I didn't read the above replys at all - so I may be saying the exact same thing....
I was accepted to the only school I applied to with a 24. My husband has a great job and we were trying to stay where we were - which happened to have an osteopathic school. I worked at the local hospital on the weekends for 2 years, shadowed, and taught school (jr high/sr high science) during the application year.
I took the MCAT early - not having had orgo 2 or physics 2..only took it once. Called adcom and they told me to wait until my app comes thru and only take the mcat again if they suggest it...they never did.
Now, I don't know if it's my other stuff - shadowing, volunteering, work experience, or if it's the fact that my husband and I had (by this time) already been members of the community where we both went to undergrad for some time, or what....but I got in first try and I just graduated and matched surgery. (still, in the same town, same hospital - because of hubby's job)
My grades...I actually have an F...yep...an F!!! on my transcript. It was physics 100 I think...had no idea back then I wanted to go to med school. About 3/4 way into things, I found my perspective and my grades went from Bs/Cs to just about straight A's. After I graduated, I had to go back (once I decided to apply to med school) and take the prerecs...and aced them.
During my interview one doc looked at my transcripts and shook his head. He said "you went from the worst grades ever to almost a 4.0....There's a story here and someday, if you come to school here, I'd like to hear it."
So, no matter what you hear about numbers and scores...every applicant is an individual. When I worked at the hospital - even sat/sun when I was teaching M-F...(BUSY!)...I did EKGs. When I wasn't being paged, I hung out in the ER watching things, or I asked to observe surgeries. One time, a co-worker even took my pager for a couple of hours while I went and assisted with an AUTOPSY! I documented all this...and had it listed in the "clinical experience" part of my application. So, for example - I worked 2 years at the hospital and spent at least 2-3 hours a week in the ER just passing the time...so, I listed that I did observation hours in the ER under Dr.s so and so from 1999 - 2001. I also listed EVERY doc I watched for a surgery and delivery. Of course, I made sure they didn't mind that I put their names down on my list. I didn't want them to get a call about it - when I knew they wouldn't remember the 1-2 times I sat in on a delivery or whatever - so I asked if they mined if I documented my experiences with them (no matter how few) on my application. No one cared.
So...no matter how discouraged you get about numbers...there are other ways to make up for them (to a degree). I didn't get a chance during undergrad to do a LOT of volunteering, because I worked to support myself (pre-marraige). At any given time, I had 3 jobs. The adcom understood that.
Juggling all this stuff during undergrad actually made medical school - where a job really isn't an option - sort of boring/easy at times. Sure it was more difficult in a certain ways, but it was the first time ever that I only had ONE thing on my plate. So, we decided to have a baby.
Now, with most of my adult life consisting of 3 jobs, school, etc....I found the specialties that took up less time...well...boring.. I liked the excitement of surgery because I am so used to running a million different ways.
Kind of got off the subject...point is....if your grades are above average and you score ok on the MCAT - don't discount the other things about you...
That counts for both MD and DO schools. Don't underestimate the power of your LOR's and your persistence (If applying for 2nd/3rd time). If you want to go to school somewhere...if possible...move there and get a job there...work at the local hospital, get to know the docs - get your face/name seen/heard. I already lived in a town with a med school - so, that was easy for me. This may not be possible for those with families or financial restrictions.
On my clinical experience list I mentioned above - the autopsy impressed everyone who talked to me. The nurses who helped me get in touch with the pathologist for it still bring it up to this day!
Oh, on that list...I kept track of docs, hours/dates, and what you did
For example, I was asked by a friend to attend her delivery...well, yeah, I listed that!
Sept 1999, Observed labor and vaginal delivery, Dr. Blah, 8 hours
Oct 1999, Observed and Assisted with Autopsy, Dr. Blah, 5 hours
Spring 2000, Observed multiple surgical procedures, Dr. Blah, approximately 25 hours total (now, I may have only watched 3-4 surgeries - so, I just said "spring" instead of an actual date....I think that makes it sound like more of a committment than it actually was).
Anyway, hope this helps...Also ....
I don't want to offend anyone - so, keep in mind, this only applies to certain people.....
I find that those who focus on scores and grades and tell you you do/don't have a shot..are usually the ones that have the best scores and grades. They aren't the ones who have typically faced a whole lot of stuff - had to work thru undergrad, etc...so, they had the time and resources to get those grades....DO NOT compare yourself to these people. They were fortunate to have had the opportunities to only focus on school - where you may not have had the luxury. Their scores/grades may be their best asset...where your's may actually be something else - like being able to juggle 3 jobs and still actually make it thru undergrad - that shows hard work and dedication.
When I first started med school, I was scared to death. I honestly went in with the attitude of "what will I tell my husband when I fail out". I just assumed I wouldn't make it. I was in a class with biochem majors, PhD, PharmDs...I was scared out of my mind. However, I found myself struggling so much less than some of those people. I'm not a natural brain, so I've always had to buckle down - so, medical school didn't provide any major shock to my system like it did to some people who were accustomed to having material miraculously float into their heads. They were shocked because they really hadn't, up to this point, had to work that hard at academic stuff.
Bottom line - restated...don't discount yourself. There are a million ways to get into medical school. It may take more creative effort than others have to give...but there really are other things that adcoms look at than just scores/grades. (Granted...very competitive/prestigious schools may not give you a second glance - but if you want to be a doc..you'll go where ever you're accepted.)
