Looking for some input

[actin]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi guys,

Cumulative GPA: 3.51
Science GPA: 3.47

ECs:
EMS club- EMT type work at school events
Medical Screening Society- provides blood tests and labs free to uninsured and impoverished.
Geriatric volunteer.
Free clinic volunteer.
Spent a week in New Orleans for Katrina relief.
Beginning research in kinesiology.
Graduate of school sponsored Leadership Certificate program.
Hospital Urgent Care volunteer.
Limited shadowing of an orthopedic surgeon and internal med docs.
Thinking about tutoring in sciences as well.

I still have another year of school before I apply. On the MCAT I'm shooting for at least a 30. I'm still probably going to apply to a few allopathic schools, but osteopathic schools hold a lot of interest to me. So I'm wondering how I look. I haven't had a ton of time sunk into the ECs yet since I recently transfered schools but I guess it's quality not quantity so far. I hope to spend the summer gaining some more shadowing and hospital volunteer experience. Opinions greatly appreciated!

Cheers

 

[Mobius1985]

Considering you have another 1.5 years to go before application, I think your extracurriculars are coming along nicely. Be sure to have something to list under leadership, since you've taken a course to jumpstart the process. An MCAT of 30 and a GPA ~3.5 will make you an attractive candidate for DO medical schools. If you get your GPA up higher during this time and are a US citizen, you might have a shot at US MD medical schools too, especially if you have a forgiving state school.

 

[actin]

Considering you have another 1.5 years to go before application, I think your extracurriculars are coming along nicely. Be sure to have something to list under leadership, since you've taken a course to jumpstart the process. An MCAT of 30 and a GPA ~3.5 will make you an attractive candidate for DO medical schools. If you get your GPA up higher during this time and are a US citizen, you might have a shot at US MD medical schools too, especially if you have a forgiving state school.

Well, I'm an Illinois resident so hopefully that will help with the numerous schools around Chicago since I live close by.

Thanks for you thoughts Mobius

 

[calimed214]

One thing I noticed was a lack of research experience, although that may not matter with DO schools as much.

 

[Mobius1985]

Well, I'm an Illinois resident so hopefully that will help with the numerous schools around Chicago since I live close by.

You made me think you might be Canadian when you signed off with "Cheers."

I am a fellow Illinoisan. CCOM in Downers Grove is one of the more selective of the DO schools, BTW, and your projected stats should give you a very good shot there. And I would consider UIC a somewhat forgiving state school. You'd likely need a somewhat higher GPA or MCAT to get in there, though really great ECs could get you in anyway (as it did for a friend of mine). SIU is a very forgiving state school, but your folks would need to live south of I-80 for you to have much of a chance there.