Grad student chances for DO

[jfilon]

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[notbobtrustme]

Looks like you'll be fine for MD and DO programs both.

 

[Catalystik]

-Obtained B.S. Biomedical Science, Chemistry Minor (2007), NAU
Cum. Undergrad GPA 3.7, (DO) Undergrad SGPA 3.52 (definitely not too proud of this)

-Currently pursuing a M.S. Biology (NAU, though my thesis will be in Biology Education) and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Pathology (UMass-Lowell)
Cum. grad GPA 4.0 (includes medical school-caliber classes, including Biomedical Histology, Gross Human Anatomy [taking this fall], and most of the UMass online classes co-convene with in-person sections at the Lowell campus that include medical students)

-STEM Research Internship for Underrepresented Students in Science - won 2nd place for poster presentation at final conference (although did not have enough data within 2-month internship to submit for publication)

-Also did biomedical research while an undergrad at NAU, though the professor I was working under left unexpectedly before she finished her research and is practically nowhere to be found. . .🙁

-Senior Supplemental Instructor, 2008 to present (have SI'ed for all 6 SI-supported classes in the BIO department, most of these 3+ times, over 1000 total hours)

-Currently, work as an undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology Lab TA (which takes up almost all of my time at the moment)

-Will have ~200 hours of community service hours (150 as a hospital volunteer in the surgery/ recovery unit)

-Will have approximately 50 hours of shadowing experience at the time I submit my app, equal between MD and DO physicians (probably my weakest area, but definitely have a decent LOC from one of the DO's)

-Taking the MCAT on May 19th (based on how I have been performing so far on practice exams, I am expecting +/- 30)

-Have a great personal relationship with my advising professor/ mentor, have known him since my beginning undergrad classes since I had him for both semesters of A&P (one of the science classes I received a C in but later ended up SI'ing the class), was his SI for two years, and now one of his grad students. Expect a great letter of rec from him.

-Other ECs include distance running (have completed 2 marathons already and will be running another one this summer on behalf of the American Cancer Society, also signed up to be a Girls on the Run Running Mentor this fall), a member of our school's pre-med club, and our Biology Graduate Student Association.

Honestly, as a TA and a full-time grad student with MCAT studying, there is not a whole lot of extra time to for much else if I want to maintain my 4.0. I plan on SI'ing, shadowing, and volunteering more this summer, but what else can I do to make myself more competitive? I am choosing to only apply to DO schools and am committed to the philosophy of osteopathy (have grown up with DO physicians and their PAs my entire life, who have helped me cope with a chronic pain condition since age 12).

Any insight would be incredibly helpful - thank you in advance!

Your planned shadowing of 50 hours will be right at the average listed, so won't be "weak" there. The clinical experience is fine. The teaching and research are terrific. The biggest weakness I see is having only 50 hours of nonmedical community service. If you could work on beefing that up more with some hands-on help at a single organization, that would be good to see. Is it possible to start the running mentor gig now (1-2 hours per week) so it will be on the application? If you just don't have the time, don't be stressed about it. I think you're probably golden as you stand.

 

[jfilon]

Looks like you'll be fine for MD and DO programs both.

Thank you for your input! 🙂

 

[Soccer171983]

You will be fine! Apply wherever you desire!

 

[jfilon]

I have been volunteering off and on at a food kitchen in town since 2009 - if add a few more shifts this semester, I can probably bring it up to 50 hours. The running mentor gig doesn't even start until September, so it looks like I will have to leave that off of my app. My concern about the research is that both were small projects without publications, and my Master's thesis will be in Biology Education (though nearly all of my grad classes are Patho, A&P, etc.). Do you think schools will look down on this, or might they see it as an asset especially with the shift to team-based approaches in med school curriculum/ practice?

Your planned shadowing of 50 hours will be right at the average listed, so won't be "weak" there. The clinical experience is fine. The teaching and research are terrific. The biggest weakness I see is having only 50 hours of nonmedical community service. If you could work on beefing that up more with some hands-on help at a single organization, that would be good to see. Is it possible to start the running mentor gig now (1-2 hours per week) so it will be on the application? If you just don't have the time, don't be stressed about it. I think you're probably golden as you stand.

 

[jfilon]

You will be fine! Apply wherever you desire!

Thank you for the optimistic input! Definitely could use that right now in the middle of MCAT studying, haha.

 

[Goro]

Concur

Looks like you'll be fine for MD and DO programs both.

 

[theseeker4]

Thank you for the optimistic input! Definitely could use that right now in the middle of MCAT studying, haha.

Make the MCAT your priority. Weak-ish EC's are a lot easier to forgive than a poor MCAT (and easier to repair as well).

 

[Catalystik]

1) I have been volunteering off and on at a food kitchen in town since 2009 - if add a few more shifts this semester, I can probably bring it up to 50 hours.

2) The running mentor gig doesn't even start until September, so it looks like I will have to leave that off of my app.

3) My concern about the research is that both were small projects without publications, and

4) my Master's thesis will be in Biology Education (though nearly all of my grad classes are Patho, A&P, etc.). Do you think schools will look down on this, or might they see it as an asset especially with the shift to team-based approaches in med school curriculum/ practice?

1) Sounds like a good plan.

2) It will be good fodder for update letters.

3) Publications are rare among premeds, so don't worry about it.

4) I'm not sure what you're asking. If it's about the subject of your thesis being related to education (which is pretty broad-based): teaching patients is at the heart of what a physician does and is valued. Multidisciplinary medical teams are common, with all the members covering their own discipline to get a patient on board about what they need to do to manage their medical problem. Is it related to this somehow?