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[Imlost]

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I need advice from others about my stats and if I am or what I need to do to be competitive.

My overall GPA at this time is 3.27 with science at around a 3 and I haven't taken the MCAT's yet. I am going to get 500 hrs of volunteer service in the ED by the time I apply which is in 4 months.
My core classes in BIO 1 B, BIO 2 C+, PHY 1 B+, PHY2 B, CHEM 1 B, Chem 2 Lab 1 B+, LAB2 B C+, ORGO1 B-, LAB A-, taking orgo 2 now.

The reason for not the usual high score A's in these classes is because I never thought of going into Med school. During my Fresh, soph yr I have never went to class, except for a few that is mandatory like WRT. But was able to maintain 3.0 + GPA every semester. Full of cramming before the test. And my transcript contains only 3 C+ mostly B's and few A's

And it was my first semester JR yr that I want to go to med school so I basically went to class and did my work n got all A's except orgo B- and winter class for orgo lab. that semester is 3.6. Now in my 2nd semester of JR I am going to boost up my GPA by taking 20 credits Anatomy, MicroBIo, Orgo2 ,2 Statistics class right now.(getting 3A's in except orgo and Anatomy, not sure what I am capable of doing there) Yes, I am trying to beef up my science gpa now while trying to maintain the 40hrs of volunteer a week and also trying to study for the MCAT.
Let say I get a 23-28 MCAT because I don't remember much about these classes because of cramming. Is there any DO school that might find me "competitive and etc" or what else I need to do to make it more competitive I don't really want to waste a yr for the next cycle. Any inputs would be appreciated thanks.

 

[DocInProgress]

Get a 27+ Mcat and you should be considered competitive despite your lower than average GPA.

 

[anticipatory]

I need advice from others about my stats and if I am or what I need to do to be competitive.

My overall GPA at this time is 3.27 with science at around a 3 and I haven't taken the MCAT's yet. I am going to get 500 hrs of volunteer service in the ED by the time I apply which is in 4 months.
My core classes in BIO 1 B, BIO 2 C+, PHY 1 B+, PHY2 B, CHEM 1 B, Chem 2 Lab 1 B+, LAB2 B C+, ORGO1 B-, LAB A-, taking orgo 2 now.

The reason for not the usual high score A's in these classes is because I never thought of going into Med school. During my Fresh, soph yr I have never went to class, except for a few that is mandatory like WRT. But was able to maintain 3.0 + GPA every semester. Full of cramming before the test. And my transcript contains only 3 C+ mostly B's and few A's

And it was my first semester JR yr that I want to go to med school so I basically went to class and did my work n got all A's except orgo B- and winter class for orgo lab. that semester is 3.6. Now in my 2nd yr I am going to boost up my GPA by taking 20 credits Anatomy, MicroBIo, Orgo2 ,2 Statistics class and more.(getting 3A's in cept orgo and Anatomy, not sure what I am capable of doing there) Yes, I am trying to beef up my science gpa now while trying to maintain the 40hrs of volunteer a week and also MCAT.
Let say I get a 23-28 MCAT because I don't remember much about these classes because of cramming. Is there any DO school that might find me "competitive and etc" or what else I need to do to make it more competitive I don't really want to waste a yr for the next cycle. Any inputs would be appreciated thanks.

Suggestions...
Get as many A's as you can with your remaining courses, take Biochem, genetics - take as many science courses as you can and get A's. Prepare for the MCAT, don't "just take" it, you'll need to recall your previous course material. Find a DO to shadow, you'll need a letter from a DO anyway. You're also going to need to have LOR's written on your behalf, start to find these professors and ingratiate yourself with them, the more they know the better the letters. Perhaps most importantly, apply early.

 

[Imlost]

Yea, but this is my last semester with these courses and if i do well in them I can up my gpa to 3.4 and 3.2science. I wasn't really informed about med school and etc. I was kind of hoping to do well in SR yr to also increase my gpa. unfortunately they are going to just see my JR stats only and base their acceptance on it. Going to find a DO to shadow for spring break. Does it matter how many hours you have to shadow? Thanks for the inputs

 

[anticipatory]

Yea, but this is my last semester with these courses and if i do well in them I can up my gpa to 3.4 and 3.2science. I wasn't really informed about med school and etc. I was kind of hoping to do well in SR yr to also increase my gpa. unfortunately they are going to just see my JR stats only and base their acceptance on it. Going to find a DO to shadow for spring break. Does it matter how many hours you have to shadow? Thanks for the inputs

I'm slightly confused, tell me if I'm wrong...you're currently a senior and applying for entrance for 2009? Why would they only see your JR year?

 

[EEL08]

I'm slightly confused, tell me if I'm wrong...you're currently a senior and applying for entrance for 2009? Why would they only see your JR year?

Okay I could be wrong but I think the OP is saying that this is his/her last semester taking the prereq classes but not the last semester of school altogether.

 

[anticipatory]

Yea, but this is my last semester with these courses and if i do well in them I can up my gpa to 3.4 and 3.2science. I wasn't really informed about med school and etc. I was kind of hoping to do well in SR yr to also increase my gpa. unfortunately they are going to just see my JR stats only and base their acceptance on it. Going to find a DO to shadow for spring break. Does it matter how many hours you have to shadow? Thanks for the inputs

Hmm, ok, maybe it's late here, maybe I'm tired, maybe I'm just dense, but why would they only see the his JR year?

IMlost - the more shadow ex, the better.

 

[Cp22kjer]

I am in a similar situation. Slacked frosh year and have 3 C's that pull my GPA to about your exact one. With a 4.0 this semester I'll be at a 3.4. Additionally you really should consider focusing on the MCAT and applying early from all that I've gathered coming in with a subpar GPA is tough but doable. I feel that I must get atleast a 27+ to be competitive with my gpa, and as I said I'll have my app done by the 1st week of June and hopefully completed all of them within the first 2 weeks. I am hoping this method works for me........goodluck


oh and from my understanding its not how much you volunteer but what you get out of it....50 or 500 hrs looks the same to adcoms...

 

[prionsRbad]

Okay I could be wrong but I think the OP is saying that this is his/her last semester taking the prereq classes but not the last semester of school altogether.

That's how I read it too.

OP, don't worry. Your grades in the pre-req classes are not that bad. You can send in transcripts to update schools after the fall semester, if you want.

Good Luck

 

[Saregamapadanis]

study really hard , do well in orgoII. Take some easy science classes and try to get As in them. Don't let your gpa drop anymore. Don't get any more Cs please , thats really bad.

Also, study for the mcat, do not procrastinate because (ofcourse this is my personal opinion ) , this test can make or break your application. Don't aim for a 23 or 24 please, thats really really bad.

 

[prionsRbad]

Hmm, ok, maybe it's late here, maybe I'm tired, maybe I'm just dense, but why would they only see the his JR year?

Because if the OP is applying in June, they will not have started their senior year yet. I think the OP is in their junior year right now.

 

[prionsRbad]

oh and from my understanding its not how much you volunteer but what you get out of it....50 or 500 hrs looks the same to adcoms...

Hmmm, I have to disagree with you here. Adcoms usually like to see a long-term commitment to your volunteer work. It's my understanding that 3 years of volunteering at the same hospital while accumulating 200 hours is better than volunteering for 3 months with the same number of hours.

Shadowing is a better example of when getting more out of the experience is more important than the number of hours.

 

[Cp22kjer]

Hmmm, I have to disagree with you here. Adcoms usually like to see a long-term commitment to your volunteer work. It's my understanding that 3 years of volunteering at the same hospital while accumulating 200 hours is better than volunteering for 3 months with the same number of hours.

Shadowing is a better example of when getting more out of the experience is more important than the number of hours.

Well said and I agree.

I just remember Tildy explaining that on apps she looked at what people did and when (like you said over time) and not just xxx number of hours

 

[justletmeinplz]

People can say what they like, but admissions is, for the most part, a numbers game. If you've got the grades and the MCAT, you're in. If you don't, well it gets a little more difficult. Those 500 hours will set you apart from other interviewees with similar numbers, but they won't even see them if your scores are too low for them to consider you. DO WELL ON THE MCAT. It's impressive. If you don't do well, take it again and do better. Anyone can go to a few surgeries or file paper work at a doctor's office, not everyone can score well on the MCAT. The committees know that. One of my bosses is on the admissions committee at UF. He knows that I work for him and that my father is a doctor and that I've seen surgeries and speak some of the medical lingo and all that jazz. He also knows my GPA is a 3.41. Not gonna cut it at UF....not with a 32 MCAT. Period.
Luckily for us, it seems DO's do a better job of taking these things into account, but still NUMBERS! So you should be in pretty good shape with a decent MCAT score.

 

[Imlost]

Thank you all for your inputs. Yes I am currently a Junior now at his 2nd semester, which I will apply to med school before I take my SR yr, so what I am saying is that it wouldn't matter much even if I aced my SR yr since I would probably be accepted or rejected to med school. I know MCATs is one of the most important thing, but I just have anxiety when it comes to a test that determines your future. I am sure we all had this moment 🙁. But beside MCATs I Know DO school's look for more rounded application, thats why I am worried because I have read the forum and many people seem to have like research for 2 yrs and publications and etc. While I only worked 2 jobs throughout my college year, which is about 1 semester long for each. And I am just worried that my EC wouldn't cut it. ex 500 hrs in same department. Any advice such as getting 200 hrs in ED, 100 hrs in Ped Department, and other hrs into different departments? Thanks for all the help, needed to get this out of my chest because I know if i apply at end of SR yr I would have a very strong application because I would actually become a TA, research and etc. But it's the fact that I don't want to wait another year. And worried my Jr year stats wouldn't be up to par.

 

[prionsRbad]

I had about 150 hours in the same department (ED) over a 2 year span. I also did some shadowing and research. Just remember that your volunteer work doesn’t have to be medically related. If you've done other things, like soup kitchens, habitat 4 humanity, meals on wheels, etc. make sure you include those too.

I'm sure you'll be fine. Study hard for the MCAT, do well your senior year and you'll be in excellent shape! 😉

 

[DadAndPreDOinMO]

Thank you all for your inputs. Yes I am currently a Junior now at his 2nd semester, which I will apply to med school before I take my SR yr, so what I am saying is that it wouldn't matter much even if I aced my SR yr since I would probably be accepted or rejected to med school. I know MCATs is one of the most important thing, but I just have anxiety when it comes to a test that determines your future. I am sure we all had this moment 🙁. But beside MCATs I Know DO school's look for more rounded application, thats why I am worried because I have read the forum and many people seem to have like research for 2 yrs and publications and etc. While I only worked 2 jobs throughout my college year, which is about 1 semester long for each. And I am just worried that my EC wouldn't cut it. ex 500 hrs in same department. Any advice such as getting 200 hrs in ED, 100 hrs in Ped Department, and other hrs into different departments? Thanks for all the help, needed to get this out of my chest because I know if i apply at end of SR yr I would have a very strong application because I would actually become a TA, research and etc. But it's the fact that I don't want to wait another year. And worried my Jr year stats wouldn't be up to par.

For most DO schools that I researched they were more interested in shadowing A DO than research. I feel that it is vital to shadow a DO and get an LOR from them. I had ~300 hours shadowing between 4 DOs and LOR's from 2 of them. The school loved it.

 

[Imlost]

Ty. I just realized that AACOMAS do not include Math in their science gpa, which can hurt me overall since I got A in Calc, and I am capable of getting 2 more A's in stats...... but, I have another question does Med Terminology counts as science? I have read that many people say it doesn't but the weird thing is that the course name of that class was Med Terminology and Human Anatomy. So basically I was learning anatomy in that class also. Just wondering what this means

 

[prionsRbad]

Ty. I just realized that AACOMAS do not include Math in their science gpa, which can hurt me overall since I got A in Calc, and I am capable of getting 2 more A's in stats...... but, I have another question does Med Terminology counts as science? I have read that many people say it doesn't but the weird thing is that the course name of that class was Med Terminology and Human Anatomy. So basically I was learning anatomy in that class also. Just wondering what this means

You're going to have to contact AACOMAS and find out.

 

[MaximusD]

Check my MDapplicants profile for some motivation.

In short, 3.24 GPA, 3.05 science but got a 32 on the MCAT.

Kill the MCAT and you will get accepted to DO schools. I got into 3/5 that I applied to.

You will have to ace the MCAT though... no way around it. Use it as your "last-ditch" effort.

 

[MaximusD]

You're going to have to contact AACOMAS and find out.

OR you could list it as a science and hope they pass it through 🙂

 

[prionsRbad]

OR you could list it as a science and hope they pass it through 🙂

Yeah, I did that with a couple classes. 👍

 

[spazzz]

you can't range a 23 MCAT and a 28 MCAT in the same category....it's not even close to being the same thing.

 

[bluemonkey]

you can't range a 23 MCAT and a 28 MCAT in the same category....it's not even close to being the same thing.

Agreed, considering that the standard deviation on the test is about 6...