unusualonion
Full Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2022
- Messages
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- 129
***Long Post; TLDR at end***
Last AMA I did for leaving pod school was locked bc folks couldn't keep crappy opinions to themselves. This thread is truly for people who may be genuinely considering leaving pod school and have questions or want to know what my experiences have been.
Please do not beat the "podiatry sucks" drum or tap the "less competition for the current pod students" sign.
For reference, I left to pursue NP/PA but after I retook the MCAT (494->495->500) I was encouraged to shoot my shot. Applied to 27 schools later in cycle (August 2023) and like the title, 1A and 4II left.
Stats:
MCAT 500
cGPA (undergrad, post-bacc, pod school): 3.4
sGPA (same as above): 3.2
Undergrad GPA: 2.9 (multiple F's, D's, and retakes)
Postbacc GPA: 3.9 (re-takes included)
Pod GPA: 3.4
I can DM other parts of my application if requested.
Leaving by itself was scary. I felt like I might have thrown away my chance to be a doctor. I knew that it would be an uphill battle for NP/PA, and much more so for my eventual DO apps. I even did a spreadsheet using rough numbers to show that leaving then and pursuing NP/PA would put me in the black, financially, sooner than DPM would. Began studying for my MCAT re-take while in pod school. After that semester finished, I took the plunge and left.
I didn't get the score I wanted and decided to cut my losses and go for NP as I already had the credits to breeze into an accelerated RN program. From there I'd enrolled in a few classes at my local community college so I didn't have to take them at the RN school for 3x the price. Ironically, my significant other was speaking to her friend who had gotten into DO with a similar stats as my pod school app and encouraged me to apply DO. Rounded up my app materials and shot off as many as I could. I do not recommend this if money is tight as this "devil may care" application strategy has left a dent my finances lol. Anyway, I utilized anyone who would give me the time of day to review my PS (SDN was super helpful for this!!!).
From there it was application business as usual: spending an arm and a leg on secondaries. Hoping and praying to anyone and everyone that I'd get an interview. Lo and behold total of 5II's and 1A so far. This isn't to brag or gloat. I though my career was over with those F's in undergrad. I still can't believe it. But here's the rub: if someone like me can leave podiatry bc its not a fit for me, so can anyone!
I'll be around today through Christmas Eve for questions and DMs
***TLDR: left pod school, scared crapless, applied on the recommendation of someone else, got in with arguably subpar stats***
Last AMA I did for leaving pod school was locked bc folks couldn't keep crappy opinions to themselves. This thread is truly for people who may be genuinely considering leaving pod school and have questions or want to know what my experiences have been.
Please do not beat the "podiatry sucks" drum or tap the "less competition for the current pod students" sign.
For reference, I left to pursue NP/PA but after I retook the MCAT (494->495->500) I was encouraged to shoot my shot. Applied to 27 schools later in cycle (August 2023) and like the title, 1A and 4II left.
Stats:
MCAT 500
cGPA (undergrad, post-bacc, pod school): 3.4
sGPA (same as above): 3.2
Undergrad GPA: 2.9 (multiple F's, D's, and retakes)
Postbacc GPA: 3.9 (re-takes included)
Pod GPA: 3.4
I can DM other parts of my application if requested.
Leaving by itself was scary. I felt like I might have thrown away my chance to be a doctor. I knew that it would be an uphill battle for NP/PA, and much more so for my eventual DO apps. I even did a spreadsheet using rough numbers to show that leaving then and pursuing NP/PA would put me in the black, financially, sooner than DPM would. Began studying for my MCAT re-take while in pod school. After that semester finished, I took the plunge and left.
I didn't get the score I wanted and decided to cut my losses and go for NP as I already had the credits to breeze into an accelerated RN program. From there I'd enrolled in a few classes at my local community college so I didn't have to take them at the RN school for 3x the price. Ironically, my significant other was speaking to her friend who had gotten into DO with a similar stats as my pod school app and encouraged me to apply DO. Rounded up my app materials and shot off as many as I could. I do not recommend this if money is tight as this "devil may care" application strategy has left a dent my finances lol. Anyway, I utilized anyone who would give me the time of day to review my PS (SDN was super helpful for this!!!).
From there it was application business as usual: spending an arm and a leg on secondaries. Hoping and praying to anyone and everyone that I'd get an interview. Lo and behold total of 5II's and 1A so far. This isn't to brag or gloat. I though my career was over with those F's in undergrad. I still can't believe it. But here's the rub: if someone like me can leave podiatry bc its not a fit for me, so can anyone!
I'll be around today through Christmas Eve for questions and DMs
***TLDR: left pod school, scared crapless, applied on the recommendation of someone else, got in with arguably subpar stats***