Need advice for the upcoming year

[kelminak]

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Hi everyone!

So I'll finally be applying this June and here's where I'll be at:

~3.0 GPA, higher sGPA (can't remember exactly)
28 MCAT (7/12/9)
200 hours clinical volunteering.
Shadowing (Will make sure this is completed before applying)

Quite frankly, I don't think I'm going to make the cut. I know that the MCAT only lasts three years and I've already wasted one, so if I don't get accepted, I figure I will need to be doing something during the next year so that my final chance at applying doesn't go to waste. Here are some of the options I have:

1) I can just continue to retake the same boring classes I've seen before that aren't science related in order to bring my GPA higher.
2) I can apply to a local school's 1-year MPH program.
3) ??

I'm not exactly sure what to do at this point. I am hopefully going to be accepted for the full-time supervisor position above me, so I was hoping that this upcoming Spring semester would be the last one and they could just build a schedule around that. However, if I need to continue taking classes, I'll work with them to figure out something (education > work).

I'm all ears for ideas of what I should do. Thanks for your time!

 

[Goro]

You'll be much better off taking upper level Bio or Chem courses to prove to us that you can handle medical school. Better yet, do a SMP or DIY post-bac. And do well in them! B's won't cut it.

As of right now, your best chances are with the newest DO schools. I can't recommend LUCOM.

I'm not a fan of MPH unless you want it as a fall back. Taking coursework in, say "Women's Health in the Third World" or "Health Care Disparities" don't really have much oomph, rigor-wise.

1) I can just continue to retake the same boring classes I've seen before that aren't science related in order to bring my GPA higher.
2) I can apply to a local school's 1-year MPH program.
3) ??

I'm not exactly sure what to do at this point. I am hopefully going to be accepted for the full-time supervisor position above me, so I was hoping that this upcoming Spring semester would be the last one and they could just build a schedule around that. However, if I need to continue taking classes, I'll work with them to figure out something (education > work).

 

[sandstorm223]

IMHO you could totally get into BCOM with those stats. And BCOM has all the potential to be a super legit school. My $0.02.

 

[OverlyRomantic]

Is your sGPA over 3.25? Some schools screen out <3.25 sGPA

 

[adrian710]

Is your sGPA over 3.25? Some schools screen out <3.25 sGPA

What schools are you talking about?

 

[OverlyRomantic]

What schools are you talking about?

KC for example screens out less then 3.25

 

[darkeon]

KC for example screens out less then 3.25

It is the only school if I'm correct that screens at that highest. The next highest, I think are VCOM campuses, with a 3.2 min followed by Campbell at 3.1. Posters in the Kansas thread have mentioned getting secondaries despiite missing the 3.25 + in one gpa (min two out of three criteria) but I don't know how valid such statments are.

 

[adrian710]

It is the only school if I'm correct that screens at that highest. The next highest, I think are VCOM campuses, with a 3.2 min followed by Campbell at 3.1. Posters in the Kansas thread have mentioned getting secondaries despiite missing the 3.25 + in one gpa (min two out of three criteria) but I don't know how valid such statments are.

sGPA or cGPA?

 

[OrdinaryDO]

IMHO you could totally get into BCOM with those stats. And BCOM has all the potential to be a super legit school. My $0.02.

BCOM has an average of 25 MCAT and 3.5 GPA. He has the same odds at any other low-mid tier D.O. school. Grades will get you looked at, E.C.s will get you in *in accordance to your interview.*

 

[OverlyRomantic]

sGPA or cGPA?

sGPA

 

[darkeon]

sGPA or cGPA?

Both actually. It's just that applicants are more likely to have a higher cgpa than sgpa so for it's more probable to see applicants missing the minimum number for sgpa.

 

[sandstorm223]

BCOM has an average of 25 MCAT and 3.5 GPA. He has the same odds at any other low-mid tier D.O. school. Grades will get you looked at, E.C.s will get you in *in accordance to your interview.*

BCOM isn't low-mid tier. It's low-tier. Lots of potential, but low-tier all the same.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

Hi everyone!

So I'll finally be applying this June and here's where I'll be at:

~3.0 GPA, higher sGPA (can't remember exactly)
28 MCAT (7/12/9)
200 hours clinical volunteering.
Shadowing (Will make sure this is completed before applying)

Quite frankly, I don't think I'm going to make the cut. I know that the MCAT only lasts three years and I've already wasted one, so if I don't get accepted, I figure I will need to be doing something during the next year so that my final chance at applying doesn't go to waste. Here are some of the options I have:

1) I can just continue to retake the same boring classes I've seen before that aren't science related in order to bring my GPA higher.
2) I can apply to a local school's 1-year MPH program.
3) ??

I'm not exactly sure what to do at this point. I am hopefully going to be accepted for the full-time supervisor position above me, so I was hoping that this upcoming Spring semester would be the last one and they could just build a schedule around that. However, if I need to continue taking classes, I'll work with them to figure out something (education > work).

I'm all ears for ideas of what I should do. Thanks for your time!

I hear DIY post bacs are all the rage right now. Do you have a MD or DO letter yet?

 

[OrdinaryDO]

BCOM isn't low-mid tier. It's low-tier. Lots of potential, but low-tier all the same.

You can't put BCOM in a tier. It's impossible without any data, but at least we know your opinion of this school. I would respectively disagree.

 

[kelminak]

I'm pretty sure I'm over 3.25 sGPA (I very likely should be after this year with a lot of retakes in the science courses I didn't do well in). I don't think I made this clear in my original post, but I've already graduated and I'm already doing retakes to get my GPA up there. I came from a 1.8 GPA at my lowest to where I'm at now, so it's been quite a ride. It seems silly that my sGPA is higher than my cGPA, but that just happens to be where I'm at.

I mentioned I hadn't shadowed yet and I have no physician connections, so I'm looking to either get that done during winter or spring break. If I don't get a letter, I wouldn't even apply. I'm hopefully not going to have that be the reason I don't though.

From what it sounds like, the "low-tier" schools are going to be my best bet. I'm an Idaho resident, so PNWU is definitely on my list. I'm not sure if I should create a new thread for a school list and if so, let me know. Otherwise, what are the other "low-tier" schools that I should be seeking to apply to?

I would never apply to LUCOM @Goro, I've read your opinion of them. 🙂

Oh and another question! Should I continue to take classes while I'm applying? With my GPA being the weakest part of my application, would it be worth it to take classes in the Fall and update my transcript after that semester? Or would be updating it in December not be worth it?

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[OverlyRomantic]

@kelminak , try going to your state's osteopathic association website. Use the contact us tab to try to get a hook up with a physician. I guarantee that at least one doctor will happily let you shadow him/her. Good job on coming this far, just keep pushing! As far as if you should take classes while applying, I don't know. Hopefully someone with a little bit more expertise in the area can help you out there!

 

[kelminak]

@kelminak , try going to your state's osteopathic association website. Use the contact us tab to try to get a hook up with a physician. I guarantee that at least one doctor will happily let you shadow him/her.

Done, thanks for the advice!