Hi how do I mend my application for DO schools?

[livenitup]

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I am currently in my fourth year of undergraduate with a 2.2 gpa cumulative gpa and less than 2 science gpa. I was thinking of taking a fifth year so I can increase my gpa for a post bacC which mostly require a 3.0 but by the end of the fourth year I won't be close to a + 3.0, So, Im not really sure if I can do a post bacc:/
Unfortunately, I need to retake orgo for a third time and biology. Would it be wise to do it here in undergrad or would it look bad to DO schools? Im really trying to do my best so I can improve my application. I was hoping to apply for DO schools later on but I really wanna know if post baccs are better than a DIY post bacc. Either way, I will probably have to retake orgo 1 and intro to bio and then take upper level division courses for the first time.


any advice is appreciated. thankss

 

[Goro]

I am currently in my fourth year of undergraduate with a 2.2 gpa cumulative gpa and less than 2 science gpa. I was thinking of taking a fifth year so I can increase my gpa for a post bacC. Unfortunately, I need to retake orgo for a third time and biology. Would it be wise to do it here in undergrad or would it look bad to DO schools? Im really trying to do my best so I can improve my application. I was hoping to apply for DO schools later on but I really wanna know if post baccs are better than a DIY post bacc. Either way, I will probably have to retake orgo 1 and intro to bio and then take upper level division courses for the first time.


any advice is appreciated. thankss

Read this:
Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

I am currently in my fourth year of undergraduate with a 2.2 gpa cumulative gpa and less than 2 science gpa. I was thinking of taking a fifth year so I can increase my gpa for a post bacC. Unfortunately, I need to retake orgo for a third time and biology. Would it be wise to do it here in undergrad or would it look bad to DO schools? Im really trying to do my best so I can improve my application. I was hoping to apply for DO schools later on but I really wanna know if post baccs are better than a DIY post bacc. Either way, I will probably have to retake orgo 1 and intro to bio and then take upper level division courses for the first time.


any advice is appreciated. thankss

I am in a similar situation as you. I have a masters (3.7 gpa) retook prerequisites I did poorly in while doing a DIY postbacc. I highly recommend retaking the organic chemistry as soon as possible and doing DIY post bacc is the best way to prove to adcoms that you can handle Medical school.
It's pretty obvious that it's next to impossible for us to bring our undergrad gpa to 3.0. But I have heard of a lot of stories on sdn of students accepted to medical school (osteopathic) with sub 3.0 gpa. It's really important to apply strategically to schools that reward reinvention and focus more on the last 1 to 2 years of coursework.
This is a really difficult situation because some schools could outright reject applicants with sub 3.0 gpa and others may focus on the last 1 to 2 years of coursework.
I do not think it's fair to just assume medical school is out of the question. But I will say that it will take a lot of work to build up your application it would take 1 to 2 years. Before you apply you need to make sure your MCAT is above average, You have at least 30 more credits of solid A s or more is preferable, at least 250 hours of volunteer experience, some shadowing experience , etc . Right now it's best to focus on your post bacc and once you have at least 30 credits of A s, you could focus on the MCAT.
Definitely figure out what study habits you can change to improve your gpa. What is the issue and why are you struggling? If your working outside of school I recommend lowering hours at work and focusing on schoolwork. I used to work 30 hours a week and obviously did put in the necessary amount of time required to ace the hardest science classes. I also made sure to make my schedule as hard as possible with at least 3-4 hard science classes per semester (*Face Bump*).
I wish your the best of luck and pm me if you have any questions. I'm kind of on the same boat as you 🙂

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Orgo for a 3rd time? Make sure you get 2As this time. would work on getting GPA higher, then post back. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[workaholic181]

I am currently in my fourth year of undergraduate with a 2.2 gpa cumulative gpa and less than 2 science gpa. I was thinking of taking a fifth year so I can increase my gpa for a post bacC which mostly require a 3.0 but by the end of the fourth year I won't be close to a + 3.0, So, Im not really sure if I can do a post bacc:/
Unfortunately, I need to retake orgo for a third time and biology. Would it be wise to do it here in undergrad or would it look bad to DO schools? Im really trying to do my best so I can improve my application. I was hoping to apply for DO schools later on but I really wanna know if post baccs are better than a DIY post bacc. Either way, I will probably have to retake orgo 1 and intro to bio and then take upper level division courses for the first time.


any advice is appreciated. thankss

IMO, you may need a combo of DIY post bac, followed by a "traditional" post bac to get an acceptance. I'd recommend a) finsh undergrad and graduate strong (shoot for 4.0 gpa this year). Get any job in healthcare you can that will pay the bills, preferably something with patient contact to pad your clinical hours. While you do this, take 2 or so classes in sciences that you havent taken before at a local college or community college to get your GPA up to around 3.0. This may take you a few years given how low your current GPA is. Once you get there, you can consider taking the MCAT, applying to SMPs, or both.

There is really little room for error OP. You pretty much need straight As from here on out to show you can handle med school. Med school is really, really tough. If you're struggling to make grades in undergrad you may want to consider doing something else in healthcare.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Honesty OP I think the med school train has left the station. That's my honest opinion.

 

[DokterMom]

You've dug a pretty deep hole for yourself so it will take a while to dig yourself out...

I would want to see at least two full years of rigorous science coursework with >3.8 GPA and an above successful-applicant-average MCAT before I'd even consider your application seriously. (Four years if part-time.) At the interview, I'd ask you point-blank why your performance was so poor early on and would expect a really good answer.

 

[Magus5454]

Like they have said above. That's a C average and compared to medical school, undergrad is a walk in the park. If you can barely pass that, you have to show you can handle the science coursework

 

[de Ribas]

Would it be wise to do it here in undergrad or would it look bad to DO schools?

Why do you worry about that?
What looks bad is 2.0 cGPA and lower than 2.0 sGPA.

You need to sit down and talk to yourself what do you want to do. If you still want go go med route, you need to make significant changes in whatever prevents you from getting As and Bs.

 

[PapaGuava]

It will take some major reconstruction to fix your application, but it will all come down to how much time you're willing to spend.

 

[madiso30]

Not to be a downer, but I do not believe the medical school route is the route for you at this point. If you are struggling this much in undergrad, med school will be more of a nightmare than it already is for most. Taking the time to do a post-bacc and extra year of undergrad all for the very slim chance of getting an acceptance, to me, seems like financial and mental suicide. Could it be done? Sure, but not in most cases. I would self-analyze and figure out what about it is about medicine that makes you want to go. There are many ways to help people that don't require being a doctor.

I apologize if I sound like a jerk, but I feel like this situation has to be approached with a realistic philosophy.

 

[livenitup]

Not to be a downer, but I do not believe the medical school route is the route for you at this point. If you are struggling this much in undergrad, med school will be more of a nightmare than it already is for most. Taking the time to do a post-bacc and extra year of undergrad all for the very slim chance of getting an acceptance, to me, seems like financial and mental suicide. Could it be done? Sure, but not in most cases. I would self-analyze and figure out what about it is about medicine that makes you want to go. There are many ways to help people that don't require being a doctor.

I apologize if I sound like a jerk, but I feel like this situation has to be approached with a realistic philosophy.

you don't even know much about the situation to say

 

[madiso30]

you don't even know much about the situation to say

I am not acting like I understand your situation. I don't. I know what I have read. Your GPA is really rough. I am not saying you can't turn it around, but it will be extremely challenging. Please don't take any offense from what I have said. I don't mean any. I just plead with you to be realistic before hurting yourself financially and emotionally.

 

[Magus5454]

you don't even know much about the situation to say

They are trying to be realistic to you. a C average in undergrad is not the same as passing or Cs in med school

 

[ciestar]

Not to be a downer, but I do not believe the medical school route is the route for you at this point. If you are struggling this much in undergrad, med school will be more of a nightmare than it already is for most. Taking the time to do a post-bacc and extra year of undergrad all for the very slim chance of getting an acceptance, to me, seems like financial and mental suicide. Could it be done? Sure, but not in most cases. I would self-analyze and figure out what about it is about medicine that makes you want to go. There are many ways to help people that don't require being a doctor.

I apologize if I sound like a jerk, but I feel like this situation has to be approached with a realistic philosophy.

I did really well in undergrad and med school has been nothing but a struggle for the past few years.

OP, you know your own situation and what the circumstances are impacting your performance. Fix it. Med school is not even possible at this point in time. You need major improvements to get that far and cannot afford one more bad grade.

 

[madiso30]

I did really well in undergrad and med school has been nothing but a struggle for the past few years.

OP, you know your own situation and what the circumstances are impacting your performance. Fix it. Med school is not even possible at this point in time. You need major improvements to get that far and cannot afford one more bad grade.

Of course you can struggle in med school after doing well in undergrad. Same as watching smart kids from high school struggle in college. I’m just trying to be realistic for this guy/gal. Could they completely turn it around and become a doctor? Sure. Is it likely after failing orgo multiple times and having this poor of a GPA? Most likely not. People with great stats don’t get accepted every year.

I’m all for overcoming your hardships and pursuing your dreams no matter what. But the problem here is that he may spend A LOT of money trying to pursue medical school, all for very slim chances.

 

[ciestar]

Of course you can struggle in med school after doing well in undergrad. Same as watching smart kids from high school struggle in college. I’m just trying to be realistic for this guy/gal. Could they completely turn it around and become a doctor? Sure. Is it likely after failing orgo multiple times and having this poor of a GPA? Most likely not. People with great stats don’t get accepted every year.

I’m all for overcoming your hardships and pursuing your dreams no matter what. But the problem here is that he may spend A LOT of money trying to pursue medical school, all for very slim chances.

For the record i wasnt disagreeing with you lol

 

[madiso30]

For the record i wasnt disagreeing with you lol

Gotcha. My mistake.

 

[livenitup]

Gotcha. My mistake.

it I still possible!

 

[Magus5454]

it I still possible!

Possible, yes. Likely? No

 

[livenitup]

It is still possible. Yes you don't even know my situation. And this is DO SCHOOL.

Possible, yes. Likely? No

 

[livenitup]

It is still possible. Yes you don't even know my situation. And this is DO SCHOOL.

MD School might be very tough yes but DO could be worth a shot with obviously straight A's ...

 

[sonyuir]

It is still possible. Yes you don't even know my situation. And this is DO SCHOOL.

From what you're saying from the original post, "retaking Orgo for the 3rd time" is not a great indicator of how ready you are for medical school. Even if its "just DO school." You can't be defensive about people providing an opinion when you ask for it. Sure it's possible to win the lottery, how likely is it though?

 

[Angus Avagadro]

It is still possible. Yes you don't even know my situation. And this is DO SCHOOL.

BUT THIS IS DO SCHOOL? You obviously haven't been reading the post on SDN from DO students who are busting their butts to get a good Step 1 score AND having to take an extra course called OMM that MDs dont take. Studying for OMM takes a lot of time and is on Comlex boards. Studying for OMM takes away from regular class studying and board prep. So to compete with the MD students , you have to do well in regular classes, boards, AND OMM. Why OMM, how do you think a poor grade or even remediating the course looks on your app? Failures and remediating a course are red flags for PDs. You are ahead of yourself, you are not ready to take the mcat yet. Get your grades up and take a post bac at a school with a relationship, work harder than you ever thought you could, and get yourself admitted. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[Magus5454]

It is still possible. Yes you don't even know my situation. And this is DO SCHOOL.

You are obviously ignorant of how STRINGENT med school(DO, or MD) is. I breezed through undergrad. I'm having to put in more time on studies than I did ever before. I passed organic my first time, you did not. Your GPA is abysmal, you have failed courses 2x that are important for the MCAT which you still haven't taken.

 

[madiso30]

it I still possible!

It’s horribly unlikely and not worth the financial burden you’ll bring on yourself if you don’t

It is still possible. Yes you don't even know my situation. And this is DO SCHOOL.

Dude....you don’t even have respect for the field. Obviously not as hard to get in a DO school as MD, but it’s still incredibly difficult. DO adcoms also want people who want to be there. I’m going to a DO school because it’s an ideal area, I loved the curriculum, and I’ve always been mentored but DOs.

The reality is, you won’t get into school. You have a terrible attitude and are in a terrible position. No one said anything to be mean, just to help you. As someone said above me, most of ya passed orgo on our first go, if not our second. You need to accept reality, stop disrespecting a profession you can’t even join, and move on.

 

[livenitup]

It’s horribly unlikely and not worth the financial burden you’ll bring on yourself if you don’t

Dude....you don’t even have respect for the field. Obviously not as hard to get in a DO school as MD, but it’s still incredibly difficult. DO adcoms also want people who want to be there. I’m going to a DO school because it’s an ideal area, I loved the curriculum, and I’ve always been mentored but DOs.

The reality is, you won’t get into school. You have a terrible attitude and are in a terrible position. No one said anything to be mean, just to help you. As someone said above me, most of ya passed orgo on our first go, if not our second. You need to accept reality, stop disrespecting a profession you can’t even join, and move on.

Stop disrespecting me like that. wtf, you can't just say no to DO. I still think all of these options are worth a shot but likely if some of them don't work out, a backplan would be beneficial too lol. i'm just gonna pretend what you said makes no sense at all.

 

[madiso30]

Stop disrespecting me like that. wtf, you can't just say no to DO. I still think all of these options are worth a shot but likely if some of them don't work out, a backplan would be beneficial too lol. i'm just gonna pretend what you said makes no sense at all.

What are you even saying? Everything I said made clear sense but you don’t want to accept it.

I’m telling you now, the financial and emotional struggle you will need to go through for an extremely small chance of getting into a school isn’t worth it. Becoming a doctor isn’t owed to you, it’s a special privledge very few people get to experience.

And for the record, I was being respectful with you up until this “just DO school” nonsense.

 

[gyngyn]

I think OP has gotten the picture.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Troll respawn. Banned.