Help, i am freaking out

[chicagodoc]

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Ok, so I just reluctantly forwarded my transcripts to aacomas. My gpa is decent it is a 3.3. thats not the problem. the problem is that I have a ton of W's on my transcript. I didnt know that med schools really looked down on those earlier in my undergrad. The reason I have so many is due to work conflicts. ( I was working almost full time for 4 years) Since then, I am completing a masters degree and I am hoping it will be the x-factor. Am I going to have serious problems? Please tell me what you think.

 

[dr.kicia]

how many W is "so many" for you...
I have seen ppl with a lot of W getting into med school so unless you have like 20 W's on your transcript it should be OK.

 

[chicagodoc]

thanks for the prompt reply. I have 7 W's. Its comforting to know that I still have a chance. The 7 w's were really giving me a pessimistic outlook on my application process. Thanks again

 

[GreenShirt]

I had about that many and it didn't seem to be a big issue. It came up at one interview, which happened to be at the school at which I'll be matriculating next Fall. So don't sweat it now.

 

[arsenewenger]

Ok, so I just reluctantly forwarded my transcripts to aacomas. My gpa is decent it is a 3.3. thats not the problem. the problem is that I have a ton of W's on my transcript. I didnt know that med schools really looked down on those earlier in my undergrad. The reason I have so many is due to work conflicts. ( I was working almost full time for 4 years) Since then, I am completing a masters degree and I am hoping it will be the x-factor. Am I going to have serious problems? Please tell me what you think.

You really need to freak out.

 

[HunterGatherer]

thanks for the prompt reply. I have 7 W's. Its comforting to know that I still have a chance. The 7 w's were really giving me a pessimistic outlook on my application process. Thanks again

I second dr kicia's comment.

If a school has a problem with the w's they will mention it in interviews and you already have an answer. You should be fine though if your MCAT looks good.

If someone does not get into a DO school it will not be because of w's as long as they applied broadly.

 

[fido]

Ok, so I just reluctantly forwarded my transcripts to aacomas. My gpa is decent it is a 3.3. thats not the problem. the problem is that I have a ton of W's on my transcript. I didnt know that med schools really looked down on those earlier in my undergrad. The reason I have so many is due to work conflicts. ( I was working almost full time for 4 years) Since then, I am completing a masters degree and I am hoping it will be the x-factor. Am I going to have serious problems? Please tell me what you think.

how did you forward transcripts without waiting for the cycle to start?i thought we need to start the application before forwarding any stuff

 

[NontradICUdoc]

how did you forward transcripts without waiting for the cycle to start?i thought we need to start the application before forwarding any stuff

No. You can send in your transcripts before the cycle starts. However, nothing will be done with them until after you submit.

 

[Nate]

You're fine, just jump through the hoops and smile at the judges and things will work out.
Your MCAT should be above average to make up for the GPA

good luck

 

[fido]

No. You can send in your transcripts before the cycle starts. However, nothing will be done with them until after you submit.

how .you need to enclose that print out paper with the transcript ,so ACOMAS can recognize your transcript from the ID # on it .same like AMCAS

so i wasted all that time waiting for nothing??

 

[NontradICUdoc]

how .you need to enclose that print out paper with the transcript ,so ACOMAS can recognize your transcript from the ID # on it .same like AMCAS

so i wasted all that time waiting for nothing??

From the AAMCAS FAQ site

When are transcripts due?

AMCAS accepts transcripts starting on or about May 3. Transcripts are due 14 calendar days after the deadline date. For example, if School A's application deadline is October 15, their transcript deadline is October 29.

From the AACOMAS FAQ

Q: When can transcripts be sent to AACOMAS and where should they be sent?

A: Transcripts can be sent prior to completing and submitting your application to AACOMAS. They will be kept on file until your application is submitted. Once you have submitted your application, you will be able to check on the status of transcripts online. Transcripts MUST be sent directly from the registrar's office of each institution that you have attended and sent to the following address:

AACOMAS
5550 Friendship Blvd., Ste. 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231


This is why is it important to READ EVERYTHING before you start.

 

[Orthodoc40]

I second dr kicia's comment.

If a school has a problem with the w's they will mention it in interviews and you already have an answer. You should be fine though if your MCAT looks good.

If someone does not get into a DO school it will not be because of w's as long as they applied broadly.

Agreed. Also, there is no reason to freak out because what is done is done. Just keep moving forward as you planned. Depending on what you're writing about in your personal statement, you may consider mentioning something about it in there, but ONLY if it flows with the rest of the essay. Don't just stick some sentence into it in order to explain it. If it comes up it will be in interviews, and you'll know how to handle it then.

 

[StanSmith]

From the AAMCAS FAQ site

When are transcripts due?

AMCAS accepts transcripts starting on or about May 3. Transcripts are due 14 calendar days after the deadline date. For example, if School A's application deadline is October 15, their transcript deadline is October 29.

From the AACOMAS FAQ

Q: When can transcripts be sent to AACOMAS and where should they be sent?

A: Transcripts can be sent prior to completing and submitting your application to AACOMAS. They will be kept on file until your application is submitted. Once you have submitted your application, you will be able to check on the status of transcripts online. Transcripts MUST be sent directly from the registrar's office of each institution that you have attended and sent to the following address:

AACOMAS
5550 Friendship Blvd., Ste. 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231


This is why is it important to READ EVERYTHING before you start.

I thought you could use interfolio?

 

[DrVanNostran]

I thought you could use interfolio?

For your LORs definitely. For your actual transcripts to AMCAS/AACOMAS, I do believe they have to come directly from your school. You may want to call on Monday to verify.

 

[Orthodoc40]

For your LORs definitely. For your actual transcripts to AMCAS/AACOMAS, I do believe they have to come directly from your school. You may want to call on Monday to verify.

Oh believe me, they have to come from the registrar's office...
That's how AMCAS royally screwed me over last July. But that's another story for another time...

But anyway..... Interfolio is for LOR's as far as I know.

 

[doinmybest5840]

How is everybody forwarding their transcripts when AACOMAS isn't up yet? Is there a special form needed to do it? I feel like I'm going to mess up my chances but I honestly didn't think we could send them until the application is up...

 

[funshoayo1]

Too much W's will hurt you, plus a 3.3 is not competitive for med schools....the good new is that if you do well on you MCAT and your other sections are competitive (volunteerin experience , research ...) then you might have a good chance of getting accepted.....make sure you apply to less-competitive schools

Ok, so I just reluctantly forwarded my transcripts to aacomas. My gpa is decent it is a 3.3. thats not the problem. the problem is that I have a ton of W's on my transcript. I didnt know that med schools really looked down on those earlier in my undergrad. The reason I have so many is due to work conflicts. ( I was working almost full time for 4 years) Since then, I am completing a masters degree and I am hoping it will be the x-factor. Am I going to have serious problems? Please tell me what you think.

 

[bigdog8829]

for every single negative thing on your application. any/every C. or even B. or W's. or why you didn't join some kind of club during your junior year. Have an answer. thats all that matters. they're not going to not accept you because of grades during an interview. many times they tell u str8 up, to us; you are all equal now. we just want to get to know you.
and yeah try to score 28+ on the mcat.

 

[chicagodoc]

some people have said that my 3.3 gpa is not competitive. I was under the impression that a 3.2-3.4 is a decent for some DO programs? I am way off by thinking this? I am also finishing a masters degree and my gpa is higher there? What do you think?

 

[bigdog8829]

some people have said that my 3.3 gpa is not competitive. I was under the impression that a 3.2-3.4 is a decent for some DO programs? I am way off by thinking this? I am also finishing a masters degree and my gpa is higher there? What do you think?

competitive and decent. your gpa is decent. thats a lot different than competitive.
if your gpa is characterized as decent; then i wouldn't think it is competitive. competitive would generally imply higher than average.

 

[HunterGatherer]

competitive and decent. your gpa is decent. thats a lot different than competitive.
if your gpa is characterized as decent; then i wouldn't think it is competitive. competitive would generally imply higher than average.

right, but since the OP is freaking out I'd like to add that you could easily get an interview and acceptance at every single DO school you apply to because you do have a decent GPA.

 

[nlax30]

some people have said that my 3.3 gpa is not competitive. I was under the impression that a 3.2-3.4 is a decent for some DO programs? I am way off by thinking this? I am also finishing a masters degree and my gpa is higher there? What do you think?

My overall GPA was ~3.3, with about 4 W's and some other bad grades and a couple retakes my first year or two of undergrad. I did have an upward trend and I continued to take some post-bacc undergrad sciences courses and did well, plus I had a good MCAT to help balance out so you should be ok.

I only applied to this one DO school so I can't be of much help as to how I would've been viewed at other schools but apparently I was pretty competitive here, and I applied extremely late. So make sure your MCAT is good, have some good ECs and LORs. Plus your good master's gpa should help. I was never asked specifically about any of my W's.

 

[bluejuice007]

If freaking out helps you then by all means freak out. Your stats are what they are... and they are enough. You are, in fact, competitive. If you believe you are destined to become a doc you will find a way. Take a deep breath, embrace your weaknesses along with your strengths and go out and find a way... and it will happen. Stay chill 😎

 

[StringerBell]

right, but since the OP is freaking out I'd like to add that you could easily get an interview and acceptance at every single DO school you apply to because you do have a decent GPA.

Plus, why freak out now?
The consensus seems to be that the OP will garner 1 or more interviews.
So if you're freaking out now, what are you going to be like when you actually have to interview?