delete this

[deleted893933]

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haha

 

[Trollest]

@Goro

 

[GypsyHummus]

Im not an expert, but Caribbean to DO has been done before, albeit the candidates were prolly stellar. I would assume if you explain yourself, there will be some schools that give you a chance.

However, your scenario is complicated by a lower MCAT score. Did you not apply to DO programs before the Caribbean? Did you get any love? If not, what makes you think the outcome will change? If anything it will be harder to get into a DO program.

I say go for it, but have backup options on the table.

Look into podiatry or dentistry.

 

[deleted893933]

Im not an expert, but Caribbean to DO has been done before, albeit the candidates were prolly stellar. I would assume if you explain yourself, there will be some schools that give you a chance.

However, your scenario is complicated by a lower MCAT score. Did you not apply to DO programs before the Caribbean? Did you get any love? If not, what makes you think the outcome will change? If anything it will be harder to get into a DO program.

I say go for it, but have backup options on the table.

Look into podiatry or dentistry.

Never applied to DO programs because I didn’t have any DO shadowing hours and wouldn’t have had a recommendation from a DO which I saw was a requirement from all the DO programs I was interested in.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[bears1992]

Your stats as is are good enough for a majority of DO schools (slightly above average GPA, slightly below average MCAT). Your only two hurdles are going to be finding DO schools that don't heavily scrutinize carribean dropouts and if your carribean grades will give you a downward grade trend. One of the two DO schools I interviewed at made a few jokes about students that choose carribean med schools (DO schools really don't have room to critize applicants since they are plan B for most applicants). You withdrew for health reasons so I'm sure some schools will cut you slack. This would be a great question for Goro.

 

[Osminog]

In 2016, 142 DO applicants had been previously matriculated at an MD program. Of those 142 applicants, 36 (25%) ultimately matriculated into a DO program.

 

[gyngyn]

In 2016, 142 DO applicants had been previously matriculated at an MD program. Of those 142 applicants, 36 (25%) ultimately matriculated into a DO program.

Where did you find this!?

 

[Osminog]

Where did you find this!?

 

[TheaterOfTheme]

View attachment 226674

trippy...

 

[deleted480308]

You had to bail on school twice already, I wish you well but have trouble seeing an adcom not viewing you as risky

 

[Instatewaiter]

You had to bail on school twice already, I wish you well but have trouble seeing an adcom not viewing you as risky

Agree and that the school wouldnt let you back OP, especially if this was only a health issue, is a little suspicious/worrisome.

 

[Goro]

EDIT: This is an an excellent teaching moment thread, so I am changing my comments.

First off, I'd like to know if the health issues were physical or mental. If the latter, I'd want to see you ace an SMP to convince me that you were both healthy, and able to handle med school. My school's SMP has had a handful (< 5) of former Carib students make it through, and succeed in our med school.

At my school, we routinely reject people who have failed out of other MD and DO schools, unless there was a health issue involved. As above, we want to see evidence that the issues are over, and that one can handle med school.

We are still very harsh on people who took the Carib route to MD instead of DO, since that says what degree they really want, as opposed to them wanting to be a doctor, period.

And yes, we know that we're a backup or that people go for us after a failed MD cycle. We don't take it personally.

So, OP, I suggest the following:
1) Retake the MCAT and score > 500
2) Do a DIY post-bac or better, an SMP, and ace that
3) Apply to DO schools broadly especially targeting the newest schools.

Hello all,

I am a previous student from a Caribbean medical school who due to unforeseen health circumstances had to leave school this October and cannot return due to already having left earlier in March because of my health. Gratefully I am 100% healthy now, but still have a large overwhelming desire to work in the healthcare industry and am exploring my options for the future.

I completed a BS in Economics with an overall GPA of 3.57, but underperformed on the MCAT with a 498. I have an extensive list of extracurriculars such as working as an Organic Chem TA, leading a collegiate dance team to multiple national competition victories, working for a non-profit organization, being on the executive board for my South Asian community on campus, and even starting a collegiate dance competition at my university as well. In addition to this, I have shadowed multiple physicians for numerous hours as I’m sure many of those applying have done so as well.

I am unopposed to retaking the MCAT as I definitely would have to if I decide to reapply, but am really unsure of my chances of getting into an American medical school/DO program in general. I have been told it can be beneficial to seek employment in the healthcare industry while taking time to restudy for the MCAT and then applying after receiving a higher score may help my chances.

Any additional advice or is it honestly time for me to let this career go?

 

[deleted893933]

EDIT: This is an an excellent teaching moment thread, so I am changing my comments.

First off, I'd like to know if the health issues were physical or mental. If the latter, I'd want to see you ace an SMP to convince me that you were both healthy, and able to handle med school. My school's SMP has had a handful (< 5) of former Carib students make it through, and succeed in our med school.

At my school, we routinely reject people who have failed out of other MD and DO schools, unless there was a health issue involved. As above, we want to see evidence that the issues are over, and that one can handle med school.

We are still very harsh on people who took the Carib route to MD instead of DO, since that says what degree they really want, as opposed to them wanting to be a doctor, period.

And yes, we know that we're a backup or that people go for us after a failed MD cycle. We don't take it personally.

So, OP, I suggest the following:
1) Retake the MCAT and score > 500
2) Do a DIY post-bac or better, an SMP, and ace that
3) Apply to DO schools broadly especially targeting the newest schools.

Thanks for the advice and responses everyone. Ultimately I wasn’t able to return to school because the program I was enrolled in only allowed for one term (semester) to be taken off for a LOA. I left in March due to my mental health which I believed would’ve been fine by the time the next semester came around (and that semester was counted as my LOA semester), but due to family issues not knowing how to help me handle and cope with my situation my health worsened. I landed myself in some legal trouble (due to family) and I wasn’t able to extend my leave at that point and ultimately had to return to school. Wasn’t able to really focus on school because of my legal predicament and mental health on top of that so I decided to withdraw in September.

Edit: The only reason I’ve been a bit iffy on Post Bacc programs is because a lot of my peers in the Caribbean were from those programs from respectable universities and it makes me wonder if I hit a dead end by doing that and not finding a seat at a DO or MD program after that. Worth a shot though.

I appreciate all of the advice though. I’m currently looking for jobs that relate to my major, but will look into retaking the MCAT and will apply to post-bac programs to give it a shot.

Regards

 

[Trollest]

Thanks for the advice and responses everyone. Ultimately I wasn’t able to return to school because the program I was enrolled in only allowed for one term (semester) to be taken off for a LOA. I left in March due to my mental health which I believed would’ve been fine by the time the next semester came around (and that semester was counted as my LOA semester), but due to family issues not knowing how to help me handle and cope with my situation my health worsened. I landed myself in some legal trouble (due to family) and I wasn’t able to extend my leave at that point and ultimately had to return to school. Wasn’t able to really focus on school because of my legal predicament and mental health on top of that so I decided to withdraw in September.

Edit: The only reason I’ve been a bit iffy on Post Bacc programs is because a lot of my peers in the Caribbean were from those programs from respectable universities and it makes me wonder if I hit a dead end by doing that and not finding a seat at a DO or MD program after that. Worth a shot though.

I appreciate all of the advice though. I’m currently looking for jobs that relate to my major, but will look into retaking the MCAT and will apply to post-bac programs to give it a shot.

Regards

By legal trouble you mean ticket Right?