DIY Post Bacc or Apply Next Cycle? (2020-21, depending on MCAT)

[NHarris1996]

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Hello everyone, thank you all for your feedback in advance. To start, I am an underrepresented (though I don't consider myself disadvantaged) African-American male only pursuing DO programs. I wrapped up undergrad May 2019 (cGPA: 2.964, sGPA: 3.0) with a STRONG upward trend (almost all As in my upper level science courses; i.e. immunology, histology, physics, etc). I was arrogant the first time I took the MCAT (summer '18) and earned a 485 (didn't take either biochem nor physics atp, later got a B in biochem and As throughout physics). I was nervous about not getting into grad school without a score so I rushed to take it (I own my mistake completely). I currently work in a large medical facility as a pt transporter (1yr) with 150+ hrs in volunteering at a level 1 trauma center in the ED/TICU. I'm currently in my first semester of my masters in medical science at Liberty U (doing well so far). I finish my program in March 2020 and am debating on if I should apply to medical school summer 2020 (assuming I will do better on my MCAT), or should I wait and retake some of my previous UG science courses. Again, thank you for your constructive feedback in advance!

 

[NHarris1996]

I now see that my thread went to Pre-MD instead of the intended Pre-DO and I apologize for this mistake.

Hello everyone, thank you all for your feedback in advance. To start, I am an underrepresented (though I don't consider myself disadvantaged) African-American male only pursuing DO programs. I wrapped up undergrad May 2019 (cGPA: 2.964, sGPA: 3.0) with a STRONG upward trend (almost all As in my upper level science courses; i.e. immunology, histology, physics, etc). I was arrogant the first time I took the MCAT (summer '18) and earned a 485 (didn't take either biochem nor physics atp, later got a B in biochem and As throughout physics). I was nervous about not getting into grad school without a score so I rushed to take it (I own my mistake completely). I currently work in a large medical facility as a pt transporter (1yr) with 150+ hrs in volunteering at a level 1 trauma center in the ED/TICU. I'm currently in my first semester of my masters in medical science at Liberty U (doing well so far). I finish my program in March 2020 and am debating on if I should apply to medical school summer 2020 (assuming I will do better on my MCAT), or should I wait and retake some of my previous UG science courses. Again, thank you for your constructive feedback in advance!

 

[Faha]

It would be a good strategy to take a few more additional undergraduate level science courses in the next year to increase your cGPA and sGPA over 3.0 so you will not be screened out at some schools. You will also need to retake the MCAT but do not do so until your practice scores are consistently 505 and higher.

 

[NHarris1996]

Thank you so much for your feedback! I am definitely leaning more so to this option.

It would be a good strategy to take a few more additional undergraduate level science courses in the next year to increase your cGPA and sGPA over 3.0 so you will not be screened out at some schools. You will also need to retake the MCAT but do not do so until your practice scores are consistently 505 and higher.