Chance me please

[fbbguy]

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Hello all. My cGPA is 3.2, sGPA 2.8, 26Q MCAT. I have terrific LOR (2 from MDs, 1 from my economics professor/boss, 1 from undergrad science prof, 1committee letter from school).

I have a BS in Neuroscience from a prestigious research university on the east coast. Graduated this past May, secured a research assistant job at the affiliated hospital.

Ok ECs-mostly intramural sports. Also have an abstract and poster presentation at a medical conference in October. Attending and presenting another poster in a few weeks in NYC. Should be published by the end of the school year with 2 or 3 papers (2nd author on them all).

I'm interested in pod school for the surgical aspects and would probably focus on sports medicine.

Please chance me for applying this cycle. I have NOT yet applied, just seeing what my chances would be. I've applied MD/DO this cycle, but no luck this far. I have shadowed an MD (multiple actually) extensively (200+ hours). Going to shadow a DO soon. I know I should shadow a pod too tho. Is a pod LOR recommended or not?

I appreciate any help and advice/insight you can give me. Thanks.

 

[feet2017]

You have to have a pod LOR. If you apply you will be fine. I am sure you know this but you have an extremely low chance at getting into MD school, with you stats you could maybe get into a low tier DO school.

 

[Shinobiz11]

You have to have a pod LOR. If you apply you will be fine. I am sure you know this but you have an extremely low chance at getting into MD school, with you stats you could maybe get into a low tier DO school.

Agreed. I would shadow a pod first, make sure you actually enjoy the career.

 

[nikkisorous]

You're good for podiatry school. (Yes you need a LOR) You should have posted on here before wasting your money on MD schools you had like a 0% chance. Don't waste time applying to DO schools this late in the cycle either, you will only waste more money.

 

[fbbguy]

Well I had an FAP waiver for MD schools so it was only like 100 bucks for the 22 apps to MD. My premed advisor thought I had a chance due to my extenuating circumstances (personal and now resolved), plus I made Dean's List the final 4 semesters in college (>3.65gpa) while taking upper level bio and neuro courses and research at the hospital. I also applied to 9 DO programs.

I feel I would love the surgical aspect of podiatry. But I have had my heart set on anesthesiology since 8th grade. That's the dept I work for now and still love it.

Would I be a good fit for WesternU pod school or the one in NY? I might also like Arizona (it's in Glendale, right?).

To be honest, if the money were the same for DPM as an anesthesiologist, I would be jumping for joy. I'm not in this profession for the money, but it is a realistic aspect one must consider.

I'd love anymore advice. How late is too late to apply to get in? I have to shadow a pod and secure a letter (or can I do that later???)

Thanks.

 

[pp3]

You have really low science gpa, but you should be able to get in to podiatry school. You must have DPM letter for your file to be considered complete, so they can make a decision. You should be able to get in for sure though. I personally want to do it for surgical aspect of podiatry as well, its my favorite.

 

[fbbguy]

Hey. I have another question. Does anyone know if any of the pod schools allow you to defer a year? Say I apply this cycle, get in at WesternU (or X pod school), would they let me defer a year? I would like to finish up some of my research and continue to work.

I would also apply to DO at the beginning of the cycle as a reapplicant. So, if I got in to DO could I withdraw from pod deferment? Or wont they allow me to do such a thing. Bottom line, I know I want to be a doctor. Going the DO route keeps the most doors open for residency/specialty and I want to make sure I keep the options open as much as possible.

Anyone have any first hand experience or knowledge of the schools' policies??

Thanks.
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[CapCrunch]

After reading your posts, it seems as though your main interests - aside from surgery - would be better satisfied if you went the MD/DO route. While I'm not discouraging you from applying to Pod programs, you must do some soul searching to figure out what you really want. Don't apply to pod school simply as a backup. If you don't feel you will be satisfied being a DPM, then take time off, retake a few classes, and apply to DO schools. Take advantage of the retake policy so that in 20 years you won't have any regrets. There is no rush and certainly no need to make hasty decisions. If you want anesthesiology, apply DO and match gas.

 

[feet2017]

Hey. I have another question. Does anyone know if any of the pod schools allow you to defer a year? Say I apply this cycle, get in at WesternU (or X pod school), would they let me defer a year? I would like to finish up some of my research and continue to work.

I would also apply to DO at the beginning of the cycle as a reapplicant. So, if I got in to DO could I withdraw from pod deferment? Or wont they allow me to do such a thing. Bottom line, I know I want to be a doctor. Going the DO route keeps the most doors open for residency/specialty and I want to make sure I keep the options open as much as possible.

Anyone have any first hand experience or knowledge of the schools' policies??

Thanks.
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anesthesiologist and podiatrist are like apples and oranges you need to figure out which one you want. if you wanted to be an f/a ortho, then I think DPM would be a good back up. If i were you, just go for the DO. from what I know anesthesiology is a DO friendly specialty.

 

[Shinobiz11]

anesthesiologist and podiatrist are like apples and oranges you need to figure out which one you want. If you wanted to be an f/a ortho, then i think dpm would be a good back up. If i were you, just go for the do. From what i know anesthesiology is a do friendly specialty.

crna?

 

[diskhmergrl]

After reading your posts, it seems as though your main interests - aside from surgery - would be better satisfied if you went the MD/DO route. While I'm not discouraging you from applying to Pod programs, you must do some soul searching to figure out what you really want. Don't apply to pod school simply as a backup. If you don't feel you will be satisfied being a DPM, then take time off, retake a few classes, and apply to DO schools. Take advantage of the retake policy so that in 20 years you won't have any regrets. There is no rush and certainly no need to make hasty decisions. If you want anesthesiology, apply DO and match gas.

I agree with CapCrunch. By the sounds of it you would really like to get into an MD/DO school and I'm not too sure if you will end up being happy if you ended up in Podiatry because you were rushing to get into any type of health professional school. Your last post mentioned how you want to consider deferring, but I'm not too sure if any of the schools will do that... Either way I would recommend you take not worry about applying this cycle and to focus on work and "soul searching" that way you will be making the right career decision for you. As mentioned before, your stats you will be able to get you into Podiatry school if you applied for the next cycle or even later on in this cycle (i.e. February).

 

[hughesn2]

Well I had an FAP waiver for MD schools so it was only like 100 bucks for the 22 apps to MD. My premed advisor thought I had a chance due to my extenuating circumstances (personal and now resolved), plus I made Dean's List the final 4 semesters in college (>3.65gpa) while taking upper level bio and neuro courses and research at the hospital. I also applied to 9 DO programs.

I feel I would love the surgical aspect of podiatry. But I have had my heart set on anesthesiology since 8th grade. That's the dept I work for now and still love it.

Thanks.

So you somehow finished your final 4 semesters at college with a 3.65, but you finished your 4 YEARS with a 2.8 science GPA. Most people I know take their hardest classes in their final 4 semesters. Wish I could pull that off.
From what I have learned from DO schools I believe that you do have too low of a science GPA. My cousin who had the same BS as you but a 3.6 science GPA was wait listed from lots of DO schools

But good luck.

 

[fbbguy]

crna?

No to the CRNA. I've worked with them, and not to be mean to anyone but they are probably not qualified enough to do all they do. Plus they continue to want parity with anesthesiologists. Anyone can sedate a patient by following the right rubric. Where anesthesiologists are worth there weight in gold is when you have a crisis in the OR and you need an airway ASAP. A CRNA is not going to be able to do a cric or trach to establish airway patency. Anesthesiologists are the experts in this area, patient safety is their main goal-what attracted me to the specialty in the first place. I have been looking at surgery lately tho-neurosurgery and peds urology.

But the reduced hours of a pod and still doing surgery and a high patient interaction do appeal to me. As an anesthesiologist, I'd be on call crazy hours and work long days. Which I don't necessarily mind, but if I could avoid all that it would be nice. Ild never be a family doc or internist. Most of their day is prescribing/altering drugs and seeing the effects in the next office visit. I want hands on (surgery and anesthesia give me that). So they are not too different from that aspect.

I just need time to figure it out. I also don't want to regret not doing DO in 10 years.

*****ANYONE have info on deferment policy at pod schools? I could apply this semester, get in, defer a year, and apply early to DO and hope to get a DO spot and then withdraw the pod deferment. Obviously this isn't nice to the pod schools, but I need to do what is best for me. They would find someone to give my spot to.****


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[feet2017]

crna?

That would be a good alternative for the OP, but in one of his earlier post he said he wanted to be a "doctor". So I dont think he would consider this, but good suggestion.

 

[fbbguy]

So you somehow finished your final 4 semesters at college with a 3.65, but you finished your 4 YEARS with a 2.8 science GPA. Most people I know take their hardest classes in their final 4 semesters. Wish I could pull that off.
From what I have learned from DO schools I believe that you do have too low of a science GPA. My cousin who had the same BS as you but a 3.6 science GPA was wait listed from lots of DO schools

But good luck.

Yes! I did take very difficult courses my final two years. I feel the difference was the course evaluations of my knowledge. Early science courses were regurgitation of pointless general bio and chem equations or specific junk (Ksp, orgo junk). The final two years I did anesthesiology physiology lab and intensive research, upper level neurobiology, neuropsychology, upper level neuro lab, sensory and motor neuro.

When the exams are on things I care about (human/clinical applications) I can tell you anything you want about it. When it's what should this orgo reaction take place in-h2o2 or acid whatever, I choke. A doctor needs basic orgo, yes, but reference info can always be looked up. No doctor would do well on an orgo exam if it is thrust on them without warning. It doesn't factor in to patient care very often (with exceptions of course). Sorry for my semi-rant.

I just know i have the mental capacity to tackle med school-I just need to get in.


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[feet2017]

No to the CRNA. I've worked with them, and not to be mean to anyone but they are probably not qualified enough to do all they do. Plus they continue to want parity with anesthesiologists. Anyone can sedate a patient by following the right rubric. Where anesthesiologists are worth there weight in gold is when you have a crisis in the OR and you need an airway ASAP. A CRNA is not going to be able to do a cric or trach to establish airway patency. Anesthesiologists are the experts in this area, patient safety is their main goal-what attracted me to the specialty in the first place. I have been looking at surgery lately tho-neurosurgery and peds urology.

But the reduced hours of a pod and still doing surgery and a high patient interaction do appeal to me. As an anesthesiologist, I'd be on call crazy hours and work long days. Which I don't necessarily mind, but if I could avoid all that it would be nice. Ild never be a family doc or internist. Most of their day is prescribing/altering drugs and seeing the effects in the next office visit. I want hands on (surgery and anesthesia give me that). So they are not too different from that aspect.

I just need time to figure it out. I also don't want to regret not doing DO in 10 years.

*****ANYONE have info on deferment policy at pod schools? I could apply this semester, get in, defer a year, and apply early to DO and hope to get a DO spot and then withdraw the pod deferment. Obviously this isn't nice to the pod schools, but I need to do what is best for me. They would find someone to give my spot to.****


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You should just call the schools themselves, there are only 9 of them.

 

[fbbguy]

You should just call the schools themselves, there are only 9 of them.

Ya. That's what I'm planning to do tomorrow. Just wanted to see if anyone knew.

Is there a consensus as to which pod schools are the "best". Obviously it's subjective, but are there high and low tier like DO or MD schools have?


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[Robert De Niro]

Coming from a guy who had applied to DO schools in the past and needed to do some soul searching to find podiatry, I would recommend not only calling the schools but also shadow a pod as well. Make sure you can see yourself working in all aspects of podiatry just in case you find yourself in a situation where you may not be able to do as much surgery as you would like. Podiatry is a very diverse specialty.

Like I said I was in a similar situation not too long ago. I did some soul searching, and after shadowing a pod, I couldn't be happier with my decision to go to podiatry school next year. You keep mentioning your first love is to be an anesthesiologist, but if you go to pod school you're saying goodbye to that goal. Just take some time and shadow a podiatrist. I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[feet2017]

Ya. That's what I'm planning to do tomorrow. Just wanted to see if anyone knew.

Is there a consensus as to which pod schools are the "best". Obviously it's subjective, but are there high and low tier like DO or MD schools have?


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Most schools have there strengths and weakness, I might get flamed for this but DMU seems to be the top choice for a lot of people. There are a lot of threads with strength/weaknesses for many of the schools, search for them.