Can you help me take a decision

[bola18]

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Hi, I am recent Biolgy major graduate from NJ, I have 3.5 CGPA & 3.56 SGPA, I took the MCAT twice but my highest score is 26. I was planing to apply to DO schools but I figured out that it will be hard to get accepted in a DO school with my GPA and MCAT thus, I decided to apply to Caribbean Med Schools hoping to start next May. However, I have been hearing rumors that the U.S. hospitals have declared that they won't be taking any Med school graduates from outside the U.S. starting in 2015. Obviously, if I got to a Caribbean Med School I won't be done before 2016. Have anyone heard those rumors as I did and does anyone knows if they are true for sure. Pls, I am in a great need of your advices about what to do and what are the best solutions for me, Thanks for your responses

 

[Ironmandoc]

You can get into a US DO school based on your stats. What was your MCAT breakdown by section? What are your ECs?

 

[2tim17]

Hi, I am recent Biolgy major graduate from NJ, I have 3.5 CGPA & 3.56 SGPA, I took the MCAT twice but my highest score is 26. I was planing to apply to DO schools but I figured out that it will be hard to get accepted in a DO school with my GPA and MCAT thus, I decided to apply to Caribbean Med Schools hoping to start next May. However, I have been hearing rumors that the U.S. hospitals have declared that they won't be taking any Med school graduates from outside the U.S. starting in 2015. Obviously, if I got to a Caribbean Med School I won't be done before 2016. Have anyone heard those rumors as I did and does anyone knows if they are true for sure. Pls, I am in a great need of your advices about what to do and what are the best solutions for me, Thanks for your responses

I think you should take the MCAT again-but only when you're scoring 2-3 pts or so higher than your desired score...you shouldn't give up so easily. most of the doctors i shadowed and my pcp who graduated from Ross recommends staying in the US (MD or DO)

 

[bola18]

You can get into a US DO school based on your stats. What was your MCAT breakdown by section? What are your ECs?

My MCAT breakdown is:

Biology - 9
Physics - 9
Verbal - 8
Writing - R

The EC is another problem for me because I just started shadowing two month ago at Family MD office and I have almost 100 hours of shadowing thus far, I was't big on activities in college too. I work a part-time job in a furniture store for now but I have been looking for a Lab position since I graduated last Dec. but I can't get a job so far

 

[LuciusVorenus]

My MCAT breakdown is:

Biology - 9
Physics - 9
Verbal - 8
Writing - R

The EC is another problem for me because I just started shadowing two month ago at Family MD office and I have almost 100 hours of shadowing thus far, I was't big on activities in college too. I work a part-time job in a furniture store for now but I have been looking for a Lab position since I graduated last Dec. but I can't get a job so far

Do you have any other ECs besides shadowing and your part time job? More important than research is clinical/non-clinical volunteering.

I suggest you take a year off and study for the MCAT again while doing more ECs. Who knows, maybe you'll do better now that the writing section has been canceled?

 

[Catalystik]

More important than research is clinical/non-clinical volunteering.

I suggest you take a year off and study for the MCAT again while doing more ECs.

Agree with the above. Your shadowing is terrific (though some DO schools require a DO LOR, so strategize to acquire that), but you have no active clinical experience interacting with sick people. Take a year and acquire this experience, as the average applicant has 150 hours attained over 1.5 years. Also gain some nonmedical community service for a cause you care about. Add some hobbies or Artistic interests.

Add additional dedicated study for an MCAT retake if you want a shot at MD schools. Your stats are fine for a DO acceptance somewhere as they are. There is no need to risk Caribbean schools which are far less likely to result in a match into a US residency program that you need to practice in the US someday.

Don't rush into this process ill-prepared. Wait until your application is the best it can be.

 

[bola18]

Agree with the above. Your shadowing is terrific (though some DO schools require a DO LOR, so strategize to acquire that), but you have no active clinical experience interacting with sick people. Take a year and acquire this experience, as the average applicant has 150 hours attained over 1.5 years. Also gain some nonmedical community service for a cause you care about. Add some hobbies or Artistic interests.

Add additional dedicated study for an MCAT retake if you want a shot at MD schools. Your stats are fine for a DO acceptance somewhere as they are. There is no need to risk Caribbean schools which are far less likely to result in a match into a US residency program that you need to practice in the US someday.

Don't rush into this process ill-prepared. Wait until your application is the best it can be.

so, the only way I can do it with my scores is to take a year off and do more shadowing and volunteer work and get clinical experience

 

[Xenops]

so, the only way I can do it with my scores is to take a year off and do more shadowing and volunteer work and get clinical experience

That is a much better option than going to the Caribbean and possibly not graduating, yes.

Small price to pay, I think.

 

[Catalystik]

so, the only way I can do it with my scores is to take a year off and do more shadowing and volunteer work and get clinical experience

For US DO schools, two months of shadowing is unlikely to be enough to convince adcomms that you've thoroughly explored medicine as a career and know what you're getting yourself into. For a chance at US MD, same thing, but you'd need a higher MCAT score, too.

For a Caribbean school, if you have a pulse and a good credit rating, you can find one somewhere that will take you without the MCAT retake or appropriate ECs. I do not recommend that path.