Lecom Bradenton wisdom.. need your help !

[muchdoctorpleaz]

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Hi guys!
So Lecom is honestly the ONLY school that really makes sense for me. It is close to fam which i need (single parent) and of course it is just a totally impressive school overall. I'm applying June 2017 and I really want to work on extracurricular early so I can have a strong chance of getting in! Advise on anything specific they like to see?

I''ll post a little synopsis of my current stats and E.C.'s. I would love to know where i need to improve. Thanks guys!

In-state.
First 2 years state college, currently in top 50 public university
3.9 science 3.7 cumulative
2 years tutor
1.5 years lab assistant
1 year of independent research

Thanks everyone I really appreciate any input

 

[muchdoctorpleaz]

also if this is the only D.O. school i apply to will it help, hurt, or noone cares

 

[deleted407021]

also if this is the only D.O. school i apply to will it help, hurt, or noone cares

It could very well hurt you. If you apply to only one program and don't get accepted ... well, it would suck. LECOM B doesn't have an early decision program (EDP), either. You'd be more advised to apply early to several programs in the south east and, should you get a LECOM B acceptance, go there. If not, go to the next closest program.

Your grades look good. Keep up the good work, get some clinical volunteering and shadowing, prepare for and do well on the MCAT, then apply broadly in your region. A good MCAT score and you'd be good for LECOM and probably a lot of other programs, MD and DO.

 

[123456123456]

If you know LECOM is your top choice, you could apply early admissions but do not only apply to this school because you could waste a whole year in your application cycle. As a reapplicant, trust me on the importance of applying broadly. Even if you were a perfect applicant, I would not trust only applying to one school.

Have you taken the MCAT yet because your stats are good? The biggest thing I see is a lack of clinical experience. The research and lab stuff is good but you need shadowing and volunteering (like at a hospital or free health clinic). It is also nice to work in a medical setting like as a scribe, EMT, or CNA because it is an easy way to rack up clinical hours and make money. Scribing does not require taking any special certification class btw.

 

[123456123456]

If you know LECOM is your top choice, you could apply early admissions but do not only apply to this school because you could waste a whole year in your application cycle. As a reapplicant, trust me on the importance of applying broadly. Even if you were a perfect applicant, I would not trust only applying to one school.

Have you taken the MCAT yet because your stats are good? The biggest thing I see is a lack of clinical experience. The research and lab stuff is good but you need shadowing and volunteering (like at a hospital or free health clinic). It is also nice to work in a medical setting like as a scribe, EMT, or CNA because it is an easy way to rack up clinical hours and make money. Scribing does not require taking any special certification class btw.

*I did not know it did not have an EDP but it is still important to apply broadly

 

[OrdinaryDO]

It will not hurt you if this is your only DO program albeit you are applying to MD programs as well. You do not NEED clinical experience, but it would certainly help when given the task of answering clinically related questions such as "why do you want to become a physician." There are many reasons people decide to apply to medical school and many of those reasons come well before ever gaining clinical exposure. I would definitely start shadowing a DO and try to obtain a letter from that DO. Other than that, just do well on the MCAT and your good to go.

 

[tcon91]

*I did not know it did not have an EDP but it is still important to apply broadly

They do. You sign up on interview day and you get your decision in October instead of November. At least that's how it was this cycle.

 

[muchdoctorpleaz]

thanks for the input guys!
So I did actually complete LPN training like four years ago but never ended up going into the workforce . I suppose I could try that route although the only places I could really work as an LPN would be a doctors office or rehab facility . Which do you think would be a more impressive clinic site? or would I be better off as a scribe in an E.R. like some of you suggested?

 

[ortnakas]

Just remember that you may not do your 3rd and 4th year rotations in Bradenton; a lot of their students end up all around Florida and even at some of the north LECOM sites.

 

[muchdoctorpleaz]

wait if you go to school in lecom B you may end up doing clinicals in PA?

 

[muchdoctorpleaz]

Just remember that you may not do your 3rd and 4th year rotations in Bradenton; a lot of their students end up all around Florida and even at some of the north LECOM sites.

wait if you go to school in lecom B you may end up doing clinicals in PA?

 

[GatorsKW14]

wait if you go to school in lecom B you may end up doing clinicals in PA?

Yes. As of right now, less than half of the class gets year long rotations in Florida (with many of them being outside of Bradenton). The rest are in the Northeast. If you don't want to go up north and don't get a Florida year long, you will need to arrange short term rotations in Florida on your own. LECOM is in the process of changing their clinical education so this may all change by the time you matriculate.

 

[muchdoctorpleaz]

If you don't mind me asking, how do they decide who gets what rotation site? are they more than an hour or two away (Florida sites) ?

 

[GatorsKW14]

If you don't mind me asking, how do they decide who gets what rotation site? are they more than an hour or two away (Florida sites) ?

We don't really know. This is something new that they are trying out with the current MS2s. Previously, there were less year long rotation sites so only the top of the class got them and the rest had to scramble to arrange their own rotations. Tampa and Orlando are within 1-2hrs but I would not come here with the expectation that you will end up with one of these spots because these are the most desirable locations. There are many other medical schools in Florida that are affiliated with nearby hospitals so I recommend doing some research about that. With a good MCAT score, you have a decent shot at other schools. Like others have said, I would not put all your eggs in one basket with LECOM. You may come here during interviews and realize that this is not the school for you at all. PBL is not everyone's cup of tea.