Am I competitive enough for DO?

[overmaster2]

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I'm currently going into my junior year (class of 2012) and have a 3.5GPA. For my EC's I volunteer at a emergency room, involved in a couple clubs on campus (Pre-med club secretary), Society for Neuroscience member, and am a American Red Cross volunteer. For research experience I work in the neuroscience laboratory at my college. I'm in the process of developing an experiment that will possibly yield a poster for the 2012 neuroscience conference. My lab has given me skills such as stereotaxic surgery. I'm not sure if that helps... I plan to take the MCATs during my spring semester. I would love to matriculate into a DO program but am wondering what my chances are for successful application. I have heard of many people applying to both MD and DO programs at the same time and was told this is looked down upon. Is this true as well? Thanks, I hope someone will help answering my questions!

 

[jm192]

I'm currently going into my junior year (class of 2012) and have a 3.5GPA. For my EC's I volunteer at a emergency room, involved in a couple clubs on campus (Pre-med club secretary), Society for Neuroscience member, and am a American Red Cross volunteer. For research experience I work in the neuroscience laboratory at my college. I'm in the process of developing an experiment that will possibly yield a poster for the 2012 neuroscience conference. My lab has given me skills such as stereotaxic surgery. I'm not sure if that helps... I plan to take the MCATs during my spring semester. I would love to matriculate into a DO program but am wondering what my chances are for successful application. I have heard of many people applying to both MD and DO programs at the same time and was told this is looked down upon. Is this true as well? Thanks, I hope someone will help answering my questions!

It's really hard to say without the MCAT, but a 3.5 would make you fairly competitive for a number of DO schools. Your EC's look pretty good as well.

You may need to do a little better on the MCAT to land at an MD school, but I wouldn't say it's looked down on to apply to both. Just be prepared to explain WHY you applied DO, and why YOU want to be a DO. Not necessarily over an MD, but at any rate, why.

 

[overmaster2]

Okay, thanks for your input! When you studied for the MCATs did you take a review course such as the The Princeton Review? Many people are recommending it to me. I'm hoping to raise my GPA up to a 3.6-3.7 but plan to start studying for MCATs around this time. I've seen various texts people use to study for the MCAT such as EK, TPR, Kaplan, and of course the necessary AAMC practice tests. I'm kind of overwhelmed by which study guides would be the best to use... Some advice on this would be wonderful 🙂

 

[jm192]

I didn't take a course, but my scores ended up lower than I really needed. I had two friends take courses--1 Kaplan, 1 Princeton Revie---each improved 5 points. If you can afford to take a course, you should take it without question.

Check the MCAT section of the forums for reviews on what courses are best to take. For self study materials, the Exam Kracker 1001 books helped drive home the basic concepts.

But the best thing for me was to take practice tests and review the right and wrong answers.

 

[overmaster2]

Okay, I'll probably end up taking a review course. Thanks again for your insight and also one last thing. Where do you attend medical school?

 

[jm192]

Okay, I'll probably end up taking a review course. Thanks again for your insight and also one last thing. Where do you attend medical school?

I'll be starting at the University of Louisville in about 2 weeks.

For Osteopathic, I received an acceptance @ LMU-DCOM. It came down to location and cost for me. But if you're interested in DO and location isn't an issue, you should check it out. The technology up there is outstanding, and the faculty is really impressive. From what I understand, a handful of deans gave up their deanship at other Osteopathic schools and are now teaching there.

 

[overmaster2]

Congrats on UofL School of Medicine! I'll definitely check out LMU-DCOM. If there is anymore advice you would like to give me I'll gladly take it 😍

 

[jm192]

Congrats on UofL School of Medicine! I'll definitely check out LMU-DCOM. If there is anymore advice you would like to give me I'll gladly take it 😍

Nothing else off the top of my head, but feel free to PM me anytime.

 

[HarMegido]

you're awesome, thank you for sharing

 

[tbone1234]

I recommend you ask your friends if you can use their left-over books. I used a friend's Exam Krackers books (which are excellent content review), and I took the Princeton course. Honestly... the classes didn't really help much... it was mainly the books I focused on. But since you have the time, definitley utilize the classes as well. You also get free access to all the AAMC tests with the course!

Here's a good breakdown for any MCAT-ers out there. I recommend you get your hands on these materials:

1. Take a practice test (AAMC #3 is free) to see where you stand, and to get a feel for the test.

2. Take a course (I think princeton is great). Read the books thoroughly, take notes (like formulas, etc.). The princeton books are great for re-learning the material. You can literally learn all the material from the books, even if you never learned it to begin with!

3. Take a couple practice tests to see where you stand after the review.

4. Use Exam Krackers books for content review. EK books do a great job of telling you exactly what's on the MCAT, and being very concise. A great review heading into the last couple months before the MCAT.

Goodluck!

 

[Slane]

What's your science GPA? Most schools seem to put a bit more weight on it than the cumulative. Regardless, if it's above a 3.0 and you score 25+ on your MCAT, you definitely have a shot. Lock in an MCAT score close to or above 30 and you'll be very competitive I think.

 

[overmaster2]

Yeah I'll ask my friends for their old study guides and start studying! My science GPA is 3.45 because of my freshman year... I got nothing lower than an A in all of my sophomore year science classes such as Organic with lab, Microbiology with lab, ecology, and plant biology. I've shown improvement and the last semester I got a 3.95. I hope DO programs look at my improvement and not my B- and B's freshman year...

 

[Slane]

Yeah I'll ask my friends for their old study guides and start studying! My science GPA is 3.45 because of my freshman year... I got nothing lower than an A in all of my sophomore year science classes such as Organic with lab, Microbiology with lab, ecology, and plant biology. I've shown improvement and the last semester I got a 3.95. I hope DO programs look at my improvement and not my B- and B's freshman year...

They usually do look for improvement (They did for me anyways,) and a 3.45 science GPA is pretty strong for a DO applicant. Definitely shoot for a 30 on the MCAT, and then you'll be in great shape I think!

 

[overmaster2]

I'll aim for the stars!!! But when you were applying what were your stats for GPA and MCAT? Do you like the curriculum and in general, LECOM? I love SDN already so many helpful people!

 

[Slane]

I got into LECOM with a 3.2cGPA, 3.45sGPA, and a 25O on my MCAT--I applied very early though, my verbal score was a 10, and my EC's were very strong (EMT certification, hundreds of volunteer and shadow hours, et cetera.) Can't really say much about LECOM yet, as my first day is about to start in a little over an hour! They did make the admissions process really manageable though, and the staff that I've worked with have been incredibly helpful and willing to go out of their way to make things happen.

 

[Goro]

You're competitive; do well ont he MCAT and definitely get some patient contact experience and you'll be fine. Do not confuse research or mere shadowing as "patient contact experience", though.

 

[overmaster2]

You're competitive; do well ont he MCAT and definitely get some patient contact experience and you'll be fine. Do not confuse research or mere shadowing as "patient contact experience", though.

For patient contact what do you suggest?

 

[DOwnage]

You're competitive; do well ont he MCAT and definitely get some patient contact experience and you'll be fine. Do not confuse research or mere shadowing as "patient contact experience", though.

For patient contact what do you suggest?

+1 to that. This is something I've been trying to wrap my head around for a while. Actual patient contact is hard to come by due to the legal environment of health care. Nobody will put their hard earned job on the line so that you can touch some patients for an unwritten med school prerequisite. The most patient contact that an average pre-med can actually get is more like patient communication vs patient contact. Talk to patients, experience patients, get to know patients, but no touching.

 

[overmaster2]

Yeah the only patient contact I have is through working in the emergency room where I bring in patients, shadow somewhat, and talking with patients.

 

[tbone1234]

I'm gonna hijack this thread real quick... but doesn't LECOM require a LOR from the Dean? Or just a DO letter?

Definitley agree with DOwnage though... its hard to find patient contact opportunities (understandable though, since their job is on the line). But talking with patients is just as good!

I talked to this one 75 year old german lady. She said the only thing that brought her to America were peanut butter cookies. I don't blame her... they're so gooooood 😍

 

[slarveson]

The best patient contact experience i've had (with no certifications etc.) is with a clinic called "the Doctor's Volunteer Clinic". They have a few in Utah and basically they only treat people with low income based on tax records and they do it for only $20 per patient no matter what they need treatment for. Its a really cool thing as they get donations from various places for medical supplies and the doctors work for free. They work for free presumably because they are all retired and want to keep they're license for the most part i think. They have a handful of Docs that just work one day a week for the four hours that its open. Anyways, since its not regulated like a normal clinic (i presume) they allow the volunteers do alot of cool things. I've taken out stitches, assisted in minor surgeries (basically just prepare whats needed and hold this and hand me that type stuff), and screen the patients to see the docs (fill out sheet with symptoms, BP etc.) Also do urine tests, take blood sugar readings and other things. Just saying that if they have these nonprofit type clinics in you're area then definitely try to hook up some hours there. try to find places with the least amount of regulation so that you can actually do some things. I also volunteer at the ER and they won't let me do diddly squat there except for transport patients and clean rooms.