MD & DO 3.52 cGPA 3.41 sGPA 27 MCAT

[BobaBoba]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everybody! I was hoping some of you could give me some advice and maybe even some criticism. I was born and raised in Kansas, where I am currently attending college. I did take some of my classes at a community college during the Summer, which I do not regret giving I am going to college on my own dime. I am really interested in KU SOM mostly because I would love to stay in the state. It is by far the cheapest option for me but I know I have a long way to go. As for other MD schools where I would really consider myself a long shot, I am looking at lower stat private colleges and other surrounding MD schools like University of Oklahoma. As for DO schools, I am interested in DMU, PCOM, LMU-D, Marian , OSU , RVU, VCOM, and KCUMB. I might also try my luck at AZ-COM and CCOM. I am really interested in Oklahoma State and Marian when it comes to DO schools. There will maybe be some others that I add to that depending on how competitive you guys and gals think I am. Like I said, I know I am a long shot at the MD schools and maybe even at the DO schools, but I would love to hear what you had to say. Do I have a decent shot to get into medical school next cycle? Thanks!

Stats:
cGPA: 3.52 (drops slightly with MD schools)
sGPA: 3.41 (drops slightly with MD schools)
MCAT: 27 (10 PS/9 VR/ 8 BS)

EC's:
200 hours of volunteering for a cancer support organization. I have not really ventured out to do much other volunteering because I have a strong passion for what I do here and try to put my free time into helping out this organization. Should I branch out and get another opportunity ASAP?

20 hours of shadowing family physicians. I have only shadowed two physicians so far. I have been so busy with the MCAT/school that I was trying to lock that down before doing much more shadowing which was dumb. I really need to get on this and start finding some other doctors to shadow (preferably some rural docs).

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Hi everybody! I was hoping some of you could give me some advice and maybe even some criticism. I was born and raised in Kansas, where I am currently attending college. I did take some of my classes at a community college during the Summer, which I do not regret giving I am going to college on my own dime. I am really interested in KU SOM mostly because I would love to stay in the state. It is by far the cheapest option for me but I know I have a long way to go. As for other MD schools where I would really consider myself a long shot, I am looking at lower stat private colleges and other surrounding MD schools like University of Oklahoma. As for DO schools, I am interested in DMU, PCOM, LMU-D, Marian , OSU , RVU, VCOM, and KCUMB. I might also try my luck at AZ-COM and CCOM. I am really interested in Oklahoma State and Marian when it comes to DO schools. There will maybe be some others that I add to that depending on how competitive you guys and gals think I am. Like I said, I know I am a long shot at the MD schools and maybe even at the DO schools, but I would love to hear what you had to say. Do I have a decent shot to get into medical school next cycle? Thanks!

Stats:
cGPA: 3.52 (drops slightly with MD schools)
sGPA: 3.41 (drops slightly with MD schools)
MCAT: 27 (10 PS/9 VR/ 8 BS)

EC's:
200 hours of volunteering for a cancer support organization. I have not really ventured out to do much other volunteering because I have a strong passion for what I do here and try to put my free time into helping out this organization. Should I branch out and get another opportunity ASAP?

20 hours of shadowing family physicians. I have only shadowed two physicians so far. I have been so busy with the MCAT/school that I was trying to lock that down before doing much more shadowing which was dumb. I really need to get on this and start finding some other doctors to shadow (preferably some rural docs).

You're pretty competitive on the DO side. You also made a fairly good list. On the MD side you might want to try a MCAT retake

 

[BobaBoba]

You're pretty competitive on the DO side. You also made a fairly good list. On the MD side you might want to try a MCAT retake

Thank you for the reply! I am very interested in the DO schools and would be ecstatic with an acceptance to any of the schools. I cannot bring myself to retake the MCAT. 🙂

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Thank you for the reply! I am very interested in the DO schools and would be ecstatic with an acceptance to any of the schools. I cannot bring myself to retake the MCAT. 🙂

You will be accepted on the DO side most likely! Most likely won't on the MD side.

 

[Omppu27]

Do you have any research experience? Hands on pt experience? And leadership roles? What exactly did you do at the cancer support organization? Also, what classes did you take at your community college? Were they premed pre reqs? If so, some schools might not accept them, if I recall correctly.

 

[BobaBoba]

You will be accepted on the DO side most likely! Most likely won't on the MD side.

Thanks again for the reply! I really appreciate it.

 

[BobaBoba]

Do you have any research experience? Hands on pt experience? And leadership roles? What exactly did you do at the cancer support organization? Also, what classes did you take at your community college? Were they premed pre reqs? If so, some schools might not accept them, if I recall correctly.

No research experience. No hands on patient experience. As to leadership roles, I organized a community cancer fundraiser for two families in my small town that had been diagnosed with cancer. At the cancer support organization, I go around and sit and talk with different patients (adults/children) receiving chemotherapy at the hospital. I love trying to make these patient's day just a little bit better. I took all of my chemistry classes at a large community college during the Summer, but I believe all of the schools I have thought about applying accept the credits. I would say I regret taking them there, but truly I learned the material much better at the community college and spent a lot less money. Just as with the MCAT, I could have done things differently and maybe studied different, but I am very happy and proud of myself for taking the path that I did.

By the way, have you seen Li'l Sebastian anywhere?

 

[Omppu27]

No research experience. No hands on patient experience. As to leadership roles, I organized a community cancer fundraiser for two families in my small town that had been diagnosed with cancer. At the cancer support organization, I go around and sit and talk with different patients (adults/children) receiving chemotherapy at the hospital. I love trying to make these patient's day just a little bit better. I took all of my chemistry classes at a large community college during the Summer, but I believe all of the schools I have thought about applying accept the credits. I would say I regret taking them there, but truly I learned the material much better at the community college and spent a lot less money. Just as with the MCAT, I could have done things differently and maybe studied different, but I am very happy and proud of myself for taking the path that I did.

By the way, have you seen Li'l Sebastian anywhere?

The cancer support group should count as pt experience, I'd like to think. I will say thought that schools like to see other volunteering experiences outside clinical work as well. Research is a plus as well. These might be areas that you'd want to address before submitting your application.

I wasn't aware of many schools that take CC credits for the pre med classes, so just make sure.

And I see him every night in my dreams 🙁

 

[BobaBoba]

The cancer support group should count as pt experience, I'd like to think. I will say thought that schools like to see other volunteering experiences outside clinical work as well. Research is a plus as well. These might be areas that you'd want to address before submitting your application.

I wasn't aware of many schools that take CC credits for the pre med classes, so just make sure.

And I see him every night in my dreams 🙁

The cancer support group should count as pt experience, I'd like to think. I will say thought that schools like to see other volunteering experiences outside clinical work as well. Research is a plus as well. These might be areas that you'd want to address before submitting your application.

I wasn't aware of many schools that take CC credits for the pre med classes, so just make sure.

And I see him every night in my dreams 🙁

I am reading your posts in my head with an April Ludgate voice and you sound much more mean and sarcastic than you probably really are. 😉
As for DO schools, it seems like community college credits are very normal and not detrimental to an application unless you do horribly when you transfer to a 4 year. I just read this post and @Goro talked about it a few posts down. I think my upper level biochem, pathophys, Genetics, and Anatomy grades should be telling of how I handle science classes. I will be the first to admit I was not the best student my first two years when I had no clue of what I wanted to do or what I wanted to be. I really shaped up after that when it comes to grades.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/how-medical-schools-view-community-college-credits.976229/

I hope they do look at my cancer volunteering as patient experience. I am hoping to start volunteering at a place in my city that feeds that poor and hungry. That will be non-clinical volunteering experience. I do not think I will be doing any research.

 

[BobaBoba]

I know TCOM is a reach, but do I have any chance at all if I apply there? I see that tuition and feel I need to at least give it a chance.

 

[Goro]

Your 27 is circling the drain at MD schools, but you live in a lucky state. while it's below avg for U KS, you're in striking distance.


I am really interested in KU SOM mostly because I would love to stay in the state. It is by far the cheapest option for me but I know I have a long way to go.

They don't need the donation in the form of you app fees. State schools favor the home team, so one has to be > avg.
As for other MD schools where I would really consider myself a long shot, I am looking at lower stat private colleges and other surrounding MD schools like University of Oklahoma.


You're final for all except AZCOM.

As for DO schools, I am interested in DMU, PCOM, LMU-D, Marian , OSU , RVU, VCOM, and KCUMB. I might also try my luck at AZ-COM and CCOM. I am really interested in Oklahoma State and Marian when it comes to DO schools. There will maybe be some others that I add to that depending on how competitive you guys and gals think I am.


You need some patient contact volunteer work as well. You need to show Adcoms that you know what you're getting into.

200 hours of volunteering for a cancer support organization. I have not really ventured out to do much other volunteering because I have a strong passion for what I do here and try to put my free time into helping out this organization. Should I branch out and get another opportunity ASAP?

 

[BobaBoba]

Your 27 is circling the drain at MD schools, but you live in a lucky state. while it's below avg for U KS, you're in striking distance.


I am really interested in KU SOM mostly because I would love to stay in the state. It is by far the cheapest option for me but I know I have a long way to go.

They don't need the donation in the form of you app fees. State schools favor the home team, so one has to be > avg.
As for other MD schools where I would really consider myself a long shot, I am looking at lower stat private colleges and other surrounding MD schools like University of Oklahoma.


You're final for all except AZCOM.

As for DO schools, I am interested in DMU, PCOM, LMU-D, Marian , OSU , RVU, VCOM, and KCUMB. I might also try my luck at AZ-COM and CCOM. I am really interested in Oklahoma State and Marian when it comes to DO schools. There will maybe be some others that I add to that depending on how competitive you guys and gals think I am.


You need some patient contact volunteer work as well. You need to show Adcoms that you know what you're getting into.

200 hours of volunteering for a cancer support organization. I have not really ventured out to do much other volunteering because I have a strong passion for what I do here and try to put my free time into helping out this organization. Should I branch out and get another opportunity ASAP?

Thank you for the reply. In regards to the patient contact, would you consider sitting in with patients receiving chemotherapy as patient contact? If not, can you think of other volunteering examples that fits this category? Thanks again for the reply, I really appreciate it!

 

[Goro]

Very much so, and one that wins bonus points for me. Most pre-meds either don't want to, or don't have opportunities to deal with mortality.


Thank you for the reply. In regards to the patient contact, would you consider sitting in with patients receiving chemotherapy as patient contact?

 

[BobaBoba]

@Goro Sorry to bother you again, but you are so helpful with all of this and I really appreciate your replies. Since KU is my number one choice for many reasons, but especially since the Wichita campus is near my hometown, would you advise me to strictly apply to KU-Wichita and no other schools my first cycle. If I get in, great! If I do not, apply the next cycle and apply to KU-Wichita again among all of the other DO schools that I am interested in? I definitely would not mind having to sit out an extra year so I can keep shadowing, volunteering, and working. I have heard people say KU loves re-applicants and it would be so nice being able to stay around my family during school. What do you think about this idea?

 

[Goro]

For MD schools, apply to U KS, TCMC and maybe Albany and NYMC. For DO schools, any of them except AZCOM. Start with KCUMB, OK-COM, and AT Still.

@Goro Sorry to bother you again, but you are so helpful with all of this and I really appreciate your replies. Since KU is my number one choice for many reasons, but especially since the Wichita campus is near my hometown, would you advise me to strictly apply to KU-Wichita and no other schools my first cycle. If I get in, great! If I do not, apply the next cycle and apply to KU-Wichita again among all of the other DO schools that I am interested in? I definitely would not mind having to sit out an extra year so I can keep shadowing, volunteering, and working. I have heard people say KU loves re-applicants and it would be so nice being able to stay around my family during school. What do you think about this idea?