Gap Year Options/MD?

[rma5205]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I just graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a biology major and Spanish minor. Last summer, I received a 28 on the "older" version of the MCAT and I graduated with a cGPA 3.41. My science is lower due to two calculus classes, but higher when they are omitted.

I have job interviews for a scribe position at East Houston Regional Medical Center and an urgent care center in San Antonio. I live in Pennsylvania, but am looking at Texas because I believe their facilities offer more than those in Pennsylvania. My sister also lives there and I think it would be a nice change. I plan on submitting my application June 2nd 9:30 AM to increase my chances at acceptance.

I am unsure whether I should apply to solely DO or include some MD schools. I like the idea of osteopathic medicine, but my dream school is Penn State Hershey. I have job shadowed/volunteered 250+ hours at various hospitals and conducted research/co-authored a paper at Johns Hopkins. My friend is pushing the Temple post-bacc program. I am having trouble deciding a) which schools to apply to and b) what to do during my gap year.

Any advice would be appreciated!!

 

[GrapesofRath]

You'll be fine for DO applications. If you are serious about pursing an MD wait a year(unless you are a urm) when you can have Texas state residency. A 3.4/28 while not great has worked in the past for Texas md schools for residents and you do have some decent experience particularly if you have a year experience as a scribe when you apply

Oh and attaching your hopes to any one MD achool is stupid. If you want to go to an MD school prepare to apply to many with the hopes of getting in one, not oh it has to be penn state or bust for me. Good luck

 

[rma5205]

You'll be fine for DO applications. If you are serious about pursing an MD wait a year(unless you are a urm) when you can have Texas state residency. A 3.4/28 while not great has worked in the past for Texas md schools for residents and you do have some decent experience particularly if you have a year experience as a scribe when you apply

Oh and attaching your hopes to any one MD achool is stupid. If you want to go to an MD school prepare to apply to many with the hopes of getting in one, not oh it has to be penn state or bust for me. Good luck

Thank you, I appreciate your advice. I agree that I shouldn't limit myself to one allopathic school. When you say to wait until I am a Texas resident, do you mean I should do that if I want to go to a school in Texas?

 

[deleted577188]

You cannot omit BCPM courses but if it helps you mentally raise your GPA then that's cool too.
I would say throw in some low tier MD's if you have the money, but definitely apply to many DO schools.
If you do a gap year, beef up on EC's. Research, volunteering (clinical and nonclinical), healthcare jobs, etc etc.
Post-bacc isn't great for DO because you can just simply retake the courses you did bad in (the calculus classes you mentioned) and the new grade would be factored into your GPA instead of the original grade.
I would suggest that you do an SMP if you're boning for MD (Goro loves to use that word 😀).

 

[Petrichor1]

In order to establish texas residency, you must have worked there for 12 months prior to applying. If you begin the job before june, it would be to the best of your interest to wait a year since you could easily be a tx resident before the app season begins. Otherwise, if you don't have any problem going for DO then do that immediately this year and you won't regret it. I have honestly started questioning why I am also waiting for an md acceptance; I feel like a DO is pretty much the same and I won't lose out on a doctor's year of experience.

 

[rma5205]

Thank you all for your valuable feedback. I would like to start earlier than later and am interested in DO without any hesitation. Is a scribe a good way to spend a gap year? Is there anything more suitable to increase the chances of an admission in your opinion?

 

[GrapesofRath]

A scribe is a solid option if you are applying this cycle there's nothing you do that will really change your odds much for the most part. Rather you can hurt yourself and look bad doing nothing productive during your gap year but that's not an issue for you doing.a scribe position at all. If your fully committed to DO you should be in solid shape as long as you apply early

 

[rma5205]

A scribe is a solid option if you are applying this cycle there's nothing you do that will really change your odds much for the most part. Rather you can hurt yourself and look bad doing nothing productive during your gap year but that's not an issue for you doing.a scribe position at all. If your fully committed to DO you should be in solid shape as long as you apply early

Thank you for your feedback. I am prepared to submit the second I can and will take the Scribe position.