Could I get in anywhere? Feeling so hopeless...

[Stagg737]

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Would you be able to comment on which specific schools wouldn't do this? I thought each school uses the GPA that AACOMAS calculates which includes public health/nutrition/health. Do some schools come up with their own GPAs separate from AACOMAS when evaluating applicants?

I was referring to the LOR portion of your comment. Whatever standards AACOMAS uses for GPA is what each school will see. In terms of a science LOR, that will be school dependent. Idk what each school's standard is, but I know my school considers a science letter to be from a physics, chemistry, or hard biology course (physio, cell bio, genetics, etc.) and not course like public health, nutrition, etc. If you're not sure about a specific letter you should contact the admissions office for those schools to make sure it meets their standards.

 

[AwayFromReality]

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[Stagg737]

If I remember correctly the only schools that explicitly mentions that they require letters from physics, chemistry or hard bio are ACOM, and OU-HCOM. Is your school one of them or did I miss it during my research?

I'm at KCU. I don't think it explicitly says on the website, but an admission counselor said they don't typically count public health, nursing, nutrition (aka health related fields) letters as hard science science. It depends on the specific course though. If you can get a letter from bio, phys, or chem, do it since no one will question that, otherwise it may hold less weight (or it may not, depends on the institution).

 

[AwayFromReality]

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[Chubaka31]

Would statistics count as a science letter? Or no?

 

[AwayFromReality]

Would statistics count as a science letter? Or no?

DO schools do not count Math courses in the science GPA therefore I don't believe statistics would count as a science LOR

 

[Stagg737]

Well I already graduated so I can't get anymore letters. I have LOR from my Genetics professor and Animal Science professor. I know KCU only requires one Science LOR so my genetics letter would be good but for schools that require 2 science LOR I may run into some trouble. Do you think Intro to Animal Science might be considered one of the hard science courses?

I think it depends on the school and how the class was described. If it's something like animal phys where you deal with enzymatic reactions and biochemical processes in various species then I think most schools would be fine with it. If it is more of a 100 level zoology course then it would probably vary at different schools. If it's the latter I don't think my school would count it as hard science, but if you aren't sure you should contact those schools directly so you don't waste your time with an app that your letters won't suffice for.

Would statistics count as a science letter? Or no?

If the class was research statistics then maybe, but generally speaking I'd agree that they probably would not.

 

[AwayFromReality]

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[Stagg737]

Almost all schools say on their website "letter from science faculty" and as you mentioned what the school defines as science can vary greatly. This would mean I would have to call all 26 or so DO schools I'm applying to which I think I may end up doing even though its time consuming.

As for the class it was a 3000 level course but it didn't deal with biochemical processes in details. They did go over, anatomy, digestion and reproduction extensively but only in terms of livestock such as cattle, pigs, poultry etc. I guess this description kinda makes it seem 50/50 as to whether its a hard science course.

If it's a 300/3000 level course I think they'd be much more likely to consider it a hard science course, but once again it will vary from school to school. If you've already got a genetics LOR then you'll only need to call the schools that require 2 hard science letters, so hopefully that's less than 26...

 

[ananasmed]

Well I already graduated so I can't get anymore letters. I have LOR from my Genetics professor and Animal Science professor. I know KCU only requires one Science LOR so my genetics letter would be good but for schools that require 2 science LOR I may run into some trouble. Do you think Intro to Animal Science might be considered one of the hard science courses?

I used an organic chemistry letter + plant science letter at several schools, nobody seemed to care that the plant letter wasn't "hard science." I did take several upper level classes with the plant science prof, and he served as my advisor for my senior thesis project (but again, certainly not qualifications that made the subject matter hard science). My orgo letter was not on a letterhead (oops), so I ended up having to send the plant sci letter to a few schools that I hadn't intended to initially, including ACOM who accepted it without issue. Don't stress.

 

[doctor in da makin]

I haven't asked this flat out, but...

if my GPA if I apply MAY 2016 is 3.24 overall/3.11 science (I think its a realistic possibility after retakes, no magic thinking) would medical schools take in to consideration that I made it up from a 2.92/2.65 from MAY 2014?

I guess what I'm asking is, even if my final GPA ends up being subpar, would an upward trend like this get me into DO schools?

 

[Goro]

A powerful upward trend + high MCAT will buy you some love from some MD schools, and a ALL DO schools!

I haven't asked this flat out, but...

if my GPA if I apply MAY 2016 is 3.24 overall/3.11 science (I think its a realistic possibility after retakes, no magic thinking) would medical schools take in to consideration that I made it up from a 2.92/2.65 from MAY 2014?

I guess what I'm asking is, even if my final GPA ends up being subpar, would an upward trend like this get me into DO schools?

 

[doctor in da makin]

A powerful upward trend + high MCAT will buy you some love from some MD schools, and a ALL DO schools!

I need a 3.5/3.66 senior year and a 30+ MCAT...

Here goes

 

[Goro]

For MD schools: your state schools and the low tiers.

I need a 3.5/3.66 senior year and a 30+ MCAT...

Here goes

 

[YourMD]

Your professor has your best interest in mind. Do not apply this cycle focus on learning good study habits and get those grades up! Goodluck!

 

[doctor in da makin]

For MD schools: your state schools and the low tiers.

Thats alot better than low-tier and out of state DO schools, am I right?

I'll be sure to share my story if everything works out.

 

[doctor in da makin]

Your professor has your best interest in mind. Do not apply this cycle focus on learning good study habits and get those grades up! Goodluck!

Its not gonna be easy, but I've never been more determined.

 

[Goro]

Yes!

Thats alot better than low-tier and out of state DO schools, am I right?

I'll be sure to share my story if everything works out.

 

[doctor in da makin]

Yes!

A little update on my case guys.

As of today, I have maintained a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.3 science GPA after my sophomore spring semester. (Hows that for an upward trend?)

I will be taking a gap year to continue researching and shadowing. With grade replacement, my overall GPA has shot up to 3.24 and a scGPA of 3.04, and I still have 1 more semester left to raise it even more.

I have also volunteered for a youth basketball league, researched at a hospital where I got to spend time in the ER and talk to patients, as well as tutored English to undergrad and graduate students. And, I will be shadowing a DO shortly.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

A little update on my case guys.

As of today, I have maintained a 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.3 science GPA after my sophomore spring semester. (Hows that for an upward trend?)

I will be taking a gap year to continue researching and shadowing. With grade replacement, my overall GPA has shot up to 3.24 and a scGPA of 3.04, and I still have 1 more semester left to raise it even more.

I have also volunteered for a youth basketball league, researched at a hospital where I got to spend time in the ER and talk to patients, as well as tutored English to undergrad and graduate students. And, I will be shadowing a DO shortly.

Hey, good work! If you can kick butt in some upper-level science classes your last semester, you'll be sitting in a decent place. Good luck. 🙂

 

[adrian710]

Retake classes to get that sGPA to a 3.0 at least, so your cGPA will be prob a 3.1 at that point. These low GPA's need to be coupled with a 506+ MCAT at least and good EC's and LoR and you still need to apply very broadly and early.

You have your work cut out for you. Spend a year retaking classes to increase GPA and study like crazy for MCAT, all the while doing EC's. Apply next cycle.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

You are making the right moves! Now make sure you can secure your letter writers and you wont have to stress later. Also get an interfolio dossier.

 

[doctor in da makin]

You are making the right moves! Now make sure you can secure your letter writers and you wont have to stress later. Also get an interfolio dossier.

Already have a dossier and have 4 letters right now, and I plan on getting a few more =)

 

[yanks26dmb]

Crazy thought: take a few years off after undergrad, do some fun, amazing, life-changing things...take more classes to raise your GPA, then apply. Experiencing your 20s is something so many people miss out on by rushing right off to med school.