Did I mess up?

[starkinthemidwest]

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Hi,

I graduated with a MS in biomedical sciences in '14 after graduating with a BS in biochemistry in '13 from the same college (Iowa State Uniersity). I had an undergrad GPA of 3.1 by the time I graduated, and I started out on academic probation at Iowa State because my high school did not properly inform me on how to actually drop college credit courses, and failed said course with an F (Later retook it for an A). ISU gave me a 3.20 in my master's program, but AACOMAS calculated it as a 3.25 because it counted the A I received for my creative research credit. I took the MCAT and got a 28 (12BS/9PS/7VR).

Additionally, before I went to Iowa State, I was at a local community college because I wasn't certain of what I wanted my major to be, and again, I had a couple problems carrying over from taking college credit while I was in high school and failed out of a basic Bio course because of health problems I'd had in my senior year (I was dx'd with multiple sclerosis).

Now originally, I included my transfer credits because I was under the impression that I had to include all of my credits ever, even from schools I didn't graduate from. Now I'm not so sure if I needed to or not. I ended up applying to the DO/PhD programs at MSU, Ohio, Philedelphia, and Rowan and got secondaries from all of them, but I feel like now since I haven't gotten a response back that they've just kind of quietly rejected me.

So I guess 1. I'm not sure what to do this year, since I've been worked at a hospital for 3 months and I'm currently temping at an intensive care floor at a retirement center, I'll probably ask the DO who comes here once a week if I could shadow him and 2. do I need to include credit hours from colleges I transferred from? My wife insisted that I don't, but considering she's just an electrical engineer I don't trust her ability to apply to doctoring places. 😛

 

[becomingdoctor]

You need to report classes you took from community college for sure, doesn't matter whether you got a degree there or not. I think the definition for the classes need to report is " courses from a post secondary schools".

 

[starkinthemidwest]

You need to report classes you took from community college for sure, doesn't matter whether you got a degree there or not. I think the definition for the classes need to report is " courses from a post secondary schools".

Well I feel like a *****, then. It definitely took down my overall GPA cause I took a lot of those classes in high school and honestly, I was a ***** in high school.

Now if only I knew whether being disabled makes me more or less appealing to osteopathic programs...

 

[becomingdoctor]

I think your GPA and MCAT are on the low end of admission, especially your GPA, looks like a master program doesn't fix the problem. From your words I believe you dont have a DO letter for the current cycle, I am very sure it affects your chance as well. Retake MCAT is always optional but may not be beneficial. Things you can do:1. Get DO shadowing done and LOR ready.
2. Apply early
3. Tell your wife you trust her.

 

[karling]

I was under the impression that you have to include all college courses you've taken. From the AACOMAS Instructions: "List all colleges and universities attended or currently attending, whether for degree programs or for coursework not leading to a degree. . . . Failure to list all colleges and universities may delay processing of your application and may be considered a violation of your Application Certification Agreement."

You applied to 4 competitive DO schools with a below average GPA and average MCAT. Three of them are state schools with an IS bias. You just didn't apply broadly enough.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I was under the impression that you have to include all college courses you've taken. From the AACOMAS Instructions: "List all colleges and universities attended or currently attending, whether for degree programs or for coursework not leading to a degree. . . . Failure to list all colleges and universities may delay processing of your application and may be considered a violation of your Application Certification Agreement."

You applied to 4 competitive DO schools with a below average GPA and average MCAT. Three of them are state schools with an IS bias. You just didn't apply broadly enough.

Agree, he should have hit up some more DO programs in the South. Even LECOM would have been better to add in.
OP,
The good news is that you will be a reapplicant at only 4 schools, and that all 4 were kind of pie in the sky deals for you anyhow. Hit up MUCOM, VCOM, ACOM, CUCOM, LMU-DCOM, LECOM, Burnell etc. and you will probably get some II's and acceptances next year(as long as you are normal and not a jerk/wierdo). I would work on the personal statement also. Make sure your story is good. GL

 

[MightBeACylon439]

...I started out on academic probation at Iowa State because my high school did not properly inform me on how to actually drop college credit courses, and failed said course with an F (Later retook it for an A)...

Just an FYI, if you end up getting interviews and you mention that getting an F in a course was the fault of your high school, that could be a red flag as it shows lack of ability to take responsibility for what happens in your life.

I am sure as you read that last paragraph you were saying to yourself "but..this, and this...and this!" NO, STOP. I can tell you right now that no excuse where YOU blame someone else for YOU getting an F will be acceptable to not just ADCOMS, but anyone who is considered an adult.

 

[I'mJustCurious]

Hm although 28 is average it is still good enough to get you some interviews if you apply broadly. Retake some classes in CC to raise up your gpa and build up your ECs and I think you shall be fine. I wouldn't retake that MCAT if I were you.

 

[starkinthemidwest]

Agree, he should have hit up some more DO programs in the South. Even LECOM would have been better to add in.
OP,
The good news is that you will be a reapplicant at only 4 schools, and that all 4 were kind of pie in the sky deals for you anyhow. Hit up MUCOM, VCOM, ACOM, CUCOM, LMU-DCOM, LECOM, Burnett etc. and you will probably get some II's and acceptances next year(as long as you are normal and not a jerk/wierdo). I would work on the personal statement also. Make sure your story is good. GL

I can't really feel comfortable applying in the South since I'm a gal married to a woman and I do worry about facing harassment if I apply in the South.

Additionally, I'm not entirely sure if I can retake some courses at a community college because courses I did not so great in include Calc III and Quantum Mechanics (both were required for a biochem degree), neither of which are available at community college.

EDIT: I know it looks like a lot of people are recommending me to go to schools that are in small town/religious/conservative areas. Like I said, I'm in a lesbian marriage and we'd both be pretty unhappy if we had to go somewhere where people would bother us about it, which is why I applied to the schools I did.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I can't really feel comfortable applying in the South since I'm a gal married to a woman and I do worry about facing harassment if I apply in the South.

Additionally, I'm not entirely sure if I can retake some courses at a community college because courses I did not so great in include Calc III and Quantum Mechanics (both were required for a biochem degree), neither of which are available at community college.

EDIT: I know it looks like a lot of people are recommending me to go to schools that are in small town/religious/conservative areas. Like I said, I'm in a lesbian marriage and we'd both be pretty unhappy if we had to go somewhere where people would bother us about it, which is why I applied to the schools I did.

Pardon me for assuming you were a guy, I apologize.

LECOM (PA, FL) and Burnell (New Mexico) are not in the South.

I think you will find tho that many people are much more tolerant of your lifestyle than you think, as long as you aren't brazenly trying to engage them in conflict (i.e. don't go heavy making out in front of them, which really would be akward for more than just LBGT couples). Many Southern cites are well known to be LBGT friendly (ATL, Charotte, SC; Nashville, TN; heck even Tallahassee, FL).

LMU-DCOM has LBGT students currently, you should post in the school specific thread and see what they say. VCOM in Auburn (on Auburn's campus) and Blacksburg, VA (on Virginia Techs campus) are both college towns, so I am pretty sure they are decently LBGT friendly as well. PCOM-GA is in ATL, so that could be a good fit also. I would say check out all the school specific threads, you are certainly not the first lesbian to apply to any of these DO schools, in fact I am certain that almost every one of them has LBGTs in their class 🙂(maybe not LUCOM or WCU)

Quick example, I had a LPN who I was charge nurse over who turned out to be Lesbian. I didn't know for months, and I never harassed her once, even after she told me. And guess what, I am a white conservative Christian raised in Florida (religiously conservative, not politically), and I don't hate people just for being LBGT. I have worked with LBGT coworkers on almost every unit I have ever worked. I also have no issue working under my current manager who is a lesbian (shes a good manager and has really been good to me).

So, yes there are some folks out there who might be uncomfortable, but the South is a friendly place in general, and gets a bad rap from the media. And I understand that my opinion will not hold as much weight on this topic, but I would advise that you check out the school specific threads before writing off any DO school. If you want to be a doctor you owe it to yourself to check out these options

 

[TrueWolverine]

Pardon me for assuming you were a guy, I apologize.

LECOM (PA, FL) and Burnett (New Mexico) are not in the South.

Not to be that guy but it's actually Burrell in New Mexico....I didn't know much about it so I went to do some research and couldn't find a Burnett DO School for the life of me....just thought I'd save someone else 5 minutes of searching.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Not to be that guy but it's actually Burrell in New Mexico....I didn't know much about it so I went to do some research and couldn't find a Burnett DO School for the life of me....just thought I'd save someone else 5 minutes of searching.

Thanks! I obviously don't know too much about them other than they are new and in New Mexico. Well, and for-profit from what I hear.

 

[starkinthemidwest]

@HandsomeRob: I'm sure most of the students would probably be fine with me being married to another woman (though I am bi and not a lesbian). I'm more concerned with schools where my marriage to my wife could be an issue with the school itself (I was thinking LUCOM specifically).

I'm working to get plenty of clinical experience right now (320 hours in an intensive care nursing home, I also have about 300-400 hours in a hospital lab but idk if that's really applicable), and I'm going to be asking one of the DOs who helps service the home if I could shadow him, since he seems like a really nice guy and he's friendly with all the nurses and CNAs here.

I also have authorship on a publication, albeit third authorship since I only wrote the first draft...

 

[touchpause13]

@HandsomeRob: I'm sure most of the students would probably be fine with me being married to another woman (though I am bi and not a lesbian). I'm more concerned with schools where my marriage to my wife could be an issue with the school itself (I was thinking LUCOM specifically).

I'm working to get plenty of clinical experience right now (320 hours in an intensive care nursing home, I also have about 300-400 hours in a hospital lab but idk if that's really applicable), and I'm going to be asking one of the DOs who helps service the home if I could shadow him, since he seems like a really nice guy and he's friendly with all the nurses and CNAs here.

I also have authorship on a publication, albeit third authorship since I only wrote the first draft...

My suggestion is to go to a state where gay marriage is legal. Also I've made some long posts about what to consider when being an LGBTQ applicant that I will dig up and link for you.
Also feel free to PM me anytime

-queer MS1

 

[touchpause13]

You might want to check this out: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-lgbtq-applicant-thread.1013024/page-4#post-16038680

Also just for good measure;

Hello friend!
I'm queer and go to DMU. I also did my undergrad in a very conservative area (North Dakota dontcha know) so I might be able to provide some insight. Thanks for tagging me Senpai

Unfortunately, while in undergrad I was outed so I don't really have much experience with coming out in a conservative area, everyone just kinda knew and I just decided to roll with it. I certainly hope the same thing doesn't happen to you during med school because obviously it really really sucks. Even though DMU is quite gay friendly it was still difficult for me to figure out how to come out to my new friends, and that period before everyone knew was really difficult because I was worried that they wouldn't like me if they knew. I think no matter what area you live in, most LGBTQ people have that same fear, and coming out sucks no matter how you slice it.

My suggestions for you would be:

• Seriously think about if the school you are going to is right for you. You are going to be going here for 4 years and I'm not sure what your options are, and you should be sure this is where you want to be.
  
• Get in contact with the school's diversity office. I got involved with the diversity programming at my school right away and that helped me see that there were plenty of allies on campus and it made me less nervous about coming out to people. It also let me know that if anyone did harass or belittle me because of my orientation, that the school would have my back and I would have someone to talk to. I'm sure wherever you are going has a diversity coordinator of some sort, and you can always send them an email asking about how the school handles sexual orientation.
  
• Find out of there is a gay straight alliance on campus, and if there is get involved with that. It's usually not that difficult to find out who the club president is and you can always send them an email or Facebook them and ask them how gay friendly the campus is. I did that and it really put my mind at ease just to talk with someone in the community and he was able to reassure me that the campus was open and friendly
• Have a thick skin and be brave. This is obviously the most difficult thing and a lot easier said than done, but it's also important. I don't know what kind of adversity you have faced because of your orientation or where you are coming from, so perhaps this is a lesson you have already learned. It's a ****ty one, but you have to not let every homophobic comment hit you in the gut and knock the wind out of you. It's something I've been trying to work on for 24 years and sometimes **** still catches me off guard and ruins my day. If you can learn to say, "hey that's not cool" and move on, it will save you a lot of heartache.
• Find friends that you can trust. Being in the closet is the ****ing worst. Don't try and stay there for 4 years, med school is hard enough emotionally, and having to carry that burden along with everything else will eat you up inside. Plus with all the academic **** you have to do, it's really difficult to try and keep lies straight (no pun intended) when you are also trying to cram all this damn information in your head.

There's my med school/general homo advice. Feel free to PM me anytime or ask specific questions or if you just want to talk that's fine too.

-TP

 

[starkinthemidwest]

I actually work right next to DMU, and I had a bunch of my coworkers ask if I'd 'applied next door' when I said I'd applied to osteo schools 😛 Of course, with my stats, I didn't even try, though I might attempt their pod school.

 

[starkinthemidwest]

I wanted to let someone know because I was really relieved myself: I asked the DO here if I could shadow him on his days off and he said that was fine. I normally get pretty nervous around authority figures so that was a huge relief for me.

 

[j4pac]

You know what's over-rated? Doing college classes in high-school. Why would anyone in their right minds want to SHORTEN college? 🙂

You definitely have some courses to retake and you'll need to get that DO recommendation. Being bisexual will likely be a non-factor in regards to admission into any school...TP will probably give a pretty good insight on which schools you would be the most happy at though.