Here's another case of an OP getting slammed unnecessarily and repeatedly.
The OP was extremely up front about his shortcomings, and then posed this -- "I would LOVE to go to the DO school, I think that it has a great program, HOWEVER, the allopathic schools have been what I set my goals on since I was very young and if I did get into the DO school this year and not the MD schools, should I consider putting school off a year for a better chance at getting into one of the MD schools?"
There are pros and cons to each situation, the MD schools are cheaper and one is closer to home. The DO school is also close to home and I love the 'small school' feel of the community. I have a better chance of getting into the DO but is my 'dream' school worth waiting another year?"
The respondents simply could have said something like, "Listen, congrats for your perseverance, but you've likely got too much to overcome to go for MD, and you may even be a longshot for DO, so concentrate your efforts on DO and accept a DO seat if you are fortunate enough to get one."
It's more than a little disingenuous, though, to slam the OP for wanting or "dreaming" of MD, since virtually every poster here prefers MD. Even Goro recommends that those with appropriate stats and ECs go for MD (and perhaps protect themselves with DO apps). Those applicants don't get quizzed on their value judgments about DO. And I would bet the house that there are posters here going MD who might well choose another direction other than DO if they were unable to snag a MD seat. Portraying the OP as some kind of entitled narcissist and slamming him for it doesn't match up with what the OP presented.
OP asked for tough love and honesty... everyone isn't holding back.... don't get the big deal. I do appreciate you defending many of the applicants since I noticed a trend some of your posts are on the more forgiving side. I personally would like to as well... but here's where I had some problems
Lets start from the beginning...
"i, I'm new to this forum so I'm still learning my way around. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm not a stranger to tough love and honesty so please tell me what you would do in my shoes
🙂"
Fair enough... you're gonna get it but you are prepared.
"Undergrad was academically terrible, made the
common mistakes that any 17-20 year old would make: sports, partying, relationship drama, ect and ended with my overall GPA of 2.9 and my science is lower than that. (not sure but maybe around 2.6). I did a semester of post-grad at a fairly large school and made C's in all 3 classes."
Wholeheartedly disagree.... people think that just because you are young it's natural to do stupid things. That couldn't be further from the truth. I'd argue these issues aren't common amongst those who earnestly want to get into medicine. They buckle down and focus... even for those who do end up faltering, most don't tank their overall undergrad GPA of at least 4 years by that much. Even with some post-grad classes, which I assume is when you tried to smarten up your act, you still couldn't do well.
"On a good note: I started a masters program for a master's in medical science and so far I have a 4.0. I'm confident that I will do well on my MCAT in 2 weeks and plan to keep my 4.0 through this program. "
Unknown right now if masters degrees inflate marks. Is it a course-based masters? If not you may not even have enough courses to offset your terrible undergraduate GPA. It's really school dependent when considering graduate degrees and how they weigh in the GPA calculations.
"I have great letters of rec, and a LOT of outside experiences/background in medicine."
We'd all like to hear it, particularly what you even define as great.
"I am applying to three DO schools, one of which I think I have a fairly good chance of getting into. I am also applying to LSU-S and LSU-NO."
Some semblance of planning is nice, though I wouldn't be that optimistic to say your chances are good. Your MCAT score is unknown too.
"MY QUESTION: I would LOVE to go to the DO school, I think that it has a great program, HOWEVER, the allopathic schools have been what I set my goals on since I was very young and if I did get into the DO school this year and not the MD schools, should I consider putting school off a year for a better chance at getting into one of the MD schools?"
Fair question... do you really think putting off school for a year will change your disastrous GPA around? You need at least a post-bacc or SMP to lift the grades as there's no grade replacement opportunity for MD. This is all assuming you even get into a DO school, which in itself is unclear.
"There are pros and cons to each situation, the MD schools are cheaper and one is closer to home. The DO school is also close to home and I love the 'small school' feel of the community. I have a better chance of getting into the DO but is my 'dream' school worth waiting another year?"
If your dream is to be stubborn trying to get ,MD behind your name, then by all means.... You have no choice, nor the right given your stats, to be picky. There is only one viable option, to apply broad and run with the opportunity at an NA school.
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"What am I going to score? I hope a 508 or better, the practice test i took from AMCAS did not give me a score but comparing my percentages to the old MCAT I was around 26. By the end of my masters program I plan to still have my 4.0 but as an overall GPA, It should bring me close to a 3.5."
How did you arrive at this calculation? Assuming you're in a 2 yr program... even a full course load every semester at 4.0 cannot offset your entire 4+ yr undergrad GPA of <3.0, it's just mathematically impossible, particularly if those post-grad C's are included. I want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but without some actual supporting evidence I have to say that you won't be able to, assuming things even continue to go well.
In addition, hope and speculation is about as good as your current status in med school, empty. I don't believe in unreached potential or speculations. Until you get the grades, the objective numbers in front of me right now don't suggest you get that ... at best I'd think you get around <=26... which is lethal for MD anyways. A 508 is around 30-31....... how do you think with your practice at ~26 that you can get a 31? Be realistic.
"I am open to almost any specialty, my passion is in emergency medicine and pediatrics as of now."
I wouldn't get carried away.... you still have a long way to go.
LSU-No also has a program for students in my position: if you take at least 32 hours at a post graduate institution, then your undergraduate GPA will be replaced by your new GPA. That would significantly help my application, however, I wont be done with my hours until May.
Eh don't know much about this so I'll refrain from commenting....
I'm pretty patient. I will be 24 this october so it's getting a little frustrating because people get in at 22 now days but in the long run I know im still young. On the other hand I dont want to put it off too long bc I want to start a family. BUT I know that's not a huge deciding factor.
I'm 24 and just gotten in after my masters. Even if you get in 4 years later that's nothing, nor does that hold you back from starting a life.
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Overall the OP doesn't seem completely terrible... that said the perceived potential and speculation are not nearly realistic. The OP still has a long way to go.
