Are my chances at DO blown?

[redmomba]

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Hey all, I recently got my mcat scores from the 9/12 test date and I did waaaaaay lower than I expected. I plan on retaking the test but for that spots have to open up. Can anyone please give me some guidance?

White from impoverished background
I go to a top 20 US university (a top DO feeder school if I may add)
cGPA: 3.2 sGPA:3.1 (hopefully both will be a bit higher by the time I apply)
MCAT: 25 PS/VR/BS 9/5/11 (was averaging 30 in the weeks before my exam, most common score was 11/8/11)
Research, should be getting published by the end of the year
200+ hours of clinical experience (close enough to smell the patients)
200+ hours shadowing a doctor
leadership position in a frat organizing community service events & philanthropies
science tutor (areas where I did poorly as a undergrad)



I struggled with depression and anxiety my first two years but since then I haven't had any such problems and have been able to show a steadily increasing upward trend in my grades so I hope that counts for something. The depression was also a reason for why I didn't join any clubs. I'm a third year but this is also my last year in university since I'm graduating a year early. I would retake some of my classes but none of the grades are low enough for my school to allow for a retake. Right now I'm just hoping for a spot to open up for the January mcat so I have some time to just focus on Vr since I know my score isn't representative of what I know I can do. I will be applying this coming cycle.

 

[baxt1412]

are you at > 3.2 cGPA? some schools auto-screen out below a 3.2, so if you are rounding up, it may be a different story.

the GPA is borderline okay, you could get in to some schools with that, but then coupled with the MCAT you may have a tough time (especially considering you got a 5 in VR, some schools auto screen out below a 7)

it's possible. but i would definitely recommend retaking. gotta pull up that verbal because then even if you are a point or two lower than your average PS/BS scores, then you could still get in the upper 20s.

research sounds great
clinical experience sounds great (is this volunteering or a job?)
have you shadowed a DO?
the frat leadership may be looked at as neutral at best. @Goro could comment more on that
tutoring will look good i'm sure.


you're not out of the game yet.

can you retake any courses? if so, i suggest starting with science courses and starting with your lowest grade and work your way up.

if you could get that sGPA up past a 3.2 you could be opening more doors for yourself.

 

[redmomba]

are you at > 3.2 cGPA? some schools auto-screen out below a 3.2, so if you are rounding up, it may be a different story.

the GPA is borderline okay, you could get in to some schools with that, but then coupled with the MCAT you may have a tough time (especially considering you got a 5 in VR, some schools auto screen out below a 7)

it's possible. but i would definitely recommend retaking. gotta pull up that verbal because then even if you are a point or two lower than your average PS/BS scores, then you could still get in the upper 20s.

research sounds great
clinical experience sounds great (is this volunteering or a job?)
have you shadowed a DO?
the frat leadership may be looked at as neutral at best. @Goro could comment more on that
tutoring will look good i'm sure.


you're not out of the game yet.

can you retake any courses? if so, i suggest starting with science courses and starting with your lowest grade and work your way up.

if you could get that sGPA up past a 3.2 you could be opening more doors for yourself.

cgpa is a low 3.2 right now and I think maybe after a few of my upper divs and research credits start flowing in then maybe I'll probably have above a 3.2 sgpa

I was thinking the same thing about verbal, it killed me to see that score
All of my shadowing was with a DO in a clinic he owned, I would help around as well so the 200hr of shadowing occurred at the same time as the 200 hr of clinic experience.
I'm thinking of listing roughly 100hr of hospital volunteer work for the time after graduation since there is a near by hospital that allows for volunteer work on contract basis.

 

[yocharlie]

Hey all, I recently got my mcat scores from the 9/12 test date and I did waaaaaay lower than I expected. I plan on retaking the test but for that spots have to open up. Can anyone please give me some guidance?

White from impoverished background
I go to a top 20 US university (a top DO feeder school if I may add)
cGPA: 3.2 sGPA:3.1 (hopefully both will be a bit higher by the time I apply)
MCAT: 25 PS/VR/BS 9/5/11 (was averaging 30 in the weeks before my exam, most common score was 11/8/11)
Research, should be getting published by the end of the year
200+ hours of clinical experience (close enough to smell the patients)
200+ hours shadowing a doctor
leadership position in a frat organizing community service events & philanthropies
science tutor (areas where I did poorly as a undergrad)



I struggled with depression and anxiety my first two years but since then I haven't had any such problems and have been able to show a steadily increasing upward trend in my grades so I hope that counts for something. The depression was also a reason for why I didn't join any clubs. I'm a third year but this is also my last year in university since I'm graduating a year early. I would retake some of my classes but none of the grades are low enough for my school to allow for a retake. Right now I'm just hoping for a spot to open up for the January mcat so I have some time to just focus on Vr since I know my score isn't representative of what I know I can do. I will be applying this coming cycle.

I know they are openning up more seats for the MCATs in January this coming couple of weeks. I would follow their twitter feed to be up to date with it. Good luck!

 

[Goro]

I'm never impressed by any frat-related activities.
the frat leadership may be looked at as neutral at best. @Goro could comment more on that

 

[redmomba]

I'm never impressed by any frat-related activities.
the frat leadership may be looked at as neutral at best. @Goro could comment more on that

So would it be recommended to leave it out? I've been on the fence about leaving it out the app since I left the house due to not truly finding any real sense belonging in the "greek" system.

 

[baxt1412]

So would it be recommended to leave it out? I've been on the fence about leaving it out the app since I left the house due to not truly finding any real sense belonging in the "greek" system.

Personally, I wouldn't put anything on your app that you are not ready to talk any given length of time on if an ADCOM brought it up. They will likely be able to see that you aren't very passionate about it and may just figure it's a "box checking" activity.

 

[deleted436726]

The 3.2 GPA is definitely workable with an above-average (>=28, maybe 29) MCAT. As you mentioned, hopefully it'll be higher by the time you reapply.

 

[Goro]

I'd leave it out. Your local houses of worship can provide plenty of volunteering opportunities.

So would it be recommended to leave it out? I've been on the fence about leaving it out the app since I left the house due to not truly finding any real sense belonging in the "greek" system.

Concur!
The 3.2 GPA is definitely workable with an above-average (>=28, maybe 29) MCAT. As you mentioned, hopefully it'll be higher by the time you reapply.

 

[ananasmed]

I put my sorority leadership position on my app. At a school that asks for a resume with secondary, I listed this experience as the last line under the "personal, interests, etc." type section that is at the bottom of my resume. Literally, this is the BOTTOM LINE of my resume, and that section is even in a smaller font compared to the rest of the resume since it contains experiences, hobbies, etc. that I don't feel truly add to my competitiveness as an applicant - but rather are just things that would allow someone to get to know me as a human. In a moment of pure horror, my interviewers asked me only about two experiences on my resume - the one listed at the very top, and the sorority leadership position at the very bottom. I was so dumbfounded and mortified about it that I nearly didn't know what to say. Luckily, I was able to string together some anecdotes about my role in the sorority, but I really wished I had just left it off entirely since I thought it might come off as "frufru" compared to the other actually meaningful things I've done lol. I was accepted anyway, but after the interview I had serious doubts.

 

[user3]

Hey all, I recently got my mcat scores from the 9/12 test date and I did waaaaaay lower than I expected. I plan on retaking the test but for that spots have to open up. Can anyone please give me some guidance?

White from impoverished background
I go to a top 20 US university (a top DO feeder school if I may add)
cGPA: 3.2 sGPA:3.1 (hopefully both will be a bit higher by the time I apply)
MCAT: 25 PS/VR/BS 9/5/11 (was averaging 30 in the weeks before my exam, most common score was 11/8/11)
Research, should be getting published by the end of the year
200+ hours of clinical experience (close enough to smell the patients)
200+ hours shadowing a doctor
leadership position in a frat organizing community service events & philanthropies
science tutor (areas where I did poorly as a undergrad)



I struggled with depression and anxiety my first two years but since then I haven't had any such problems and have been able to show a steadily increasing upward trend in my grades so I hope that counts for something. The depression was also a reason for why I didn't join any clubs. I'm a third year but this is also my last year in university since I'm graduating a year early. I would retake some of my classes but none of the grades are low enough for my school to allow for a retake. Right now I'm just hoping for a spot to open up for the January mcat so I have some time to just focus on Vr since I know my score isn't representative of what I know I can do. I will be applying this coming cycle.

if you are willing to go anywhere, you can probably get into say, LUCOM or LMU. If you can bring your score up to 27 you will be in much better shape though.