Go for MD?

[camshark]

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With my stats, do I have a shot at MD or should I focus on DO? Im not partial to either except that the schools nearest my hometown are MD so thats my first choice. First off, my first year of school was when I was in HS doing post-secondary. I did very poorly which has affected my GPA. I have a cgpa of 3.2 and sgpa of 3.4. I retook many classes so if I could do grade replacement (I know only DO does that) Id have cgpa of 3.5 and sgpa of 3.6-7. I have not taken MCAT yet which I understaand will maake an impact on my decision. I have a family and have worked full time thru college (except first year of course) to support them leaving not much time for EC's. I have 100+ hours of volunteering at our church. I have shadowed a family MD and will start shadowing another full time next week. So, what do you think? I do think Id have a fair chance at DO. Also take into consideration Im not going for top tier MD schools (University of SD, ND and MN). Thanks

 

[NickNaylor]

What about clinical experience?

If you were working full-time during undergrad to support your family then I imagine that adcoms will be somewhat forgiving of your GPA (though it's by no means horrible) and your ECs if they're a little lacking. There IS a question on AMCAS that asks if you had to work full-time during your undergrad to support your family.

As long as you represent yourself well and can explain your situation well in your applications, I'd bet that you have a good shot at MD schools if you apply broadly and smartly. You might want to throw in a few DOs just in case, but I don't think you're in the tight spot that you seem to think you're in.

 

[camshark]

I work as a nursing aide on surgical floor at our hospital so I am getting patient contact and learning a lot as the nurses/support team all know I am planning on being a doctor. Thanks for your reply!

 

[paul411]

Do well on the MCAT and you will have a decent shot at MD schools.

 

[willen101383]

Yeah you worked full time in undergrad but I would say that GPA is still on the low side...perhaps they will be forgiving...perhaps not who knows. That GPA is still even on the low end of DO schools...but as you likely know DO schools are WAY more forgiving with regard to life circumstances than MD schools so I think you would have a very solid chance at a DO.

I would really be applying to a varied mix of both MD and DO if I were you!

Good luck!

 

[pancakesyrup]

Yeah you worked full time in undergrad but I would say that GPA is still on the low side...perhaps they will be forgiving...perhaps not who knows. That GPA is still even on the low end of DO schools...but as you likely know DO schools are WAY more forgiving with regard to life circumstances than MD schools so I think you would have a very solid chance at a DO.

I would really be applying to a varied mix of both MD and DO if I were you!

Good luck!

His DO GPA is actually above average since they do grade replacement.

 

[pancakesyrup]

Yeah you worked full time in undergrad but I would say that GPA is still on the low side...perhaps they will be forgiving...perhaps not who knows. That GPA is still even on the low end of DO schools...but as you likely know DO schools are WAY more forgiving with regard to life circumstances than MD schools so I think you would have a very solid chance at a DO.

I would really be applying to a varied mix of both MD and DO if I were you!

Good luck!

His/her DO GPA is actually above average since they do grade replacement.

 

[willen101383]

His/her DO GPA is actually above average since they do grade replacement.

Yeah I missed that he said he DID retake classes....I misread that as I COULD retake classes.

Either way thats pretty low for an MD program.