Help! serious chances for some random guy...

[dan123]

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Would seriously like to know what my chances are for MD or DO. I am just looking for advice, although I will still be applying in spring 2011.

1)BA Social Science 3.7 gpa
2)pre reqs taken at a c.c. (classes full at university). 3.0 gpa for all science and math pre reqs)
3)mcat will not take until early summer of 2011 as I finish up my pre reqs in spring 2011. Any advice as to when to take mcat? I was planning middle of june, as this would give me a few weeks to study right after I finish my last semester (a lot of it will still be fresh in my mind and I have already started studying for it this past summer with kaplan books)
4) great job as a hospital pathologist assistant . I am a nontrad btw would still be under 30 if I got accepted in 2012.
5)fluent in spanish
6) clinical exp by hospital volun. for almost 2.5 years when i would apply
7) job shadowed 2 different specialty physicians for total of ~30 hours
8) all my LOR's would be from docs that I either work with, or job shadowed. The rest would be from a science prof and a social science prof that REALLy knew me and will definitely write a great letter for me.
9) many hobbies that distingush me from everyone else which show I "have a life" outside of my academics.

I think thats pretty much everything....anything you guys think I can improve on would be of great help..I know my gpa in the science is not so great, but I don't want to wait another year to apply to raise that gpa unless I must. Plus, that just means I have to rock at the mcat.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Would seriously like to know what my chances are for MD or DO. I am just looking for advice, although I will still be applying in spring 2011.

1)BA Social Science 3.7 gpa
2)pre reqs taken at a c.c. (classes full at university). 3.0 gpa for all science and math pre reqs)
3)mcat will not take until early summer of 2011 as I finish up my pre reqs in spring 2011. Any advice as to when to take mcat? I was planning middle of june, as this would give me a few weeks to study right after I finish my last semester (a lot of it will still be fresh in my mind and I have already started studying for it this past summer with kaplan books)
4) great job as a hospital pathologist assistant . I am a nontrad btw would still be under 30 if I got accepted in 2012.
5)fluent in spanish
6) clinical exp by hospital volun. for almost 2.5 years when i would apply
7) job shadowed 2 different specialty physicians for total of ~30 hours
8) all my LOR's would be from docs that I either work with, or job shadowed. The rest would be from a science prof and a social science prof that REALLy knew me and will definitely write a great letter for me.
9) many hobbies that distingush me from everyone else which show I "have a life" outside of my academics.

I think thats pretty much everything....anything you guys think I can improve on would be of great help..I know my gpa in the science is not so great, but I don't want to wait another year to apply to raise that gpa unless I must. Plus, that just means I have to rock at the mcat.

You will have a marginal shot at MD because of your 3.0 sGPA unless you can destroy the MCAT (33+). If you can get a 26+ MCAT, I think you will decent chances at DO. Since you fluent in spanish, Universidad Central Del Caribe and San Juan Bautista Medical School (New school) in Puerto Rico would be good options since their average MCAT is in the low 20's. And you will be considered an AMG. Take the MCAT in may so you can apply early, or in the event you don't get the score you want, you will have plenty of time to retake it.
http://www.washington.edu/uaa/gateway/advising/downloads/gpamcat.pdf

 

[Catalystik]

It isn't going to help you that your science GPA is low, considering that this represents your most recent academic efforts. You need a strong upward grade trend on your application, so ramp up your efforts in yor science classes this year and even take some upper-level Bio coursework to demonstrate that you can get great grades in subjects similar to what med school requires.

If it is math that is bringing down the sGPA, keep in mind that DO schools' sGPA doesn't include math. Also recall that DO schools have a grade forgiveness policy, so if you have just a few lower grades, you can bring up your sGPA quickly by retaking those courses so the first grade won't count in the application GPAs.

Consider getting in more shadowing, possibly with a DO, as your hours are currently on the light side. Some nonmedical volunteering would be nice to see too. Get a DO letter if you don't have one.

It's pretty common to need 2 science letters from faculty who have taught you and can comment on your academic prowess, so strategize on how to get a second letter.

 

[dan123]

thank you for the replies thus far. As for the first reply, I really would like to stay in the US, I probably won't even apply outside the US so thank you for those options but I don't think I would take that route. As for my gpa, technically there is still time to bring it up because of my last year, I am taking physics and organic chemistry. I have also not taken any practice MCAT test yet and I am not underestimating the test whatsoever, but I believe a 26 at minimum is feasible. I have a strong feeling as well that the DO route is the one I will end up getting a shot at, which is not bad at all for considering I live extrememly close to one so I would not have to relocate very far. Also, kind of a coincidence, but the 2 docs I shadowed are actually both DOs, so I will ask at least one of them for a LOR. As for putting in more job shadow hours, that sounds like a good idea but will probably have to wait until after fall semester now. Any other help is appreciated!