Apply MD or No?

[TheBoneDoctah]

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SDN,

Before I start I want to apologize for the long post. I am going to applying to medical schools this June. I am going to submit primaries June 1st, but I am not taking my MCAT till August 16th, so medical school won't have my complete applications till around mid-September. Here are my stats and story:

Started at a community college in 2006. My first two years at community college, I didn't want to be there. The only reason I was there is because my parents MADE me. I got an "F" in a government class my first semester, then when I retook the next semester, I got a "D". I also received several "C" in classes like "Elementary English" and a business class. Obviously I wasn't trying to be a doctor.

In the fall of 2008, I decided I wanted to become a physician and I started working towards that. Since setting my goals straight, I received nothing less than a B in my remaining 3 years at community college.

I then transferred to UCLA and am a neuroscience major here graduating in June of this year! I have been doing research, shadowing, volunteering, and studying. Here are my stats I will have when applying to medical schools.

GPA:

D.O. sGPA- 3.39
D.O. cGPA- 3.40

M.D. sGPA- 3.43 (as long as they include a math class labeled "pre-calc")
M.D. cGPA- 3.33

My UCLA GPA is around 3.4. (4.0 the last two semesters hopefully)



MCAT:

Scheduled to take in August. I started studying last summer a little bit, but had to delay to this year because of something that came up. When studying, I was scoring between 9-11 on sciences and ranging from 6-8 on verbal. Like I said, I only studied for a month or so, so there is definitely room for improvement.


Extracurriculars:

1.5 years of research in an Alzheimer's lab performing immunohistochemistry staining on brain slides for neuropathologists.

1 year volunteering at a program called "Fresh Start" that offers reconstructive surgery to underprivileged children

2 years volunteering at a surgery center doing bed turnovers, bringing patients into the rooms, cleaning, stocking.

3 months volunteer in hospital helping x-ray techs.

Shadowing of several surgeons (MD)
Shadowing of several anesthesiologists (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (DO)


LORs:

I should be able to get at least 3 great letters and 2 good letters.

1. Research P.I. who is chief of neuropathology at Ronald Reagin hospital at UCLA.
2. neural stem cell professor at UCLA (A grade in class)
3. administrator at surgery center I volunteered at.
4. Organic Chemistry professor at community college (A grade in class)
5. African Geography professor at UCLA (A grade in class)

Knowing all this, I am debating on wether or not it is worth it to apply to MD schools. I will be applying "late" (since delay in MCAT, schools will receive scores around mid-September) so with my lower GPA, I feel I will not have a chance at MD. What is everyone's opinion? With my first two years at CC bringing down my GPA, will schools understand this and take this into account? Or should I just ONLY apply to D.O. medical schools? Please let me know. I am sorry for the long post. I greatly appreciate anyone's input! 🙂

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

SDN,

Before I start I want to apologize for the long post. I am going to applying to medical schools this June. I am going to submit primaries June 1st, but I am not taking my MCAT till August 16th, so medical school won't have my complete applications till around mid-September. Here are my stats and story:

Started at a community college in 2006. My first two years at community college, I didn't want to be there. The only reason I was there is because my parents MADE me. I got an "F" in a government class my first semester, then when I retook the next semester, I got a "D". I also received several "C" in classes like "Elementary English" and a business class. Obviously I wasn't trying to be a doctor.

In the fall of 2008, I decided I wanted to become a physician and I started working towards that. Since setting my goals straight, I received nothing less than a B in my remaining 3 years at community college.

I then transferred to UCLA and am a neuroscience major here graduating in June of this year! I have been doing research, shadowing, volunteering, and studying. Here are my stats I will have when applying to medical schools.

GPA:

D.O. sGPA- 3.39
D.O. cGPA- 3.40

M.D. sGPA- 3.43 (as long as they include a math class labeled "pre-calc")
M.D. cGPA- 3.33

My UCLA GPA is around 3.4. (4.0 the last two semesters hopefully)



MCAT:

Scheduled to take in August. I started studying last summer a little bit, but had to delay to this year because of something that came up. When studying, I was scoring between 9-11 on sciences and ranging from 6-8 on verbal. Like I said, I only studied for a month or so, so there is definitely room for improvement.


Extracurriculars:

1.5 years of research in an Alzheimer's lab performing immunohistochemistry staining on brain slides for neuropathologists.

1 year volunteering at a program called "Fresh Start" that offers reconstructive surgery to underprivileged children

2 years volunteering at a surgery center doing bed turnovers, bringing patients into the rooms, cleaning, stocking.

3 months volunteer in hospital helping x-ray techs.

Shadowing of several surgeons (MD)
Shadowing of several anesthesiologists (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (DO)


LORs:

I should be able to get at least 3 great letters and 2 good letters.

1. Research P.I. who is chief of neuropathology at Ronald Reagin hospital at UCLA.
2. neural stem cell professor at UCLA (A grade in class)
3. administrator at surgery center I volunteered at.
4. Organic Chemistry professor at community college (A grade in class)
5. African Geography professor at UCLA (A grade in class)

Knowing all this, I am debating on wether or not it is worth it to apply to MD schools. I will be applying "late" (since delay in MCAT, schools will receive scores around mid-September) so with my lower GPA, I feel I will not have a chance at MD. What is everyone's opinion? With my first two years at CC bringing down my GPA, will schools understand this and take this into account? Or should I just ONLY apply to D.O. medical schools? Please let me know. I am sorry for the long post. I greatly appreciate anyone's input! 🙂

 

[SoulinNeed]

You have the ECs, but your GPA is low, and it's hard to gauge anything without a MCAT score.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

You have the ECs, but your GPA is low, and it's hard to gauge anything without a MCAT score.

That's true. I am more worried about the time though because I am applying late with the lower GPA.

 

[carnelian]

Have you considered waiting another year? Taking into account the late MCAT plus possibly a masters/postbac program to raise your GPA?

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Have you considered waiting another year? Taking into account the late MCAT plus possibly a masters/postbac program to raise your GPA?

Not really for a few reasons:

1. I am 25 so I am already a few years behind. I want to go into IR, so if I wait another year I won't be able to start practicing till I am 36 or 37.

2. I have taken A LOT of classes. I was at CC for 5 years and full time the entire time. I took 47 classes at CC alone, then another 2 years at UCLA. My GPA barely moves, so by delaying another year, those classes will barely raise my GPA even if I do get straight A's.

3. I am not against going the D.O. route. I just want to be a physician and don't REALLY care wether it is MD or DO. I would RATHER be MD, but I do not care if I am a DO.

 

[skais595]

Personally I would say wait a year, take some classes, maybe do some tutoring/teaching or something cool, and apply early in 2014.

If you're committed to applying this year, prewrite secondaries based on the last cycle's essays (which can be found on SDN), so that your application isn't even later because of that. I'm gonna let someone who knows more handle whether or not you should actually apply MD or not though...

 

[mujaman]

Not really for a few reasons:

1. I am 25 so I am already a few years behind. I want to go into IR, so if I wait another year I won't be able to start practicing till I am 36 or 37.

The average matriculant age is something like 24.7 years old... so you're hardly 'a few years behind'. Another year off may not be a bad idea, especially if it would facilitate a high MCAT to help offset the lower GPA.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321468/data/2012factstable6.pdf

 

[wonderdog]

SDN,

Before I start I want to apologize for the long post. I am going to applying to medical schools this June. I am going to submit primaries June 1st, but I am not taking my MCAT till August 16th, so medical school won't have my complete applications till around mid-September. Here are my stats and story:

Started at a community college in 2006. My first two years at community college, I didn't want to be there. The only reason I was there is because my parents MADE me. I got an "F" in a government class my first semester, then when I retook the next semester, I got a "D". I also received several "C" in classes like "Elementary English" and a business class. Obviously I wasn't trying to be a doctor.

In the fall of 2008, I decided I wanted to become a physician and I started working towards that. Since setting my goals straight, I received nothing less than a B in my remaining 3 years at community college.

I then transferred to UCLA and am a neuroscience major here graduating in June of this year! I have been doing research, shadowing, volunteering, and studying. Here are my stats I will have when applying to medical schools.

GPA:

D.O. sGPA- 3.39
D.O. cGPA- 3.40

M.D. sGPA- 3.43 (as long as they include a math class labeled "pre-calc")
M.D. cGPA- 3.33

My UCLA GPA is around 3.4. (4.0 the last two semesters hopefully)



MCAT:

Scheduled to take in August. I started studying last summer a little bit, but had to delay to this year because of something that came up. When studying, I was scoring between 9-11 on sciences and ranging from 6-8 on verbal. Like I said, I only studied for a month or so, so there is definitely room for improvement.


Extracurriculars:

1.5 years of research in an Alzheimer's lab performing immunohistochemistry staining on brain slides for neuropathologists.

1 year volunteering at a program called "Fresh Start" that offers reconstructive surgery to underprivileged children

2 years volunteering at a surgery center doing bed turnovers, bringing patients into the rooms, cleaning, stocking.

3 months volunteer in hospital helping x-ray techs.

Shadowing of several surgeons (MD)
Shadowing of several anesthesiologists (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (MD)
Shadowing of one family practitioner (DO)


LORs:

I should be able to get at least 3 great letters and 2 good letters.

1. Research P.I. who is chief of neuropathology at Ronald Reagin hospital at UCLA.
2. neural stem cell professor at UCLA (A grade in class)
3. administrator at surgery center I volunteered at.
4. Organic Chemistry professor at community college (A grade in class)
5. African Geography professor at UCLA (A grade in class)

Knowing all this, I am debating on wether or not it is worth it to apply to MD schools. I will be applying "late" (since delay in MCAT, schools will receive scores around mid-September) so with my lower GPA, I feel I will not have a chance at MD. What is everyone's opinion? With my first two years at CC bringing down my GPA, will schools understand this and take this into account? Or should I just ONLY apply to D.O. medical schools? Please let me know. I am sorry for the long post. I greatly appreciate anyone's input! 🙂

I would apply to both MD and DO, but choose the schools wisely. As long as you have a decent MCAT and you show a positive trend in your GPA since community college, I say go for it.

 

[sector9]

Merging threads and moving to WAMC

 

[CjOz]

Well based on your MCAT practice test scores and your current GPA, I would say you have a better shot at DO, especially considering you're a Cali grad. If you make a 27 on the MCAT, which you have been averaging, you are best suited for DO. You will probably need a 33+ to land an MD spot.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Well based on your MCAT practice test scores and your current GPA, I would say you have a better shot at DO, especially considering you're a Cali grad. If you make a 27 on the MCAT, which you have been averaging, you are best suited for DO. You will probably need a 33+ to land an MD spot.

Shootin for that 45! Hahaha jk

 

[Goro]

If you do really well on MCAT, (>33), try for the low-tier MD programs. You're fine for DO.

SDN,
GPA:

D.O. sGPA- 3.39
D.O. cGPA- 3.40

M.D. sGPA- 3.43 (as long as they include a math class labeled "pre-calc")
M.D. cGPA- 3.33

My UCLA GPA is around 3.4. (4.0 the last two semesters hopefully)

Knowing all this, I am debating on wether or not it is worth it to apply to MD schools. I will be applying "late" (since delay in MCAT, schools will receive scores around mid-September) so with my lower GPA, I feel I will not have a chance at MD. What is everyone's opinion? With my first two years at CC bringing down my GPA, will schools understand this and take this into account? Or should I just ONLY apply to D.O. medical schools? Please let me know. I am sorry for the long post. I greatly appreciate anyone's input! 🙂

 

[CjOz]

Shootin for that 45! Hahaha jk

Haha. We all shoot for that 45, then the MCAT bends us over and has its way with us.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Haha. We all shoot for that 45, then the MCAT bends us over and has its way with us.

Mcat should go to prison

 

[Eiot]

Best of luck, your story is very similar to mine.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Best of luck, your story is very similar to mine.

Have you applied?

 

[Eiot]

Have you applied?

Nah

 

[gmcguitar4]

Think about it like this. Our generation is supposed to live a pretty long time, so you can count practicing medicine for a very long time. What is 2-3 years in that whole scheme of things?...not much. I would say put a plan togethor and if it takes 1-2 years to achieve the goals of your plan then stick to that! As I have learned from applying previous cycles, rushing this process is not a good idea. You should present the best possible application you can to these schools.

So continue building up your EC's and maybe consider retaking a couple of science courses and taking additional upper level bio. Right now though, your main priority is your MCAT. Post about your chances when you get that because it is a gigantic part of your application.

 

[Jamie561]

What is 2-3 years in that whole scheme of things?

Only about $400,000 - $600,000 of earnings.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Bump

 

[plumhill]

I'd say base your decision on your MCAT score. If you get in the mid-high 30s, apply broadly MD and DO. If you score below a 30, then DO. Technically, you don't need an SMP/Masters because your GPA will get you into DO school for sure, so I wouldn't dish out the money for that.