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Like everyone else has said, work on getting your grades up and you should be fine. I had 5 or 6 terms with grades in the 2.+ range and even one at a whopping 1.9 and still managed to pull things together and graduate at a 3.0 even. I will admit that I had as many as 19 credits of engineering at a time, a very involved job, and was on a sports team so I had some excuses, but if you try hard and get back on an upward trend you should be granted some grace for a slim term here and there.

I did end up coming back to school once I decided to pursue medicine to retake o-chem and one term of general chem. (man did that suck).


Good luck and keep working hard.
 
MedStudentWanna said:
What? His second MCAT is a 28. How is that low for DO schools???
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Relative to his GPA, it's low.

vegousc said:
Hi. I just got my disappointing MCAT score: V:7, P:13, B:11, 31R. I was scoring 36 average in AAMC.

My undergrad GPA is 4.00 and I have two Masters' in Science, with 3.9 GPA. Six years of graduate research, teaching, and normal shadow and clinical experience.

What scares me is my V score of 7. Is that a killer for DO schools? Should I retake the MCAT? Any advice would be highly appreciated.
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Oh you are completely ****ed with a 31 MCAT and 4.0 GPA with two Masters degree and years worth of research, teaching, and shadowing experience.

Seriously...you are fine. That 7 might be a red flag but you got plenty of good things going on to counter it. If you don't think that you can score better than 31, then don't retake the MCAT. I'd definitely not re-take even if I thought I could do better. Because there is always a chance that you're going to get a passage about French Revolution and its relation with the modern art movement and cotton linens....then you'll be ****ed....

golfin87 said:
I just got my MCAT score: 9VR, 10PS, 10BS = 29Q

My GPA is on the low side: non-science = 3.75, science = 3.05, overall = 3.31

some extra's: bio. peer adviser, hospital volunteering, tutor, and I should have a D.O. letter

I'm hoping for CCOM, but I just want to get in........do i have a decent shot?
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Seems pretty well-rounded. Your low sci GPA is countered well by the MCAT so no worries.

CupcakeMD said:
Thanks for the response, Rollo. I'll do some research and find out which schools require a LOR from a DO, and then eliminate it from my list.
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I know that PCOM, CCOM, AZCOM, NYCOM, Touro-NY, UMDNJ, & UNECOM don't require a DO letter (I know because I applied to those schools without a DO letter).

But...check the CIB just to be sure.
 
So here is my story:
CGPA : 3.48 BCMP: 3.62. 30 MCAT. I retook 5 science cources from the first two years, including Orgo I and II. My mom passed away my freshman year, so I had to work full-time to support my self. Thus, the horrible performance during the first two years. Took advanced courses my senior year. Have 1 year of public health research (not a lab setting) with pending publication, 1 poster presentation, 4 months internship in the lab of a chem. company, ~300 hours volunteering, 2 DO shadowings , etc. What do you think are my chances?

P.S. I did not take Biochem
 
Hi, Rollo,

Thank you for your insight. The Verbal score of 7 was a shock to me as I never scored that low in practice and walked out the test feeling OK about VR. I am going to heed your advice and explain it in my personal statement as I have a 92% percentile GRE verbal score. I am sorry for being paranoid but does DO schools seem to screen based on Verbal scores as well? Many of the successful DO applicants that I have seen have balanced MCAT scores. Also, my V score of 7 is what they will see before the total of 31. Again, thank you for your insights. I really appreciate them.
 
Thank's Rollo, your advice is greatly appreciated.
 
OMTlover said:
So here is my story:
CGPA : 3.48 BCMP: 3.62. 30 MCAT. I retook 5 science cources from the first two years, including Orgo I and II. My mom passed away my freshman year, so I had to work full-time to support my self. Thus, the horrible performance during the first two years. Took advanced courses my senior year. Have 1 year of public health research (not a lab setting) with pending publication, 1 poster presentation, 4 months internship in the lab of a chem. company, ~300 hours volunteering, 2 DO shadowings , etc. What do you think are my chances?

P.S. I did not take Biochem
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First, sorry to hear about your mom... Your gpa and MCAT are great as long as you didn't score lower than a 7 in any area. Your gpa is good so I wouldn't worry about having to explain it. If your first two years were in fact that badly then your upward trend looks even better. Your EC's seem varied and as long as you can articulate what you LEARNED from each experience rather than WHAT each experience was you should have that covered. If you have some spare time on your hands try to get some clinical volunteering (not just shadowing). I took Biochem and got an A+ in it, however, this was NEVER mentioned to me at all. So I think it was essentially a non-factor so don't worry about not having taken it as long as you have other upper division science courses to show you are capable.

Other than that I would just be careful to not mention your mom passing away as an "excuse". I wouldn't in fact make mention of your poor performance your first two years at all unless asked. Then if asked explain, but again explain what you took from the experience as a person, NOT all the trials you were able to overcome.

Apply broadly and early, go to as many interviews as you can afford (wish I had gone to DMU's) and then sit back and let it all play out.

Best of luck👍
 
GET THOSE GRADES UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not to be mean but stop relaxing and get your head in the books and raise that gpa. It will be worth it when its high and your accepted to med school, then relax during that summer between graduation and the starting of med school
 
The obvious answer is to raise your grades... easier said than done sometimes. Make sure to apply early and that the rest of your application is stellar. I have a similar situation as far as GPA goes so I feel for you. Although your application will be compared to others as a whole... your GPA alone will not. Everyone has different circumstances, not to mention the difficulty of your program could be higher than others. Ignore those who will brag they did amazing and are now giving you crap because you're GPA is lower than theirs. Who cares, do what you can to get yourself accepted. Also, are you sure you will be able to take Orgo II at a community college? I know that was not an option at my university.
 
CupcakeMD said:
Thanks for the response, Rollo. I'll do some research and find out which schools require a LOR from a DO, and then eliminate it from my list.



Thanks Bacchus! I'll check out the specific schools you listed. Are there any specific reasons why you suggested those schools?




Actually, MedStudentWannaBe... My 28 was my FIRST mcat score, the 26 was my SECOND. I know, doesn't look good at all... =\
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There is no formal ranking of the osteopathic medical schools and they all graduate physicians. However, my opinion is that the more established schools have more connections and more avenues for future endeavors. With your stats, I think you have a good shot at the more-established schools. In your list, especially the Touros, there are newer schools. Western, NYCOM, and UMDNJ are "more established" picks. However, the Touros have had some good match lists coming out the past few years. Its really up to you, but the success of a school and its time in the business creates a great foundation for clinical education. Not all schools are created equally.
 
vegousc said:
Hi, Rollo,

Thank you for your insight. The Verbal score of 7 was a shock to me as I never scored that low in practice and walked out the test feeling OK about VR. I am going to heed your advice and explain it in my personal statement as I have a 92% percentile GRE verbal score. I am sorry for being paranoid but does DO schools seem to screen based on Verbal scores as well? Many of the successful DO applicants that I have seen have balanced MCAT scores. Also, my V score of 7 is what they will see before the total of 31. Again, thank you for your insights. I really appreciate them.
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You see, a 7 is one of those on-the-edge scores that could go either way. Somebody with a minor background in college-level English writing course will probably (assuming their GPA is not that good and there is inconsistency with other two section scores on the MCAT) get screened out simply because VR tests reading comprehension...and physicians need to comprehend...uhh...reading.

But with applicants like yourself, on the other hand, who has had a strong background in academics, including two Masters which I'm sure required little bit of reading comprehension here and there, won't be held back from being offered interviews.

Good idea to mention it in your PS but keep it short..don't spend a paragraph on it. Maybe a sentence or two. And then don't mention it during your secondaries or don't voluntarily bring them up at interviews. IF you get asked about it at interviews, then be honest, just tell them you understand that you made a mistake.

My experience has been that rarely did I get asked about a bad grade or a "flaw" in my application. I think most interviews are like this too. They are going to try and assess your personality and how you handle yourself under pressure. They have the stats in front of them, and they know what it all means.
 
Thank you, guys, for the advice! I'm on my way in my MCAT prep, and I know it's silly to aim for a "number", so suffice it to say that I'm busting my a** to get as high as possible.
 
What do you think my chances are?

3.5 sgpa (flunked orgo I in undergrad 1st time, took it again got a C. Took it again in CC and got an A)
3.7 cgpa
3.6 in grad school (MPH)
MCAT: 29 O

6 years of public health research experience, including one year performing research in a developing country; 16 publications. No DO shadowing yet but I am working on it.

Would I be competitive for MD as well? Generally, I prefer DO programs but if I could get into the in-state MD program here, that would probably be my first choice (due to much lower tuition). I am in my mid 30's (don't know how big of a factor that is.) Thanks!
 
Geralt said:
What do you think my chances are?

3.5 sgpa (flunked orgo I in undergrad 1st time, took it again got a C. Took it again in CC and got an A)
3.7 cgpa
3.6 in grad school (MPH)
MCAT: 29 O

6 years of public health research experience, including one year performing research in a developing country; 16 publications. No DO shadowing yet but I am working on it.

Would I be competitive for MD as well? Generally, I prefer DO programs but if I could get into the in-state MD program here, that would probably be my first choice (due to much lower tuition). I am in my mid 30's (don't know how big of a factor that is.) Thanks!
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your GPA looks fine for MD, but i think your MCAT would definitely keep you out of some mid to higher-tier MD schools, since most accepted MCATs for those hover around the 30-35 range. perhaps if you took it again and if you scored higher, you'd have a better shot at the MDs, but for DOs the 29 is fine. try to get in a little shadowing before you start interviews, so you can discuss clinical experience... also - the in-state advantage really depends on where your state of residency is. for example, there really is no advantage if you live in california (since it's so competitive to get into those schools anyway)
 
JagerDO said:
The obvious answer is to raise your grades... easier said than done sometimes. Make sure to apply early and that the rest of your application is stellar. I have a similar situation as far as GPA goes so I feel for you. Although your application will be compared to others as a whole... your GPA alone will not. Everyone has different circumstances, not to mention the difficulty of your program could be higher than others. Ignore those who will brag they did amazing and are now giving you crap because you're GPA is lower than theirs. Who cares, do what you can to get yourself accepted. Also, are you sure you will be able to take Orgo II at a community college? I know that was not an option at my university.
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Just wanted to jump in here. Most cc do give the option for orgo 2, I was surprised that my school had one. Sadly I can't take it since I will be over my credits and they will not all transfer 🙁.
 
Geralt said:
What do you think my chances are?

3.5 sgpa (flunked orgo I in undergrad 1st time, took it again got a C. Took it again in CC and got an A)
3.7 cgpa
3.6 in grad school (MPH)
MCAT: 29 O

6 years of public health research experience, including one year performing research in a developing country; 16 publications. No DO shadowing yet but I am working on it.

Would I be competitive for MD as well? Generally, I prefer DO programs but if I could get into the in-state MD program here, that would probably be my first choice (due to much lower tuition). I am in my mid 30's (don't know how big of a factor that is.) Thanks!
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You are probably competitive at your state MD school with those numbers. But as somebody said above, depending on which state you're in, the degree of competitiveness might be different.

And holy ****, 16 publications?!? That's a ton load of research experience. Definitely get some DO shadowing done soon if you're applying this cycle.

I don't think you flunking orgo will be a big deal because you made some good progress in grades afterwords. You being in mid-30s probably has an advantage that you have more life experience and are more mature about your decision to enter medicine. Plus, you have plenty of stories from your life to talk about it in your personal statement and secondaries.
 
I'm new to the DO application cycle, so please excuse me for sounding like a fool.

I tried the MD route last year, and it was a complete disaster - with one rejection coming after another. And along the way, I just realized that reapplying would lead to another disappointing year, and I was about to give up completely. But a friend of mine told me to think about DO schools.

So I was wondering: do most applicants shotgun schools the way MD applicants do? ie. apply to every school that is willing to take out of state students and have scores that within your range?

Or should I pick out specific ones?

For what it's worth, my stats are:
3.48 sGPA, 3.48 overallGPA. 32P.
Pretty average EC's:
Research all throughout school (4 summers); worked during school; am currently working in a research lab; 1+year volunteering

I'm sure I'm missing something since I'm typing this while waiting on a centrifuge. But that's the gist of my app.

I appreciate any help and/or words of advice.
 
JaDud6PG said:
I'm new to the DO application cycle, so please excuse me for sounding like a fool.

I tried the MD route last year, and it was a complete disaster - with one rejection coming after another. And along the way, I just realized that reapplying would lead to another disappointing year, and I was about to give up completely. But a friend of mine told me to think about DO schools.

So I was wondering: do most applicants shotgun schools the way MD applicants do? ie. apply to every school that is willing to take out of state students and have scores that within your range?

Or should I pick out specific ones?

For what it's worth, my stats are:
3.48 sGPA, 3.48 overallGPA. 32P.
Pretty average EC's:
Research all throughout school (4 summers); worked during school; am currently working in a research lab; 1+year volunteering

I'm sure I'm missing something since I'm typing this while waiting on a centrifuge. But that's the gist of my app.

I appreciate any help and/or words of advice.
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Your stats look pretty good for DO schools. I think you should probably get in somewhere. As for the shotgun method, I do think it is a very good idea to apply broadly and early. There's something like 28 DO schools now, so you might want to narrow that down a little bit. Applying to all of them would get expensive fast. Do some research and find the schools that interest you the most. Maybe look and see what region(s) of the U.S. you might want to live in and go from there. Also, some of the schools are in big cities and some are in very rural areas. And some schools have PBL, Systems, traditional. I applied to about 14 schools (I think that's about average).

Make sure you know the DO philosophy and what OMM/OMT is all about. You should also find a DO to shadow if you can. This will allow you to show admissions committees that you are interested in osteopathic medicine specifically and you're not using it as a backup. Also, it is great if applicants can get an LOR from a DO. Some schools even require that you have an LOR from a DO (there's only a few).

Good luck with this application season. I think if you play your cards right, you'll get a spot somewhere. The biggest thing I think you need to do is to show schools that you are committed to osteopathic medicine specifically. Don't take this lightly. If a school thinks you are applying to them as a backup, you don't stand a chance. You will absolutely have to explain the "why DO" question on many secondaries and interviews.
 
Spooner13 said:
Your stats look pretty good for DO schools. I think you should probably get in somewhere. As for the shotgun method, I do think it is a very good idea to apply broadly and early. There's something like 28 DO schools now, so you might want to narrow that down a little bit. Applying to all of them would get expensive fast. Do some research and find the schools that interest you the most. Maybe look and see what region(s) of the U.S. you might want to live in and go from there. Also, some of the schools are in big cities and some are in very rural areas. And some schools have PBL, Systems, traditional. I applied to about 14 schools (I think that's about average).

Make sure you know the DO philosophy and what OMM/OMT is all about. You should also find a DO to shadow if you can. This will allow you to show admissions committees that you are interested in osteopathic medicine specifically and you're not using it as a backup. Also, it is great if applicants can get an LOR from a DO. Some schools even require that you have an LOR from a DO (there's only a few).

Good luck with this application season. I think if you play your cards right, you'll get a spot somewhere. The biggest thing I think you need to do is to show schools that you are committed to osteopathic medicine specifically. Don't take this lightly. If a school thinks you are applying to them as a backup, you don't stand a chance. You will absolutely have to explain the "why DO" question on many secondaries and interviews.
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To add to what spooner said, JaDud6PG your stats are great for DO schools and as long as you apply early you should have a great shot at getting in. I would recommend narrowing your list down by the areas that you can actually see yourself living in. From there take a good look at tuition and other stipulations the schools have. For example, I think OU-COM has some requirement about practicing in Ohio if you go there. Not exactly sure what it is or if its still that way so don't quote me on that but just listing an example.

Also take a look at LOR requirements. I applied to PCOM not knowing they REQUIRE a dean's letter. Just researching the schools and knowing stuff like that can save you time and money.

Good luck!
 
My GPA stayed about around a 3.5-3.6 through my sophomore year. I took a LOT of upper-division classes during that period (upper division biology, philosophy, etc.), but managed to get into those classes without the pre-reqs (basic biology, physics, etc.). I recently transferred schools and their lecture-only learning style has been extremely bad for me, and for some reason, those pre-reqs just aren't going that well. My GPA dropped from a 3.6 to a 3.5, and this semester it will probably be lurking around a 3.3-3.4, despite my best efforts. I took physics II and orgo II, and while I got a B in orgo, I concentrated on it so hard that my grade in physics is around a C. I expect my GPA will be better in my senior year, since advance biology classes are what I'm taking and I do well in those, but... medical schools will be looking at what I have up to now, and I feel like I just destroyed my chances. Is there hope?
 
Exalya said:
My GPA stayed about around a 3.5-3.6 through my sophomore year. I took a LOT of upper-division classes during that period (upper division biology, philosophy, etc.), but managed to get into those classes without the pre-reqs (basic biology, physics, etc.). I recently transferred schools and their lecture-only learning style has been extremely bad for me, and for some reason, those pre-reqs just aren't going that well. My GPA dropped from a 3.6 to a 3.5, and this semester it will probably be lurking around a 3.3-3.4, despite my best efforts. I took physics II and orgo II, and while I got a B in orgo, I concentrated on it so hard that my grade in physics is around a C. I expect my GPA will be better in my senior year, since advance biology classes are what I'm taking and I do well in those, but... medical schools will be looking at what I have up to now, and I feel like I just destroyed my chances. Is there hope?
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You haven't destroyed your chances at medical schools, just make sure you do well in your remaining classes.
 
Spooner13, TeamZissou ..

Thanks for the help. I'm definitely not looking at DO schools as a backup. Heck, I'm not even going to chase after any MD schools this semester .. not even the state ones. Strangely, out of all the places I had applied to last time around, the state school was the first to send me a rejection (about 1 month after I had completed the 2nd app). I've been looking into the DO philosophy and I've spoken to a few people who have gotten into DO schools.

I also wasted no time in searching for a DO to help me out. I found a doctor who was not only willing to have me come by to watch him work once or twice but also said that he'd write a letter for me if I can send give him a SASE and my resume.

I'm going to do a bit more research on the schools (the dean's letter situation that you were in is a bit unnerving) before I submit the app.

Thanks again, and best of luck to the both of you.
 
JaDud6PG said:
Spooner13, TeamZissou ..

Thanks for the help. I'm definitely not looking at DO schools as a backup. Heck, I'm not even going to chase after any MD schools this semester .. not even the state ones. Strangely, out of all the places I had applied to last time around, the state school was the first to send me a rejection (about 1 month after I had completed the 2nd app). I've been looking into the DO philosophy and I've spoken to a few people who have gotten into DO schools.

I also wasted no time in searching for a DO to help me out. I found a doctor who was not only willing to have me come by to watch him work once or twice but also said that he'd write a letter for me if I can send give him a SASE and my resume.

I'm going to do a bit more research on the schools (the dean's letter situation that you were in is a bit unnerving) before I submit the app.

Thanks again, and best of luck to the both of you.
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What does SASE stand for?
 
Well, I guess I'll put in my total stats and see what people think (thank you for the encouragment above)--

From Texas
3.4 GPA overall (never calculated my sGPA, but it should be in the 3.0-3.4 ballpark, definitely not lower)
MCAT yet to be taken (end of this month, applying this cycle)
80 hrs volunteering in the ER
~300 hrs teaching elementary summer school (biology/ecology focus)
200 hrs volunteering at an observatory
Red Cross Disaster Certified
Currently volunteering 4 hrs/week at a local hospital (6 month commitment, just started)
3 years employed as a Biology Laboratory Technician (helped out with a lot of research, but no papers or anything)
4 LORs - from my supervisor at the lab, philosophy teacher, genetics teacher, and ecology teacher

Those are the numbers I have. I'm still hashing out my personal statement, but I think it's rather important... came from an abusive/economically underprivileged household and started living on my own at 16. Married at 17 to a soldier who served a year (after we were married) in Iraq. I am now 19 and will be graduating May 2010. I'm hoping my story will help out with my grades, which aren't as stellar as I would like... for a variety of (obvious) personal reasons.

The schools I would really like to go to are Touro in California, UNT, Rocky Vista or Lincoln Memorial. I don't plan on applying east coast because I don't want to live there. 😛 I recently decided that I'm leaning DO not because of my grades, but because I think I would fit in better with people who take a more holistic approach. I'm applying to both MD and DO, but if it comes down to a choice over the two, I'd go DO.
 
Exalya said:
Well, I guess I'll put in my total stats and see what people think (thank you for the encouragment above)--

From Texas
3.4 GPA overall (never calculated my sGPA, but it should be in the 3.0-3.4 ballpark, definitely not lower)
MCAT yet to be taken (end of this month, applying this cycle)
80 hrs volunteering in the ER
~300 hrs teaching elementary summer school (biology/ecology focus)
200 hrs volunteering at an observatory
Red Cross Disaster Certified
Currently volunteering 4 hrs/week at a local hospital (6 month commitment, just started)
3 years employed as a Biology Laboratory Technician (helped out with a lot of research, but no papers or anything)
4 LORs - from my supervisor at the lab, philosophy teacher, genetics teacher, and ecology teacher

Those are the numbers I have. I'm still hashing out my personal statement, but I think it's rather important... came from an abusive/economically underprivileged household and started living on my own at 16. Married at 17 to a soldier who served a year (after we were married) in Iraq. I am now 19 and will be graduating May 2010. I'm hoping my story will help out with my grades, which aren't as stellar as I would like... for a variety of (obvious) personal reasons.
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All in all, looks pretty darn good, but give the MCAT some focus. I'm also not seeing any shadowing... that's very important to have. Not only for the experience (shadowing a DO would be beneficial), but also because many (if not all) schools require a LOR from a physician (some even want a DO specifically). (apparently i really like using parentheses)

Obviously you're a little younger than average too, but I think your story shows the maturity needed for med school. It will be important to convey that in the interview as well.

Keep working hard, you're getting there. Good luck!
 
hey guys any response will be greatly appreciated.

3.3 over all gpa
3.3 science gpa
280 mcat 8/10/10

6 months shadowing at low income clinic
6 months volunteering at a diagnostic imaging center
2 year of research.
other small stuff

1 MD, 1 Do, 1 research, 2 science prof letters

is this enough for DO schools
should i even bother with MD schools
oh and yeah i have the honor of being CA resident😡
 
*wrong thread, deleted*
 
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JaDud6PG said:
Spooner13, TeamZissou ..

Thanks for the help. I'm definitely not looking at DO schools as a backup. Heck, I'm not even going to chase after any MD schools this semester .. not even the state ones. Strangely, out of all the places I had applied to last time around, the state school was the first to send me a rejection (about 1 month after I had completed the 2nd app). I've been looking into the DO philosophy and I've spoken to a few people who have gotten into DO schools.

I also wasted no time in searching for a DO to help me out. I found a doctor who was not only willing to have me come by to watch him work once or twice but also said that he'd write a letter for me if I can send give him a SASE and my resume.

I'm going to do a bit more research on the schools (the dean's letter situation that you were in is a bit unnerving) before I submit the app.

Thanks again, and best of luck to the both of you.
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Sounds like you are off to a great start. And it is good that you found a DO to write you a letter. However, schools probably want to get a letter from someone who has spent significant time around you and can write some personal stuff (not just what is on a CV). If you have MDs that you have spent time around, whether it be shadowing or work or volunteering, I would ask them for a letter as well. That way you can send a letter from a DO and an MD (that's what I did). However, some schools will not let you send multiple physician letters, but most will.

Also, if you have the time, you might want to try to contact another DO. Here are a couple of links that can get you started:

http://www.osteopathic.org/YOM/mentor_search.htm
http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=findado_main

If neither of these cites work out, you can always check the yellow pages and go to physicians and see which ones are DOs. Then just start calling some that are in a field that you are interested in and see if you can shadow them. This can be hard because it's tough to just call out of the blue. You will probably get told no a lot, but if you are persistant, you have a good chance at finding someone.

I think if you keep up the hard work, you will definitely get a spot. Also, check out DMU. Its awesome (well, I haven't actually started school there yet, but I think it's great!)
 
Is it worth me applying this time around?

Just calculated my GPA on AACOMAS -
non sci: 3.28, sci: 3.03, cum: 3.16

I have good ECs, shadowed some docs, good letters of reccomendation (2 from DOs)

Also just got my MCAT scores awhile ago:
ps: 9 vr: 9 bs: 9
total: 27 O

Main thing I am worried about is the GPA (not sure how competitive the MCAT is either.)

Anyway, tell me - what are my chances? :xf:
 
I'm from California, and I'd like to do my residencies and eventually end up working in this area. Does that mean I should apply in this area?

What would be the schools who have the best opportunities for specialization here? I would like to specialize, and have a lot of opportunities. Should I go by looking at the match lists and see which schools send off a lot of residents to different specialties?

Also, I know these kinds of questions usually get a great variety of responses, but which schools on the west coast are known for sending their residents off to the "best" residencies, for whatever field they're going into. Thanks a lot for the help everyone. I really appreciate it.
 
mdew87 said:
hey guys any response will be greatly appreciated.

3.3 over all gpa
3.3 science gpa
280 mcat 8/10/10

6 months shadowing at low income clinic
6 months volunteering at a diagnostic imaging center
2 year of research.
other small stuff

1 MD, 1 Do, 1 research, 2 science prof letters

is this enough for DO schools
should i even bother with MD schools
oh and yeah i have the honor of being CA resident😡
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Your stats are somewhat low for MD schools but give it a shot if you want. On the other hand, your stats look fine for DO schools.

life is good said:
Is it worth me applying this time around?

Just calculated my GPA on AACOMAS -
non sci: 3.28, sci: 3.03, cum: 3.16

I have good ECs, shadowed some docs, good letters of reccomendation (2 from DOs)

Also just got my MCAT scores awhile ago:
ps: 9 vr: 9 bs: 9
total: 27 O

Main thing I am worried about is the GPA (not sure how competitive the MCAT is either.)

Anyway, tell me - what are my chances? :xf:
Click to expand...

Your MCAT is fine. It's right there with average MCAT for DO schools. GPA, on the other hand, is low.

You said "applying this time around"....will you be a senior starting fall? Are you planning on taking any more upper division science courses?

If that is the case, then I'd say wait a year. Bring up the GPA...even though you will only be able to bring it up by 0.1-0.2 points. (Just random guesses, could be lower) You don't have to re-take the MCAT. Unless you are absolutely sure that you can score 30+. But like I said before, your MCAT is pretty competitive.

In the mean time, you can work on more ECs. Do some non-medical ECs, leadership EC, teaching (tutoring) EC, more shadowing, maybe little research. Try to get a well-rounded set of ECs rather than generic volunteering and shadowing.

Thomas Hearns said:
I'm from California, and I'd like to do my residencies and eventually end up working in this area. Does that mean I should apply in this area?

What would be the schools who have the best opportunities for specialization here? I would like to specialize, and have a lot of opportunities. Should I go by looking at the match lists and see which schools send off a lot of residents to different specialties?

Also, I know these kinds of questions usually get a great variety of responses, but which schools on the west coast are known for sending their residents off to the "best" residencies, for whatever field they're going into. Thanks a lot for the help everyone. I really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Well, yes and no. When you are in medical school, you can apply for residency really anywhere in the country you want. But one of the important factors with matching into a residency is doing rotation at the program you're trying to match into. So for example, you go to medical school in New York, and you want a residency in California. You would have to set up an away rotation with one of the CA programs to gain some "face time" with the program. If you do this, your chances of matching into their program dramatically rise, all things being equal.

On the other hand, if you don't rotate through a CA program while in med school in NY, and apply for residency in CA, you may not match there because the program has never met you and don't know you that well except for interviews.

So, you can apply and attend medical school outside of CA, but you're going to have to keep in mind that you should plan to do some away rotations with some programs in CA. This is why attending a CA med school would be easier because you're already in the state where you wish to live after med school.

Western is a pretty good west coast school. Check their match list but keep in mind that match list from one year only reflects what the students in that year wanted to specialize in. Some years, Western puts out lot of surgeons, while other years, it puts out none. This doesn't mean that Western is bad at producing surgeons...it just means that the students in that class year didn't want to go into surgery.

Try schools in Nevada, Arizona, and little bit out in the midwest. You're still relatively close to CA if you go to schools there so it'd be easier for you to rotate through some CA programs.

Hope this helps.
 
ok, im thinking of applying this year but im a little uneasy.
gpa=3.2 science=2.8 non sci=3.4
mcat=taking it june
extracurriculars
shadowed nuerosurgeon=20 hours watched removal of a subdural hematoma
shadowed pediatric cardiologist=8 hrs.
chemistry tutor
certified personal trainer
church camp counselor
health enthusiast @ the vitamin shoppe
200 hours volunteering in the ED
fluent in greek
cpr/aed certified

as for plans during the summer im continuing to retake classes as I plan to apply DO and a few MD. I also plan on scoring 30+ on the mcat. I started a STEEP upward trend 2 years ago. prior to the fall of 2007 I had a 2.2 cum with a 1.8 science. I got my stuff together but the spring of 2008 I was in the hospitol for 6 days during finals week which prohibited me to withdraw from my classes. I ended that semester with a 1.8 which ruined me. I contacted the school while i was in the hospitol and the Withdrawl date was past due even without a refund. Since then the past 2 semesters I have ended with a 3.57 and this past one taking 6 classes i pulled a 3.49. I was wondering with a high mcat score if I could pull off an acceptance to a school like nova. The thing that kills me the most is I could spend a whole other year in school taking another 10 classes and only increase my gpa from a 3.2 to a 3.3. it doesnt seem worth it to me. SO if I apply early, broadly and intelligently do i stand a chance at a DO acceptance?

I am also applying for research internships this summer and I am hoping to land a research experience.
this semester grades that i just received yesterday. Im graduating in may as well and i just dont know if a post bacc is worth it. i retook chem I because i had a C- in it and I retook Physics II because I had D- in it

20699BIOL3370MEDICAL BOTANY A-
20703BIOL3600PREPARATION FOR RESEARCH A
20713CHEM2110CHEMISTRY I:GENERAL PRINCIPLES A-
20188GAH1244HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC B
20814MARS2415PREP. FOR TROPICAL MARINE BIOL A
20853PHYS2120PHYSICS FOR LIFE SCIENCES II B+
 
You said "applying this time around"....will you be a senior starting fall? Are you planning on taking any more upper division science courses?

If that is the case, then I'd say wait a year. Bring up the GPA...even though you will only be able to bring it up by 0.1-0.2 points. (Just random guesses, could be lower) You don't have to re-take the MCAT. Unless you are absolutely sure that you can score 30+. But like I said before, your MCAT is pretty competitive.

In the mean time, you can work on more ECs. Do some non-medical ECs, leadership EC, teaching (tutoring) EC, more shadowing, maybe little research. Try to get a well-rounded set of ECs rather than generic volunteering and shadowing.


Hey Rollo - I just finished my junior year and will be a senior in the fall. The main concern for me is my GPA, I understand. However, I would love to start immediately after my senior year. I have 3 years of research experience behind me (one of my letters is coming from my PI). Also have taken plenty of higher level science classes: Cell Biology, Immunology, Embryology, Genetics, Biochemistry... to name a few. Also know quite a few DOs. I was just wondering if anyone out there got in with a GPA similar to mine? If I apply early and broadly, is it likely that I will have a chance?

Kinda looking for hope...
 
ROLLO

thanks for the reply. Very helpful post. I'm still feeling a bit lost with this whole process.


Is it common for people from NY to do some rotations in CA? How long does each rotation last? Do students usually end up staying in a hotel or motel or something for a month or so? How does that work?

So, mostly, I guess I should be looking at where students usually rotate by looking at the schools affiliated sites? And you can also set up your own rotations, is that how that works? Thanks for any additional information.
 
Last edited:
here is my dilema:

My current MCAT is 8V, 9B, 9P Q. I am planning on taking the MCAT again in June to see if I can bring it up.

3.9 Non Science, 3.2 Science (with increasing trend junior and senior year, 3.8 and 3.9), 3.5 Cumiliative

Is it going to hurt/delay my DO application by me taking the MCAT again in June since the med schools will see that I am taking the MCAT again, and could wait for the scores to come back?

I know the sooner you fill out your app, the better your chances are, but is there a usual date before which schools dont send out secondaries and start looking at primaries? Thanks for your help guys!
 
doggydog1 said:
here is my dilema:

My current MCAT is 8V, 9B, 9P Q. I am planning on taking the MCAT again in June to see if I can bring it up.

3.9 Non Science, 3.2 Science (with increasing trend junior and senior year, 3.8 and 3.9), 3.5 Cumiliative

Is it going to hurt/delay my DO application by me taking the MCAT again in June since the med schools will see that I am taking the MCAT again, and could wait for the scores to come back?

I know the sooner you fill out your app, the better your chances are, but is there a usual date before which schools dont send out secondaries and start looking at primaries? Thanks for your help guys!
Click to expand...

I say definitely apply early and don't wait until after you retook the MCAT.
I give your chances 33% of getting in to a DO school. If you apply to at least 5 DO schools AND APPLY EARLY (very important) I can almost guarantee that you will be accepted to at least one. The key is you have to apply very early to up your chances, and do very well on the interview. If you can shadow and get a letter of recommendation from DO that would be even better. If for some reason you don't luck out, then apply next year after retaking the MCAT and take a lot of garbage courses in college to up your GPA.
 
thanks jdinovit. I am almost finished with my primary application and will submit it by next week. I am also in the process of setting up some DO shadowing so hopefully I can get a DO rec letter from that. Are there certain schools you think I would be more competitive at than others? I am from the midwest so I was thinking of applyinig to schools such as LECOM, OUCOM, PCOM, CCOM,NYCOM
 
I have a 3.17cpa (going to be 3.2 after this semester) and about a 3.0sgpa. I'm taking the MCAT in June an am anticipating scores in the 25-26 range. I would ideally like to attend Pikeville (I am currently and have always been a Ky resident.) How do I look for there?

Or PCOM-Ga, LECOM-FL

I have great EC's as well.
I've worked FULL time during my undergrad and supported myself.
75 hours Hospital ER Volunteer
Will be shadowing a DO next week
Hospice of Souther Kentucky Gala Fundraiser Founder (will be this June, anticipate raising $10k+ for them)
Church Camp Counselor
Humane Society Dog Walker volunteer
 
kypreos said:
ok, im thinking of applying this year but im a little uneasy.
gpa=3.2 science=2.8 non sci=3.4
mcat=taking it june
extracurriculars
shadowed nuerosurgeon=20 hours watched removal of a subdural hematoma
shadowed pediatric cardiologist=8 hrs.
chemistry tutor
certified personal trainer
church camp counselor
health enthusiast @ the vitamin shoppe
200 hours volunteering in the ED
fluent in greek
cpr/aed certified

as for plans during the summer im continuing to retake classes as I plan to apply DO and a few MD. I also plan on scoring 30+ on the mcat. I started a STEEP upward trend 2 years ago. prior to the fall of 2007 I had a 2.2 cum with a 1.8 science. I got my stuff together but the spring of 2008 I was in the hospitol for 6 days during finals week which prohibited me to withdraw from my classes. I ended that semester with a 1.8 which ruined me. I contacted the school while i was in the hospitol and the Withdrawl date was past due even without a refund. Since then the past 2 semesters I have ended with a 3.57 and this past one taking 6 classes i pulled a 3.49. I was wondering with a high mcat score if I could pull off an acceptance to a school like nova. The thing that kills me the most is I could spend a whole other year in school taking another 10 classes and only increase my gpa from a 3.2 to a 3.3. it doesnt seem worth it to me. SO if I apply early, broadly and intelligently do i stand a chance at a DO acceptance?

I am also applying for research internships this summer and I am hoping to land a research experience.
this semester grades that i just received yesterday. Im graduating in may as well and i just dont know if a post bacc is worth it. i retook chem I because i had a C- in it and I retook Physics II because I had D- in it

20699BIOL3370MEDICAL BOTANY A-
20703BIOL3600PREPARATION FOR RESEARCH A
20713CHEM2110CHEMISTRY I:GENERAL PRINCIPLES A-
20188GAH1244HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC B
20814MARS2415PREP. FOR TROPICAL MARINE BIOL A
20853PHYS2120PHYSICS FOR LIFE SCIENCES II B+
Click to expand...

I don't know if you know this but AACOMAS takes the recent grade in any subject to calculate their GPA. This means that if you re-took some of the pre-req classes in which you got Cs or lower, no matter what you get again, AACOMAS will take that to calculate your GPA. So that means that you if re-take classes and get As in, your GPA would go up substantially.

Anyway, I think you have a pretty valid excuse for getting that 1.8 one semester (and hence the low science/overall GPA).

Your ECs look fine. Try and get a LOR from a DO if it is possible.

Kill that MCAT (a 45 would be great but 30+ is nice too). If you do, then your GPA is yesterdays news because it would show that you are academically capable to handle medical school coursework.

life is good said:
You said "applying this time around"....will you be a senior starting fall? Are you planning on taking any more upper division science courses?

If that is the case, then I'd say wait a year. Bring up the GPA...even though you will only be able to bring it up by 0.1-0.2 points. (Just random guesses, could be lower) You don't have to re-take the MCAT. Unless you are absolutely sure that you can score 30+. But like I said before, your MCAT is pretty competitive.

In the mean time, you can work on more ECs. Do some non-medical ECs, leadership EC, teaching (tutoring) EC, more shadowing, maybe little research. Try to get a well-rounded set of ECs rather than generic volunteering and shadowing.


Hey Rollo - I just finished my junior year and will be a senior in the fall. The main concern for me is my GPA, I understand. However, I would love to start immediately after my senior year. I have 3 years of research experience behind me (one of my letters is coming from my PI). Also have taken plenty of higher level science classes: Cell Biology, Immunology, Embryology, Genetics, Biochemistry... to name a few. Also know quite a few DOs. I was just wondering if anyone out there got in with a GPA similar to mine? If I apply early and broadly, is it likely that I will have a chance?

Kinda looking for hope...
Click to expand...

People have definitely gotten in with stats similar to yours (browse through MDApps). If you wish to apply early and broadly, then by all means go for it. You definitely have a chance. Write a kick-ass PS, secondaries, smoke the interviews, and see what happens.

Thomas Hearns said:
ROLLO

thanks for the reply. Very helpful post. I'm still feeling a bit lost with this whole process.


Is it common for people from NY to do some rotations in CA? How long does each rotation last? Do students usually end up staying in a hotel or motel or something for a month or so? How does that work?

So, mostly, I guess I should be looking at where students usually rotate by looking at the schools affiliated sites? And you can also set up your own rotations, is that how that works? Thanks for any additional information.
Click to expand...

I personally don't know if anybody from east coast has rotated through CA programs. Your best bet to find this out would be to post in the medical students forum (or the clinical rotations forum).

The length of a rotation varies by school. But they're generally 4-6 weeks long. And some programs may provide housing. Again, this depends on the program and the school. It's not that big of a deal though. You can always seduce a female nurse and stay with her. 😉

And yes, look at schools' rotation sites. This will give you an idea of if you'd need to schedule any away rotations outside the school system.

KyMDHopeful said:
I have a 3.17cpa (going to be 3.2 after this semester) and about a 3.0sgpa. I'm taking the MCAT in June an am anticipating scores in the 25-26 range. I would ideally like to attend Pikeville (I am currently and have always been a Ky resident.) How do I look for there?

Or PCOM-Ga, LECOM-FL

I have great EC's as well.
I've worked FULL time during my undergrad and supported myself.
75 hours Hospital ER Volunteer
Will be shadowing a DO next week
Hospice of Souther Kentucky Gala Fundraiser Founder (will be this June, anticipate raising $10k+ for them)
Church Camp Counselor
Humane Society Dog Walker volunteer
Click to expand...

I think your stats look fine for Pikeville. They heavily favor KY residents and your ECs show dedication towards KY community so you should have no problem there. You may have a chance at PCOM, LECOM also so go ahead apply there if you wish.
 
doggydog1 said:
thanks jdinovit. I am almost finished with my primary application and will submit it by next week. I am also in the process of setting up some DO shadowing so hopefully I can get a DO rec letter from that. Are there certain schools you think I would be more competitive at than others? I am from the midwest so I was thinking of applyinig to schools such as LECOM, OUCOM, PCOM, CCOM,NYCOM
Click to expand...

Sounds good. I think NYCOM is the most competitive one. I am from NY so can't comment very well on how competative the schools are outside of NY. Some DO schools give preferance if you live in the state that school is located on, so look up the statistics of in state acceptances on these schools. I know the NJ DO school doesn't like to take any out of staters. I would also apply to the new Touro Osteopathic school in NY as well since that one is the least competitive since it just opened up and takes almost anyone who applies early, but it might cost you $$$ if you get in there and later get in somewhere else since they accept very early and only give you a short time to send a deposit as a friend told me who got in there. So consider making that one the last one on your interviews if you chose to interview there (or first if you just want to get in somewhere right away and don't care).
 
I'm just finishing up my senior biomedical science engineering major and very recently got into the pre-DO scene. Ill be taking an extra year to finish up prereqs.

my dream job is to work in preventative sports medicine. im considering my choices with DO for the OMM or PT and supplementing that with my engineering background to try and make it as close to a reality as possible.

i have a 3.26 gpa at the moment, this semester i took physics 2 (taking engineering version of it), genetics, orgo2, retook bio1 as i did badly the first time (C+) as well as my regular engineering classes

my GPA is gonna take a huge hit as i was sick or injured for the majority of the semester (dropped orgo without a W since before the deadline), doing horribly in my finals. Im expecting mostly B-'s or C's this semester, maybe a B+ in bio1. I have A's in chem, B+ in phys 1, A's in most maths

as for the summer , Im taking my mcats in july and am studying for a 32, doing EMT training and shadowing a DO ( i have other EC's but most of them are BS random things (research blah blah), im working on improving them. im gonna try and utlize my EMT for volunteering or even a part time job.

i dont mind where i get into school however schools like UNE are out of the question as i have yet to take bio 2, orgo2 and organic lab and they need the prereqs complete before applying. im not sure what other schools share a similar stance on prereqs as well.

i had initially wanted to apply this cycle, but should i even bother applying this cycle or retake courses and apply next cycle?

mini-rant
I gotta decide between PT or DO within the next couple weeks, even considering going PT first, to gain some experience and when i have pay off the initial PT loans, move on to DO. Im scared i will feel i dont have enough influence over a patient as a PT. Im not too pestered about the financial situation as long as i can maintain a gym membership, buy my multivitamins/supplements and afford to eat healthy food and not ramen noodles as i want to stay inbetween 8-10% bf
 
Last edited:
You should definitely apply. If medical school is what you want, go for it. Having a bad quarter is not necessarily a killer of your application, o don;t worry about that. Do your best on the rest of your pre-reqs, and rock your MCAT. Your EC's seem good, so that's a plus.

Your GPA is a bit below the avg. matriculant GPA, so an MCAT score above 25 would be beneficial. You never know what will happen, so apply broadly and see what happens!

Good luck.
 
Applying this year, hopefully really early, just requested transcripts and stuff

My EC's are in line. Shadowing, clinical, leadership, tutoring, and I also have an out of the norm EC where I donated my kidney, have been on panels for organ donation, mentored other living donors, things like that. Did EMT stuff ad well as a medical mission trip. No research. Biology BS and I graduate tomorrow!

3.5 sGPA or so. 3.1 non science. ~3.25 cumulative.

All this is before my stupid last semester. I got a freaking C in histology lab and now I am going crazy. I had a nice upward trend with, except Orgo I and Orgo II and now Histol lab. I feel disappointed in myself, and I am not usually like this.

I have been a full time student for the last 7 years, and my gpa is 3.45 over the last 4 years at the university I am graduating from. I had a poor start my freshman year due to family issues, and have been climbing my way out. Stupid C

Taking the MCAT May 28th, practices have been around 30. I plan on applying broadly, but just looking for some reassurance.
 
If you really do score a 32 and aren't a d-bag during the interview you will be money.
 
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