Asking for some guidance

[rigs92]

Hi everyone,

To start off, here are my less than stellar stats:
cGPA: 2.73
sGPA: 2.34
MCAT 503

I need some guidance. I'm not ready to give up on my goal to become a doctor and am quite sure that MD schools are out of the question. I'm planning on taking psych 1 for future SMP apps since I never took it. I'm also enrolled at UTA to take some upper level science courses. Currently working fulltime in healthcare admin. I'm not sure what to do from here. Apply for DO schools this may or wait and improve my app for next year? Retake the MCAT?

Thanks guys

 

[GreenDuck12]

You’re not ready to apply to DO yet. Take a look at Goro’s guide for reinvention. Good luck to you.

 

[sw99]

Hey there,
Your stats look decent. What does the rest of your application look like (I mean specifically your ECs, besides your work in healthcare, which looks really good for both MD and DO). Are you by chance a URM? There are schools in the south that are known for taking students with stats similar to yours (Howard, Meharry, etc.). Remember to round out your app with some unique, cool ECs so that you stand out. Good luck!

 

[rigs92]

You’re not ready to apply to DO yet. Take a look at Goro’s guide for reinvention. Good luck to you.

Thanks! Will do!

Hey there,
Your stats look decent. What does the rest of your application look like (I mean specifically your ECs, besides your work in healthcare, which looks really good for both MD and DO). Are you by chance a URM? There are schools in the south that are known for taking students with stats similar to yours (Howard, Meharry, etc.). Remember to round out your app with some unique, cool ECs so that you stand out. Good luck!

I don't qualify as a URM(asian male). I have over 1000 hours scribing in an ER, over 800 derm shadowing hours from 2013 but other than that I'm not sure what they'd want for ECs. I'll definitely look into this! Thanks for the feedback!

 

[sw99]

I don't qualify as a URM(asian male). I have over 1000 hours scribing in an ER, over 800 derm shadowing hours from 2013 but other than that I'm not sure what they'd want for ECs. I'll definitely look into this! Thanks for the feedback!

Yw

 

[Nugester]

Hi everyone,

To start off, here are my less than stellar stats:
cGPA: 2.73
sGPA: 2.34
MCAT 503

I need some guidance. I'm not ready to give up on my goal to become a doctor and am quite sure that MD schools are out of the question. I'm planning on taking psych 1 for future SMP apps since I never took it. I'm also enrolled at UTA to take some upper level science courses. Currently working fulltime in healthcare admin. I'm not sure what to do from here. Apply for DO schools this may or wait and improve my app for next year? Retake the MCAT?

Thanks guys

Don't apply this cycle. Also, it will be had to get accepted into a SMP with your GPAs. I'd recommend a post-bacc (formal or dyi) and retake the MCAT.

 

[Nugester]

Hey there,
Your stats look decent. What does the rest of your application look like (I mean specifically your ECs, besides your work in healthcare, which looks really good for both MD and DO). Are you by chance a URM? There are schools in the south that are known for taking students with stats similar to yours (Howard, Meharry, etc.). Remember to round out your app with some unique, cool ECs so that you stand out. Good luck!

I might be missing something, but how does having sGPA: 2.34 and cGPA: 2.73 "look decent"?

 

[curbsideconsult]

I don't think DO schools will look at your app unless you have a steep upwards trend. And even then you have a very low chance of your app getting a second look. Your best bet would be to retake prereqs you got less than a C in, take some upper level science courses, and make sure you get no lower than a 3.7 in any of those classes. With your stats, you should not be applying until at least next year. You should probably wait until 2022.

The scribe work is good, but you also need volunteer hours. Anything in service to the needy. The derm shadowing hours are pretty old and also not primary care focused so you could probably shadow about 30 hours with a PCP, though it's not completely necessary since you have 1000 hours in the ED.

 

[sw99]

don't think DO schools will look at your app unless you have a steep upwards trend. And even then you have a very low chance of your app getting a second look. Your best bet would be to retake prereqs you got less than a C in, take some upper level science courses, and make sure you get no lower than a 3.7 in any of those classes. With your stats, you should not be applying until at least next year. You should probably wait until 2022.

The scribe work is good, but you also need volunteer hours. Anything in service to the needy. The derm shadowing hours are pretty old and also not primary care focused so you could probably shadow about 30 hours with a PCP, though it's not completely necessary since you have 1000 hours in the ED.

Not to nitpick, but the traditional advice is to retake courses that you got a C- or less in, and 3.7 is a worthy goal but perhaps unrealistic.

 

[curbsideconsult]

Not to nitpick, but the traditional advice is to retake courses that you got a C- or less in, and 3.7 is a worthy goal but perhaps unrealistic.

OP needs to strive for as high a GPA as possible and a 3.7 in all subsequent courses is not unrealistic.

 

[rigs92]

Got it. I'll start with upper level sciences and MCAT prep for now. I'll hold off this year and work through next cycle. Thanks for the help, everyone!