DO Advice for Pre-Meds (Post-Bacc and/or SMP Programs)

[deleted885749]

Hi all, I'm new to the SDN community. I am currently a senior majoring in philosophy (lol merp) and minoring in biology. I have not finished my pre-reqs and was looking into a post-bacc program since I don't have many upper-bio level classes. I haven't taken the MCAT yet, will probably do so in my gap year after graduation.

I still have to take Organic Chemistry 1 & 2, Biochem, and a few upper bio classes. Any advice considering DO schools are not doing grade replacement anymore? I have mostly C's/B's/A-'s in the premed reqs I've already taken. I am most likely only applying D.O, but it will depend on my MCAT score.

I am also going to shadow in my gap year. By the time I graduate, I should have around:

• 200 Hospital Volunteer Hours
• 400 Clinical Research Hours (non-lab, clinical hospital research) (2 years)
• I currently have around 300 hours in patient contact hours (as an EMT) but will probably be around 500 or more if I continue doing EMT as a job during my gap year.
• 150 Community Service Hours

EC such as being president of a pre-medical club in my university that focuses on women's rights and empowering STEM/medical opportunities for women. (4 years)
Organized a variety of medical tours for undergraduate students. (started 2 years ago)
Raised money for a local women's reproductive clinic + homeless shelter.
Volunteered at several medical conferences.
Mentored EMT students.
On the science fair committee at a local public school.
Ethics Prep with 7th graders for a semester.

What would make my application more appealing? I understand that a post-bacc program would probably be the way to go (especially because I'm a non-science major). It would also increase my sGPA since I only have around 28 credits. It is also pretty difficult for me to find actual lab research, so I'm not sure if my research condones enough merit. My research is basically on patient-doctor relationships and the re-admission rates at hospitals for Medicaid patients.

Also, should LOR be specifically from science professors?

Any advice would be helpful!

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[de Ribas]

Hi all, I'm new to the SDN community. I am currently a senior majoring in philosophy (lol merp) and minoring in biology. I have not finished my pre-reqs and was looking into a post-bacc program since I don't have many upper-bio level classes. I haven't taken the MCAT yet, will probably do so in my gap year after graduation.

I still have to take Organic Chemistry 1 & 2, Biochem, and a few upper bio classes. Any advice considering DO schools are not doing grade replacement anymore? I have mostly C's/B's/A-'s in the premed reqs I've already taken. I am most likely only applying D.O, but it will depend on my MCAT score.

I am also going to shadow in my gap year. By the time I graduate, I should have around:

• 200 Hospital Volunteer Hours
• 400 Clinical Research Hours (non-lab, clinical hospital research) (2 years)
• I currently have around 300 hours in patient contact hours (as an EMT) but will probably be around 500 or more if I continue doing EMT as a job during my gap year.
• 150 Community Service Hours

EC such as being president of a pre-medical club in my university that focuses on women's rights and empowering STEM/medical opportunities for women. (4 years)
Organized a variety of medical tours for undergraduate students. (started 2 years ago)
Raised money for a local women's reproductive clinic + homeless shelter.
Volunteered at several medical conferences.
Mentored EMT students.
On the science fair committee at a local public school.
Ethics Prep with 7th graders for a semester.

What would make my application more appealing? I understand that a post-bacc program would probably be the way to go (especially because I'm a non-science major). It would also increase my sGPA since I only have around 28 credits. It is also pretty difficult for me to find actual lab research, so I'm not sure if my research condones enough merit. My research is basically on patient-doctor relationships and the re-admission rates at hospitals for Medicaid patients.

Also, should LOR be specifically from science professors?

Any advice would be helpful!

LORs are preferred to be from science and committee letters. If non-trad, letters from volunteering and work supervisors might work in addition to LOR from Science professors and MD/DO letters.

Not all DO schools require DO letter.

Shadowing physicians in primary care is recommended.

As far as your chances, we need to know your GPA and MCAT

For DO, research is not required.

 

[Doc_Ock]

I wish premeds knew this: no one cares about your extracurriculars if your gpa and mcat are crap. They also mostly only care about your science gpa. When prioritizing your studying, if you have to get a B in a philosophy class to give yourself time to make that A in Ochem, so be it.


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[Kleimanb]

If you are serious about DO school, focus as much time as you can on the MCAT. That is your ticket in (along with an average GPA). To strengthen your application, shadow a DO and get a DO LOR. Show some unique feature of yourself on your application. Good luck!