How to better my chances??

[Johnny Appleseed]

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cGPA: 3.33 sGPA:3.33

Leadership
Student Government/Senator (4 Months)
Captain of Community College Soccer team (Fall 2013 - Spring 2014: 9 Months)
Physiology TA (Summer 2015-Currently)

Volunteer Hours
Church Nursery (babysitting children with my wife every Sunday) (September 2014 - Currently): 60 Hours

Patient Exposure
C.N.A. at local sub-acute hospital/care center. (October 2014 - Currently): 500+ hours

Shadowing
IHC (Family Practice/General Surgery): 20 hours with DO Family Practice. 12 With MD Family Practice. 8 Hours with MD General Surgery.

Research
Undergraduate research team working with wood-rats (No publications.. yet, 40 hours)
Community Research Assistant (500+ hours)

Other
Competed in multiple marathons (PR of 3:30 time)
Mini triathlons
NJCAA All Region IX First Team Soccer Player
Deans List
NJCAA Superior Academic Achievement Award
Eagle Scout
Fluent in German
Lived abroad in Germany for almost 2 years
Play piano frequently for church events
Play guitar leisurely


Grades Breakdown
A: 71
A-: 5
B+: 14
B: 5
C: 3
F: 16

Bad Grades
HIST 1500 (F)
MUSC 1010 (F)
PHYS 1040 (F) (Considered Science Class)
POLS 1100 (F)
SPAN 2010 (F)
MATH 1060 (C)

Thanks in advance for checking out my post. I am wondering what areas are going to hurt me in my application, or what I need to improve? As of right now I am only planning on applying DO, with the exception of the University of Utah (my state school). I have researched a little bit and noticed DO schools honor grade forgiveness policies. I bombed a semester when I was a freshman (about 6 years ago) and dropped out to work, resulting in 16 credits of Fs.. Would it be worth it to retake those classes to bump my GPA up to around a 3.8? The past four semesters I have had between 18-22 credits each semester and I have not received a GPA lower than a 3.85 so I have a very strong upward trend.

Also in the section labeled "other" above what is going to be relevant when applying to Med Schools? I am not sure if any of those ECs will even be worth noting, any advice on that?

I am trying to decide if I should apply to schools next summer right after I take the MCAT, or if I should take the MCAT next summer and then wait another year to apply, that would allow me to accomplish quite a few more ECs and such. However, it would give me a gap year without school. I don't know if that is frowned upon, but it sounds kind of nice and less rushed.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated, I just can't decide how to approace the next year or two....

PS. (I am finishing up O Chem this summer, after that I just have Bio Chem and Cell Biology left as classes for the MCAT. I am planning on spending this coming spring semester doing MCAT study and taking the MCAT in may of next year.)

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

.

 

[Goro]

It would help if you did something more outside your comfort zone, like helping people less fortunate than yourself. Other ECs look good.

Volunteer Hours
Church Nursery (babysitting children with my wife every Sunday) (September 2014 - Currently): 60 Hours

I don't think that you need to do any more retaking.

Thanks in advance for checking out my post. I am wondering what areas are going to hurt me in my application, or what I need to improve? As of right now I am only planning on applying DO, with the exception of the University of Utah (my state school). I have researched a little bit and noticed DO schools honor grade forgiveness policies. I bombed a semester when I was a freshman (about 6 years ago) and dropped out to work, resulting in 16 credits of Fs.. Would it be worth it to retake those classes to bump my GPA up to around a 3.8?

There are other MD schools that reward this.
The past four semesters I have had between 18-22 credits each semester and I have not received a GPA lower than a 3.85 so I have a very strong upward trend.

Student athletes who do well in school are always looked highly upon.
Also in the section labeled "other" above what is going to be relevant when applying to Med Schools? I am not sure if any of those ECs will even be worth noting, any advice on that?

I suggest this. But do NOT take the MCAT until you are ready!
I am trying to decide if I should apply to schools next summer right after I take the MCAT,

 

[Banco]

I think the best you can do for application now is to do really well on the MCAT (90%ile or greater). You have a better shot at DO than MD, but if your MCAT comes out stellar then you may have a shot at MD too.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

It would help if you did something more outside your comfort zone, like helping people less fortunate than yourself. Other ECs look good.

Volunteer Hours
Church Nursery (babysitting children with my wife every Sunday) (September 2014 - Currently): 60 Hours

I don't think that you need to do any more retaking.

Thanks in advance for checking out my post. I am wondering what areas are going to hurt me in my application, or what I need to improve? As of right now I am only planning on applying DO, with the exception of the University of Utah (my state school). I have researched a little bit and noticed DO schools honor grade forgiveness policies. I bombed a semester when I was a freshman (about 6 years ago) and dropped out to work, resulting in 16 credits of Fs.. Would it be worth it to retake those classes to bump my GPA up to around a 3.8?

There are other MD schools that reward this.
The past four semesters I have had between 18-22 credits each semester and I have not received a GPA lower than a 3.85 so I have a very strong upward trend.

Student athletes who do well in school are always looked highly upon.
Also in the section labeled "other" above what is going to be relevant when applying to Med Schools? I am not sure if any of those ECs will even be worth noting, any advice on that?

I suggest this. But do NOT take the MCAT until you are ready!
I am trying to decide if I should apply to schools next summer right after I take the MCAT,

Thanks Goro, so you can think my application is well rounded enough to apply in a year?

I am thinking of volunteering either with an after school program with kids, or with hospice. Any advice on which would look better to schools?

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

I think the best you can do for application now is to do really well on the MCAT (90%ile or greater). You have a better shot at DO than MD, but if your MCAT comes out stellar then you may have a shot at MD too.

Thanks, 90%ile may be difficult... You think I need that to get into schools?

 

[Goro]

Yes.
Thanks Goro, so you can think my application is well rounded enough to apply in a year?

Do what you love and love what you do. I have high opinions of both.
I am thinking of volunteering either with an after school program with kids, or with hospice. Any advice on which would look better to schools?

 

[Banco]

Thanks, 90%ile may be difficult... You think I need that to get into schools?

It's because your GPA is lower than average, so having a higher than average MCAT will help for MD. That translates to 33 on the old exam, which is possible if you study hard.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

Great, thanks for the response. I will make that my goal.