-set that with a high MCAT score. I was devastated when I received the May score. But I'm concerned now what if I score lower on the Sept exam. What are my chances anyways with the numbers I have now? Your honesty is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[RySerr21]

Hi everyone, I'm new to posting on this forum but I've been reading all these posts. Here are my stats:
-27yo female, PA resident
-3.2cum, 3.0science
-Jul07 5V,6P,7B,O; May08 7V,7B,7P,Q; retake 9/6/08 (I have a Kaplan private tutor)
-graduated with BSN 2002
-working as a registered nurse since 2002
-volunteer as an educator with Planned Parenthood
-shadowed a DO (LOR)
-LOR from Dean of college (FSU nursing)
-applied to all 27 DO schools (I really really want to be a DO, I would go to Alaska if I needed to)
-top choices: PCOM, NSU, UMDNJ-SOM, NYCOM, TOURO-NY, LECOM-Bradenton
I am very concerned about retaking the MCAT again in Sept. Has anyone gotten in with similar stats as mine? My GPA is low so I was hoping to off-set that with a high MCAT score. I was devastated when I received the May score. But I'm concerned now what if I score lower on the Sept exam. What are my chances anyways with the numbers I have now? Your honesty is appreciated. Thanks.

Be weary of MCAT cut offs. For the schools that have them, a 21 probably won't make the cut. Even for the schools that don't have minimum MCAT requirements, its going to be an uphill battle. Definitely make sure schools know that you are retaking in september, and hpoefully you can improve it to at least a 24 or 25? As is, I'd say it is pretty likely you will have to apply another cycle. But, you never know.

Have you submitted AACOMAS already? If not, get that done ASAP.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Be weary of MCAT cut offs. For the schools that have them, a 21 probably won't make the cut. Even for the schools that don't have minimum MCAT requirements, its going to be an uphill battle. Definitely make sure schools know that you are retaking in september, and hpoefully you can improve it to at least a 24 or 25? As is, I'd say it is pretty likely you will have to apply another cycle. But, you never know.

Have you submitted AACOMAS already? If not, get that done ASAP.

I second all of this.

To add, OP, if you have to think about another cycle, know that you can make significant improvements in your GPA by retaking classes. AACOMAS only uses the last attempt of a class in the calculation. 👍

 

[anon y mous]

Crazy, I see my wonderful room-mate thought it would be funny to edit my posts and change my stats. She only admitted it a couple weeks ago but I didn't realize they went back so far. She even posted new posts unde rmy username. I may have thought it was funny if it wasn't so much trouble to do damage control.

 

[Turkelton]

With your current stats, if you fill out all of your DO secondary apps this month and send them in, I'm pretty sure you'll get in somewhere (that is as long as you applied to over 10 DO programs). You'll see plenty of folks on MDApps that have lesser stats then yourself, and still find a way in. I think you're in a great situation, its still early as **** in the app season, and you have an awesome GPA. If I were you I would roll the dice, and not take the MCAT again. Yesterday I was reading about a person that took the May MCAT scored a 30, then took July MCAT hoping to do better and scored a 22. But then again it can roll the other way too, its just all a matter of friggin randomness.

I would say if youre happy going to any med school, then continue on with the stats you have, but if your looking for a particular school then focus on a retake.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Make sure you at least meet cutoffs at the schools you plan to apply. You could also contact admissions advisors/deans to ask what they'd advise, especially at your top choices. I agree that you have a good shot, as is.

 

[anon y mous]

Thanks

 

[Billicus]

23M MCAT (first exam) - 7V, 8P, 8B
3.28c AACOMAS
3.05s AACOMAS
Iowa resident

Also I've been working in a hospital as a phlebotomist for a year and half now.. shadowing a D.O. for 3 months.. and a few other EC's.

I already submitted my app to AACOMAS, but I was just wondering what everybody's thoughts were.

I applied to:
-DMU
-KCUMB
-ATSU-Kirksville
-Rocky Vista University

My GPA and MCAT meet minimums, but aren't anything spectacular by any means. My real strength is my clinical experience and I'm pretty confident that my personal statement turned out nicely.

Let me know what you guys think.. thanks.

 

[Turkelton]

It's not too late my friend (its actually pretty early in the game) to go add another dozen schools to AACOMAS. There were people last year submitting there apps in the Nov to Jan range and still getting in.

You're app is already complete and on file there, all you have to do is fork over some more $, it'll take about 5 minutes of your time to go add those schools.

I myself applied to 25 DO schools (and this was before I found out about my ****ed up MCAT score). Go add some more schools, I promise it can only increase your chances. As for the MD schools if you want to fill out the secondaries do so, but it could be a waste of money, they care a lot more about your numbers than who you are as a person.

 

[anon y mous]

It's not too late my friend (its actually pretty early in the game) to go add another dozen schools to AACOMAS. There were people last year submitting there apps in the Nov to Jan range and still getting in.

You're app is already complete and on file there, all you have to do is fork over some more $, it'll take about 5 minutes of your time to go add those schools.

I myself applied to 25 DO schools (and this was before I found out about my ****ed up MCAT score). Go add some more schools, I promise it can only increase your chances. As for the MD schools if you want to fill out the secondaries do so, but it could be a waste of money, they care a lot more about your numbers than who you are as a person.

Thanks so much. Can you PM me (if you don't want to post here) your stats and where you applied. I'm freaking out and don't know what to do.

 

[Aaron2008]

Hey guys, this is me in a nutshell.

MCAT: 25M (10P, 6V, 9B)
Cumulative GPA: 3.53
Sci GPA: 3.37

I have about 100 hrs of volunteering and about 40 hrs of shadowing a DO. I have no research experience. (I was in Biological Engineering and I did research for my design projects, but I don't know if this count as 'research.')

Because of the low VR score, I have been deciding whether or not to retake the MCAT in September. I am going to apply to OSU, ATSU-Kirksville, and KCUMB. What are my chances at these schools? I am an AR resident.

Thanks!

 

[andyfeelsgood]

MCAT: 30O PS:7 VB: 11 BS: 12 WS: O
GPA: overall gpa: 3.0 bcpm: 2.92 nonscience: 3.2
not 100% on gpas, forget what aacomas said but they are pretty close.

EC's: tutored children in underserved areas for ~1 year
shadowed a DO in the ER for a day
2 years of undergrad research.

Schools: UNECOM, PCOM, NYCOM, Western/COMP, TOURO-MI, UMDNJ-SOM, LECOM-Erie

waiting to get verified.

Worried about GPA, PS score, and lack of clinical experience. Will begin volunteering at local hospital in the fall (earliest they said I could start). Is this too late? Getting a LoR from the DO I shadowed. Think I can do well on the interview. What do you think my overall chances are/ways to increase my chances?