DO MCAT 24 and 3.47 GPA and 3.2 SGPA

[mpstyles54]

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Hi guys,

Wanted your opinion on my chances. Please see below for my numbers.

MCAT 9 BS / 9 PS/ 6 VR

GPA: 3.47 Overall GPA
3.2 Science GPA

Extras:

I am a non-traditional student coming from the business world. I have shadowed a Primary Care D.O. and a M.D. In addition, I am volunteering as an EMT in my town. I haven't done either for long maybe around 4-5 months.

My plan is to apply this time around to D.O. school and Caribbeans for the Jan semester.

I will also apply to a couple of SMPs.

Wanted to know your thoughts.

 

[SkipJunior]

You do have a shot with the low tier new DO schools. Have you submitted your AACOMAS yet? If not, submit it ASAP and start working on the secondaries. Since your stats are not great, I suggest you submit at least 10 DO secondaries to have a shot at receiving several interview invites.

SkipJunior's suggested school list:

1. ACOM
2. VCOM
3. Marian
4. Liberty
5. LECOM (all campuses)
6. DMU
7. West Virginia COM
8. Rocky Vista
9. William Carey

Also, if you're a resident of Michigan, NJ, Texas, Ohio etc. then I highly recommend you apply to your state osteopathic school.

 

[mpstyles54]

I do plan on retaking the MCAT, by focusing on reading comprehension improvement. In addition, do you think I can get into higher DO schools if I get a SMP then apply? Or do you feel like it isn't worth it. Yes I am an NJ resident. Please let me know your thoughts. I can provide more information if you need.

 

[SkipJunior]

I do plan on retaking the MCAT, by focusing on reading comprehension improvement. In addition, do you think I can get into higher DO schools if I get a SMP then apply? Or do you feel like it isn't worth it. Yes I am an NJ resident. Please let me know your thoughts. I can provide more information if you need.

Definitely add Rowan to the list since you're a NJ resident. A higher MCAT score would help you more than a SMP with receiving acceptances to some of the more established DO schools like the Touros or Chicago-Midwestern or MSUCOM.

Now if you want to apply for MD schools next cycle and join med school in Fall 2016, I would recommend a post-bacc or SMP and retaking a MCAT for a 29+ score.
However if you want to join medical school in Fall 2015, just apply to a lot of low tier new DO schools and you should receive several interview invites.

If you can retake the MCAT by October/November and score higher, then sure, go ahead and do that and then update the DO schools you applied to. However, only retake if you're sure you will do significantly better. Otherwise, I think you don't even have to retake.

 

[mpstyles54]

Thanks for the advice! Yea I am pretty sure I can do better especially on the verbal, I kind of choked. So, now its more for myself. I was also hoping to ask you about residency placements from low tier programs. Is it the same? Will I have a harder time coming from a low-tier program or is it just like any other DO school. My goal is to do military medicine and hopefully apply to their scholarship program, doubt I can get in with my stats but worth a shot. Let me know your thoughts about this. Thanks again for your advice really eye opening.

 

[SkipJunior]

Thanks for the advice! Yea I am pretty sure I can do better especially on the verbal, I kind of choked. So, now its more for myself. I was also hoping to ask you about residency placements from low tier programs. Is it the same? Will I have a harder time coming from a low-tier program or is it just like any other DO school. My goal is to do military medicine and hopefully apply to their scholarship program, doubt I can get in with my stats but worth a shot. Let me know your thoughts about this. Thanks again for your advice really eye opening.

Residency placements is similar for all DO schools except you may find it harder to match into a super-competitive specialty like radiology, derm, plastics, ortho etc. However you can also apply for the osteopathic derm, plastic etc residencies so you should be fine.

 

[candbgirl]

Do not consider the Caribbean! You are worried about residency placement from DO school yet you are thinking about going to the Caribbean! Take some time and read about residency and the Caribbean. Go for DO and do what you have to to be successful !

 

[mpstyles54]

The only reason I am considering the Caribbean is for a back up. Don't want to have a year where I am just in limbo.

 

[SkipJunior]

The only reason I am considering the Caribbean is for a back up. Don't want to have a year where I am just in limbo.

I'm sure you would much rather have a year in limbo than spend 4 years in the Caribbean, rack up a huge loan, and return to the States to work as a barista at Starbucks.

 

[mpstyles54]

It is also more for my parents that think I will be in limbo. They know of a few people who already went the Caribbean route and found residencies. I keep telling them that D.O.'s do everything that a M.D. can do, but its their mentality.

 

[candbgirl]

I'm not understanding your last post at all. So if you are accepted to a DO program you won't go? I'm not seeing how your parent's beliefs and mentality are even in the conversation. Anyway like I said before read up on Caribbean schools and matching. I think we all know of successful Caribbean grads but it is getting harder each year and it will continue yo get harder.