Classes impacting my application?

[H0pefulD0c]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to see what you thought of my current situation. I have a few red flags on my application I believe, and I wanted to see just how bad they look. During my undergrad I had a bad slump my sophomore to junior year. This included a D in gen chem 2, then a retake with an F and a withdrawal from orgo 2. I had to stay in gen chem 2 or else I would have lost financial aid, unfortunately. I also have a C in anatomy lecture, and a C in biochem during that time. After that, however, I turned it around and pulled an A in organic chem and a 3.42 average in my professional program (Clinical Laboratory Scientist). I'm now working full time, volunteering, and shadowing and just finished physics I with an A in lecture and lab. Assuming I can pull an A in gen chem 2, and I can get A's in the rest of the classes I have to take, will it be enough (it will be about 28 hours of a 4.0 which I think is very doable, I have gen bio 1 and 2, physics 2, and genetics I'm planning on taking)? I can't currently retake anatomy or biochem due to my work schedule. My stats if I finish with all A's will be about a 3.35 cgpa and a 3.45 sgpa, MCAT pending. I will also have 100+ hrs volunteering at a hospital on the surgery floor, 100+ hours volunteering through church, and 100+ hours shadowing DO's with strong LoRs, and a few minor leadership activities from my undergrad.

What MCAT if any, would make me fairly competitive. I have a few schools I'd like to get into more than others, but honestly I'll go wherever I get accepted.

Sorry for the long post, and I appreciate everyone looking this over.

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[gmcguitar4]

You said you shadowed a DO, I assume you are applying to DO programs as well. If that is the case I would retake some more courses and pull your GPA up. You could easily raise it to above a 3.5-3.6. If you do that and get a 28+ on your MCAT then you would be almost done...

You still need a ton of clinical experience which you are currently lacking. I see enough shadowing but you are going to need more than 100+ hours of clinical exp. This is crucial.

For MD, I would say shoot for the straight A's and get that upward trend going. If you score a 31+ on your MCAT and apply broadly you should get in somewhere. Maybe consider taking more classes after graduating and get A's in them.

 

[H0pefulD0c]

To clarify, the volunteering on the surgery floor is patient contact based (which is the same as clinical, correct?), and I am planning on DO schools. Am I just out of luck for this cycle of applications for DO schools with my stats? I need a 3.5-3.6 to be competitive?

 

[gmcguitar4]

To clarify, the volunteering on the surgery floor is patient contact based (which is the same as clinical, correct?), and I am planning on DO schools. Am I just out of luck for this cycle of applications for DO schools with my stats? I need a 3.5-3.6 to be competitive?

You are talking about applying in June correct? If that is the case, I would sign up for a couple of courses this spring and retake the classes you did bad in. That would really help you out.

Yea that would be clinical for sure. I am just saying, try to get some more hours racked up before you apply. Maybe double what you have now or more if possible?

 

[Goro]

Score a 25 on MCAT or higher and you're pretty much fine for any DO school.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to see what you thought of my current situation. I have a few red flags on my application I believe, and I wanted to see just how bad they look. During my undergrad I had a bad slump my sophomore to junior year. This included a D in gen chem 2, then a retake with an F and a withdrawal from orgo 2. I had to stay in gen chem 2 or else I would have lost financial aid, unfortunately. I also have a C in anatomy lecture, and a C in biochem during that time. After that, however, I turned it around and pulled an A in organic chem and a 3.42 average in my professional program (Clinical Laboratory Scientist). I'm now working full time, volunteering, and shadowing and just finished physics I with an A in lecture and lab. Assuming I can pull an A in gen chem 2, and I can get A's in the rest of the classes I have to take, will it be enough (it will be about 28 hours of a 4.0 which I think is very doable, I have gen bio 1 and 2, physics 2, and genetics I'm planning on taking)? I can't currently retake anatomy or biochem due to my work schedule. My stats if I finish with all A's will be about a 3.35 cgpa and a 3.45 sgpa, MCAT pending. I will also have 100+ hrs volunteering at a hospital on the surgery floor, 100+ hours volunteering through church, and 100+ hours shadowing DO's with strong LoRs, and a few minor leadership activities from my undergrad.

What MCAT if any, would make me fairly competitive. I have a few schools I'd like to get into more than others, but honestly I'll go wherever I get accepted.

Sorry for the long post, and I appreciate everyone looking this over.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I would recommend retaking biochem simply because it's soon being implemented as a requirement or preferable elective by many medical schools. Your performance on Gen Chem 2 is redeemable, so I don't think it'll hold you back from getting accepted if you can finally pull it off. Get an MCAT around a 27+ to be on the safer side of admissions.

 

[H0pefulD0c]

Thanks for all of your help everyone, I appreciate it.