Help/Advice

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

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Hi everyone,

Need Some advice on chances,, especially how to spend limited funds. I have 3.73 sGPA, 3.85 overall, 250 hours home care, 50ish observing, and 30 volunteering (place I was volunteering threw away records so I lost 20 hours). Haven't been active in clubs or leadership roles.

I have been scoring a range of 501-507 on practice Kaplan Mcats.

What are my chances in both the high range of this score as well as the low range? If I get a 505 plus am I very likely to get into a D.O. school,,, whereas would a 501 or 502 make it tough?

If it helps I grew up very rural, and definitely don't have to fake it when I say I want to do rural primary care.

Thanks in advance!!

I honestly have no idea where I fit in with this new MCAT scoring.

**Also I applied to my state MD schools, is it worth applying to any others?

 

[dzhao]

Given your high GPAs, you will be a strong applicant for most DO schools if you can score 505. Even with 501 to 502, you should be OK if apply broadly. However, get more shadowing hours and a DO LOR will help.

 

[Doctor or bust]

Anything above 504 or 505 should give you a good shot at any of the DO schools. If you break 508 you'd have a good shot at some MD schools as well IMO.

 

[Coltuna]

502+ with a good school list should get you a few interview invites.

 

[Hokie_DOkie]

You have the numbers on your side. I'm a little concerned by you not having any extracurricular activities or leadership roles (kind of makes you seem a little "cookie cutter" pre-med). You should definitely get some interviews! My biggest piece of advice for the interviews would be to SHOW YOUR PERSONALITY! Remember, every at the interview has the same grades, same MCAT scores, same resume, same research/shadowing....what schools really want to see is your personality and passion. Good luck!!

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

Thank You everyone! This makes me feel a lot better!! I can never get enough insight! Has anybody here gotten into a DO school? @Hokie_DOkie @Coltuna @dzhao @Doctor or bust

 

[HopefulDoc91]

Also if you're shooting for a DO school, definitely shadow a DO and get a LOR from a DO. Most schools require a physician LOR, and they strongly prefer DO.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

Also if you're shooting for a DO school, definitely shadow a DO and get a LOR from a DO. Most schools require a physician LOR, and they strongly prefer DO.

Hi, I have shadowed a DO, but she was an opthamologist and we really didn't jive. The two rec letters I have so far are both very good (MD). One is a family practice, we absolutely hit it off. The other is a surgeon who I spent a few days with (after day 1 he said feel free to spend the rest of the week), and so i'm pretty confident in both of these letters. I am shadowing a DO in august, but figure it's too late to ask for this cycle (He is from my favorite school though so maybe I could ask him to write a school specific letter). Would having experience with DO's, but not a letter from one hurt me IYO? I mean, I could still portray an understanding and enthusiasm about the degree through different outlets, such as secondaries, right?

Care to weigh in @Goro ??

 

[Goro]

Hi, I have shadowed a DO, but she was an opthamologist and we really didn't jive. The two rec letters I have so far are both very good (MD). One is a family practice, we absolutely hit it off, and she actually asked me to be her scribe after I shadowed her for a cpl days. The other is a surgeon who I spent a few days with (after day 1 he said feel free to spend the rest of the week), and so i'm pretty confident in both of these letters. I am shadowing a DO in august, but figure it's too late to ask for this cycle (He is from my favorite school though so maybe I could ask him to write a school specific letter). Would having experience with DO's, but not a letter from one hurt me IYO? I mean, I could still portray an understanding and enthusiasm about the degree through different outlets, such as secondaries, right?

Care to weigh in @Goro ??

It's OK to shadow a DO and then use an MD LOR. Just be prepared to explain why at interviews.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

It's OK to shadow a DO and then use an MD LOR. Just be prepared to explain why at interviews.

Is not hitting it off vs really hitting it off with other physicians a good explanation? It seems silly to me to turn in a rec letter that just goes through the motions because they are a DO vs one that is enthusiastic, genuine and detailed from an MD. Also, family practice aligns with my career goals, ophthalmology certainly doesnt

 

[Goro]

Is not hitting it off vs really hitting it off with other physicians a good explanation? It seems silly to me to turn in a rec letter that just goes through the motions because they are a DO vs one that is enthusiastic, genuine and detailed from an MD. Also, family practice aligns with my career goals, ophthalmology certainly doesnt

I'd be OK with it. Never risk getting a bad LOR!

 

[Peach Newport]

I think unless you really want to do OMM, you should get that mcat up and go MD with DO as a backup. Your GPA is excellent and your MCAT is looking so close to MD competitive!

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

I think unless you really want to do OMM, you should get that mcat up and go MD with DO as a backup. Your GPA is excellent and your MCAT is looking so close to MD competitive!

Thanks.. I scored 508 on my first AAMC practice, so I will apply to some MD if I am that high. I will certainly have a shot at my state school. I plan on retaking over the winter, but feel I can't further delay taking it this cycle. Getting an MD isnt worth another gap year for me. I just graduated college, but didnt decide on med right away, so I'm playing catch up. I guess I dont think ill ever want to specialize, and really I just want to get in and start my life. The letters behind my name don't really matter to me

 

[Hokie_DOkie]

Thank You everyone! This makes me feel a lot better!! I can never get enough insight! Has anybody here gotten into a DO school? @Hokie_DOkie @Coltuna @dzhao @Doctor or bust

Yes, I am in DO school.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

Yes, I am in DO school.

Ah VCOM.. that should have been obvious! Maybe I will see you around, I have a strong rural background, even if it isn't Appalachia. Question, do you think hunting and a love of the outdoors ever appropriate to bring up in an interview.. I don't mean as a mild hobby. I went hunting 2-3 days a week throughout college. Or just too controversial?

 

[Coltuna]

Ah VCOM.. that should have been obvious! Maybe I will see you around, I have a strong rural background, even if it isn't Appalachia. Question, do you think hunting and a love of the outdoors ever appropriate to bring up in an interview.. I don't mean as a mild hobby. I went hunting 2-3 days a week throughout college. Or just too controversial?

2-3 days per week? There are hunting seasons if I'm not mistaken? I wouldn't bring this up if you were doing it illegally lol. There are some AVID hunters out there, so only bring this up if you could talk about it for 10 minutes at least

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

2-3 days per week? There are hunting seasons if I'm not mistaken?

Haha well during hunting season.

 

[Coltuna]

Haha well during hunting season. I live in the best duck hunting in the united states, along with deer and pheasant. So from aug-jan 2-3 days a week, often more

Haha okay just clarifying!

 

[Hokie_DOkie]

Ah VCOM.. that should have been obvious! Maybe I will see you around, I have a strong rural background, even if it isn't Appalachia. Question, do you think hunting and a love of the outdoors ever appropriate to bring up in an interview.. I don't mean as a mild hobby. I went hunting 2-3 days a week throughout college. Or just too controversial?

I interviewed at and was accepted to four schools. At every single interview I just talked about myself. I never once did research, grades, shadowing, or classes come up. They already know you have the stats. I talked about my love of rural Appalachia, how I enjoyed going to parks with my granddad to feed ducks, how I can't dance to save my life, and why I want to be a physician. If hunting is part of who you are then most definitely bring it up. They know you are going to be a good doctor, show then why you are a good person. Be personable and yourself. Talk about the stuff you like and what makes you who you are.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

I interviewed at and was accepted to four schools. At every single interview I just talked about myself. I never once did research, grades, shadowing, or classes come up. They already know you have the stats. I talked about my love of rural Appalachia, how I enjoyed going to parks with my granddad to feed ducks, how I can't dance to save my life, and why I want to be a physician. If hunting is part of who you are then most definitely bring it up. They know you are going to be a good doctor, show then why you are a good person. Be personable and yourself. Talk about the stuff you like and what makes you who you are.

This is the best interview advice I've ever been given. Thank you