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Hey All,
I was wondering if someone could give me perspective on my current chances for gaining entry into a D.O. medical school. Ever since I learned what a D.O. was and had a D.O. student teach one of my EMS courses, that's all I've ever wanted to be. M.D. went out the window, and the philosophy and history of the D.O. stuck with me.
My story begins in high school where while in my senior year I attended the local community college at night, gaining certification as an EMT-Basic (7 credits - 4.0). Also during my senior year, I attended the Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Holiday Lecture on Science. During summers, I worked as a lifeguard, then I went on to become a certified American Red Cross Lifeguarding/CPR/First Aid instructor for three years.
After high school, I attended Virginia Tech. Admittedly, I had difficulties in my first semester, and it was not quite typical of most freshmen. I was in the Corps of Cadets, a 24/7 ROTC program akin to that of West Point. Needless to say, I decided that the program wasn't for me, and I left for the civilian side of campus. The following semester would only make matters worse as the events of April 16th affected me deeply, taking from me a close friend. From that point on, the school never seemed the same, and my grades would take a downward trend.
I stayed at Virginia Tech for another year and a half after that dreadful semester, finally leaving with a disconcerting GPA of 2.73.
From there, I continued my EMS education and took other college courses closer to home. I graduated with an A.A.S. degree in EMS and became certified as an EMT-Paramedic. I also obtained many supplementary certifications such as ACLS, PALS, and ITLS. My GPA for the EMS program was a 4.0 with a 3.887 overall.
I have been working at a Level 1 Trauma Center for the past year and a half while finishing my degree in biology at a four year institution (projected finish May 2012). My GPA stands at a cGPA of 3.48 and a sciGPA of 3.30. Every class I have felt the need to retake, I have earned an A in at my new school. When I graduate, I will have around 180 credits from all schools attended.
I plan take the MCAT around January 2013. My volunteer experience consists of running EMS (approx. 4 years), providing summer EMS coverage for the National Park Service, and teaching English to international students for one semester. I know I need to add more non-medical ECs to my application and plan to do so after I graduate.
I went to see a physician recently that I have seen a few times over the years for standard issues. On this past visit, I spoke with him for almost an hour. He seems to think I may have ADHD. He's been in practice for decades. I see him again this week to follow up. Obviously, I hope that I don't have this condition, mired in stigma. However, it would not surprise me to be the case. It's interesting how this is being brought to light as I finish my undergraduate degree. Thinking about it, if I do in fact have ADHD, I am worried about how to express this in my application, if at all.
I appreciate any thoughts and/or guidance anyone has to share. Thank you. I wish you all luck in your pursuits of knowledge toward the betterment of mankind.
I was wondering if someone could give me perspective on my current chances for gaining entry into a D.O. medical school. Ever since I learned what a D.O. was and had a D.O. student teach one of my EMS courses, that's all I've ever wanted to be. M.D. went out the window, and the philosophy and history of the D.O. stuck with me.
My story begins in high school where while in my senior year I attended the local community college at night, gaining certification as an EMT-Basic (7 credits - 4.0). Also during my senior year, I attended the Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Holiday Lecture on Science. During summers, I worked as a lifeguard, then I went on to become a certified American Red Cross Lifeguarding/CPR/First Aid instructor for three years.
After high school, I attended Virginia Tech. Admittedly, I had difficulties in my first semester, and it was not quite typical of most freshmen. I was in the Corps of Cadets, a 24/7 ROTC program akin to that of West Point. Needless to say, I decided that the program wasn't for me, and I left for the civilian side of campus. The following semester would only make matters worse as the events of April 16th affected me deeply, taking from me a close friend. From that point on, the school never seemed the same, and my grades would take a downward trend.
I stayed at Virginia Tech for another year and a half after that dreadful semester, finally leaving with a disconcerting GPA of 2.73.
From there, I continued my EMS education and took other college courses closer to home. I graduated with an A.A.S. degree in EMS and became certified as an EMT-Paramedic. I also obtained many supplementary certifications such as ACLS, PALS, and ITLS. My GPA for the EMS program was a 4.0 with a 3.887 overall.
I have been working at a Level 1 Trauma Center for the past year and a half while finishing my degree in biology at a four year institution (projected finish May 2012). My GPA stands at a cGPA of 3.48 and a sciGPA of 3.30. Every class I have felt the need to retake, I have earned an A in at my new school. When I graduate, I will have around 180 credits from all schools attended.
I plan take the MCAT around January 2013. My volunteer experience consists of running EMS (approx. 4 years), providing summer EMS coverage for the National Park Service, and teaching English to international students for one semester. I know I need to add more non-medical ECs to my application and plan to do so after I graduate.
I went to see a physician recently that I have seen a few times over the years for standard issues. On this past visit, I spoke with him for almost an hour. He seems to think I may have ADHD. He's been in practice for decades. I see him again this week to follow up. Obviously, I hope that I don't have this condition, mired in stigma. However, it would not surprise me to be the case. It's interesting how this is being brought to light as I finish my undergraduate degree. Thinking about it, if I do in fact have ADHD, I am worried about how to express this in my application, if at all.
I appreciate any thoughts and/or guidance anyone has to share. Thank you. I wish you all luck in your pursuits of knowledge toward the betterment of mankind.
