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[Charger107]

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Hey guys I am a sophomore at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. I wish to one day become a podiatrist and I wish to learn everything the field has to offer and how must I improve if i want to pursue and accomplish my dream. I am currently in a pretty bad situation. I have a 2.36 GPA and i was a student in the engineering school. Now i have switched my major to exercise science for the upcoming years. The engineering school really hurt my GPA.To make me feel confident that i'm "still in the game" I have a couple of questions that i want to know about as much as possible.

1) How are the chances of me getting into a podiatry school looking?
2) I have heard that the major exercise science is comparatively easier than other majors like biology. Will podiatry schools look down upon what i'm majoring in as long as I take the required courses?
3) I am currently shadowing a podiatrist and wondering if the schools actually look at the quantity of my time shadowing.
4) How are the acceptance rates and/or stats looking? ( i.e. x amount of students apply only y make it)
5) After getting into the school how are my chance of becoming a podiatrist looking.
6) Do i need to get involved with extra curricular activities in my university, do schools look at that?


Thank you for all your help.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

Hey guys I am a sophomore at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. I wish to one day become a podiatrist and I wish to learn everything the field has to offer and how must I improve if i want to pursue and accomplish my dream. I am currently in a pretty bad situation. I have a 2.36 GPA and i was a student in the engineering school. Now i have switched my major to exercise science for the upcoming years. The engineering school really hurt my GPA.To make me feel confident that i'm "still in the game" I have a couple of questions that i want to know about as much as possible.

1) How are the chances of me getting into a podiatry school looking?
2) I have heard that the major exercise science is comparatively easier than other majors like biology. Will podiatry schools look down upon what i'm majoring in as long as I take the required courses?
3) I am currently shadowing a podiatrist and wondering if the schools actually look at the quantity of my time shadowing.
4) How are the acceptance rates and/or stats looking? ( i.e. x amount of students apply only y make it)
5) After getting into the school how are my chance of becoming a podiatrist looking.
6) Do i need to get involved with extra curricular activities in my university, do schools look at that?
7) Am I asking questions that i could easily find elsewhere on these boards and will people get annoyed at me?

Thank you for all your help.

1) You had a bad freshman year. Assuming this wasn't the GPA of all/most your pre-reqs, just turn it around for the next two years and you'll be fine.

2) This is smart. They won't look down on your "easy" major and you'll have a WAY better quality of life. I regret being a chem major everyday. (especially right now in p-chem... i remember no calculus...)

3) No. Once you hit 5 hours/enough to get an LoR they stop caring. They'd probably prefer you to use your time to study/volunteer. Not just watch the same stuff over and over again.

4) Something like 70% of applicants matriculate somewhere.

5) These boards have adopted the mentality that this completely depends on you and your work ethic. So you are able/willing to put in the effort, 100%.

6) Schools look at that, yes. Not as much as you might think. Do ECs because you like them, not because you think it will help.

7) Yes. I am being really nice and throwing you a bone. Other people will get annoyed that you refuse to do any leg-work yourself.

 

[ilovefeet]

Here's my advice after being on this forum for a few months. Podiatry is one of those hidden gems that some people don't recognize. You get to specialize and perform surgery, and be a part of the health care profession in 7years.

Your stats are low but then you have PLENTY of time to improve your GPA, since you are only a sophomore. Show that upward trend in your GPA from now until the time that you apply and earn a solid MCAT score (23-25) and you are set. Good luck!

 

[TemplePodiatry]

1) How are the chances of me getting into a podiatry school looking?

Your gpa at this point in time is obviously low but you just finished your freshman year. I think if you bring over gpa to a 3.0 over the course of the next two years you should be ok. Be prepared to have to explain why your grades were what they where your first year. Trust me, interviews at podiatry schools are really laid back and understanding. I think the key is showing that you are really dedicated to the profession is key.

2) I have heard that the major exercise science is comparatively easier than other majors like biology. Will podiatry schools look down upon what i'm majoring in as long as I take the required courses?

Honestly podiatry schools rarely look and judge what your major is. All is expected of you is having the prerequisites in order to enter the class and take the mcat. That being said- a 3.0 biochem major at rutgers is probably harder than a 3.0 history major, but that is all relative. I would major in whatever you are interested in but do well in that field. There are students in my class who were psychology, Spanish, history, etc majors and they are doing fine here.

3) I am currently shadowing a podiatrist and wondering if the schools actually look at the quantity of my time shadowing.

Absolutely! If you have been shadowing a podiatrist for 2 years and e dates that you are dedicated to the field- that means a lot for a interview. Believe it or not- the people who interview you read the recommendation letters- and they would definitely read any ones from a podiatrist. Two years looks a lot better than 2 days.

4) How are the acceptance rates and/or stats looking? ( i.e. x amount of students apply only y make it)

Rates change every year and the grades to get Ito DPM school have gotten harder every year. Higher mcat scores and higher gpa every year. Every year I have been here, our schools states that the class is has the highest gpa and mcat scores. People are starting to figure out that podiatry is really a hidden gem. That being said, it's getting harder but in two years I still believe that a 3.0-3.2 and a 23-25 mcat score would be enough for a interview, but that's just my opinion obviously. I believe for the class of 2016 this year- 3.4 and 24 mcat average was the mean at our school.

5) After getting into the school how are my chance of becoming a podiatrist looking.

If you have to ask this you are not ready for professional school. It's hard and you have to study..a lot. It's always hard first year because you are not prepared for the amount of information thrown at you and how to study properly. Your chances all depend on you.

6) Do i need to get involved with extra curricular activities in my university, do schools look at that?

I would say yes and no. Just dont say you never did anything at school and just studied. Have some hobbies and show that you had a life outside of school. It doesn't have to be a extracurricular in specific.

That being said- any medical profession really depends on yourself. You can work as hard as you want and be as successful as you want. Good luck fellow NJian.

 

[Charger107]

Thank you very much for putting time into answering my questions.

5) After getting into the school how are my chance of becoming a podiatrist looking.

If you have to ask this you are not ready for professional school. It's hard and you have to study..a lot. It's always hard first year because you are not prepared for the amount of information thrown at you and how to study properly. Your chances all depend on you.

And I am very determined to study my butt off but I just wanted to know if the drop out rate was very high. Because I am majoring in exercise science like I said and I would start researching for professions as a back up just in case if I were ever to want to drop out of podiatry school after getting in.