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Hey everyone, I recently got my MCAT score back and got a 26Q. Originally I was planning on applying only MD, but I have thought a lot about the DO route recently and wondering if instead of wasting $2,000 on an MCAT prep course this fall and studying all over again, and then maybe taking some science classes in the Spring, if I should just apply DO. The problem is that my scores are unbalanced (11VR, 9BS, 6PS). I know a 26 would be reasonably competitive for DO, but with that 6 in PS I am afraid I would get screened out everywhere. I have a 3.5cGPA and a 3.2 science (that is the AMCAS reported GPA, I'm not sure what the AACOMAS gpa would be... I did retake 1 C with an A, but also AMCAS takes into account math classes and I have 2 in there, my guess is it would probably be about the same). Also, I haven't shadowed a DO yet, nor have I started filling out the application. I do have good EC's:
-I was a Spanish major and speak it fluently (but I am not URM), and have worked as a translator in free clinics here and in Argentina. My whole app basically revolves around how I want to work with the underserved (hispanics in general).
-Residential Advisor (had an experience with a resident that made me want to do medicine and I talk about it in my PS)
-I taught Spanish at the college level as well as tutored for my university, - I have a theatre minor and a lot of theatre related EC's for a little extra uniqueness-one of these was a volunteer teaching position in the Bronx, NY where I taught a 6th grade bilingual (except not really...mostly just Spanish) kids theatre for 2 years, which is one of the main reasons I want to work with that particular population.
-Volunteer EMT with my school ~5 hours per week for the school year
-Volunteer research position working with methamphetamine that turned into a full time job for this year...maybe publication coming soon?
-I also have the normal shadowing (but it's MD) and hospital volunteering.
My question is, is it even worth it to apply this late, and without a DO letter, and with a 6 in PS? Do you think I would have a reasonable shot if I got started on everything ASAP?
Originally my plan after I saw my scores was to take a Princeton Review class this fall, retake in January, and then maybe take some upper level classes in the spring, but that sounds like a ton of work and money just to be able to apply MD with no guarantee that I would even get in next year (not to mention I am already 24 and feeling the time crunch). And then to do AmeriCorps next year...they have some pretty awesome health programs available if you can speak Spanish. Sorry for the long post, but I just came around...despite what everyone says on here, I guess I did have a little DO bias, and I had to get over it before I decided on applying DO (my dad is an oldschool radiologist MD and basically told me that DO's weren't even real doctors when I mentioned to him that I had thought about applying...but since my score came out he has come around a bit. Also, that was my second score...the first one was literally THE EXACT SAME breakdown and everything, and I was devastated when I learned I hadn't improved). Do I have a shot? Should I go with the DO option this year? Or the take the MCAT again option and apply next year MD and DO?
-I was a Spanish major and speak it fluently (but I am not URM), and have worked as a translator in free clinics here and in Argentina. My whole app basically revolves around how I want to work with the underserved (hispanics in general).
-Residential Advisor (had an experience with a resident that made me want to do medicine and I talk about it in my PS)
-I taught Spanish at the college level as well as tutored for my university, - I have a theatre minor and a lot of theatre related EC's for a little extra uniqueness-one of these was a volunteer teaching position in the Bronx, NY where I taught a 6th grade bilingual (except not really...mostly just Spanish) kids theatre for 2 years, which is one of the main reasons I want to work with that particular population.
-Volunteer EMT with my school ~5 hours per week for the school year
-Volunteer research position working with methamphetamine that turned into a full time job for this year...maybe publication coming soon?
-I also have the normal shadowing (but it's MD) and hospital volunteering.
My question is, is it even worth it to apply this late, and without a DO letter, and with a 6 in PS? Do you think I would have a reasonable shot if I got started on everything ASAP?
Originally my plan after I saw my scores was to take a Princeton Review class this fall, retake in January, and then maybe take some upper level classes in the spring, but that sounds like a ton of work and money just to be able to apply MD with no guarantee that I would even get in next year (not to mention I am already 24 and feeling the time crunch). And then to do AmeriCorps next year...they have some pretty awesome health programs available if you can speak Spanish. Sorry for the long post, but I just came around...despite what everyone says on here, I guess I did have a little DO bias, and I had to get over it before I decided on applying DO (my dad is an oldschool radiologist MD and basically told me that DO's weren't even real doctors when I mentioned to him that I had thought about applying...but since my score came out he has come around a bit. Also, that was my second score...the first one was literally THE EXACT SAME breakdown and everything, and I was devastated when I learned I hadn't improved). Do I have a shot? Should I go with the DO option this year? Or the take the MCAT again option and apply next year MD and DO?
