EC and GPA questions

[NexusMD]

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I know this has probably been discussed before but.......

I'm not sure if I have enough ECs.

By the time I apply to med school, I will have about a year and a half worth of experience as a Pharmacy tech.
1 year on Crew (rowing)
1 year in a global community program at my school
Membership in MSA (Muslim Student Association)
I have also worked on campus as a "Program Assistant"

I know I need to volunteer, and I plan to start this summer. I still have another year before I take the MCATS/Apply to Med school.

as for GPA, I heard that DO schools replace old grades with better ones when calculating GPAs right?
If thats the case, my GPA would be a 3.57, and sci would be a 3.4ish? Right now. That should go up to around a 3.5 and 3.68 or so when I start applying.

provided I dont suck at the MCATS, do I have a decent chance of getting into DO schools in the east coast (Pa, Nj, NY, WV)?

Thanks👍

 

[MaximusD]

I know this has probably been discussed before but.......

I'm not sure if I have enough ECs.

By the time I apply to med school, I will have about a year and a half worth of experience as a Pharmacy tech.
1 year on Crew (rowing)
1 year in a global community program at my school
Membership in MSA (Muslim Student Association)
I have also worked on campus as a "Program Assistant"

I know I need to volunteer, and I plan to start this summer. I still have another year before I take the MCATS/Apply to Med school.

as for GPA, I heard that DO schools replace old grades with better ones when calculating GPAs right?
If thats the case, my GPA would be a 3.57, and sci would be a 3.4ish? Right now. That should go up to around a 3.5 and 3.68 or so when I start applying.

provided I dont suck at the MCATS, do I have a decent chance of getting into DO schools in the east coast (Pa, Nj, NY, WV)?

Thanks👍

You know the answer to your question.

But here it is anyway.

You have a great chance. If you are interested in DO schools, you should not only volunteer - you definitely should shadow a DO physician and utilize that doctor for a letter of recommendation.

Your GPAs are very competitive. They're essentially a non-issue at this point.

Yes, you must work hard at the MCAT. Remember, because the MCAT is also a critical thinking exam, you must practice the exam multiple times in conjunction with any study regimen you may choose.

Lastly, apply early through AACOMAS (http://aacomas.aacom.org) in June. Have all of your LORs lined up and ready to be sent out to the schools. Make sure you understand the protocol at your university for soliciting a committee letter of recommendation.

Best of luck to you... shoot me any questions that you can think of.

 

[lrobin15]

You know the answer to your question.

But here it is anyway.

You have a great chance. If you are interested in DO schools, you should not only volunteer - you definitely should shadow a DO physician and utilize that doctor for a letter of recommendation.

Your GPAs are very competitive. They're essentially a non-issue at this point.

Yes, you must work hard at the MCAT. Remember, because the MCAT is also a critical thinking exam, you must practice the exam multiple times in conjunction with any study regimen you may choose.

Lastly, apply early through AACOMAS (http://aacomas.aacom.org) in June. Have all of your LORs lined up and ready to be sent out to the schools. Make sure you understand the protocol at your university for soliciting a committee letter of recommendation.

Best of luck to you... shoot me any questions that you can think of.

You can close this thread b/c you are not going to get better advice than this!

 

[NexusMD]

You can close this thread b/c you are not going to get better advice than this!

lol
That was some great advice.

My biggest question was wether or not my ECs were enough? Since I didnt join the pre-med society, and havent really volunteered anywhere it seems weak. I am not sure if pharm tech experience is good for med school applications?
AND
Is the way to calculate DO gpa by replacing the old grade completely? Is that true?

 

[Mr_Doc]

you NEED clinical experience, so def try to volunteer over the summer
at your local hospital, nursing home , doctors office ect...as long as you
have patient contact.

 

[lrobin15]

lol
That was some great advice.

My biggest question was wether or not my ECs were enough? Since I didnt join the pre-med society, and havent really volunteered anywhere it seems weak. I am not sure if pharm tech experience is good for med school applications?
AND
Is the way to calculate DO gpa by replacing the old grade completely? Is that true?

I think that is true, AACOMAS replaces the repeated grades. I think you have sufficient ECs except for shadowing. You must must must shadow a DO and you can shadow MDs. My main LOR came from a MD but most DO schools require at least one DO.

 

[NexusMD]

you NEED clinical experience, so def try to volunteer over the summer
at your local hospital, nursing home , doctors office ect...as long as you
have patient contact.

Yea, I need to find a way to shadow! But I dont know how to approach a DO and ask him? Whenever you go to a Dr.s office you never speak to the Dr. Always the receptionist or secretary. Do I fax a resume? Do I start cold-calling DOs? Whats the best way to land a shadowing gig?😕

 

[CmePaddlin]

How do we come up with a committee letter of recommendation? My issue is that I go to a branch of my university that has nursing faculty only, and there is not a snowball's chance in you know where that they will help me on my quest to medicine. I currently attend Intercollegiate College of Nursing in Spokane, and did my pre-reqs and chemistry minor in Pullman, WA at WSU.
I will be taking physics from the University of Washington when I move back to Seattle, could I find a way to get one there?

 

[Lamont]

a few observations...

The committee letter is a school by school thing, you should check w/ your advisor.

Your EC's are alright, but you really should look at leading a group if you can. I had the luxury of a small college for undergrad, so I got really involved and thus had a sparkling EC section on my resume, which helped me overcome academic and testing deficiencies.

Get some clinical experience!!! Shadow a physician for an extended period of time (months, not days) and really get a feel for things. Quit stressing and good luck

 

[lrobin15]

Yea, I need to find a way to shadow! But I dont know how to approach a DO and ask him? Whenever you go to a Dr.s office you never speak to the Dr. Always the receptionist or secretary. Do I fax a resume? Do I start cold-calling DOs? Whats the best way to land a shadowing gig?😕

1) Look up DOs on AOA online
2) Call them and talk to the office manager (be sweet )

3) Ask to fax a PS and CV...include a letter to DO explaining what you want

4) When DO calls, be sure to ask to shadow on several days -to include
office visits and rounds

Good Luck

 

[NexusMD]

1) Look up DOs on AOA online
2) Call them and talk to the office manager (be sweet )

3) Ask to fax a PS and CV...include a letter to DO explaining what you want

4) When DO calls, be sure to ask to shadow on several days -to include
office visits and rounds

Good Luck

CV is the same as a resume right?

 

[dr.kicia]

u can also do what i did.
Go on google, type in hospitals in your area and search on the hospital web for emails. You have a great chance of getting to talk to a DO if you are in the area where there are hospitals associated with major hospitals. My DO happens to be a professor too so he replied to my email within 2 days and set up a time for me to meet him. I have been shadowing him since august of last year.

 

[NexusMD]

u can also do what i did.
Go on google, type in hospitals in your area and search on the hospital web for emails. You have a great chance of getting to talk to a DO if you are in the area where there are hospitals associated with major hospitals. My DO happens to be a professor too so he replied to my email within 2 days and set up a time for me to meet him. I have been shadowing him since august of last year.

I think I might just start cold-calling DOs offices and asking if they are willing to have someone shadow.

Hopefully that works.

 

[GreenShirt]

Your EC all surround organization and team skills, which is good b/c you'll probably get interview questions about how you work in a team and how you manage you time. However, you don't have any clinical experience. That could be a problem b/c certain schools require clinical experince and at the least you have to shadow a DO. I would spend this year getting involved in a patient care setting.

 

[effwun]

I think that is true, AACOMAS replaces the repeated grades.

Wait...really?

Does it have to be the exact same course at the same school, or can you take the same subject material somewhere else and still have it replaced?

 

[lrobin15]

CV is the same as a resume right?

Yes, but more school oriented...Ciriculum Vitae

 

[NexusMD]

Yes, but more school oriented...Ciriculum Vitae

What exactly would I put on there that I wouldnt include in a general resume?

ECs, GPAs, Major, Work experience? That it? what makes that diff then a normal resume?

 

[lrobin15]

What exactly would I put on there that I wouldnt include in a general resume?

ECs, GPAs, Major, Work experience? That it? what makes that diff then a normal resume?

Well, normally resumes include work experience. I do not include jobs in my CV. Don't forget to add any awards you have recieved. I would include employee of the month from your job, if you have been awarded such a honor.

 

[NexusMD]

Well, normally resumes include work experience. I do not include jobs in my CV. Don't forget to add any awards you have recieved. I would include employee of the month from your job, if you have been awarded such a honor.

I was thinking I should include my Pharm tech job in the CV because it does have some relation to health care. Would I put that in the EC section? How would I work that in a CV?
Thanks