Dont know what to do, kind of in a pickle :\

[integralx2]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey I need your guys insight on my current issue. I will be applying next cycle. Now I dont know what to do. Should I apply both MD and DO. My MD cGPA is 3.51 and sGPA is 3.30 ( major : electrical engineering & minor : chemistry) . Now i know DO has a different grading system. When I calculated using theres , my sGPA become 3.78 and cGPA is 3.58 . As you can see a huge jump in sGPA cause I dominated my engineering classes with all A's. I have the general volunteering, shadowing, and I have done research combining the medical & engineering fields. MCAT is a 30. I dont know what to do. Should I apply both ? Is MD even possible (lets be realistic here) ? I am not aiming like high end schools in MD, just any middle of the pack to the lower end schools. Dream is trying to get into MD program, but I am fully aware there is no difference between a DO or a MD. I dont know if this matters, but after my 2nd semester in school I started to buckle down and care, and brought my GPA down. I have been taking 19 credit course loads, and pulling a GPA > 3.7 for almost 5 semesters

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

MD is possible with a 3.5/30. I mean obviously if you apply to DO you'll probably have a much higher chance at getting ( Presuming you have a MD or DO letter). But it really all comes down to many factors, including applying to a good range of schools and early.
I mean if you want something like optho or ent or hyper competitive residency. Then I'd personally say you should apply to a lot of MD schools and make sure they are within your range ( Via Msar or The selection sheet (not available anymore)). But if you just want to be a doctor then I'd say apply to MD & DO.

 

[blackarrowmoose]

Hey I need your guys insight on my current issue. I will be applying next cycle. Now I dont know what to do. Should I apply both MD and DO. My MD cGPA is 3.51 and sGPA is 3.30 ( major : electrical engineering & minor : chemistry) . Now i know DO has a different grading system. When I calculated using theres , my sGPA become 3.78 and cGPA is 3.58 . As you can see a huge jump in sGPA cause I dominated my engineering classes with all A's. I have the general volunteering, shadowing, and I have done research combining the medical & engineering fields. MCAT is a 30. I dont know what to do. Should I apply both ? Is MD even possible (lets be realistic here) ? I am not aiming like high end schools in MD, just any middle of the pack to the lower end schools. Dream is trying to get into MD program, but I am fully aware there is no difference between a DO or a MD. I dont know if this matters, but after my 2nd semester in school I started to buckle down and care, and brought my GPA down. I have been taking 19 credit course loads, and pulling a GPA > 3.7 for almost 5 semesters

looks like you have a good chance if getting into both MD and DO schools. you should apply to both! 😀

 

[integralx2]

but that sGPA is crap, 3.30 for MD. I have the AMCAS book , and its below averages. It feels like I would be just throwing $$ out.

 

[Fiddlergirl]

Averages are just that, averages. Many students are accepted have grades below that number. Your application looks pretty good to me. If you're looking for someone to tell you "You will definitely get into an MD school," it's not going to happen. The application process is a complete crapshoot for everyone, so my advice would be to apply MD and DO and go where you get in. Good luck.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

but that sGPA is crap, 3.30 for MD. I have the AMCAS book , and its below averages. It feels like I would be just throwing $$ out.

Implying that no one gets in with a lower than average Sgpa. You've still got a good chance.

 

[Kevin Baker]

Apply both. ADCOMs don't just look at numbers, but also trends, ECs, etc. Just to add an anecdote, I've had an MD interview with a lower sGPA/cGPA and the same MCAT.

 

[iniquus]

It's very doable, especially with your upward trend. However, if you really want to apply MD (because I think no one should apply to DO solely for backup), I would boost your MCAT a few points by taking a spring administration.

Apply smartly and broadly, have a great personal statement, LORs, ECs and you should be sitting on at least one acceptance.

 

[HK35]

According to a chart in the MSAR with your gpa and MCAT you have a 57% (which is pretty favorable) chance of being accepted just based on those two factors. Remember Interviews can make or break you.

 

[integralx2]

So what would be some reach schools I can apply to ? Ohio State University ? reach ?

 

[HK35]

it depends whats your state residency? george washingtons u's average stats are 30 mcat and 3.7 gpa, since 3.7 is the average there are people below that as well howard university, 3.5 gpa 26 mcat, there are many schools. i suggest you order the MSAR best 25 dollars ever. its the bible of premeds

 

[Bacchus]

Moving to What Are My Chances.

 

[235009]

Hey I need your guys insight on my current issue. I will be applying next cycle. Now I dont know what to do. Should I apply both MD and DO. My MD cGPA is 3.51 and sGPA is 3.30 ( major : electrical engineering & minor : chemistry) . Now i know DO has a different grading system. When I calculated using theres , my sGPA become 3.78 and cGPA is 3.58 . As you can see a huge jump in sGPA cause I dominated my engineering classes with all A's. I have the general volunteering, shadowing, and I have done research combining the medical & engineering fields. MCAT is a 30. I dont know what to do. Should I apply both ? Is MD even possible (lets be realistic here) ? I am not aiming like high end schools in MD, just any middle of the pack to the lower end schools. Dream is trying to get into MD program, but I am fully aware there is no difference between a DO or a MD. I dont know if this matters, but after my 2nd semester in school I started to buckle down and care, and brought my GPA down. I have been taking 19 credit course loads, and pulling a GPA > 3.7 for almost 5 semesters

sorry to break it to you but engineering classes don't count in your BCPM (sGPA)

 

[iniquus]

They actually can.

 

[future_dr_house]

I think you are selling yourself a little short for md programs. I had similar stats (slightly higher mcat) and was an engineering major when applying in 2006 and I ended up just fine in a middle road md program. Apply broadly enough (25-30) and I think you'll get in somewhere. Adcoms all look for something that is unique and can add to their class profile. Your strength seems to be engineering. The 30 mcat may make it an uphill challenge but I'd go all md.

I too thought DO schools are pretty much equivalent when applying to med school and if I hadn't gotten in to an md I would have reapplied to osteopathic programs. That being said, now that I'm going through residency interviews and having talked to osteopaths, there is clearly a feeling that the older physicians who are on the admission committees for residency programs may have a biased viewpoint regarding osteopathic applicants. This is just what I've heard, I cannot say for sure if that's the case but it's the general feeling.

 

[Catalystik]

I have been taking 19 credit course loads, and pulling a GPA > 3.7 for almost 5 semesters

Don't underestimate the influence of recent, excellent, consistent academic performance. It would help if there were some upper-level Bio or Biochem in there. Don't let your GPA fall this last semester.

 

[integralx2]

Don't underestimate the influence of recent, excellent, consistent academic performance. It would help if there were some upper-level Bio or Biochem in there. Don't let your GPA fall this last semester.

I took BioChem 1, and got an A. Guy kept saying he taught it like he taught in medical school.

 

[Catalystik]

I took BioChem 1, and got an A. Guy kept saying he taught it like he taught in medical school.

👍

Anything planned for next semester?

 

[235009]

They actually can.

unless you are BME or ChemE few if any will. And even if you are in either of those majors few will count as BCPM.

Basically my point was that the sGPA calculation is most likely incorrect/inflated.

 

[Catalystik]

unless you are BME or ChemE few if any will. And even if you are in either of those majors few will count as BCPM.

Basically my point was that the sGPA calculation is most likely incorrect/inflated.

AMCAS may not include most engineering classes in the BCPM GPA, but AACOMAS, the DO application service, includes them all. The OP was refering to DO stats when the higher numbers were cited in the original post.

 

[integralx2]

👍

Anything planned for next semester?

Will not be taking any other classes toward med school. Just the general engineering classes, which I should pull As. Even with those in GPA does not change much.

 

[235009]

AMCAS may not include most engineering classes in the BCPM GPA, but AACOMAS, the DO application service, includes them all. The OP was refering to DO stats when the higher numbers were cited in the original post.

oops, didn't read carefully enough... good catch