Advice Please (:

[drivemeh0me]

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to this, so please let me know if this is in the wrong place or if its inappropriate.

I was just wondering if i could get some advice on applying to DO schools. First off, I am debating taking the MCATs over again; I got a 27R and am not sure I should retake it because I don't have too much time to study during the quarter. If needed, I am willing to do the work and study for the test, but i think raising my GPA is more important at the moment. My GPA kinda sucks--2.9--not the best it could be, but I'm working on it. I do have experience working with an osteopathic doctor and am involved in a lot of leadership activities and have worked with children with autism and down syndrome for over 8 years. I'm planning to apply in June, and I dont know if I should wait and do a Masters program first to raise my GPA, or if i should go for it and just apply anyway.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much and have a great day! 😀

 

[Tones24]

Your MCAT score will get you looked at, but to be honest, if you want to go to one of the top-flite schools (UMDNJ, PCOM etc.), you are going to have to raise your GPA.

Good luck and remember: time is on your side!!

 

[jkhamlin]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this, so please let me know if this is in the wrong place or if its inappropriate.

I was just wondering if i could get some advice on applying to DO schools. First off, I am debating taking the MCATs over again; I got a 27R and am not sure I should retake it because I don't have too much time to study during the quarter. If needed, I am willing to do the work and study for the test, but i think raising my GPA is more important at the moment. My GPA kinda sucks--2.9--not the best it could be, but I'm working on it. I do have experience working with an osteopathic doctor and am involved in a lot of leadership activities and have worked with children with autism and down syndrome for over 8 years. I'm planning to apply in June, and I dont know if I should wait and do a Masters program first to raise my GPA, or if i should go for it and just apply anyway.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much and have a great day! 😀

Your MCAT is good. Don't worry too much about that. Your GPA needs work. Even if you get straight A's this semester I don't know if you can get it high enough. You might have to go for a master's degree first. I had to go for the master's degree after failing to get in the first time and my GPA was higher.

 

[Packamylase]

Your MCAT score will get you looked at, but to be honest, if you want to go to one of the top-flite schools (UMDNJ, PCOM etc.), you are going to have to raise your GPA.

Good luck and remember: time is on your side!!

Absolutely. That GPA needs to be raised to AT LEAST a 3.2, to feel comfortable.

 

[DoctorMom78]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this, so please let me know if this is in the wrong place or if its inappropriate.

I was just wondering if i could get some advice on applying to DO schools. First off, I am debating taking the MCATs over again; I got a 27R and am not sure I should retake it because I don't have too much time to study during the quarter. If needed, I am willing to do the work and study for the test, but i think raising my GPA is more important at the moment. My GPA kinda sucks--2.9--not the best it could be, but I'm working on it. I do have experience working with an osteopathic doctor and am involved in a lot of leadership activities and have worked with children with autism and down syndrome for over 8 years. I'm planning to apply in June, and I dont know if I should wait and do a Masters program first to raise my GPA, or if i should go for it and just apply anyway.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much and have a great day! 😀

I agree that your MCAT is okay, and that you should work on your GPA. If you can bring it up to a 3.0 by June, then I would apply. I think some schools have a cut-off at 3.0. Your ECs are MCAT are good and so you probably won't need to have a 3.5+ to get accepted. Check out my stats. They are not that great, and I have been really lucky with my applications. If you need to do a masters or post-bach, that would definitely help. But, if I were you I would try not to retake the MCAT unless you plan on applying to allopathic schools. With a 3.0, your ECs, good LORs, and your MCAT, I think you have a very good chance of getting accepted to an osteopathic school. Good luck with everything!😀

 

[drivemeh0me]

Your MCAT is good. Don't worry too much about that. Your GPA needs work. Even if you get straight A's this semester I don't know if you can get it high enough. You might have to go for a master's degree first. I had to go for the master's degree after failing to get in the first time and my GPA was higher.

Well, I'm on the quarter system, and I decided to be a super senior and am staying at my undergrad school for another year, so technically, I have 4 more quarters (not counting the upcoming quarter) and two summer sessions left to take classes. I feel as though that is sufficient time to raise my GPA. although, I want to apply in June, so the classes I take next year won't factor in when I am applying in June. Should I just wait and apply after I finish my fifth year, then?

*sigh* I screwed up my first two years due to my dad having cancer and stuff and am paying for it now..

 

[drivemeh0me]

*sigh* I screwed up my first two years due to my dad having cancer and stuff and am paying for it now..

not an excuse, i know. i'm just kicking myself for not working harder.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Well, I'm on the quarter system, and I decided to be a super senior and am staying at my undergrad school for another year, so technically, I have 4 more quarters (not counting the upcoming quarter) and two summer sessions left to take classes. I feel as though that is sufficient time to raise my GPA. although, I want to apply in June, so the classes I take next year won't factor in when I am applying in June. Should I just wait and apply after I finish my fifth year, then?

*sigh* I screwed up my first two years due to my dad having cancer and stuff and am paying for it now..

so sorry about your dad; explain that and I'm sure they will be understanding.

 

[DoctorMom78]

Well, I'm on the quarter system, and I decided to be a super senior and am staying at my undergrad school for another year, so technically, I have 4 more quarters (not counting the upcoming quarter) and two summer sessions left to take classes. I feel as though that is sufficient time to raise my GPA. although, I want to apply in June, so the classes I take next year won't factor in when I am applying in June. Should I just wait and apply after I finish my fifth year, then?

*sigh* I screwed up my first two years due to my dad having cancer and stuff and am paying for it now..

Well, if you get all A's between now and June, what will your GPA be? If you need to wait a year, will your MCAT still count? I guess what you need to do is see where your GPA is in June and then decide. 😀

 

[jkhamlin]

Well, I'm on the quarter system, and I decided to be a super senior and am staying at my undergrad school for another year, so technically, I have 4 more quarters (not counting the upcoming quarter) and two summer sessions left to take classes. I feel as though that is sufficient time to raise my GPA. although, I want to apply in June, so the classes I take next year won't factor in when I am applying in June. Should I just wait and apply after I finish my fifth year, then?

*sigh* I screwed up my first two years due to my dad having cancer and stuff and am paying for it now..

That's great, but if you apply in June, you really only have this spring and summer to get that GPA up. Like Psycho Doctor said, explain about your Dad in your apps. Also, I'm sure that situation is at least part of your motivation for medical school; you should tell them that.

 

[drivemeh0me]

i can explain about my dad in the primary part of the application?

 

[DoctorMom78]

That's great, but if you apply in June, you really only have this spring and summer to get that GPA up. Like Psycho Doctor said, explain about your Dad in your apps. Also, I'm sure that situation is at least part of your motivation for medical school; you should tell them that.

Good point! A strong personal statement will go a long way.🙂

 

[Psycho Doctor]

i can explain about my dad in the primary part of the application?

I'm not familar with DO applications, so I'm not sure if nthere's a place for it; sometimes they ask to explain anything not previously addressed, etc. But certainly write about it in your PS. Just a little advice don't put anything in your PS that you will not feel comfortable talking about on interview day.

 

[122206DO]

Don't spend your precious time studying for the MCAT, the problem is GPA, not your MCAT. Even if you were to get a 30 on the MCAT, your GPA would still not be overlooked (32-35 would be different story). So retake some of your courses, the ones you got Cs in, or get yourself into two year masters program and prove yourself academically through that. I got in through the masters program route and it has proved to be very very good option. PM me if you like more info on this track....