CA resident 3.47 and 33L, but did I kill my chance of becoming an MD or DO?

[ryan2100]

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CA Resident
3.47overal 3.56science
2008mcat 29o 2009mcat 33L
biosci major
9 mo experience as a research assist - no pulbished article
graduated in 2008 and since have:
2yr experience working as a ER physican's scribe
1.5yr experince as an ER tech
1yr of experience volunteering at a free clinic
No DO shadowing but work with several in the ED

bad news: is that I have applied the previous 2 application cycles to MD schools, but I probably only got out 5 complete applications the first year and 6 last year, no interviews at all.
Also My LOR, I have A LOR from a DO i work with, a LOR from a MD I work with as a tech and another letter from a MD that I scribe for, I have one letter from a professor, and one letter from my research docotor (my research was for a class that I got units for but not sure if that counts for a science faculty letter of rec.

So just wondering what my chances are for DO or MD, is my lack of a second LOR from a professor and the fact that this is my 3rd time applying going to kill my chances to become a doctor?

So far I have only sent out my primary app for DO schools and are working on secondaries, should I even sent out an app to MD schools or is it a waste of time.?

 

[Lokhtar]

1) What were you thinking with applying to only 5-6 schools?

2) Shadow a DO

3) Take a course, ace it, and get a second LOR from a professor. Better yet, take two and get two LORs (one from non science)

4) Apply to 15 DO schools and 20 MD schools being a 2x re-applicant.

There is no reason why you shouldn't be in medical school by now. Instead of applying for two years, if you had spent a year improving your app by shadowing, getting LORs, volunteering, taking a few classes and then applied once, you might be in med school now.

Also, 5 schools. Really?

 

[ryan2100]

So I am signed up for an Organic Chemistry course this semester and was planning on getting a LOR, but of course that means waiting til Dec to get it. I can start shadowing a D.O. in the coming weeks, but for this application cycle do I have a shot?

 

[Catalystik]

You probably have a 60% chance of an MD acceptance (per AMCAS stats) if you apply broadly to less selective allopathic schools, as your MCAT score is strong enough to compensate for the low cGPA, and your BCPM is fairly decent. DO med school applications should ensure you get in somewhere. I agree with Lokhtar's application strategy.

I also agree, even though scribing implies shadowing too, that you should also shadow a DO in their office setting for a greater breadth of experience.

As to LORs, some schools let you petition for substitutions in the LORs they require, but it's best if at all possible, to get a second science faculty LOR, and one nonscience. Can't you hit on past instructors for this?