Chances? Need Post Bacc?

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ehwhatsupdoc

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Hi I've been perusing this site for awhile and have found a ton of useful information. But I have yet to make a what are my chances thread. Any advice is appreciated. I'm a 29 y.o. and have been working as a Medical Technologist (a.ka Medical Laboratory Scientist) for over 4 years. I enjoy working in the lab but I'm interested in providing more hands on patient care, diagnosing and treatment planning. In my job we are integral in the diagnostics aspect but lacking in the other areas. I'm also a stats oriented person and enjoy looking at the minutia details like various lab results and investigating what's the cause in conjunction with the patient's symptoms. The only thing holding me back right now is my u.gpa. So here's where I'm currently at:
-3.01 u.gpa (couple retakes and planning 1 more, Physics 1)
-3.65 grad gpa (masters with a concentration in Medical Laboratory Science)
For DO school my overall gpa would come to 3.3 if including the masters. I've heard conflicting information how grad gpa gets factored in for DO school
-200 hrs or so of volunteering in a soup kitchen from undergrad
-planning on volunteering at a Hospice
-Study Abroad
-20 hrs of shadowing, definitely need to bring this up
-URM from NY, originally from Africa
-MCAT not yet taken ( say i get an avg score)
Should do a formal post Bacc program at this point? Thanks for the help!
 
Hi I've been perusing this site for awhile and have found a ton of useful information. But I have yet to make a what are my chances thread. Any advice is appreciated. I'm a 29 y.o. and have been working as a Medical Technologist (a.ka Medical Laboratory Scientist) for over 4 years. I enjoy working in the lab but I'm interested in providing more hands on patient care, diagnosing and treatment planning. In my job we are integral in the diagnostics aspect but lacking in the other areas. I'm also a stats oriented person and enjoy looking at the minutia details like various lab results and investigating what's the cause in conjunction with the patient's symptoms. The only thing holding me back right now is my u.gpa. So here's where I'm currently at:
-3.01 u.gpa (couple retakes and planning 1 more, Physics 1)
-3.65 grad gpa (masters with a concentration in Medical Laboratory Science)
For DO school my overall gpa would come to 3.3 if including the masters. I've heard conflicting information how grad gpa gets factored in for DO school
-200 hrs or so of volunteering in a soup kitchen from undergrad
-planning on volunteering at a Hospice
-Study Abroad
-20 hrs of shadowing, definitely need to bring this up
-URM from NY, originally from Africa
-MCAT not yet taken ( say i get an avg score)
Should do a formal post Bacc program at this point? Thanks for the help!
No need for a formal post bacc if you are applying only DO.... I don't know how the new mcat will be scored, but an equivalent of 26+ should make you competitive for low tier DO school. 28+ will open more doors.
 
No need for a formal post bacc if you are applying only DO.... I don't know how the new mcat will be scored, but an equivalent of 26+ should make you competitive for low tier DO school. 28+ will open more doors.
Thank's for the reply. For DO my top choice is LECOM due to their location, tuition and well rounded match results. I was looking into their post-bacc where they guarantee you an interview if you maintain a 3.0+ gpa during the program. For MD I would have the best chances of getting into a state school (NY) since there's an instate preference. Many NY schools do offer a 1 year post-bacc or 2 year masters to URM or disadvantaged with below avg gpa with a guaranteed admission if you pass all your classes (you just have to get an interview). I guess my best course of action would be to score well on my MCAT and apply DO and NY state MD schools and consider LECOM post-bac if unsuccessful my first cycle.
 
Thank's for the reply. For DO my top choice is LECOM due to their location, tuition and well rounded match results. I was looking into their post-bacc where they guarantee you an interview if you maintain a 3.0+ gpa during the program. For MD I would have the best chances of getting into a state school (NY) since there's an instate preference. Many NY schools do offer a 1 year post-bacc or 2 year masters to URM or disadvantaged with below avg gpa with a guaranteed admission if you pass all your classes (you just have to get an interview). I guess my best course of action would be to score well on my MCAT and apply DO and NY state MD schools and consider LECOM post-bac if unsuccessful my first cycle.
Perfect plan! Good Luck...
 
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