AACOMAS Primary Submission HELP!

[Singerpremed]

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I have quite a few questions and I've been looking through the threads I'm a bit confused by some things.
1. Can I submit my primary before I receive all of my LORs? When do I need all of my LORs?
2. When do I need to shadow a DO? I have a DO I can shadow in my hometown that's 1.5hrs away so unless it is absolutely necessary I would rather not have to drive there while taking classes this summer. My psychiatrist who's also a DO will write me an LOR (he doesn't shadow for obvious reasons).
3. Do I need to have all the schools I want on the primary submission or can I add while working on secondaries?
4. How many schools and which schools should I apply to?
sGPA: 3.28; cGPA: 3.43 (may go up after summer)
MCAT Predicted score: 505 (I am retaking the MCAT June 30th so I won't be getting a score until Aug. 1st)
Experience/Other: Clinical Volunteering, assist. MA medical office (work),1+year (4 semesters) research (biomedical; breast cancer) & 1-semester ecology field, chorus, innovation minor (showcases etc.), shadowing (1 family med, 1 family med/pain management, 1 ped. heart surg, 1ped cardiology)
Anything else?
5. Do I need to convince on the first paragraph of the personal statement?

Thank you so much for any and all help. It is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[edgerock24]

I have quite a few questions and I've been looking through the threads I'm a bit confused by some things.
1. Can I submit my primary before I receive all of my LORs? When do I need all of my LORs?
2. When do I need to shadow a DO? I have a DO I can shadow in my hometown that's 1.5hrs away so unless it is absolutely necessary I would rather not have to drive there while taking classes this summer. My psychiatrist who's also a DO will write me an LOR (he doesn't shadow for obvious reasons).
3. Do I need to have all the schools I want on the primary submission or can I add while working on secondaries?
4. How many schools and which schools should I apply to?
sGPA: 3.28; cGPA: 3.43 (may go up after summer)
MCAT Predicted score: 505 (I am retaking the MCAT June 30th so I won't be getting a score until Aug. 1st)
Experience/Other: Clinical Volunteering, assist. MA medical office (work),1+year (4 semesters) research (biomedical; breast cancer) & 1-semester ecology field, chorus, innovation minor (showcases etc.), shadowing (1 family med, 1 family med/pain management, 1 ped. heart surg, 1ped cardiology)
Anything else?
5. Do I need to convince on the first paragraph of the personal statement?

Thank you so much for any and all help. It is greatly appreciated!!!

1) Yes, you can. You can always add additional LOR's after submitting. You can receive secondaries before getting all your LOR's in as well for most (all?) schools if you meet their GPA/MCAT threshold. Your letters need to be in to be considered for an interview, however.

2) You don't have to shadow a DO or MD. However, if you have not interacted with physicians from a healthcare related job, or through healthcare volunteering, then shadowing is necessary to show you know what a doctor's life is actually like. A DO letter is only required for a small amount of schools.

3) You can always add programs to apply to later. Up to you. And you do not have to send back secondaries immediately. However, it's typically recommended to send them back within ~2 weeks or so.

4) 15-20 schools would be the best option. What was your first MCAT? Can give a list with that info.

5) The body of your personal statement should do the most "convincing." This is where you can write about how your experiences have impacted your decision to become a doctor. Think of your first paragraph as a trailer to the rest of your essay.

 

[Singerpremed]

Thanks you so much for your help! I don't have a score yet since I voided it.

Sent from my SM-G930P using SDN mobile app

 

[Singerpremed]

1) Yes, you can. You can always add additional LOR's after submitting. You can receive secondaries before getting all your LOR's in as well for most (all?) schools if you meet their GPA/MCAT threshold. Your letters need to be in to be considered for an interview, however.

2) You don't have to shadow a DO or MD. However, if you have not interacted with physicians from a healthcare related job, or through healthcare volunteering, then shadowing is necessary to show you know what a doctor's life is actually like. A DO letter is only required for a small amount of schools.

3) You can always add programs to apply to later. Up to you. And you do not have to send back secondaries immediately. However, it's typically recommended to send them back within ~2 weeks or so.

4) 15-20 schools would be the best option. What was your first MCAT? Can give a list with that info.

5) The body of your personal statement should do the most "convincing." This is where you can write about how your experiences have impacted your decision to become a doctor. Think of your first paragraph as a trailer to the rest of your essay.

Thanks you so much for your help! I don't have a score yet since I voided it.


Sent from my SM-G930P using SDN mobile