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[DoctorSynthesis]

I know my stats arent amazing; I'm Caucasian. I'm also already in my gap year.
cGPA: 3.4x
sGPA: 3.3x
MCAT: High 20's (8 in verbal/Over 27)

Little over 100 hrs clinical volunteering
Hundreds of hrs non--clinical volunteering (Lots of variety)
~80 hrs shadowing MD
~40 hrs shadowing DO (Will try to get more)
Great leadership
Awards + scholarships
No research 🙁 </3
Significant upward trend in GPA
DO LOR
Comeback story

My questions:
-Should I get another DO LOR? I have one for one of my top schools already and can possibly get another from a DO who graduated from one of my other top picks. Would this be a good idea?
-I realize I have a lot of schools on my current list...which schools should I knock off because I have no chance at getting in? Some of the schools on my list I chose because the secondaries didn't look too hard.


TOP PICKS (mostly location based on proximity to where I currently reside; would attend any of these schools in a heartbeat; the first 3 in particular):
RowanSOM
PCOM-PA
VCOM-VC
WVSOM

IN THE MIDDLE (Would happily attend but prefer Top picks):
CUSOM
LMU-DCOM
NYIT-COM
LUCOM (borderline "everything else" category)
UP-KYCOM
MSU-COM (good program; long shot I know..also no interview is nice so worth a shot?)

EVERYTHING ELSE (interested in the sense that I would suck it up and attend if given the chance because I want to be a doctor):
ACOM
KCOM
WCU-COM
CCOM
DMU-COM
PCOM-GA
KCUMB
MUCOM
NSU-COM

Too many schools IMO.

Take out LUCOM and MSUCOM (expensive OOS)

I would personally also take out acom and wcucom.

1 DO LOR is enough. You have a chance at every DO school.

 

[asdf123g]

okay!

 

[asdf123g]

okay!

 

[kenjixshadow]

From your list, I can tell that you live in the East Coast and want to be near home. PCOM-PA is a long shot actually consider that they receive a lot of applications. I heard Rowan prefers in state. You'll likely receive an interview at VCOM-VA & WVSOM if there is no red flag. Everything else on your list is doable. If you haven't, do more research on each school. Apply early and you have a great shot at all of them.

 

[asdf123g]

thx

 

[DloopF2]

From your list, I can tell that you live in the East Coast and want to be near home. PCOM-PA is a long shot actually consider that they receive a lot of applications. I heard Rowan prefers in state. You'll likely receive an interview at VCOM-VA & WVSOM if there is no red flag. Everything else on your list is doable. If you haven't, do more research on each school. Apply early and you have a great shot at all of them.

I don't think PCOM-PA is a longshot. OP has a ~ 28 MCAT and ~3.4, that is about average for PCOM

 

[TopTomato]

I don't think PCOM-PA is a longshot. OP has a ~ 28 MCAT and ~3.4, that is about average for PCOM

OP has a good shot at PCOM

 

[TopTomato]

I know my stats arent amazing; I'm Caucasian. I'm also already in my gap year.
cGPA: 3.4x
sGPA: 3.3x
MCAT: High 20's (8 in verbal/Over 27)

Little over 100 hrs clinical volunteering
Hundreds of hrs non--clinical volunteering (Lots of variety)
~80 hrs shadowing MD
~40 hrs shadowing DO (Will try to get more)
Great leadership
Awards + scholarships
No research 🙁 </3
Significant upward trend in GPA
DO LOR
Comeback story

My questions:
-Should I get another DO LOR? I have one for one of my top schools already and can possibly get another from a DO who graduated from one of my other top picks. Would this be a good idea?
-I realize I have a lot of schools on my current list...which schools should I knock off because I have no chance at getting in? Some of the schools on my list I chose because the secondaries didn't look too hard.


TOP PICKS (mostly location based on proximity to where I currently reside; would attend any of these schools in a heartbeat; the first 3 in particular):
RowanSOM
PCOM-PA
VCOM-VC
WVSOM

IN THE MIDDLE (Would happily attend but prefer Top picks):
CUSOM
LMU-DCOM
NYIT-COM
LUCOM (borderline "everything else" category)
UP-KYCOM
MSU-COM (good program; long shot I know..also no interview is nice so worth a shot?)

EVERYTHING ELSE (interested in the sense that I would suck it up and attend if given the chance because I want to be a doctor):
ACOM
KCOM
WCU-COM
CCOM
DMU-COM
PCOM-GA
KCUMB
MUCOM
NSU-COM

OP is there any particular reason why LUCOM is so high on your list? Schools like NSU-COM, CCOM, KCUMB (Now KCU), and DMU-COM are much much better. If you don't consider yourself a religious person, I would suggest searching the forums and reading up on LUCOM's policies.

 

[AM508]

It seems like most of the top schools(KCU,KCOM, DMU, CCOM, NSU) are on the bottom of your list as @TopTomato has pointed out. Perhaps you should do some additional school research because you may be selling yourself a bit short.

 

[j4pac]

I am confused. You are going HPSP but not applying to any LECOM? The reason people generally avoid LECOM is the rules...but that doesn't quite jive with your desire to go into the military. You may really want to reconsider HPSP.

 

[asdf123g]

got it!

 

[TopTomato]

@TopTomato :How do you think my chances are with Rowan? (i know they have IS bias)? Does PCOM-PA have any IS bias? LUCOM is 'high' on my list because its one of the closer schools to me. I went to an UG I absolutely hated and ive learned a lot so im confident I can live with LUCOM. I understand the negatives to LUCOM. Im basing my top/mid/low tier choices based on proximity to me. Rowan and PCOM-PA (both good programs) happen to be fairly close to me although I do not reside in either state.

@j4pac : I didnt include LECOMs because I heard about their PBL learning style and it doesnt really resonate with me. That is the sole reason I did not include them on my list.

@AM508 : they are bottom of my list because they are located far from me. Great programs, though and if i lived closer they'd definitely be up there :/

Can't answer that question without knowing what state you're in. They do have a heavy instate bias, but they also take students from the region as well. PCOM officially has no bias. They take students from all across the country. However most of their students tend to come from the PA, NY, NJ area.

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Loved my interview at CUSOM and will be attending. I didn't apply to many DO schools (interviewed at LECOM, ACOM, and VCOM, rejected from CCOM) so I can't compare my experience there with a lot of places on your list, but it seriously impressed me. If you know how you feel about living in a big city vs a more rural location, that can help you narrow your list down.

 

[asdf123g]

thx again

 

[AM508]

@AM508 : they are bottom of my list because they are located far from me. Great programs, though and if i lived closer they'd definitely be up there :/

Ah, fair enough. When I applied location wasn't a big factor for me, though I did give strong preference to rural because I abhor living in big cities. I think in my case it is a plus that I am leaving the northeast as I am severely tired of the area (especially winter) .

 

[j4pac]

@j4pac : I didnt include LECOMs because I heard about their PBL learning style and it doesnt really resonate with me. That is the sole reason I did not include them on my list.

Ok, that makes more sense. I still think that HPSP is generally a bad idea...especially for women.

Believe it or not...people change. I was single without a care in the world...had absolutely no desire for a relationship or attachments. I also loved the military...becoming 3rd generation Navy.

I signed up for HPSP. Fast forward three years and I'm married. Fast forward another year and I have two children. All of a sudden the allure of the military lifestyle isn't as appealing. I will be a PGY-10 when I finally graduate residency...because the Navy wouldn't allow me to go to a low demand residency. Now I'm civilian bound entering residency just as all of my friends are getting OUT of fellowship. And I'm actually a HPSP success story. I matched to a fantastic residency program...but I want to let you know that my success has come with tremendous sacrifices.

I'm willing to bet that much will change for you between now and the next 5-10 years...and the military offers you absolutely no flexibility when that time comes. The money earned by HPSP is enough to break even with your civilian colleagues...but if you go anything other than FP or Peds...you will lose on the deal.

I will say it now and probably a million times again. Do not join the military unless the primary reason is to SELFLESSLY take care of the great men and women of the armed forces. Is it your calling? Would you be a military doc if they weren't offering you a scholarship? If the answer is no, the military would be a decision you regret.

 

[67552931811]

Ok, that makes more sense. I still think that HPSP is generally a bad idea...especially for women.

Believe it or not...people change. I was single without a care in the world...had absolutely no desire for a relationship or attachments. I also loved the military...becoming 3rd generation Navy.

I signed up for HPSP. Fast forward three years and I'm married. Fast forward another year and I have two children. All of a sudden the allure of the military lifestyle isn't as appealing. I will be a PGY-10 when I finally graduate residency...because the Navy wouldn't allow me to go to a low demand residency. Now I'm civilian bound entering residency just as all of my friends are getting OUT of fellowship. And I'm actually a HPSP success story. I matched to a fantastic residency program...but I want to let you know that my success has come with tremendous sacrifices.

I'm willing to bet that much will change for you between now and the next 5-10 years...and the military offers you absolutely no flexibility when that time comes. The money earned by HPSP is enough to break even with your civilian colleagues...but if you go anything other than FP or Peds...you will lose on the deal.

I will say it now and probably a million times again. Do not join the military unless the primary reason is to SELFLESSLY take care of the great men and women of the armed forces. Is it your calling? Would you be a military doc if they weren't offering you a scholarship? If the answer is no, the military would be a decision you regret.

This post should be quoted whenever anyone wants to do the HPSP (ESPECIALLY via the Navy or AF).

 

[asdf123g]

ok