Advice on this summer

[TrackSter03]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi guys I need some advice on what to do this summer. I have been a student athlete for four years now at a top 5 public university. I have been very dedicated as shown by being a two time qualifer for the national meet.

Im not sure which road I should take because I dont know the emphasis admission boards put on LOR and student athletes.

I have set up a shadowing schedule with my team doctor who is also an orthopedic surgeon for 27 years/sports doc/ professor at my schools Medical School, which is also top 5.


Heres the thing. My GPA is around 3.0 and I will take the MCATs in August and then apply very broadly to schools Medical/DO.

My question is I have also set up a schedule with a DO. Do you think its even worth shadowing a MD with the grades I have? His credentials have to be worth something right? Would they take my being a student athlete and LOR of a professor at the medical school into deep consideration or just let it pass and look at my grades? Thanks

 

[techie222]

With a 3.0 GPA, I would assume that you're not particularly strong in academics. Focus on the MCAT this summer. You can have the greatest resume/background in the world (which you seem to with your athletics), but if your 3.0 GPA is not attached to a solid MCAT score (31 or higher), your chances of acceptance drop quite a bit.

Numbers (very little else) get you the interview.

Your personality during the interview gets you an acceptance.

Good luck.

 

[Catalystik]

Adcomms will look at your grades and MCAT score first, to see if they exceed a school's cutoffs, before looking at the rest of your application and LORs.

Many DO schools will also consider an MD letter; some require a DO letter. Others don't require a physician letter. I think the MD letter will be valuable across the board, as the person knows you in a greater context than just the shadowing.

DO schools needing DO recommendation: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=10677&d=1217108730

 

[OrangeTree]

Have you considered to get into a post-bac program?