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Hey everyone, so I am planning on applying on the next cycle, or maybe sooner depending on when Caribbean schools open their application cycles. I do request that you please read all of this if you would like to respond or ask questions. So I will kind of break down what I have been doing and would like to hear some suggestions from people who have already applied or are applying for this cycle.
So i have been working for a cardiologist at a private practice since I turned 18 (I am now 21). At this private practice we do a variety of things for the doctor including stress tests, scribing, referrals, prior authorizations, hospital rounding, procedure notes, and a lot more that probably is not nearly as important. Overall, I would say I have worked a bare minimum of 3400 hours at this practice. We also have a physicians assistant as well I should mention. The cardiologist went to St. Georges in the Caribbean and he is an amazing doctor and is one of the first physicians to perform TAVR in my area so he is quite a neat guy and very nice as well. He has taught me how to read ECG's, a lot about many topics in cardiology, and usually does informational teachings for about an hour during our down day on any specific topic at least once a month. So he is an amazing doctor in my eyes at least. I also worked for a primary care doctor for about three months over the summer which was not nearly as good so i do have experience with other doctors as well. This is all I can think of in regards to clinical experience.
In regards to my school classes, I am currently a biology major at Fresno state university, and i did my first two years of schooling at a community college. So far I have finished all of the pre-requisite classes except for psychology and I am just finishing my upper division biology classes as well as my general education classes. So I have finished organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, etc. Currently, my GPA is quite low at about 3.37 I believe, though it should improve this semester. My largest set back with my GPA is a C in my first semester of biology (it was the professors first semester teaching and it was my first semester working at my job). Also I got a C in my second semester of physics which I don't quite understand as I got an A in the first semester. I believe after all of this I should be able to boost my GPA up to around a 3.5 maybe higher, and probably even higher science GPA as I may do a minor in chemistry since I will have a bit of extra time as I currently am a senior and will be taking a gap year at this rate.
In regards to the MCAT, I have not taken it yet but I plan to take it in March so I do have plenty of prep time though I have not quite started studying yet. I would prefer not to spend money on preparation classes for the MCAT as I do better with self studying and somewhat believe that the classes are a waste of money.
I am a white male as well with parents that were never married if that is pertinent at all to the application as well.
So, with all this information do you guys think any MD schools would be possible to get into? Would the Caribbean be a good option at all? Is DO a better option? Could the MCAT greatly increase my chances of getting in? Any suggestions at all as I know a lot of you have experience would be greatly appreciated. If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Constructive criticism is welcome.
So i have been working for a cardiologist at a private practice since I turned 18 (I am now 21). At this private practice we do a variety of things for the doctor including stress tests, scribing, referrals, prior authorizations, hospital rounding, procedure notes, and a lot more that probably is not nearly as important. Overall, I would say I have worked a bare minimum of 3400 hours at this practice. We also have a physicians assistant as well I should mention. The cardiologist went to St. Georges in the Caribbean and he is an amazing doctor and is one of the first physicians to perform TAVR in my area so he is quite a neat guy and very nice as well. He has taught me how to read ECG's, a lot about many topics in cardiology, and usually does informational teachings for about an hour during our down day on any specific topic at least once a month. So he is an amazing doctor in my eyes at least. I also worked for a primary care doctor for about three months over the summer which was not nearly as good so i do have experience with other doctors as well. This is all I can think of in regards to clinical experience.
In regards to my school classes, I am currently a biology major at Fresno state university, and i did my first two years of schooling at a community college. So far I have finished all of the pre-requisite classes except for psychology and I am just finishing my upper division biology classes as well as my general education classes. So I have finished organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, etc. Currently, my GPA is quite low at about 3.37 I believe, though it should improve this semester. My largest set back with my GPA is a C in my first semester of biology (it was the professors first semester teaching and it was my first semester working at my job). Also I got a C in my second semester of physics which I don't quite understand as I got an A in the first semester. I believe after all of this I should be able to boost my GPA up to around a 3.5 maybe higher, and probably even higher science GPA as I may do a minor in chemistry since I will have a bit of extra time as I currently am a senior and will be taking a gap year at this rate.
In regards to the MCAT, I have not taken it yet but I plan to take it in March so I do have plenty of prep time though I have not quite started studying yet. I would prefer not to spend money on preparation classes for the MCAT as I do better with self studying and somewhat believe that the classes are a waste of money.
I am a white male as well with parents that were never married if that is pertinent at all to the application as well.
So, with all this information do you guys think any MD schools would be possible to get into? Would the Caribbean be a good option at all? Is DO a better option? Could the MCAT greatly increase my chances of getting in? Any suggestions at all as I know a lot of you have experience would be greatly appreciated. If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Constructive criticism is welcome.
