Application on hold- anything I can do?

[Aestivas]

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Hey guys, please bear with my neuroticism for a moment.

I have received many emails from schools saying my application will be re-reviewed later. As someone on the low end of the application competition spectrum (LM 61 or something pathetic like that) this is good news for me in that I wasn't outright rejected. I was wondering what my options are moving forward though, if anything. Especially because it's still early in the cycle.

MCAT: 28/23/507.
My cGPA is 3.15 and my sGPA is 3.03. My gGPA is 3.02. (Awful I know)
1200+ hours as a chief medical scribe (supervisory role)
500+ hours as a CNA
320 hours interning at a rehab center
140 hours of research with publication
120 hours shadowing an MD
40+ hours shadowing a DO. I also work directly with one while scribing.
1 medical mission trip to Honduras
100-200 hours of other volunteering
I'm continuing to work as a medical scribe until matriculation.
1 letter from an MD, 1 letter from a DO.

ECs/LORs are on the strong end based on what I saw other people post. GPA is very, very weak and is what is dragging me down. My low second MCAT and GPA correspond to a difficult time in my life that I've since worked hard to overcome.

I thought perhaps more coursework in the sciences might be helpful since I'm not jumping to retake the MCAT. It's too late to register for courses the regular way- I recently saw something about online courses at UNECOM. Maybe I could take Genetics and Pathophysiology? Or I can retake previous science courses that I did poorly on in my undergrad, and get my GPA up to the 3.27 - 3.33 range. I'm confident I'll do well, but I don't want to invest if it won't help since money is tight for me.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

Edit: added in my GPA, ECs/LORs onto the first page for convenience.

 

[dwgrubbs1s]

If you don't mind me asking, what is your cGPA and sGPA? I would say this would be a factor in determining what you could do better. Also, how many hours of EC's do you have and what were the activities? Have you shadowed a DO? How much healthcare experience do you have? Knowing these factors could also help in giving specific advice as to what to do during your wait.

 

[Aestivas]

If you don't mind me asking, what is your cGPA and sGPA? I would say this would be a factor in determining what you could do better. Also, how many hours of EC's do you have and what were the activities? Have you shadowed a DO? How much healthcare experience do you have? Knowing these factors could also help in giving specific advice as to what to do during your wait.

Certainly! My cGPA is 3.15 and my sGPA is 3.03. My gGPA is 3.02. (Awful I know)
1200+ hours as a medical scribe (supervisory role)
500+ hours as a CNA
320 hours interning at a rehab center
140 hours of research with publication
120 hours shadowing an MD
40+ hours shadowing a DO. I also work directly with on during scribing.
1 medical mission trip to Honduras
100-200 hours of other volunteering
I'm continuing to work as a medical scribe until matriculation.
1 letter from an MD, 1 letter from a DO.

 

[tony101]

Certainly! My cGPA is 3.15 and my sGPA is 3.03. My gGPA is 3.02. (Awful I know)
1200+ hours as a medical scribe (supervisory role)
500+ hours as a CNA
320 hours interning at a rehab center
140 hours of research with publication
120 hours shadowing an MD
40+ hours shadowing a DO. I also work directly with on during scribing.
1 medical mission trip to Honduras
100-200 hours of other volunteering
I'm continuing to work as a medical scribe until matriculation.
1 letter from an MD, 1 letter from a DO.

how about your MCAT?

 

[Aestivas]

how about your MCAT?

507

 

[tony101]

507

GPA is on the low side but great EC's and very good MCAT score for DO's. Just apply broadly(Apply to the new schools) and you will do fine.

 

[Aestivas]

GPA is on the low side but great EC's and very good MCAT score for DO's. Just apply broadly(Apply to the new schools) and you will do fine.

Thanks for the advice! Do you think I should look into retaking some courses to boost my GPA? I know UNECOM offers self paced online courses, is that worth looking into?

 

[tony101]

Thanks for the advice! Do you think I should look into retaking some courses to boost my GPA? I know UNECOM offers self paced online courses, is that worth looking into?

Definitely, DO's allow you to do grade replacement. You should definitely use it if you have the time. Improving your GPA to a 3.3+ or so will make a drastic difference.

 

[Aestivas]

Definitely, DO's allow you to do grade replacement. You should definitely use it if you have the time. Improving your GPA to a 3.3+ or so will make a drastic difference.

Thank you so much for all your help, I really appreciate you taking the time for it! I'll look into retaking a few courses in the meantime as its still early enough in the cycle. Is there a way I can preemptively notify the schools I'm planning on retaking courses?

 

[JB50]

I wouldn't be surprised if you got some love. Sure your GPA's aren't stellar and it's a bit of a flag but your MCAT is certainly good and your EC's probably blow away most other applicants. Hang in there opie.

 

[zurc2014]

I personally say just give it time (assuming you applied to a ton of DO schools). My LizzyM is below 60 so I certainly understand. If you applied to 15-20 DO schools, Im sure you will get some love soon.

 

[Aestivas]

I wouldn't be surprised if you got some love. Sure your GPA's aren't stellar and it's a bit of a flag but your MCAT is certainly good and your EC's probably blow away most other applicants. Hang in there opie.

Thank you for the encouragement! It's honestly pre-med neuroticism that is eating away at me and making me question everything.
You mentioned my GPA being a red flag- do you think it's worth trying to raise it a little then or just leaving it?
I know it'll obviously help if I do raise it, but it's expensive and I'm not rich enough to toss money away if it's not necessary.

I personally say just give it time (assuming you applied to a ton of DO schools). My LizzyM is below 60 so I certainly understand. If you applied to 15-20 DO schools, Im sure you will get some love soon.

I think I applied to around 20 DO schools in late July, and recently added on ~8 schools that I previously skipped over (ACOM, CUSOM, BCOM, etc). I got 2 IIs so far, so I feel disrespectful even freaking out given many people have higher stats than mine and haven't gotten a single one yet, but I can't help it. These 'meh, we'll look at you again later' emails are getting to me admittedly. Just feel like I need to do SOMETHING in the meantime.

LizzyM of less than 60? Just glancing at your signature instantly made me feel better. I know it's an arbitrary number that doesn't reflect the whole picture, but it still can be stressful. Thanks for taking the time to encourage me- I am excited by your own current success! People like yourself are the types I really wanna root for- good luck!

 

[JB50]

Thank you for the encouragement! It's honestly pre-med neuroticism

Those II's are going to be HUGE for you. Be sure to prepare and prepare and prepare. Don't necessarily cookie cutter your answers but be fluid and able to adapt. Know your app + secondary.

Also, don't freak out. In general, II's are "one foot in the door" and it's your jobto bring the other foot through.

Good luck!

 

[Aestivas]

Those II's are going to be HUGE for you. Be sure to prepare and prepare and prepare. Don't necessarily cookie cutter your answers but be fluid and able to adapt. Know your app + secondary.

Also, don't freak out. In general, II's are "one foot in the door" and it's your jobto bring the other foot through.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice!!
I already had a II in LUCOM on the 15th of this month. I got asked difficult medical ethics questions that no one else got asked (that I talked to in my group). Could be a bad or good thing?

I have a II at NYITCOM in November that I'm going to be preparing more for. I got asked about health care at LUCOM and fumbled slightly since my knowledge of it is limited. Definitely don't want to do that again..

 

[summergirl]

Thanks for the advice!!
I already had a II in LUCOM on the 15th of this month. I got asked difficult medical ethics questions that no one else got asked (that I talked to in my group). Could be a bad or good thing?

I have a II at NYITCOM in November that I'm going to be preparing more for. I got asked about health care at LUCOM and fumbled slightly since my knowledge of it is limited. Definitely don't want to do that again..

Hey I'm looking for a good resource for healthcare knowledge too. Do you have any recommendations on what books/websites to read after you were asked about it in the LUCOM interview?

 

[zurc2014]

I think I applied to around 20 DO schools in late July, and recently added on ~8 schools that I previously skipped over (ACOM, CUSOM, BCOM, etc). I got 2 IIs so far, so I feel disrespectful even freaking out given many people have higher stats than mine and haven't gotten a single one yet, but I can't help it. These 'meh, we'll look at you again later' emails are getting to me admittedly. Just feel like I need to do SOMETHING in the meantime.

LizzyM of less than 60? Just glancing at your signature instantly made me feel better. I know it's an arbitrary number that doesn't reflect the whole picture, but it still can be stressful. Thanks for taking the time to encourage me- I am excited by your own current success! People like yourself are the types I really wanna root for- good luck![/QUOTE]

Thats about how many DO schools I applied to. Yea, Im sure that NOONE has lower stats than me (maybe tie) this cycle. I was freaking out as well and then the emails came rolling in. Had first DO interview yesterday and MD next week. I honestly think you will be fine. You did your part, now just sit back and wait for the IIs to roll in 🙂

 

[Aestivas]

Thats about how many DO schools I applied to. Yea, Im sure that NOONE has lower stats than me (maybe tie) this cycle. I was freaking out as well and then the emails came rolling in. Had first DO interview yesterday and MD next week. I honestly think you will be fine. You did your part, now just sit back and wait for the IIs to roll in 🙂

That's amazing and incredibly inspiring! I'm guessing your experience is what sets you apart? I'm super eager to see how you do this cycle as well- don't mind me as I casually stalk your posts and see your updates.
As a fellow underdog- it would be great to see you go even farther! It's only September and you're most likely going to get an acceptance somewhere with all your II's!
Good luck! Thanks for all the advice! I will reconsider taking online courses- I could definitely use the saved money for (hopefully) traveling to interviews and whatnot.
Or just having a life during this process and not taking on extra unnecessary stress.

 

[Papa Oso]

OP the honest truth is that you should be fine. If for w.e reason you don't get a single acceptance this year DON'T GIVE UP. Via AACOMAS, you can retake some of those C's you have and shoot up that GPA. If you could get your cGPA to around 3.3 ~ 3.5 and apply broadly. If being a doctor is truly your calling, don't let retaking a few classes stop you from becoming one. Best of luck.

 

[Goro]

Be patient and work on raising your GPA. Your stats are lethal for my school and lots of others.

Retake all F/D/C science coursework.

Hey guys, please bear with my neuroticism for a moment.

I have received many emails from schools saying my application will be re-reviewed later. As someone on the low end of the application competition spectrum (LM 61 or something pathetic like that) this is good news for me in that I wasn't outright rejected. I was wondering what my options are moving forward though, if anything. Especially because it's still early in the cycle.

MCAT: 28/23/507.
My cGPA is 3.15 and my sGPA is 3.03. My gGPA is 3.02. (Awful I know)
1200+ hours as a chief medical scribe (supervisory role)
500+ hours as a CNA
320 hours interning at a rehab center
140 hours of research with publication
120 hours shadowing an MD
40+ hours shadowing a DO. I also work directly with one while scribing.
1 medical mission trip to Honduras
100-200 hours of other volunteering
I'm continuing to work as a medical scribe until matriculation.
1 letter from an MD, 1 letter from a DO.

ECs/LORs are on the strong end based on what I saw other people post. GPA is very, very weak and is what is dragging me down. My low second MCAT and GPA correspond to a difficult time in my life that I've since worked hard to overcome.

I thought perhaps more coursework in the sciences might be helpful since I'm not jumping to retake the MCAT. It's too late to register for courses the regular way- I recently saw something about online courses at UNECOM. Maybe I could take Genetics and Pathophysiology? Or I can retake previous science courses that I did poorly on in my undergrad, and get my GPA up to the 3.27 - 3.33 range. I'm confident I'll do well, but I don't want to invest if it won't help since money is tight for me.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

Edit: added in my GPA, ECs/LORs onto the first page for convenience.

 

[Aestivas]

Be patient and work on raising your GPA. Your stats are lethal for my school and lots of others.

Retake all F/D/C science coursework.

Thanks Goro!
Just to get a collection of opinions: should I retake now during the cycle and send updates or wait it out and retake for next cycle if I don't get in anywhere?

 

[Papa Oso]

Thanks Goro!
Just to get a collection of opinions: should I retake now during the cycle and send updates or wait it out and retake for next cycle if I don't get in anywhere?

It's gonna be wayyyy to late to retake classes and get higher makers in time for it to be of significance for this cycle.

 

[Aestivas]

It's gonna be wayyyy to late to retake classes and get higher makers in time for it to be of significance for this cycle.

That makes sense, I was just being optimistic. I guess I'll just have to sit and wait then, and worst case retake and reapply next cycle.

Thanks for all your help and encouragement!

 

[getfat]

It doesn't hurt to start retaking classes this spring. F/D/C/B classes in that order.

Best case scenario you have that little thing that gets you over the hump in the summer. Worst case scenario you have a headstart on your gap year and have a really solid app for the next application cycle.