DO How are my chances for applying this late?

[Puri]

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Hello,

I understand that people have been receiving their secondaries from various schools already and I just barely about to submit my primaries (Will probably submit towards the end of this week). I've been reading around the forums and it looks like one of the worst things you can do as an applicant for rolling admissions is apply late.

My stats are very on and off:
with a cGPA of 3.0 (sGPA is lower) with an MCAT of 30.
Clinical experience working at an opthamology clinic (but no shadowing).
~50 hours of ongoing hospital volunteer service as an undergrad (But over 500 during high school)

Should I try to wait an entire year to save money and have a better chance of getting in, or take the risk?

Thank you~

(P.S - Which schools would be good recommendations to apply to with my stats?)

 

[ClassicJandT]

Hello,

I understand that people have been receiving their secondaries from various schools already and I just barely about to submit my primaries (Will probably submit towards the end of this week). I've been reading around the forums and it looks like one of the worst things you can do as an applicant for rolling admissions is apply late.

My stats are very on and off:
with a cGPA of 3.0 (sGPA is lower) with an MCAT of 30.
Clinical experience working at an opthamology clinic (but no shadowing).
~50 hours of ongoing hospital volunteer service as an undergrad (But over 500 during high school)

Should I try to wait an entire year to save money and have a better chance of getting in, or take the risk?

Thank you~

(P.S - Which schools would be good recommendations to apply to with my stats?)

You are not late at all for the DO side. Applying in September and beyond might be late. The problem, however, is that your application is very weak. That sGPA will screen you out at a lot of schools and the cGPA isn't helping you either. You should really be spending a year to take classes to boost up your sGPA above a 3.0 and get more clinical experience and other ECs.

With that being said, your MCAT score is good for DO so that's one thing that is all set and ready to go that you don't have to worry about. When did you take the exam- how long will your score be good for? If it's expiring, then I can understand throwing some apps out and hoping to get lucky. What state/ region do you have residency in? This will impact where you should apply.

 

[TrueWolverine]

I'm on the lower end of stats and decided to go for it this year so normally I would say if you've got the kahonas then go for it BUT! With that sub 3.0 sGPA you will probably want to wait until next year. Even with a good MCAT like you've got you're likely to get screened for that sGPA no questions asked. You would just be paying for everyone else's lunches at interviews.

You also need some time to work on those EC's. Get some solid shadowing in. Do some more volunteering, not necessarily just at the hospital but other places in the community as well. Get that GPA up a little bit and you're looking to be a solid applicant next cycle.

 

[Puri]

You are not late at all for the DO side. Applying in September and beyond might be late. The problem, however, is that your application is very weak. That sGPA will screen you out at a lot of schools and the cGPA isn't helping you either. You should really be spending a year to take classes to boost up your sGPA above a 3.0 and get more clinical experience and other ECs.

With that being said, your MCAT score is good for DO so that's one thing that is all set and ready to go that you don't have to worry about. When did you take the exam- how long will your score be good for? If it's expiring, then I can understand throwing some apps out and hoping to get lucky. What state/ region do you have residency in? This will impact where you should apply.

Thank you for the quick reply!
Yes, my sGPA has been haunting me since my first failed class. I'm not exactly sure how to work around it other than to accept it. Many were in core science classes that curved the grades so that only a certain % of students got As, Bs, and Cs. Unfortunately my motivation as an undergrad was deflated so I averaged a B- to C+ in many of the classes 🙁
Paying another tuition's worth to retake these classes seemed the extreme choice to go, considering I already received my B.S.

I took the MCAT Winter of 2014, 1.5 years ago. Edit: That was my first mcat. The retake was 09/10/2014.
Reside in CA.

 

[Puri]

I'm on the lower end of stats and decided to go for it this year so normally I would say if you've got the kahonas then go for it BUT! With that sub 3.0 sGPA you will probably want to wait until next year. Even with a good MCAT like you've got you're likely to get screened for that sGPA no questions asked. You would just be paying for everyone else's lunches at interviews.

You also need some time to work on those EC's. Get some solid shadowing in. Do some more volunteering, not necessarily just at the hospital but other places in the community as well. Get that GPA up a little bit and you're looking to be a solid applicant next cycle.

I wish you the best of luck!
As long as applying late doesn't seem to hurt my application, I may consider. Would the 30 MCAT score be able to balance my low sGPA, or does my low GPA automatically put me in the throw away pile?

 

[mathnerd88]

I wish you the best of luck!
As long as applying late doesn't seem to hurt my application, I may consider. Would the 30 MCAT score be able to balance my low sGPA, or does my low GPA automatically put me in the throw away pile?

It won't balance your low sGPA and cGPA. Unfortunately you're going to have to wait a year and fix your GPA before applying. It will be a bad idea to apply now. People are already getting rejections at new DO schools with a 3.0 sGPA. Don't become a reapplicant because it would make it much more difficult. Do you have any good EC's? It seems you don't have any EC's. Hours done in high school doesn't count. You need hours after high school.

There will be a lot of people already applying with over 30 MCAT and above a 3.5GPA. More than what the seats can fill for osteopathic schools. Check the interview thread to see what stats people have. Your LizzyM is right at 60, possibly below if you count sGPA.

Also, plan to retake the MCAT. Your MCAT score will expire before next cycle.

 

[Puri]

It won't balance your low sGPA and cGPA. Unfortunately you're going to have to wait a year and fix your GPA before applying. It will be a bad idea to apply now. People are already getting rejections at new DO schools with a 3.0 sGPA. Don't become a reapplicant because it would make it much more difficult. Do you have any good EC's? It seems you don't have any EC's. Hours done in high school doesn't count. You need hours after high school.

There will be a lot of people already applying with over 30 MCAT and above a 3.5GPA. More than what the seats can fill for osteopathic schools.

Also, plan to retake the MCAT. Your MCAT score will expire before next cycle.

My MCAT was taken 09/10/2014, sorry I got the dates confused with my first MCAT.
How would one go about raising my GPA?

Post bac programs? Reapplying as an undergraduate?

Sorry if the question seems rudimentary, it is just an option that I had not considered yet so I am uncertain of the proper way to fix my GPA as of current.

 

[kenjixshadow]

My MCAT was taken 09/10/2014, sorry I got the dates confused with my first MCAT.
How would one go about raising my GPA?

Post bac programs? Reapplying as an undergraduate?

Sorry if the question seems rudimentary, it is just an option that I had not considered yet so I am uncertain of the proper way to fix my GPA as of current.

You can either do a post-bac program or retake any class with C or lower and let the grade replacement does it magic. The caveat of a post-bac is if you don't do well, your medicine career will be over.

 

[ClassicJandT]

It won't balance your low sGPA and cGPA. Unfortunately you're going to have to wait a year and fix your GPA before applying. It will be a bad idea to apply now. People are already getting rejections at new DO schools with a 3.0 sGPA. Don't become a reapplicant because it would make it much more difficult. Do you have any good EC's?

There will be a lot of people already applying with over 30 MCAT and above a 3.5GPA. More than what the seats can fill for osteopathic schools.

Also, plan to retake the MCAT. Your MCAT score will expire before next cycle.

Thank you for the quick reply!
Yes, my sGPA has been haunting me since my first failed class. I'm not exactly sure how to work around it other than to accept it. Many were in core science classes that curved the grades so that only a certain % of students got As, Bs, and Cs. Unfortunately my motivation as an undergrad was deflated so I averaged a B- to C+ in many of the classes 🙁
Paying another tuition's worth to retake these classes seemed the extreme choice to go, considering I already received my B.S.

I took the MCAT Winter of 2014, 1.5 years ago.
Reside in CA.

My MCAT was taken 09/10/2014, sorry I got the dates confused with my first MCAT.
How would one go about raising my GPA?

Post bac programs? Reapplying as an undergraduate?

Sorry if the question seems rudimentary, it is just an option that I had not considered yet so I am uncertain of the proper way to fix my GPA as of current.

I agree with most of @mathnerd88's advice. He's right, you need another year of working on ECs and do not want to be a reapplicant. I am a reapplicant myself and it definitely makes you more of an underdog. One thing however- you do not need to retake your MCAT, your score will be good for next cycle.

@Puri DO schools allow you to do grade replacement in determining gpa calculation. So you can retake classes and have only the new grade count. I would retake any science classes below a B-. It doesn't have to be at the same school, just needs to cover roughly the same material, be at the same level, and have greater than or equal to the same number of credits.

If I were you, I would retake classes you did poorly in at the cheapest school closest to you and volunteer/ work on your ECs. Then apply day 1 next year.

 

[asdf123g]

LOL this is early

 

[mathnerd88]

I agree with most of @mathnerd88's advice. He's right, you need another year of working on ECs and do not want to be a reapplicant. I am a reapplicant myself and it definitely makes you more of an underdog. One thing however- you do not need to retake your MCAT, your score will be good for next cycle.

@Puri DO schools allow you to do grade replacement in determining gpa calculation. So you can retake classes and have only the new grade count. I would retake any science classes below a B-. It doesn't have to be at the same school, just needs to cover roughly the same material, be at the same level, and have greater than or equal to the same number of credits.

If I were you, I would retake classes you did poorly in at the cheapest school closest to you and volunteer/ work on your ECs. Then apply day 1 next year.

I know many schools allow MCAT for 3 years before you matriculate. The OP previously said the MCAT was taken in Winter of 2014. That means the latest date she would've been able to apply is this cycle before it expires.

Since now the OP states it was taken in September of 2014, then she is good for one more cycle.

 

[mathnerd88]

LOL this is early

Right now, it is still kind of early for most schools. I would say LECOM, BCOM, and AZCOM have already been giving out interview invites. When you start applying when interview invites have already started to be given out you're starting to get slightly on the later side.

Keep in mind these schools interview a couple times a week. They're starting to choose candidates they're interested in getting to know better. I know LECOM usually interviews 40 people per week. If you get an interview invite for December/January slots, you're highly likely going to be on the waitlist.

You have to consider that there's another month for verification + waiting for secondary invites and completing those secondaries. Applying now means you won't be complete until at least September. To me, that's starting to get a little later in the cycle.

 

[asdf123g]

@mathnerd88 what he said.
Half the east coast schools haven't sent out secondaries yet and its more than a month after the cycle started. The ones that have submitted secondaries (a handful) have not given out any interviews.

I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[mathnerd88]

@mathnerd88 what he said.
Half the east coast schools haven't sent out secondaries yet and its more than a month after the cycle started. The ones that have submitted secondaries (a handful) have not given out any interviews.

I wouldn't sweat it.

I applied when the application first got released. I applied to 20 schools (mostly on the east coast.) I received secondaries for 17 schools. The only ones I'm missing is Liberty University (not going there, WVSOM, and Touro-NV.

I'm completed for 10 schools already. Got interview invites for LECOM so far.

My point is...if you're thinking about applying to DO schools this cycle, apply now. Waiting longer will only hurt you more.

 

[Tommyguns89]

Right now, it is still kind of early for most schools. I would say LECOM, BCOM, and AZCOM have already been giving out interview invites. When you start applying when interview invites have already started to be given out you're starting to get slightly on the later side.

Keep in mind these schools interview a couple times a week. They're starting to choose candidates they're interested in getting to know better. I know LECOM usually interviews 40 people per week. If you get an interview invite for December/January slots, you're highly likely going to be on the waitlist.

You have to consider that there's another month for verification + waiting for secondary invites and completing those secondaries. Applying now means you won't be complete until at least September. To me, that's starting to get a little later in the cycle.

To be fair LECOM's secondary is just biographical info, right?

 

[mathnerd88]

To be fair LECOM's secondary is just biographical info, right?

Yep, no essays.

But applying early gives you a significant advantage over those who apply later. With later applicants, you'll need good stats to make the cut for the interview as seats start filling up. With rolling admissions, you need to apply early. I learned my lesson with allopathic schools. I submitted my primary application in end of July last year. It was a HUGE mistake. I'm not repeating my mistake with osteopathic schools this year. I have pretty decent stats (cGPA ~3.7 and MCAT 30+.)

Sometimes, schools won't even give you an interview until a couple of months after you're completed. In that case, I suspect you weren't good enough to make the first cut, so they put you in the maybe pile until they see more applicants.

 

[mathnerd88]

My MCAT was taken 09/10/2014, sorry I got the dates confused with my first MCAT.
How would one go about raising my GPA?

Post bac programs? Reapplying as an undergraduate?

Sorry if the question seems rudimentary, it is just an option that I had not considered yet so I am uncertain of the proper way to fix my GPA as of current.

Puri, I would definitely recommend NOT applying this cycle. Your sGPA is 2.8? That's an autorejection at most schools. They won't even care if you got a 40 on your MCAT.

Anything below 3.0 is pretty much done. You need to do some GPA repair. Just take classes at a local CC or something that offers the same classes you did poorly in.

 

[asdf123g]

I applied when the application first got released. I applied to 20 schools (mostly on the east coast.) I received secondaries for 17 schools. The only ones I'm missing is Liberty University (not going there, WVSOM, and Touro-NV.

I'm completed for 10 schools already. Got interview invites for LECOM so far.

My point is...if you're thinking about applying to DO schools this cycle, apply now. Waiting longer will only hurt you more.

Yep, no essays.

But applying early gives you a significant advantage over those who apply later. With later applicants, you'll need good stats to make the cut for the interview as seats start filling up. With rolling admissions, you need to apply early. I learned my lesson with allopathic schools. I submitted my primary application in end of July last year. It was a HUGE mistake. I'm not repeating my mistake with osteopathic schools this year. I have pretty decent stats (cGPA ~3.7 and MCAT 30+.)

Sometimes, schools won't even give you an interview until a couple of months after you're completed. In that case, I suspect you weren't good enough to make the first cut, so they put you in the maybe pile until they see more applicants.

are all of the LECOM's PBL based?

 

[mathnerd88]

are all of the LECOM's PBL based?

No, LECOM-E has LDP, PBL, DSP, Accelerated Physician program (3 years instead of 4, but only in family medicine.) However, LECOM-E is mostly LDP based, and Seton Hill is PBL based.

LECOM-B is 100% PBL based.

 

[Puri]

I guess the consensus is my GPA is not competitive enough to have a shot this cycle around. Thank you for being considerate, all.

I also have another simple question but...
What classes count towards science GPA? I just approximated my sGPA, because I know my GE courses raised my GPA while my science courses lowered it.

I understand that Physics, Chem, OChem, and Biology are core. What about upper division classes, such as Biochem, Psychology, Statistics, Neuroscience? and other required classes such as Calculus or Statistics/Probability? Do those count also?
I am trying to figure out which classes matter to retake, if that helps.

Also, not to compare myself and give me false hope, but the individuals in this thread...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-official-2015-2016-underdawgs-thread.1128083/
Are most applicants here with the ~3.0 GPA considered mute as well?

 

[mathnerd88]

I guess the consensus is my GPA is not competitive enough to have a shot this cycle around. Thank you for being considerate, all.

I also have another simple question but...
What classes count towards science GPA? I just approximated my sGPA, because I know my GE courses raised my GPA while my science courses lowered it.
I understand that Physics, Chem, OChem, and Biology are core. What about upper division classes, such as Biochem, Psychology, Statistics, Neuroscience? and other required classes such as Calculus? Do those count also?

Mathematics, statistics, and psychology courses do not count. You can look up the information on AACOMAS. They list it in their FAQS and Instructions.

 

[Puri]

Mathematics, statistics, and psychology courses do not count. You can look up the information on AACOMAS. They list it in their FAQS and Instructions.

Thank you, you've been amazing!

 

[user3]

Puri, I would definitely recommend NOT applying this cycle. Your sGPA is 2.8? That's an autorejection at most schools. They won't even care if you got a 40 on your MCAT.

Anything below 3.0 is pretty much done. You need to do some GPA repair. Just take classes at a local CC or something that offers the same classes you did poorly in.

disagree. I have seen numerous people with low 3.0 range and mid-20's get in. Sub 3.0 sgpa is not ideal, but not necessarily a deal breaker with a 30 MCAT-- especially given that people barely past a 3.0 with mid-20's have gotten in. He just needs to apply broadly enough.

 

[mathnerd88]

Thank you, you've been amazing!

Good luck on your future endeavors! It should be relatively simple to boost your GPA from just a couple of classes of A's that you retake.

 

[mathnerd88]

disagree. I have seen numerous people with low 3.0 range and mid-20's get in. Sub 3.0 sgpa is not ideal, but not necessarily a deal breaker with a 30 MCAT-- especially if people barely past a 3.0 with mid-20's have gotten in. He just needs to apply broadly enough.

Then which schools would you recommend? I know BCOM already rejected someone because of a 3.0 GPA. That person called the school and asked about it.

CUSOM autorejects if you have under a 3.2 cumulative or sGPA. Most other schools have an average of at least 3.4 sGPA and 3.5 cGPA. You think the OP should take his chances with a 2.8 sGPA? That's really risky and not worth it.

WVSOM is the lowest average sGPA I've seen, with a 3.38 sGPA.

 

[user3]

@Puri how low is your science GPA?

 

[mathnerd88]

@Puri how low is your science GPA?

It is 2.8 sGPA. It is listed in the underdogs thread.

 

[ClassicJandT]

Also, not to compare myself and give me false hope, but the individuals in this thread...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-official-2015-2016-underdawgs-thread.1128083/
Are most applicants here with the ~3.0 GPA considered mute as well?

The difference between you and some of the 3ish gpa people from that list who will be successful are that some will have great ECs, work experience, prior military, URM, etc. You will have difficulties not just because you have 3.0 but because you also have really weak ECs. Also, keep in mind that mostly everyone on that list is an underdog/ long shot to get in. This is not to disparage or discourage anyone- I'm one of them btw.

If you really want to apply, you can of course. But the suggestion would be to wait a year. What state are you in? That might help us give you a couple of schools to apply to if you wanted to send out some apps.

 

[mathnerd88]

The difference between you and some of the 3ish gpa people from that list who will be successful are that some will have great ECs, work experience, prior military, URM, etc. You will have difficulties not just because you have 3.0 but because you also have really weak ECs. Also, keep in mind that mostly everyone on that list is an underdog/ long shot to get in. This is not to disparage or discourage anyone- I'm one of them btw.

If you really want to apply, you can of course. But the suggestion would be to wait a year. What state are you in? That might help us give you a couple of schools to apply to if you wanted to send out some apps.

I completely agree. With a low GPA you're going to need amazing EC's to make up for it.

 

[user3]

It is 2.8 sGPA. It is listed in the underdogs thread.

he can try BCOM, LUCOM, LMU, WVSOM, ACOM, LECOM, SOMA, NSU, PCOM-GA, KYCOM, Touro-NY and hope for the best.

 

[mathnerd88]

he can try BCOM, LUCOM, LMU, WVSOM, ACOM, LECOM, SOMA, NSU, PCOM-GA, KYCOM, Touro-NY and hope for the best.

He doesn't have great EC's either. The only thing he has is an above average MCAT score. Everything else is significantly below average. If he applies to these schools this cycle and does not get in anywhere, he will be a reapplicant next cycle. It would be harder for him then. With those stats, he needed to have submitted his application really early to maximize his acceptance rate.

He also hasn't shadowed a DO, so no DO LOR. This would knock him out at some of the schools, unless he has that DO letter.

I would rate his chances of acceptance at less than 10%. Schools accept only 2-3% (at most 10%) of applicants who apply. How is he going to stand out, besides that MCAT score?

 

[Puri]

Thank you all for your kind words!

I have recalculated my sGPA and found out it is at the extraordinary score of...



...2.72!

I will try my hardest this year to boost my GPA and apply next cycle !!

A follow up question. I am looking to bump my science classes in which I've received a:
1 C
6 C+
3 B-

I'm looking to retake around 5 of the classes, but what happens if the course subject overlaps or underlaps due to taking the course at a local CC?
For example, let's say Physics 6A at my school took care of thermodynamics, but the chemistry course at the CC took care of that. Or visa versa. How would it impact my GPA?
I apologize if this question is confusing, it's a bit difficult to explain...


Also, I have already asked my professors for a letter of recommendation. If they have finished sending it to me on interfolio, is it okay to hold back on it until the next cycle?

Thanks once again for the help.

 

[ClassicJandT]

Thank you all for your kind words!

I have recalculated my sGPA and found out it is at the extraordinary score of...



...2.72!

I will try my hardest this year to boost my GPA and apply next cycle !!

A follow up question. I am looking to bump my science classes in which I've received a:
1 C
6 C+
3 B-

I'm looking to retake around 5 of the classes, but what happens if the course subject overlaps or underlaps due to taking the course at a local CC?
For example, let's say Physics 6A at my school took care of thermodynamics, but the chemistry course at the CC took care of that. Or visa versa. How would it impact my GPA?
I apologize if this question is confusing, it's a bit difficult to explain...


Also, I have already asked my professors for a letter of recommendation. If they have finished sending it to me on interfolio, is it okay to hold back on it until the next cycle?

Thanks once again for the help.

For the purposes of AACOMAS grade replacement, it's important that the subject matches. So no, you cannot replace a physics course with a chemistry course. Is physics 6A first semester physics? Then you can only replace it with first semester physics at the CC. Courses at different schools might not match up perfectly so don't worry about the course material lining up 100%. It just has to be the same subject area and mostly the same content. If the titles sound similar, AACOMAS won't look into it and will just accept the grade replacement. If there is a lot of variation, that's when they might ask you to send in a course description or course syllabus to approve the grade replacement. However, that is rare.

As far as LORs on interfolio, yeah it's perfectly okay to hold them there until the next cycle. You just have to pay for the dossier for however many years you want them to hang on to your letters.

 

[user3]

He doesn't have great EC's either. The only thing he has is an above average MCAT score. Everything else is significantly below average. If he applies to these schools this cycle and does not get in anywhere, he will be a reapplicant next cycle. It would be harder for him then. With those stats, he needed to have submitted his application really early to maximize his acceptance rate.

He also hasn't shadowed a DO, so no DO LOR. This would knock him out at some of the schools, unless he has that DO letter.

I would rate his chances of acceptance at less than 10%. Schools accept only 2-3% (at most 10%) of applicants who apply. How is he going to stand out, besides that MCAT score?

the people I saw on this site get in with low 3.0's/mid 20's didn't have much that stood out either tbh. but anyway, you are welcome to your opinion.

We'll see what happens.

 

[Grace184]

Out of curiosity- the clinical experience at the ophthalmology clinic- how many hours? Would he/she be able to hook you up with a DO to shadow? OR
Would you be able to get a DO letter this cycle?
Do you have all your other LORs?

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

disagree. I have seen numerous people with low 3.0 range and mid-20's get in. Sub 3.0 sgpa is not ideal, but not necessarily a deal breaker with a 30 MCAT-- especially given that people barely past a 3.0 with mid-20's have gotten in. He just needs to apply broadly enough.

+1

 

[mathnerd88]

the people I saw on this site get in with low 3.0's/mid 20's didn't have much that stood out either tbh. but anyway, you are welcome to your opinion.

We'll see what happens.

If that's the case, then I'm wrong. I'm just concerned because the averages have been going up for DO schools. His GPA is significantly below average, and it would certainly be a risk applying with that. Schools care about GPA and MCAT because they want to know you have good study habits, and that you're able to pass your boards. They don't want to have a liability. While MCAT tells the schools how well you can critically analyze, it doesn't tell the schools about study habits. Each semester in medical school is over 40 credits.

@Goro , can you give your opinion on this applicant with a 2.72 sGPA, ~3.0cGPA and a 30 MCAT? What are his chances if he applies to DO schools?

 

[user3]

Goro will unequivocally say no chance, as will 95% of members here, but that may not be the case for some schools. At the least he should still try bcom LMU ACOM WCU WVSOM LUCOM LECOM KYCOM touro-ny.

 

[user3]

Hello,

I understand that people have been receiving their secondaries from various schools already and I just barely about to submit my primaries (Will probably submit towards the end of this week). I've been reading around the forums and it looks like one of the worst things you can do as an applicant for rolling admissions is apply late.

My stats are very on and off:
with a cGPA of 3.0 (sGPA is lower) with an MCAT of 30.
Clinical experience working at an opthamology clinic (but no shadowing).
~50 hours of ongoing hospital volunteer service as an undergrad (But over 500 during high school)

Should I try to wait an entire year to save money and have a better chance of getting in, or take the risk?

Thank you~

(P.S - Which schools would be good recommendations to apply to with my stats?)

And what is your state of residence?

 

[mathnerd88]

Yes, but if he doesn't get in, he will be a reapplicant and that would make it worse for him. It is a huge risk.

The OP could've saved money from this application process and use it towards GPA repair. Applying to medical schools in your list would cost over a thousand dollars.

 

[mulcahysj]

Yes, but if he doesn't get in, he will be a reapplicant and that would make it worse for him. It is a huge risk.

The OP could've saved money from this application process and use it towards GPA repair. Applying to medical schools in your list would cost over a thousand dollars.

Please explain how a reapplicant with an improved application (assuming it is improved) would be looked negatively upon?

 

[mathnerd88]

Please explain how a reapplicant with an improved application (assuming it is improved) would be looked negatively upon?

For starters, adcoms will believe that he was immature in applying with such a low GPA in the first place with poor planning skills. In any case, if it doesn't help your application, it will hurt, no matter how small it is. There are plenty of candidates who will apply and get it right the first time around. There's a reason why almost all secondaries ask if you were a reapplicant.

Some schools already reject for 3 retakes (BCOM comes to mind.) CUSOM and VCOM autoreject presecondary if you don't have at least a 3.2 in cGPA and sGPA, and they're not even in the top tier.

Just because your application is improved doesn't mean it will shed a new light to them. It would have to be SIGNIFICANTLY improved. Sometimes, a year isn't enough to significantly improve your application.

Applying the first time with better stats is better than being a reapplicant having to improve even more significantly than what he already has. He would be fine if he just gets is sGPA to a 3.2 without extra EC's. If he was a reapplicant, he most likely would have to add on a lot of other EC's. He also wouldn't have to submit extra essays explaining why he is a reapplicant, and what he has done to improve.

I'm already starting to feel burned out from my secondaries, and the last thing I need is even more essays.

 

[Goro]

OP is a high-risk student. S/he will be autorejected from large numbers of schools. I can't recommend applying now; I do recommend retaking all F/D/C science coursework, and/or doing a post-bac or SMP.

While user3 is correct in that there are maybe five schools the OP might get an interview at (and TouroNY is NOT one of them), why should OP settle for Wm Carey, or LUCOM?

What I foresee right now is a few IIs and then rejections as all AdComs members say "nice kid, but look at those GPAs!"

If that's the case, then I'm wrong. I'm just concerned because the averages have been going up for DO schools. His GPA is significantly below average, and it would certainly be a risk applying with that. Schools care about GPA and MCAT because they want to know you have good study habits, and that you're able to pass your boards. They don't want to have a liability. While MCAT tells the schools how well you can critically analyze, it doesn't tell the schools about study habits. Each semester in medical school is over 40 credits.

@Goro , can you give your opinion on this applicant with a 2.72 sGPA, ~3.0cGPA and a 30 MCAT? What are his chances if he applies to DO schools?

 

[candbgirl]

OP please realize that when you retake the classes you need As not Bs. And what was your first MCAT score?

 

[Puri]

OP please realize that when you retake the classes you need As not Bs. And what was your first MCAT score?

First score was 22. Second time was a 30.

I know I have been posting numerous times about my situation, but I think this question may resolve my uncertainties:
These are the factors contributing to my sGPA:
Chemistry GPA = 2.74 (27 units)
Biology GPA = 2.48 (20 units)
Physics GPA = 2.76 (15 units)
Other GPA = 3.7 (4 units)
Total sGPA = 2.72 (66 units)

Retaking at least 20 units (and assuming the best case scenario, I get As) will leave my GPA <=3.0 due to the large amount of units I have amassed towards my sGPA.
Would this be the best available option? or should I consider a post-bac / master's program to have exceptional qualifications but still have a low GPA? I know there's not much excuse as to my poor history, but surely there must be an acceptable way to be an acceptable applicant?
I appreciate all the counseling, SDN.