Help! What med schools should I aim for? Or even go DO *gasp*?

[exmike]

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Ok guys, here is the down low. I need some good advice, and I'll be completely honest with my grades (basically none of my friends know, nor my parents!). I've pretty much assumed I have to apply to lower tier schools, but I'm even iffy on that.

I posted this a little earlier, but basically I bombed my first two years. I had severe personal problems, and I even submitted a withdrawl from Johns Hopkins my sophomore year (which was of course approved). Here is the scary part: my AMCAS gpa for my freshman and soph years are 2.5 for each year. I finally turned it around (with a lot of support from my family) and made the deans list my last three semester. I think the best indications of my turnaround are these two things, though not stellar: I had a 3.4 bcmp my sr year (25 units) and 3.72 ao (25 units), and I did that while taking 24 units as as a second semester senior. (so my cum BCMP is 3.01 and AO is 3.26, if it wasnt for AMCAS averaging retakes it would probably be a bit higher)

I got a post-baccalaureate IRTA fellowship at NIH for a year, then I went to public health school at UC Berkeley where I'm graduating with a 3.74, concentrating in infectious diseases. I managed to squeeze in 16 BCMP units in grad school, with a 3.71 in those classes.

This next year I'm going to the Georgetown 1 year MS (Special Masters program) *hoping* for a shot at Gtown med.

I got a 10v 12p 13b (35) P on my MCAT.

Realistically, what should I do? I'm pretty much aiming for lower tier privates i.e. finch/temple/drexel. Any help is very welcome. Thanks!

 

[md_student10021]

I don't think DO is the right route, given your mcat score.

it looks like you've turned things around, and that speaks well of you, character-wise. The GPA will hurt you (at some schools, they may not read your application if it doesn't make it through an initial screening); your fellowship, MPH, and record of improvement will help.

You should apply a variety of schools (between 25 and 30), upper tier as well as lower, and of course your state schools.

best of luck.

 

[WatchingWaiting]

Apply to a lot of schools-- some will be more forgiving that others. Your biggest problem will be that many schools will auto-reject you based on your cumulative undergrad gpa, but there's not much you can do about that. Make sure your personal statement really emphasizes the recent academic positives, and save extensive discussion of your earlier negatives for the "Other Things You'd Like Us to Know About You" type questions on secondaries. *Unless* you can extract something positive and non-trite from your past negatives, I'd not write too much about them. Also, keep in mind, pretty much wherever you go to med school, if you're in the top 10% or so of your class, you'll be able to get into highly competetive residencies.

Also, think about your state school if you have a residency connection to a state with "easy admission" med schools (ie: not California, Washington, etc.).

 

[deadwood]

Take a look at mdapplicant.com. There are plenty of profiles that would help you get an idea of your competitiveness. Personally I think you should definitely be able to get in somewhere. 25-30 applications might be cost prohibitive but I'd definitely apply 10-15 and don't count yourself out of higher tier schools. I've got friends at UCSF and they have 'non-traditional' transcripts like yours and got into one of best schools in the country.

All you can do now is apply early and make sure your letters of rec come from people that will write glowing letters.

 

[pafbdoc]

I don't think DO is the right route, given your mcat score.

I disagree. D.O. schools are historic for supposedly seeing the "whole" applicant. While, on paper, many MD schools are looking for ways to hate and get rid of your application, many D.O. schools are looking for ways to like your application. You have an impressive CV but have a few blemishes like anyone. I think you'll be okay in the applying process, but your interview and personal statement will mean alot. MD schools will bite and read it and want to at least meet you because of the MCAT score, same goes for D.O. schools. But, dont go D.O. as a backup, b/c while I'm not saying some D.O. students arent allopath rejects, many schools will see right through the BS if you in fact are BSing them. If you like the philosophy and are most interested in primary care, medicine, ER, OB, etc, then D.O. may be the route. If you want derm at Mayo, find an MD school. Osteopathic medicine is the quickest growing sector of health care right now and while the past decade has seen D.O.s branch into every specialty, the next will see even more, although the numbers arent there yet. Please let's not start another flame war, as I have every respect for any of my allopathic colleagues and encourage you to go to the best school as you see it, not as this board sees it. Just wanted to offer FRIENDLY advice and wish you the best of luck in any path you choose. It'll be the right one.

 

[FutureM.D.]

I plan to apply to both osteopathic and allopathic schools. DO's are cool😎 😀

 

[exmike]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I'm from CA, so in state wont help me. More thoughts please!

 

[ShaylaFinn]

Hey, exmike. The Georgetown SMP website lists schools to which previous grads have been admitted. Obviously, many alums go on to attend Georgetown. But SMP grads have had luck at Jefferson, Drexel, Tufts, Tulane, Finch, (& even Pritzker). Obviously, you'll want to tailor your own list of schools, but I would definitely refer to the website & include the schools that have a history of looking favorably upon SMP grads.

(just my $0.02). Good luck with the Georgetown SMP and the 2004 cycle!

 

[Pman]

Hey exmike,
I sent you a fairly long Private message...about your situation. Hope it helps

 

[xaelia]

Originally posted by deadwood
Take a look at mdapplicant.com.

mdapplicants.com

Perhaps I should register both domains....

But yes, I believe you will have success. I would suggest, coming from a similar background, that you apply to many places. It really seems so random which schools call you up that it must be dependent on whose desk your application lands.

On a side note, it's been very humbling reading all the amazing profiles added to the site as they've come in. I can't wait to get to medical school and meet these people!

 

[exmike]

Originally posted by Pman
Hey exmike,
I sent you a fairly long Private message...about your situation. Hope it helps

Pman - thanks for the PM, it relieved me a bit, and I'll take your advice into account (im rewriting my PS now)

oh and everyone else too. I really appreciate it.

exigente chica - your PM box is full? but thanks for the motivational blurb. I'll keep everyone here posted. Are you in med school btw?

I looked at mdapplicants.com and there are a few people that fit my profile, although not many. I guess what I should do is apply to a lot of schools and see what happens right? Also I focused my personal statment on my public health experience as a motivation for med school, and brushed very lightly over my undergrad troubles.

Thanks for the comments again

 

[Ca$h MaNi]

Exmike....

I was in a very similar situation as yours...I had personal and family problems in my first 2 years as well..and was on academic probation and then left the school due to failure to progress academically...then I turned it around big time..pulling off straight A's in all my upper-division science courses(which is huge academically BUT more so mentally...as I was severely depressed during my first two years). Anyways, my science GPA still was a 2.75 and my overall was a 3.06.

I applied both DO and MD..just wanting to go to med school..with the determination of becoming a physician. That's all I wanted. I could care less what people told me about respecting an MD vs. DO or what people don't know about DO's..or any of that verbage. I did mediocre on the MCAT just above national average..and was accepted to both MD and DO schools. I think you gotta explain what you learned from your negatives and how you turned it positively. And you gotta incorporate your experiences and initiatives in health care in relation to that turnaround(motivation from your negatives, etc...) It will truly shine through on the application when ad coms look at it. That's what happened to me and they were so interested in my turnaround at the interviews. It was easy to talk about it once you are invited for an interview, because it is so hard to explain that on paper in mere words. But , best of luck to you in your endeavor...and I'm sure you'll do well!! 🙂

Good luck,

Mani
NSUCOM Class of 2007

 

[Persistence101]

Originally posted by Ca$h MaNi
Exmike....

I was in a very similar situation as yours...I had personal and family problems in my first 2 years as well..and was on academic probation and then left the school due to failure to progress academically...then I turned it around big time..pulling off straight A's in all my upper-division science courses(which is huge academically BUT more so mentally...as I was severely depressed during my first two years). Anyways, my science GPA still was a 2.75 and my overall was a 3.06.

I applied both DO and MD..just wanting to go to med school..with the determination of becoming a physician. That's all I wanted. I could care less what people told me about respecting an MD vs. DO or what people don't know about DO's..or any of that verbage. I did mediocre on the MCAT just above national average..and was accepted to both MD and DO schools. I think you gotta explain what you learned from your negatives and how you turned it positively. And you gotta incorporate your experiences and initiatives in health care in relation to that turnaround(motivation from your negatives, etc...) It will truly shine through on the application when ad coms look at it. That's what happened to me and they were so interested in my turnaround at the interviews. It was easy to talk about it once you are invited for an interview, because it is so hard to explain that on paper in mere words. But , best of luck to you in your endeavor...and I'm sure you'll do well!! 🙂

Good luck,

Mani
NSUCOM Class of 2007

Mani,

If I may ask, what was your MCAT score and which MD schools were you accepted? Thanks 🙂

 

[geldrop]

I just gotta say good job! You really must have your heart set on this. I think you could get into a MD school. Just talk about how you turned yourself around and stuff, and maybe how "this doctor influenced me" and really showed me the light or some crap.

 

[exmike]

So do you guys think its ridiculous to apply to 40 schools given my situation?

 

[Jillianrae]

I have to say that there is nothing wrong with applying to DO schools regardless of your MCAT scores. DOs or not any less respectable than MDs in most areas. I choose not to apply to DO schools because of the area in which I want to work (I have been accepted to an MD program), but I have a friend who applied to both. Her first choice school was an MD school, but the DO schools ranked above all of the other MD programs on her list. It really depends on what type of a philosophy you subscribe to. DO programs usually take a more holistic approach. But, don't let anyone tell you that DOs are just doctors that didn't make the MD cut. It just isn't true.