Need advice on my application

[Mr.MG]

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So, I am thinking about applying the next cycle for admission into DO school. I have some questions if any of you would share your opinion.
My cGPA is ~3.3 and sGPA is a ~3.0. I have ~15 hrs of shadowing and ~50 hrs of hospital volunteering. I am taking my MCAT in a few months. My ethnicity is Asian and I am a GA resident, I don't know if that is relevant for admissions of not.

If I score high on my MCAT (28-30) would I be competitive for admission?

What do you think I can do to make my application better?

 

[adriano710]

Anyone with a 28+ on the MCAT is good to go for DO schools (unless your GPA is under 3.0). Yours is pretty borderline. You're on the low end of spectrum in terms of GPA. Is that shadowing and volunteering all that composes your EC's? If that answer is yes, well that's pretty poor really . You really should have at the very least 100 hours of shadowing and majority do a lot more. Your shadowing is relatively low as well, you should have 50+ hours doing that. Are there any clubs/organizations you've been involved in? Do you have LOR's ready?

Medical schools and specifically DO schools want students that thrive and get involved with more than they handle almost (haha). You seem to lack that factor. With that being said, if you score a 28-30 on the MCAT, you will get in somewhere.

 

[Mr.MG]

Anyone with a 28+ on the MCAT is good to go for DO schools (unless your GPA is under 3.0). Yours is pretty borderline. You're on the low end of spectrum in terms of GPA. Is that shadowing and volunteering all that composes your EC's? If that answer is yes, well that's pretty poor really . You really should have at the very least 100 hours of shadowing and majority do a lot more. Your shadowing is relatively low as well, you should have 50+ hours doing that. Are there any clubs/organizations you've been involved in? Do you have LOR's ready?

Medical schools and specifically DO schools want students that thrive and get involved with more than they handle almost (haha). You seem to lack that factor. With that being said, if you score a 28-30 on the MCAT, you will get in somewhere.

I was a member of a cultural club and an environmental club at my University, No concrete time estimate.
I worked a job as a desk clerk, ~24 hrs a week since freshman year
I provided computer maintenance for a local business, weekly time commitment varied.
I have been working on designing a game for the past 2/2.5 yrs.

Do these help my application?

 

[pericardium]

Shoot high for your MCAT, at least 29.

 

[adriano710]

I was a member of a cultural club and an environmental club at my University, No concrete time estimate.
I worked a job as a desk clerk, ~24 hrs a week since freshman year
I provided computer maintenance for a local business, weekly time commitment varied.
I have been working on designing a game for the past 2/2.5 yrs.

Do these help my application?

Yes. Shows you were active and helps show you are well rounded. However I still must say that your hours of volunteering and shadowing are poor for someone who wants to make medicine his life. Get more hours!

 

[Mr.MG]

Does anyone else have any opinions?

 

[Fargofargo]

you definitely want to get you GPA to well above 3.0/3.2 region. Most of the schools will screen you out pre-secondary. you might also need more EC's, especially for DO schools, shadowing a DO wold help a lot. If you rely on your current GPA to get into DO schools, you probably need a 35+ MCAT.

 

[Goro]

Not at my school. sGPA is below our minimum, and your number of EC hours is too low. Most people have >100. You need to demonstrate that you know what you're getting into, and that you really want to be around sick people for the next 30-40 years.

I am very unimpressed by your non-clinical ECs. It seems like you live a very sheltered life. You need to demonstrate some service to others. Club membership doesn't cut it for me. Designing a video game is not something to tout here.

Retake any F/D/C science coursework.

So, I am thinking about applying the next cycle for admission into DO school. I have some questions if any of you would share your opinion.
My cGPA is ~3.3 and sGPA is a ~3.0. I have ~15 hrs of shadowing and ~50 hrs of hospital volunteering. I am taking my MCAT in a few months. My ethnicity is Asian and I am a GA resident, I don't know if that is relevant for admissions of not.

If I score high on my MCAT (28-30) would I be competitive for admission?

What do you think I can do to make my application better?

 

[adriano710]

Not at my school. sGPA is below our minimum, and your number of EC hours is too low. Most people have >100. You need to demonstrate that you know what you're getting into, and that you really want to be around sick people for the next 30-40 years.

I am very unimpressed by your non-clinical ECs. It seems like you live a very sheltered life. You need to demonstrate some service to others. Club membership doesn't cut it for me. Designing a video game is not something to tout here.

Retake any F/D/C science coursework.

Goro, I'm in a similar position regarding GPA (no MCAT yet either). I was hoping if I my sGPA is a 3.2 and my cGPA is a 3.4 along with a solid MCAT and pretty good EC's, that I would be competitive. Thoughts?

 

[adriano710]

you definitely want to get you GPA to well above 3.0/3.2 region. Most of the schools will screen you out pre-secondary. you might also need more EC's, especially for DO schools, shadowing a DO wold help a lot. If you rely on your current GPA to get into DO schools, you probably need a 35+ MCAT.

What do you suppose is a "competitive" sGPA and cGPA for DO schools?

 

[Goro]

GPAs > 3.2 will be competitive for DO schools, including mine. CCOM seems to be a bit haughty about this, though.

Goro, I'm in a similar position regarding GPA (no MCAT yet either). I was hoping if I my sGPA is a 3.2 and my cGPA is a 3.4 along with a solid MCAT and pretty good EC's, that I would be competitive. Thoughts?

 

[Mr.MG]

Not at my school. sGPA is below our minimum, and your number of EC hours is too low. Most people have >100. You need to demonstrate that you know what you're getting into, and that you really want to be around sick people for the next 30-40 years.

I am very unimpressed by your non-clinical ECs. It seems like you live a very sheltered life. You need to demonstrate some service to others. Club membership doesn't cut it for me. Designing a video game is not something to tout here.

Retake any F/D/C science coursework.

So you look down upon that as a hobby? Is it better to not mention it?

 

[Goro]

Oh, as a hobby, that's fine. I thought you were listing it as non-clinical volunteering.

So you look down upon that as a hobby? Is it better to not mention it?

 

[re33t]

Oh, as a hobby, that's fine. I thought you were listing it as non-clinical volunteering.

Are there separate sections for hobbies, work, and volunteering?

 

[Goro]

yes.

Are there separate sections for hobbies, work, and volunteering?