I am sending in secondaries this week to places like TUCOM, Western, Michigan State, KC etc. I work as a medical assistant and have a 3.5 sci and 3.45 cum, and a 33 MCAT. Am I running late with secondaries and do you think that if so, it will hurt my chances? Thanks, -C
Whoo, boy! You've got some smokin' scores there! Late? Well, you're not early: Western started interviewing back in the beginning of September. Get that app. done and FedEx that thing! They're still interviewing as we speak; you worked hard to get the scores---don't blow it now! (Will it hurt your chances? Well, the longer you wait, the less seats will be available... you get the picture...) ------------------ -PB (Western Univ./COMP '04) "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never..." -Sir Winston Churchill, 1944
I sent my secondaries last November. Interviewed at TUCOM in late January, and was accepted. Do not worry, but get them out! 8404 (TUCOM 2003)
coltrane, Your gonna be in the thick of it, but with those scores I highly doubt you'll have a problem. Have you shadowed a DO yet? Have you done alot of Volunteer work etc..? If yes to all of the above your set. Just priority mail everything. I assume your recomendations are in order? If not get moving on it. One note MSUCOM is only starting to interview this week. Only a few interviews will be held this week, though. Next week and those to follow will be the majority of the interviewing. All the schools have rolling admissions, however, basically the longer you wait the more students you'll have to compete against. DocGibby
Doc Gibby, I work as a medical assistant-phlebotomist. I do have a nice letter from an MD. I am shadowing a DO later this week. How important is the letter from a DO? Should I hold off on sending my application since they want to know who the physician is? I can't guarantee that he'll write it, although he sounds enthusiastic. Thanks!
coltrane, Not all schools require a DO letter. I believe that all schools require a letter from a physician, and they prefer a DO, but will accept an MD letter. I may be strung up and shot at for recommending this, but for the schools you applied to that don't specify a DO letter (i.e.-will accept a letter from an MD), I would go ahead and send the MD letter, and get your files completed now. If your MD letter is as good as you say and you've worked with this doc for a while, it will probably portray you and your abilities more positively than a letter from a DO who you only shadow for one day--and at this point in the app game, you won't have a lot of time to shadow/get to know this DO before you need the letter. Obviously, for the schools that require the DO letter, continue with your shadowing plans and get that letter. Another option, some schools allow you to send more letters than they require. If this is the case at any of the schools you applied to, then send both. Your MD letter will describe you positively and describe your work ethic and ability, and your DO letter will show that you've made an effort to investigate the differences between MD/DO, and made the effort to observe a DO in action. Good luck.
