- Joined
- Sep 6, 2017
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 11
Hello everyone. I'm very grateful for the SDNers. I hope to support the forum financially one day. Please extend me your advice.
Me:
I'm about 30 years old. White American. Texas resident. Had a financially secure upbringing. Somewhat lazy in my early 20's, now more focused. I get along well with people.
Statement and Questions:
I'm not opposed to D.O., and I would be happy to be a primary care provider. However, if it turned out I could enter into a specialty, I might consider it. I feel an M.D. could be a benefit for that in the future, so I don't want to close that door. Hence, I'd like to hear thoughts on my chances for any of the following:
1. Applying to Texas M.D. schools this cycle (2017) (deadline: 9/29/17)
2. Applying to nationwide M.D. schools this cycle (2017)
3. Applying to D.O. schools this cycle (2017) (deadlines in December 2017 and January 2018)
4. Applying to Texas M.D. schools next cycle (2018)
My Academics:
Convoluted history. Liberal arts degree in 2012. Many F's, including STEM classes, from before 2010, spread out over a few semesters. Did better after, and had about 3.6 or so in final half of degree. Graduated cum laude, but cumulative GPA 2.8 range for first degree. Worked for a few years, then quit to go back to school. Have since 2014 taken about 60 credits from Community College and 40 from University, all in STEM, and GPA across all should be 3.6-3.9 range. Will be getting second degree in Biochemistry this spring, and almost done this Fall. Since 2015 I've basically been a full-time student, not working.
In the end, from ALL the courses I've ever taken, I think my official, reportable cGPA will be about 3.3, and my math/science GPA will be about 3.3 or so. But note that in the last 100 credit hours I've taken, all STEM, the GPA will be A/A-.
If I wait until next summer to apply I think I can invoke Fresh Start and boost my reportable GPA's up to 3.5 maybe or higher.
MCAT: 513
Chem/Phys: 126
CARS: 128
Biology/Biochem: 128
Psychology/Soc: 131
Percentile overall: 89th
Extracurriculars:
When I first started back to school, I was very paranoid about grades and focused on school. Had few extracurriculars to speak of. I've opened a little more more recently. Last year and a half shadowed a cardiologist (a few hours),
a general practitioner (a dozen or so hours)
a vascular surgeon (100+ hours in office and in OR)
a few physicians at a local clinic for Spanish immigrants I recently started volunteering at
Went on an international medical trip with the surgeon for a week.
I've shadowed three Physician Assistants for about 25 hours in total.
I passed training as a medical scribe, was then trained on the floor for about 90 hours, but quit very shortly thereafter because I became concerned about it affecting my school, among a few other small things.
A few years ago I volunteered for about 40 hours with some exchange students.
This year I've maybe done 20 hours of volunteer stuff for high schoolers.
I've been a science and math tutor for the last two semesters, perhaps so far at 60 hours.
I love the Spanish language and would say I'm functionally fluent in some scenarios. I received an intermediate level certification last year from some big cheese institution in Spain.
I am a life long musician and play the guitar somewhat seriously.
Have not obtained any serious research opportunities yet outside of class, though we did design two research projects for my biochemistry classes.
Looking forward to doing more in the future, especially after this semester finishes.
I realize my extracurriculars are weak. Are they a sinker?
Schools I'll one day apply to (should I?):
Texas MD
Baylor?
UT McGovern
UT Southwestern?
Texas Tech Lubbock
Texas Tech El Paso
Texas A&M
UT Austin Dell
UTMB Galveston
UT Rio Grande
UT San Antonio
Texas DO
Any?
Out of State MD
Any? Might consider attending if I can start next year
Out of State DO
Any?
So there it is. Sorry if it's too much info. Would you apply to Texas allopathic programs in my situation, or just wait? Would you just go DO and not wait a year? Or should I just forget about allopathic altogether and apply DO?
Me:
I'm about 30 years old. White American. Texas resident. Had a financially secure upbringing. Somewhat lazy in my early 20's, now more focused. I get along well with people.
Statement and Questions:
I'm not opposed to D.O., and I would be happy to be a primary care provider. However, if it turned out I could enter into a specialty, I might consider it. I feel an M.D. could be a benefit for that in the future, so I don't want to close that door. Hence, I'd like to hear thoughts on my chances for any of the following:
1. Applying to Texas M.D. schools this cycle (2017) (deadline: 9/29/17)
2. Applying to nationwide M.D. schools this cycle (2017)
3. Applying to D.O. schools this cycle (2017) (deadlines in December 2017 and January 2018)
4. Applying to Texas M.D. schools next cycle (2018)
My Academics:
Convoluted history. Liberal arts degree in 2012. Many F's, including STEM classes, from before 2010, spread out over a few semesters. Did better after, and had about 3.6 or so in final half of degree. Graduated cum laude, but cumulative GPA 2.8 range for first degree. Worked for a few years, then quit to go back to school. Have since 2014 taken about 60 credits from Community College and 40 from University, all in STEM, and GPA across all should be 3.6-3.9 range. Will be getting second degree in Biochemistry this spring, and almost done this Fall. Since 2015 I've basically been a full-time student, not working.
In the end, from ALL the courses I've ever taken, I think my official, reportable cGPA will be about 3.3, and my math/science GPA will be about 3.3 or so. But note that in the last 100 credit hours I've taken, all STEM, the GPA will be A/A-.
If I wait until next summer to apply I think I can invoke Fresh Start and boost my reportable GPA's up to 3.5 maybe or higher.
MCAT: 513
Chem/Phys: 126
CARS: 128
Biology/Biochem: 128
Psychology/Soc: 131
Percentile overall: 89th
Extracurriculars:
When I first started back to school, I was very paranoid about grades and focused on school. Had few extracurriculars to speak of. I've opened a little more more recently. Last year and a half shadowed a cardiologist (a few hours),
a general practitioner (a dozen or so hours)
a vascular surgeon (100+ hours in office and in OR)
a few physicians at a local clinic for Spanish immigrants I recently started volunteering at
Went on an international medical trip with the surgeon for a week.
I've shadowed three Physician Assistants for about 25 hours in total.
I passed training as a medical scribe, was then trained on the floor for about 90 hours, but quit very shortly thereafter because I became concerned about it affecting my school, among a few other small things.
A few years ago I volunteered for about 40 hours with some exchange students.
This year I've maybe done 20 hours of volunteer stuff for high schoolers.
I've been a science and math tutor for the last two semesters, perhaps so far at 60 hours.
I love the Spanish language and would say I'm functionally fluent in some scenarios. I received an intermediate level certification last year from some big cheese institution in Spain.
I am a life long musician and play the guitar somewhat seriously.
Have not obtained any serious research opportunities yet outside of class, though we did design two research projects for my biochemistry classes.
Looking forward to doing more in the future, especially after this semester finishes.
I realize my extracurriculars are weak. Are they a sinker?
Schools I'll one day apply to (should I?):
Texas MD
Baylor?
UT McGovern
UT Southwestern?
Texas Tech Lubbock
Texas Tech El Paso
Texas A&M
UT Austin Dell
UTMB Galveston
UT Rio Grande
UT San Antonio
Texas DO
Any?
Out of State MD
Any? Might consider attending if I can start next year
Out of State DO
Any?
So there it is. Sorry if it's too much info. Would you apply to Texas allopathic programs in my situation, or just wait? Would you just go DO and not wait a year? Or should I just forget about allopathic altogether and apply DO?