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New SDN Article! Pregnant in MS1: Tackling Medical School While Growing a Tiny Human
Where did you apply? I'm guessing the wrong places, or not enough.
Apply broadly, and throw in about 10 DO schools too.
Apply broadly, and throw in about 10 DO schools too.
Re-apply the day the applications come online. Broaden your DO spectrum. You picked some DO schools that are very competitive, and many of them have a strong in-state preference. I think you'll land somewhere. The biochem won't help, but I don't think its the end of the world.
Late application is the kiss of death. Give it another try before you decide to head to the Caribbean. You don't want that hassle if you can help it.
Late application is the kiss of death. Give it another try before you decide to head to the Caribbean. You don't want that hassle if you can help it.
- Aug 18, 2007
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Why did you apply so late?
You really should have just waited until the next cycle.
Are you still in school or did you just take Biochem?
How did the schools know your recent grades?
What are your current overall and BCPM gpas?
Your stats are pretty low to have a shot at MD schools.
You could give it a try, but I wouldn't expect too much.
If you really want MD, you should probably do a SMP.
For DO schools, you have more competitive stats, but you need to apply to a bunch of schools, not just the most competitive ones like PCOM.
As for carib, don't look at that as an easy way out.
Most grads from the top 4 schools will get a US residency, although it might not be in their ideal field. The problem is that many people don't graduate and then you are stuck with doctor loans without the doctor paycheck.
I'd hold off on carib schools until you give the US at least one or two more shots.
You really should have just waited until the next cycle.
Are you still in school or did you just take Biochem?
How did the schools know your recent grades?
What are your current overall and BCPM gpas?
Your stats are pretty low to have a shot at MD schools.
You could give it a try, but I wouldn't expect too much.
If you really want MD, you should probably do a SMP.
For DO schools, you have more competitive stats, but you need to apply to a bunch of schools, not just the most competitive ones like PCOM.
As for carib, don't look at that as an easy way out.
Most grads from the top 4 schools will get a US residency, although it might not be in their ideal field. The problem is that many people don't graduate and then you are stuck with doctor loans without the doctor paycheck.
I'd hold off on carib schools until you give the US at least one or two more shots.
Well your gpa is pretty low and your mcat is kind of marginal which leaves you with a few choices. You could apply for a post-bac to boost your gpa and reapply for the 2010 application cycle, re-take the mcat and crush it, reapply really, really early this time (DO schools are probably your best shot unless you're a URM), and/or apply to the Caribbean. Good luck.
I had a similar GPA...you would be a good SMP candidate along with retaking the MCAT. I'm currently in an SMP and so far so good...i'll be reapplying this summer. When you reapply, I would also re-apply to SMPs at the same time as med school...that's not uncommon. DO is your best shot...I regret not doing that the first time. The fact you even got an interview at PCOM is pretty impressive...that's one of the most competitive, if not the most. The pediatric neurosurgeon I currently shadow got his DO from there.
Anyway, I agree with the other posters...save the carib schools as your last resort. Those graduates do get residencies in the US, but not always the one they want, and they are at a severe disadvantage. From what I understand (but I'm by no means an expert), an allopathic residency will take a DO from a US school before taking an MD from a carib school. It's hard enough for a DO to get into an MD residency, so you can imagine how much more difficult it is for a carib graduate.
Listen dude, I'll tell you one piece of advice that can't be wrong. Don't get too wrapped up in your dad's evaluation of your effort. I'm sure you are trying your best. The last thing you need is to feel you somehow let him down. That's not fair to you.
Definately broaden your US school applications. There are many many more very good schools you should apply to, and have a decent chance at, before you resort to the foreign med school route. I can tell you from my (not personal but close) experience that FMGs (foreign medical graduates) have a harder time getting into residencies, even if they are Americans, and have more hoops to jump through, and hurdles to cross (and what ever other metaphor you can come up with) to even get to apply to residency.
Try some of the smaller schools, more DO schools (DO's do better than FMGs overall), and don't give up just because you don't get in the first try. I had very similar numbers to yours and applied 3 times before I got in (but I was much more limitied geographically due to family issues, and might have been able to get in much quicker had I applied broader). Many very successful medical students don't get in the first time they apply.
Call the coordinator of one or two of the schools you applied to and ask them if they can tell you what would make your application stronger for next time. Often it is simply a matter of more extra-curricular activities such as shadowing, or taking a graduate level classes and getting good grades to show you can do the work, or getting better letters of recommendation.
DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!
Try some of the smaller schools, more DO schools (DO's do better than FMGs overall), and don't give up just because you don't get in the first try. I had very similar numbers to yours and applied 3 times before I got in (but I was much more limitied geographically due to family issues, and might have been able to get in much quicker had I applied broader). Many very successful medical students don't get in the first time they apply.
Call the coordinator of one or two of the schools you applied to and ask them if they can tell you what would make your application stronger for next time. Often it is simply a matter of more extra-curricular activities such as shadowing, or taking a graduate level classes and getting good grades to show you can do the work, or getting better letters of recommendation.
DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!
i would echo the other posts.
i would also add that you should take a look the the number of applicants at each school. i applied twice. the first year to 17 MD programs and i think 10 had 10000 applicants, like drexel, bu, gw some of the same ones you applied to. forget it. they are looking at raw numbers no matter what they tell you. yours are on the low side so it gets really tough to even make those first cuts. when you apply, keep an eye on the numbers of applicants.
make a plan, boost the grades and mcat however you can, and apply broadly MD/DO and early. good luck.
i would also add that you should take a look the the number of applicants at each school. i applied twice. the first year to 17 MD programs and i think 10 had 10000 applicants, like drexel, bu, gw some of the same ones you applied to. forget it. they are looking at raw numbers no matter what they tell you. yours are on the low side so it gets really tough to even make those first cuts. when you apply, keep an eye on the numbers of applicants.
make a plan, boost the grades and mcat however you can, and apply broadly MD/DO and early. good luck.
Apply earlier and more broadly; 7 schools is not enough for a student with your stats.
As for DO: both PCOM and KCOM are amongst the most competitive DO schools, Oklahoma is an in-state school (are you a resident?). Try more DO schools including some of the newer schools.
Also, how's your clinical experience?
Caribbean students are eligible to enter ACGME residencies just like DOs and MDs.
SMP = Special Masters Programs. They are 1-year Masters degree programs at various medical schools across the country which have the sole purpose of helping pre-med applicants boost their applications (especially those with lower GPAs). You get to take actual medical courses with that school's 1st year med class OR simulated medical courses, where the material is similar and taught at a similar pace, to prove to med schools that you can handle the workload. You will also take upper division graduate courses that are medically-related and generally will have to do a thesis of some kind (either library or lab research). The most well-known one is Georgetown's SMP...go to their website and look it up. But there are several others now: Cincinnati, Loyola, Boston Univ, Tufts, etc all have similar programs at their med schools.
So I suggest you take a look at the International forums, because I think the Carib schools are discussed there. My impression, from general comments thrown around SDN, is that there are definitely challenges associated with going that route - especially getting into a US residency. The tuition is also high, and there are generally difficulty getting good clinical rotations (I know nothing about St George's in particular).
SMP = special master's program. There is a forum dedicated to those as well, just take a look down the main page.
Why don't you try for russian medical schools? I have a situation just like u and now i am about to apply there. There they don't need entrance examinations and the cost is also quite affordable. The degree they offer is also very much accepted. Need any help just ask me .
yeah...the degree might be accepted but it is a lot harder to get a US residency. That's the whole point, not impossible but a lot harder. PLus wouldn't you have to speak Russian.....? And in a lot of these Eastern European countries you do not get the quality of education and the experience you would want to get. Educational systems are different too so the duration of the education is probably different and so on.Why don't you try for russian medical schools? I have a situation just like u and now i am about to apply there. There they don't need entrance examinations and the cost is also quite affordable. The degree they offer is also very much accepted. Need any help just ask me .
anyway, going back to serious help, apply more broadly and raise that GPA. SMP seems like a good choice for you. Good luck