Need some help. should I do it?

[hv92]

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Hey gals and guys,

So just got done with my MCAT. Got an 8,9, and 10 --> 27.
Stats are officially 3.41 and 3.32 with some retakes from CC.
Now have some free time and honestly I feel like I'm going crazy cause I don't have much going on besides part time work and clinical volunteering.

Was honestly thinking about getting in my LORs and applying by the end of November.

Two scenarios.

1) I am going to begin shadowing 3 more docs including 2 DOs and one MD. That will be a total of 6 docs I have shadowed. I then will take two more courses when spring semester begins at my CC because they are stupid cheap. Until then, just continue working part time and volunteering and shadowing and working on losing some weight (is an integral part of my PS). Other than that jus relaxing I guess. If I ace these two classes my GPA will go up to 3.46 and 3.37. I really want to attend Touro Nevada btw.

Or

2) I can apply. Can get a letter from a DO and just edit my PS and send in apps by Late November.

What do you guys think?? Should I just wait till next June and have my GPA increased and then get more hours in my ECs.

Am in a hurry right now but I'll go into detail a little more if I get some solid advice.

 

[PKA<0]

You're going to get mixed answers, but the majority consensus will be wait till next year. I think that your number are average, and would yield multiple IIs if it was earlier. You will probably get some this year as well, but would have a better turn out if you hold off. That being said, plenty of people with your numbers get in late. It's going to come down to your willingness to take a chance on this cycle, and pay a lot of money. If it doesn't work out you will have to do it again. I cannot wait to see what the opinions are.

 

[hv92]

Hi PKA, Thanks for your reply. Honestly, I feel I will have to rush my application in and then end up going to a school that wasn't my first choice IF I even end up getting an interview and an acceptance anywhere. I just want to know how others in my situation handled it and if I should just hold out on my app til June.

 

[baxt1412]

you will give yourself the best chance if you wait.

you will likely get a couple of II if you apply broadly enough and appropriately, however you may not get one of your top choices.

if you applied first day next cycle i think you would get plenty of II


b/c if you are submitting primary end of november, you will get verified in late december or early january. then secondaries can take 1-2 weeks to arrive. then some schools take another week or 2 to review (or longer). so you're looking at finally having your application in their hands ready to send interview invites around february or march... not a great deal at all.

even if you mean submit secondaries by the end of november, you're still looking at receiving II around the end of january or february. still not much of an improvement.

 

[hv92]

you will give yourself the best chance if you wait.

you will likely get a couple of II if you apply broadly enough and appropriately, however you may not get one of your top choices.

if you applied first day next cycle i think you would get plenty of II


b/c if you are submitting primary end of november, you will get verified in late december or early january. then secondaries can take 1-2 weeks to arrive. then some schools take another week or 2 to review (or longer). so you're looking at finally having your application in their hands ready to send interview invites around february or march... not a great deal at all.

even if you mean submit secondaries by the end of november, you're still looking at receiving II around the end of january or february. still not much of an improvement.

Thanks for the reply baxt. Yeah that's what i am thinking and I'm afraid I will have to reapply or end up going somewhere where I really didn't want to in terms of location because I have a unique family situation to consider as well. What do you recommend I do in the meanwhile? Just continue more shadowing, volunteering and working until classes begin again in Spring semester?

 

[PKA<0]

Thanks for the reply baxt. Yeah that's what i am thinking and I'm afraid I will have to reapply or end up going somewhere where I really didn't want to in terms of location because I have a unique family situation to consider as well. What do you recommend I do in the meanwhile? Just continue more shadowing, volunteering and working until classes begin again in Spring semester?

Become a scribe or EMT so you can get clinical hours while getting paid!

 

[hv92]

Become a scribe or EMT so you can get clinical hours while getting paid!

I already missed the deadline for applications. It was about a month ago 🙁
I'm going to continue working part-time, volunteering, and shadowing. Just get more hours in those areas I think. I also am kinda excited for Spring semester to start. I get to take Astronomy, Mico, and Anatomy 🙂 Yay 🙂

 

[AsclepiusDO]

I would wait. Those are pretty decent stats if you apply at the beginning of a cycle, but late in the cycle things become more competitive!

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Hey gals and guys,

So just got done with my MCAT. Got an 8,9, and 10 --> 27.
Stats are officially 3.41 and 3.32 with some retakes from CC.
Now have some free time and honestly I feel like I'm going crazy cause I don't have much going on besides part time work and clinical volunteering.

Was honestly thinking about getting in my LORs and applying by the end of November.

Two scenarios.

1) I am going to begin shadowing 3 more docs including 2 DOs and one MD. That will be a total of 6 docs I have shadowed. I then will take two more courses when spring semester begins at my CC because they are stupid cheap. Until then, just continue working part time and volunteering and shadowing and working on losing some weight (is an integral part of my PS). Other than that jus relaxing I guess. If I ace these two classes my GPA will go up to 3.46 and 3.37. I really want to attend Touro Nevada btw.

Or

2) I can apply. Can get a letter from a DO and just edit my PS and send in apps by Late November.

What do you guys think?? Should I just wait till next June and have my GPA increased and then get more hours in my ECs.

Am in a hurry right now but I'll go into detail a little more if I get some solid advice.

DO cycle is longer. Try to get your app in early November i think with you're stats you're good to go. Can't guarantee a specific medical school but should be good for touro nv. Just make a good list don't think you have to skip a cycle. Even late November you should be OK IMO.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

I would wait. Those are pretty decent stats if you apply at the beginning of a cycle, but late in the cycle things become more competitive!

OP should still be OK. DO cycle is longer.

@Goro what do you think

 

[el_duderino]

Wait til next year.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Wait til next year.

That's a year of lost salary and a waste of time. It isn't necessary either. I disagree but I will let goro decide.

 

[Goro]

Goro says to quit fussing and start applying! You're fine for all DO schools except AZCOM.

OP should still be OK. DO cycle is longer.

@Goro what do you think

 

[s5260205]

Goro says to quit fussing and start applying! You're fine for all DO schools except AZCOM.

Just out of curiosity, why not AZCOM?

 

[AsclepiusDO]

All I know is that some schools plan on being full by December. If you're submitting a primary now, then verification won't be ready until November and OP would have to wait to hear back about secondaries. If you know a school you want to go to specifically, then I would check to see what they are doing.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

All I know is that some schools plan on being full by December. If you're submitting a primary now, then verification won't be ready until November and OP would have to wait to hear back about secondaries. If you know a school you want to go to specifically, then I would check to see what they are doing.

Goro said to apply so OP should do that

 

[Goro]

They have their noses in the air and aren't accepting (yet) MCATs <29.

The DO cycle is longer, and I can't foresee any schools having their interview cycle full by Dec or Jan. Even the MD schools don't work that way.

Just out of curiosity, why not AZCOM?

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

They have their noses in the air and aren't accepting (yet) MCATs <29.

The DO cycle is longer, and I can't foresee any schools having their interview cycle full by Dec or Jan. Even the MD schools don't work that way.

Thanks goro. The advice on this thread has been suspect. Thanks for helping poor OP.

@hv92 Goro is an adcom at a medical school. Listen to him and apply dang it. Don't listen to the others.

 

[hv92]

.

 

[j4pac]

Stop what you are doing...take your top 10 DO programs and shoot...now

Edit: I should have read the entire thread. 🙂

You just lost about $150,000 bro

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Stop what you are doing...take your top 10 DO programs and shoot...now

Edit: I should have read the entire thread. 🙂

You just lost about $150,000 bro

I tried j4. I tried.

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

I voluntarily took a gap year when I could have applied last year and could not be happier I did. I'm now accepted to a great school and ready to begin my career in August 2015, but I also had the luxury of hanging out with old friends, strengthening relationships, proposing to my girlfriend, traveling, learning new hobbies (skiing, fishing), reading more, and doing a lot of things in my year off that made me really happy I made the decision. Losing $150k doesn't mean as much to some as it means to others, and while he definitely would still have a chance, even if he applied now, he might not get into one of his top schools and will have to be a reapplicant next cycle, which I really do think has somewhat of a negative stigma associated with it (not really that negative, but it's something worth noting). I don't think there is a right answer OP, everyone has different opinions and values everything in life differently from one another. I don't think you can make a bad choice at all, one way or the other, just don't have regrets. You seem to have a fine plan and will be a great applicant next cycle.

 

[hv92]

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[keels99]

Hey gals and guys,

So just got done with my MCAT. Got an 8,9, and 10 --> 27.
Stats are officially 3.41 and 3.32 with some retakes from CC.
Now have some free time and honestly I feel like I'm going crazy cause I don't have much going on besides part time work and clinical volunteering.

Was honestly thinking about getting in my LORs and applying by the end of November.

Two scenarios.

1) I am going to begin shadowing 3 more docs including 2 DOs and one MD. That will be a total of 6 docs I have shadowed. I then will take two more courses when spring semester begins at my CC because they are stupid cheap. Until then, just continue working part time and volunteering and shadowing and working on losing some weight (is an integral part of my PS). Other than that jus relaxing I guess. If I ace these two classes my GPA will go up to 3.46 and 3.37. I really want to attend Touro Nevada btw.

Or

2) I can apply. Can get a letter from a DO and just edit my PS and send in apps by Late November.

What do you guys think?? Should I just wait till next June and have my GPA increased and then get more hours in my ECs.

Am in a hurry right now but I'll go into detail a little more if I get some solid advice.

I was hindered by LOR and applied in February last cycle (and got accepted.) If anything, it's still a good experience to apply this year to get an idea of what you're doing. I applied to only 4 schools to save money in case of rejection. The choice is yours in the end, but I'm letting you know it IS possible.

 

[hv92]

Congrats Keels! That's good man! What were your stats if you don't mind me asking? Did you have DO letters?

 

[keels99]

Congrats Keels! That's good man! What were your stats if you don't mind me asking? Did you have DO letters?

I sent you a PM.

 

[hv92]

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[hv92]

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[hv92]

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[hv92]

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