How late is too late?

[keregg228]

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I graduated several years ago from MSU with a degree in Human Biology-Physiology. I started a career in health care administration but hated the paperwork. I had originally wanted to apply to med school but bc of financial and family pressure decided against it. This summer I took the MCAT with 2-3 days of studying while I was post op from a procedure on my shoulder (basically I didn't study very much since I was on pain killers). I got a 29 (I was surprised. I hadn't studied that material since AP classes in HS with the exception of orgo). I started a Respiratory Therapy program after I realized I needed to be involved with patient care (couldn't stand any more paper work), but the technician role of an RRT is not entirely satisfying to me. I know I will not be happy with my career until I was a physician. My undergrad GPA was a 3.0 but I now have a high 3.9 (in the resp program) but with only a couple semesters under my belt (averages out to a 3.18). I have excellent employer and DO recommendations, but I don't have any natural science or liberal arts recommendations. I had a couple other LOR but they are now 4-6 years old and worthless. I have several letters from the respiratory care program director but I don't know if they will take them. I am hoping to get in for next fall but I'm not sure if I can, applying this late. I know if I apply next year the grades from the Respiratory Program, in combination with those from the MPH program (online through NOVA's school of osteopathic medicine) I start in Jan will show enough improvement to makes my grades a non issue. My overall GPA is 3.2 but I have 80 credits of 300-400 level science courses (I'm hoping that will help). I did poorly in my undergrad bc I worked 40-100 hours a week and graduated with 2 majors in 3.5 years. It was stupid. I refused to take out loans and my grades suffered for it. I did finance my entire education and have no debt or loans. I have a good job, a nice car, and a 2 story 2000 sq ft house, in a nice neighborhood (but not the best GPA).
I have been working in healthcare for 5 years, and can get a half dozen DO's to write me letters if I need them. Does anyone have any input on whether they think it is possible for me to get in for next fall? I have everything done except my personal statement (2/3's of the way done), I'll turn my finished app in Monday. Also if I study (for more than a couple days) I'm fairly confident I could get in the 30's on the MCAT. Should I bother taking it again? Next year my new grades should let me get in. NOVA's average matriculate has about a 24.8 MCAT score, so I'm not sure its worth studying and paying to take it again (the MCAT), when next year my improved grades in combination with my good MCAT score should hpefully get me in. Also next year I will be able to get a recommendation from a professor in the MPH program at NOVA to write me a letter so I should be all set in that area. I am a little low on volunteering hours (20-30) but am starting to do work for a free clinic (will average about 8 hours a week, so by the time my interview happens I should have at least 20-30 more(I hope)). I also plan to join the pre SOMA group at MSU next week. I know the formula (LOR, MCAT, grades, ECA, clinical experience) to get in, but I am unsure if I need to do anything other than add some ECA's since I am already working on the grades. I know I will be a competitive applicant next year but I am just hoping for an interview this year. I feel confident that if I get an interview I can get in. I have several friends who are 2nd and third year students at NOVA and they both think I could get in this year, but are unsure with me applying this late.
Any constructive input would be helpful,

NOVA 2014 hopeful

 

[DocHomer]

I graduated several years ago from MSU with a degree in Human Biology-Physiology. I started a career in health care administration but hated the paperwork. I had originally wanted to apply to med school but bc of financial and family pressure decided against it. This summer I took the MCAT with 2-3 days of studying while I was post op from a procedure on my shoulder (basically I didn't study very much since I was on pain killers). I got a 29 (I was surprised. I hadn't studied that material since AP classes in HS with the exception of orgo). I started a Respiratory Therapy program after I realized I needed to be involved with patient care (couldn't stand any more paper work), but the technician role of an RRT is not entirely satisfying to me. I know I will not be happy with my career until I was a physician. My undergrad GPA was a 3.0 but I now have a high 3.9 (in the resp program) but with only a couple semesters under my belt (averages out to a 3.18). I have excellent employer and DO recommendations, but I don't have any natural science or liberal arts recommendations. I had a couple other LOR but they are now 4-6 years old and worthless. I have several letters from the respiratory care program director but I don't know if they will take them. I am hoping to get in for next fall but I'm not sure if I can, applying this late. I know if I apply next year the grades from the Respiratory Program, in combination with those from the MPH program (online through NOVA's school of osteopathic medicine) I start in Jan will show enough improvement to makes my grades a non issue. My overall GPA is 3.2 but I have 80 credits of 300-400 level science courses (I'm hoping that will help). I did poorly in my undergrad bc I worked 40-100 hours a week and graduated with 2 majors in 3.5 years. It was stupid. I refused to take out loans and my grades suffered for it. I did finance my entire education and have no debt or loans. I have a good job, a nice car, and a 2 story 2000 sq ft house, in a nice neighborhood (but not the best GPA).
I have been working in healthcare for 5 years, and can get a half dozen DO's to write me letters if I need them. Does anyone have any input on whether they think it is possible for me to get in for next fall? I have everything done except my personal statement (2/3's of the way done), I'll turn my finished app in Monday. Also if I study (for more than a couple days) I'm fairly confident I could get in the 30's on the MCAT. Should I bother taking it again? Next year my new grades should let me get in. NOVA's average matriculate has about a 24.8 MCAT score, so I'm not sure its worth studying and paying to take it again (the MCAT), when next year my improved grades in combination with my good MCAT score should hpefully get me in. Also next year I will be able to get a recommendation from a professor in the MPH program at NOVA to write me a letter so I should be all set in that area. I am a little low on volunteering hours (20-30) but am starting to do work for a free clinic (will average about 8 hours a week, so by the time my interview happens I should have at least 20-30 more(I hope)). I also plan to join the pre SOMA group at MSU next week. I know the formula (LOR, MCAT, grades, ECA, clinical experience) to get in, but I am unsure if I need to do anything other than add some ECA's since I am already working on the grades. I know I will be a competitive applicant next year but I am just hoping for an interview this year. I feel confident that if I get an interview I can get in. I have several friends who are 2nd and third year students at NOVA and they both think I could get in this year, but are unsure with me applying this late.
Any constructive input would be helpful,

NOVA 2014 hopeful

Paragraphs, my friend, paragraphs.

And no, it's not too late. But you would be on the later side. Given your stats and EC's, I would probably beef up your application and apply next cycle. Good luck.

 

[JanikeyDoc]

You are a bit late this year but you could always try. I think later than this month will be really late.

 

[keregg228]

I am hoping to get feedback from any current student or people who have already interviewed oat NOVA. It is obvious that my entire application could be improved. I have the LOR, MCAT score, clinical contact down. I'm working on the EC and GPA. Did the interviews put any emphasis on any particular area? i.e. research, clinical contact etc... I work a lot and as I said I am in both a RRT program and a masters program. I want to know if there are any parts of my application that can be improved specifically for traits that NOVA admissions board values (bc I don't have much free time to spare). That is what I'm trying to find out.

 

[DocHomer]

I am hoping to get feedback from any current student or people who have already interviewed oat NOVA. It is obvious that my entire application could be improved. I have the LOR, MCAT score, clinical contact down. I'm working on the EC and GPA. Did the interviews put any emphasis on any particular area? i.e. research, clinical contact etc... I work a lot and as I said I am in both a RRT program and a masters program. I want to know if there are any parts of my application that can be improved specifically for traits that NOVA admissions board values (bc I don't have much free time to spare). That is what I'm trying to find out.

Have you checked out the school interview feedback thread? There's a lot of good info there.

I was invited for an interview at NOVA, but I declined b/c I got into my state school. My clinical experience wasn't anything special. I interviewed at three other DO schools, and it was all pretty standard stuff. The differences between them had more to do with the interviewer than the school itself. For example, at one interview I was asked if I would be interested in doing research. The school didn't do much of it, but she was one of the few people that did.

You could always apply to only NOVA this year, and apply broadly next year if you don't get in. It seems like you have your heart set on NOVA, so you don't have much to lose except a few bucks.

Good luck!!

 

[GraceEuphoria]

I have little experience with NOVA, but the one thing I have noticed is that they seem to be one of the schools that moves a little faster in the application process because while some schools have just started accepting, there is quite a list of people on here accepted there already. Now that might just be representative of the people that post on here and where they are concentrating their applications this cycle, but since there is a pretty widespread group I'd say it's likely a fair representation. My point being, I don't know NOVA's class size, but unless it's pretty big, I don't know if I'd spend the money this year. If you have some expendable income, though, you seem to be pretty set to have a shot late in this cycle. Hope that helps at all 🙂

 

[mrsmith]

I have little experience with NOVA, but the one thing I have noticed is that they seem to be one of the schools that moves a little faster in the application process because while some schools have just started accepting, there is quite a list of people on here accepted there already. Now that might just be representative of the people that post on here and where they are concentrating their applications this cycle, but since there is a pretty widespread group I'd say it's likely a fair representation. My point being, I don't know NOVA's class size, but unless it's pretty big, I don't know if I'd spend the money this year. If you have some expendable income, though, you seem to be pretty set to have a shot late in this cycle. Hope that helps at all 🙂

Nova has a pretty big class (Between 230 and 240 depending on the year). Like others have said here, you are applying a bit late, but I think you'd have a decent shot of landing an interview. I already interviewed there this year (and have been accepted) with stats similar to yours. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Good luck!