OMG let me in u SOBs

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omgletmein

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my stats:
B.S. in Microbiology and Master in Health Administration both from University of Michigan (ann arbor)

AMCAS science UG GPA: 3.14
AMCAS overall UG GPA: 3.34

AMCAS science G GPA: 4.0
AMCAS overall G GPA: 3.7

MCAT taken five times (most recent on top):
(VR) (PS) (WS) (BS)
08 07 N 10
07 08 M 10
05 09 P 10
07 07 N 09
09 08 Q 07

extracirricular activities up the "a"

i applied once after undergrad and then during grad and after grad. And i still didn't get into medical school so i did a year of research and told by professors that it would help me get into Medical School. bunch of bs. nothing is happening. not even an interview.

so, what do i do now???? i'm 24 and after applying to med schools 3 times (more than $5k for apps and 2nd apps, mcats, sunk costs, etc), this is my fourth time and i still haven't even gotten an interview. i talked with every admission dean out there, did the extra crapp and still nothing.

should i apply postbacc? wtf do i do?
 
Perhaps it is time to look into the osteopathic doctrine?
 
did you take an MCAT prep course? It might help you raise your MCAT score... I think your MCAT score is holding you back....

Also, what type of schools are you applying too? Are you applying to any DO/Carribean schools? How are your recs?
 
Wow, you must want this really badly to apply so many times! I really don't think that postbacc will help. The biggest problem is your MCAT score. "They" say that good numbers to shoot for are a 3.5 GPA and a 30 MCAT. With your GPA, you will need to raise your MCAT score to at least a 30 to be competitive.

Kudos to you for taking that darn test 5 times! I wouldn't even take it twice, haha. Good luck!
 
This cycle is not over yet.
When it ends, if you still haven't gotten in, consider DO or Caribbean schools OR do a post-bac program or join the Peace Corps and throw yourself into it and then apply again. Do something awesome and weird and crazy and good for a year or two and then reapply...again!
 
omgletmein said:
my stats:
B.S. in Microbiology and Master in Health Administration both from University of Michigan (ann arbor)

AMCAS science UG GPA: 3.14
AMCAS overall UG GPA: 3.34

AMCAS science G GPA: 4.0
AMCAS overall G GPA: 3.7

MCAT taken five times (most recent on top):
(VR) (PS) (WS) (BS)
08 07 N 10
07 08 M 10
05 09 P 10
07 07 N 09
09 08 Q 07

extracirricular activities up the "a"

i applied once after undergrad and then during grad and after grad. And i still didn't get into medical school so i did a year of research and told by professors that it would help me get into Medical School. bunch of bs. nothing is happening. not even an interview.

so, what do i do now???? i'm 24 and after applying to med schools 3 times (more than $5k for apps and 2nd apps, mcats, sunk costs, etc), this is my fourth time and i still haven't even gotten an interview. i talked with every admission dean out there, did the extra crapp and still nothing.

should i apply postbacc? wtf do i do?
Click to expand...

ur MCAT is holding u back....

1) take the MCAT again...and kick ass...
2) If u want an MD go to the carribean..ROSS will accept u with open arms...
3) if u dont care bout a MD degree...apply to DO schools
 
i just cannot pulling myself to want to apply to DO or caribbean. after all of this, i just feel i have to get the MD. i have thought about the PeaceCorp, but i'm not getting any younger. i would have done it like 3 yrs ago after undergrad. as for postbacc, which one should i even apply? which one would guarantee my admission after that one year? uconn or some chicago school. should i just donate a building to the med school?
 
omgletmein said:
i just cannot pulling myself to want to apply to DO or caribbean. after all of this, i just feel i have to get the MD. i have thought about the PeaceCorp, but i'm not getting any younger. i would have done it like 3 yrs ago after undergrad. as for postbacc, which one should i even apply? which one would guarantee my admission after that one year? uconn or some chicago school. should i just donate a building to the med school?
Click to expand...

hahaha...do u have money to donate to a med skool....why dont u try the army school....and if u go to the carribean..u do get a MD!
 
if i'm going to take the MCAT again, it would be this august 2005. what would i do this year (fall 2005). btw, i never had more than a month to prepare for the mcat. this summer would give me more time.

advice taken so far: take the MCAT again.


but what do i do next year? believe it or not, i cannot sit on my booty and do nothing.
 
You could get a job in a medically related field (hospital, nursing home, etc) or get a research job if that is more your thing.
 
omgletmein said:
but what do i do next year? believe it or not, i cannot sit on my booty and do nothing.
Click to expand...
Maybe WORK ?
 
omgletmein said:
if i'm going to take the MCAT again, it would be this august 2005. what would i do this year (fall 2005). btw, i never had more than a month to prepare for the mcat. this summer would give me more time.

advice taken so far: take the MCAT again.


but what do i do next year? believe it or not, i cannot sit on my booty and do nothing.
Click to expand...


The advice taken should not be ONLY take the MCAT again...you commented that the longest you've had to prepare is one month...people study for years to take that exam. Prepare, and only when you are ready--take the MCAT. I've never heard of anyone taking the MCAT more than 3x. Since you've had no significant improvement since the first time you took it, you only have yourself to blame for not taking preparation seriously. :luck:
 
So when you got the 24P on the third try, you still couldn't make time to do some serious MCAT prep?
 
I also graduated from UofM--Ann Arbor. I took the MCAT 3x (each time getting a low verbal and very high sciences). I'm currently in my second app process (applied to 20 MD schools last year, all rejected). This year most MD schools have rejected me again, saying that despite everything else (my GPA, volunteer/clinical exps., etc) my Verbal keeps me from getting in. Basically, I also did the whole talking to admissions couselors like you did, and so on and so forth. BUT, this year I applied to a few (8) DO schools. I did a lot of research on this and found that you can do pretty much the same thing as an MD via the Osteopathic route. For the first time since this god-awful process started over 2 years ago, I am finally getting interviewed (DO). So my advice is to look into these schools. It sounds like you have the drive to be a doctor and--as others are suggesting--you should consider the option. 🙂
 
With your stats, you will need a 30+ on the MCAT for any hope of getting into an MD school in the US, and to be realistic about getting in, a 35+ would be preferable. But you've taken the damn thing 5 times--what's going to change the 6th time? If I were in your shoes, I'd strongly consider either DO or Carribean schools.
 
I agree that if you want to go US allopathic then you need to bump up the MCAT. But I wonder: why only 1 month preparation for it? When I was prepping for it (took MCAT in August) I was taking 16 credit hours spring/summer combined, working 2 nights a week, and then I took a prep course 2 nights a week with practice tests on the weekends. The prep couse ran for 3 months. Time budgeting is very important when it comes to studying for this test. You have to not only read competitively for comprehension and speed, you have to memorize all sorts of facts and theories as well. NOT UNLIKE MEDICAL SCHOOL ITSELF!!! School has to become your full-time job - wait - your "I have 6 hours a day in class and study 3 or 4 hours a night" type of job. You said you have EC's up the wazoo. How many hours are you putting in there??? Your grad grades are good. Use those study skills to buckle down to the MCAT material.
 
You don't need a post-bacc; you need a competitive MCAT score if you want to pursue MD schools. You have applied 4X and have yet to get an interview. Your application is not competitive and even with an increased MCAT most schools would view your MCAT trend with skepticism.

I don't understand why you don't want to look at DO schools. Many DO schools tend to look beyond the numbers, particularly for non-traditional students.
 
I don’t know how Adcoms work. But if I was one, I would advise you not to take the MCAT anymore. So far you have been very consistent at 24-25 and that is negative because now you have to prove it to me that a single improvement is not just a random one. Or you will have to come up with something big such as a cure for SDNitic syndrome, of course. I assume that you have never had anything to make up for the mediocrity in numbers at all.

Someone I know got in SGU last year. But Ivan was so kind that they moved classes to somewhere in Florida. So he might not have to spend too much time abroad after all. I’ve also heard that Saba University Medical School has recently been approved by the State of California. And I don’t see anything wrong with osteopathic physicians. I believe that you shouldn’t have any problem finishing a medical school. It is unfortunate that you don’t know how to get in one.
 
i agree with the above poster. i dont think that taking the test again would be worth it.

id just advise you to be more realistic with your options. as youve said, your costs are sunk. do you want to be a doc? how can you realistically get there?
 
Two points:

1.) Chances of getting into a US allopathic school are going to be low with five MCATs in the 23-25 range and with an undergrad gpa lower than the matriculant average
2.) The grad GPA in Health Administration is not going to prove that you can handle the rigors of the science coursework in med school. Suggestions to do something like Peace Corps will not prove you can handle these rigors. You already said you have extracurriculars up the A and that didn't get you any interviews. Peace Corps is another (great) extracurricular, but I highly doubt it's going to make the difference. Again, your problem is your science record and your MCAT.

These are your key problems. The other advice you got from profs was probably useless. Research is good, but it's useless if your MCAT is in the mid-20s and you haven't made up for your lower than average undergrad science gpa

I think your options should be:

1.) Consider a hard science postbaccalaureate. There really aren't that many enrichment *undergrad* postbacs. You should consider one of the many graduate-level enrichment programs discussed in the postbac forum. You will need to do very well (shoot for 3.7+). Don't expect to get in during your graduate studies because schools won't get your first semester grades until January/February. Apply to med school AFTER doing the postbac. Also make sure you retake the MCAT and score higher than a 30. Actually now that I think about it, Drexel's MSP program would lend itself well to your situation. It's essentially a postbac program with a strong emphasis on increasing your MCAT score. You have the option of doing Drexel's IMS program the following year (while you apply) to earn an Master of Biological Sciences degree. However, there are many cons of the IMS program specifically so you'll want to read up on that program. Alternatively, you can opt to do Rosalind Franklin's (expensive) MS in Applied Physiology program which has a very strong informal linkage to their med school if you do decently well. You have to take 48 credits in one year and most of them are with the RFU med students--and you have to outperform the average. So it's a gamble.

Summary: If you're going for a postbac do Drexel MSP or Rosalind Franklin's MS in Applied Physiology. In your shoes, the latter would be the better option if you can drop $52k for five years. You really have to ask yourself if it's worth it. The former, Drexel, will give you no guarantee, but it gives you the opportunity to show you can do well with a full-time science courseload and it should improve your MCAT considerably.

2.) Consider osteopathic medical schools and foreign medical schools. And if you feel that you "have to get the MD" then do the foreign route. The Caribbean med schools award the MD degree. Caribbean schools, while these are the most discussed foreign medical schools due to US clinicals in the third and fourth years, there are many other viable options such as medical schools in Ireland. But you also have to consider the disadvantages. Getting into highly competitive specialties will be difficult (but not impossible) if you go to a Caribbean medical school. Look at the match lists of the schools to get an idea of where the graduates go. But always take the match lists with a grain of salt. You'll see a few ENT, plastics, and competitive ortho matches that are obtained by exceptional students. These are not your average Caribbean students (these are students that are getting ridiculous USMLE scores and kicking ass in their rotations). Also, if you consider the Caribbean do not apply anywhere other than SGU, Ross, and AUC.

Also, you said you went to Michigan-Ann Arbor. I think you'd be crazy not to apply to MSUCOM (osteopathic state school) if you're a Michigan resident. If you want the MD go to an offshore med school like at SGU, but you'd save tens of thousands of dollars going to MSUCOM.
 
You are very persistent and that's a good thing. However, from my little knowledge of taking the MCAT, the medical school application proccess, etc. I would go the DO or Carribean route simply because you don't have much of another option. BUT! It's your decision and money, not ours. Do what you think is best for you and what you're most passionate about, but be realistic about the choices you make.

Correct me if I'm wrong but that's the route I would go and makes the most sense. (I'm only a freshman undergrad.)

Good luck OP!
 
i just cannot pulling myself to want to apply to DO or caribbean.
Click to expand...

so i guess ur not in this to be a doctor but rather for prestige or some other $hit, huh 😛
 
I think there are three other options that haven't been mentioned.

1) Miliary - there are always a few military guys in every class. You should find one and talk with them - from what I am told, the military is desperate for FP, IM, and surgeons and they might be able to help you get into a program. Normally I would only suggest military to someone who was absoluteoly dedicated to the idea of being a military doc - but you may want to think about it considering your persistance.

2) Community Match/Rural practice - To my mind a pretty good option. Most state schools have some sort of program that requires you to commit to practicing medicine in a rural community for a few years after residency. This would limit you to a few specialties - FP, IM, Peds, Ob/Gyn, maybe Gen surg. Plus you may have to do your residency in that state. However, if you make that commitment they will often give you a hand as far as admission. Plus, they may cover your tuition and offer a stipend!

3) Move to a small rural state, live & work in some sort of health field in a seriously underserved community for a year, and then apply to that state's med school. Some states have arcane admissions criteria which basically amounts to small-town affirmative action. Essentialy, if you're applying from certain communities in rural states you can get it with pretty mediocre scores because the med school may have a quota to meet from certain legislative districts. Personally, I find this a little offensive and annoying, but if you can play that game the ADCOM's will take you even if you're originally from another state. Before you do something like this tho, you need to carefully research which states have this sort of policy.

Personally, I'd first look into the Rural practice opportunities first, and if that failed i'd go for the DO. There are plenty of great DO's out there so don't think that you're selling yourself short.
 
I give you credit for your perseverance. I'm not going to lecture you on anything you already should have done to improve your MCAT score. So to move forward, you can either apply to different schools. As others said either DO or Caribvbean schools. I think you said you didn't want to..well then you don't want to be a doctor badly enough. You fooled me..anyone who wou;d take that test 5 times and spend $5K sounds like they'd do anything to ge tinto med school. The other option is to apply after having some extraordinary EC...something like finding the cure to cancer. Good luck, I really hope you make it; you deserve it for trying so hard.
 
monstermatch said:
I think there are three other options that haven't been mentioned.

1) Miliary - there are always a few military guys in every class. You should find one and talk with them - from what I am told, the military is desperate for FP, IM, and surgeons and they might be able to help you get into a program. Normally I would only suggest military to someone who was absoluteoly dedicated to the idea of being a military doc - but you may want to think about it considering your persistance.

2) Community Match/Rural practice - To my mind a pretty good option. Most state schools have some sort of program that requires you to commit to practicing medicine in a rural community for a few years after residency. This would limit you to a few specialties - FP, IM, Peds, Ob/Gyn, maybe Gen surg. Plus you may have to do your residency in that state. However, if you make that commitment they will often give you a hand as far as admission. Plus, they may cover your tuition and offer a stipend!

3) Move to a small rural state, live & work in some sort of health field in a seriously underserved community for a year, and then apply to that state's med school. Some states have arcane admissions criteria which basically amounts to small-town affirmative action. Essentialy, if you're applying from certain communities in rural states you can get it with pretty mediocre scores because the med school may have a quota to meet from certain legislative districts. Personally, I find this a little offensive and annoying, but if you can play that game the ADCOM's will take you even if you're originally from another state. Before you do something like this tho, you need to carefully research which states have this sort of policy.

Personally, I'd first look into the Rural practice opportunities first, and if that failed i'd go for the DO. There are plenty of great DO's out there so don't think that you're selling yourself short.
Click to expand...
1 and 2 are good points-- these sound like variations on the HPSP and NHSC government programs. However, 1 is quite a commitment and 2 is limited in opportunities. I take issue with the third suggestion...

There are some rural-oriented schools such as Pikeville (osteopathic) that have a mission to provide the underserved in a specific area (e.g., Appalachian region) with medical care. Pikeville was founded on that premise.

Similarly, there are allopathic schools that have a very high percentage of graduates going into primary care specialties. One example would be West Virginia. The vast majority of the graduates of both WVU and Marshall go into family practice, internal medicine, peds, ob-gyn, gen surg, etc. And these grads often do their residencies in West Virginia or Virginia with the intent to go back to West Virginia and help the people of their communities. Even if I gained admission to a school like West Virginia, Marshall or Pikeville, I would not attend. Taking the position of someone who would otherwise provide medical care to the destitute in those underserved areas would not sit well with my conscience since I have no intent of working in those areas for a prolonged period of time. Therefore, I think option 3 would be unfair manipulation of a system unless the OP intends to work in underserved areas and specialize in rural medicine; I think there's something very wrong with working with the underserved in a small rural community merely as a means to obtain admission to a US allopathic medical school.

P.S. I agree, there are many great DOs out there.
 
Taking MCAT one more time is not going to help. After 5 MCATs and numerous rejections/no words, I think the medical field is sending you a clear message. I am not sure what is making you think that you should get an MD still. If you are not going to swallow your pride and go to Ross or DO, you need to ask yourself what you are going to do with your life now that you are 24 and medicine is no longer an option.
 
omgletmein said:
i just cannot pulling myself to want to apply to DO or caribbean. after all of this, i just feel i have to get the MD.
Click to expand...

You have taken the MCAT 5 times, each time getting a score lower than 25. Some people take this thing once and get a 35+. Your GPA sucks. What in God's name would make you think that you are too good for DO schools or Caribbean schools??? Med school reapplication is more than persistance; you have to improve in order to gain an acceptance. If you really want to be a doctor, go to DO school. DO's are the legal equivalent of an MD, just with different initials. I don't have any sympathy for people who do what you are doing.

That being said, I'm applying for the second time this year. I have a 3.85/3.84 sci, 30 MCAT. If I don't get into an MD school, I am gladly going to DO school. It just doesn't make any sense to waste additional years of my life dicking around when I could be in medical school on my way to becoming a physician.
 
You can always go to one of those little known Eastern European medical schools and get an MD. No one would call them Carribean even though they are Carribean equivalents. AND you can spend the rest of your career/life arguing with people over that last statement...
 
I can't help but think that this person is a well disguised troll. S/he doesnt want to consider DO or foreign schools after five tries on the MCAT and three failed application cycles? You've got to be pulling my chain.

If this person is real, then this is my advice: Be realistic. You have only slightly improved on the MCAT after 5 attempts, and your undergrad GPA is pretty low. Open your mind, open your options (i.e. DO, Islands), or forget about medical school. I hate to be harsh, I really do, but another failed attempt won't be any good for any of us.
 
omgletmein said:
i just cannot pulling myself to want to apply to DO or caribbean. after all of this, i just feel i have to get the MD. i have thought about the PeaceCorp, but i'm not getting any younger. i would have done it like 3 yrs ago after undergrad. as for postbacc, which one should i even apply? which one would guarantee my admission after that one year? uconn or some chicago school. should i just donate a building to the med school?
Click to expand...

so you'd rather not be a physician at all than be a DO?

does that sound crazy to anyone else?
 
I suggest nursing.

Some nurse anesthetists make more $ than pediatricians.
 
I think you need to seriously reevaluate your priorities and be more realistic about your expectations. The fact is that you have a poor MCAT score and a poor GPA, neither of which improving is going to make a huge difference. You should seriously consider the DO or foreign route. If you can't swallow your pride enough to do this, well then I have no advice to give. People here have given you good and candid advice, and now you must use it. Perhaps you are simply not cut out to be a physician; not everyone is. I am not saying that this is the case, simply that you need to consider that it may be. Good luck...
 
monstermatch said:
3) Some states have arcane admissions criteria which basically amounts to small-town affirmative action.
Click to expand...

cougheastcarolinacoughcough
 
omgletmein- I can relate to your situation, and if I could give you one piece of advice it would be to take the MCAT a sixth and final time. You need to set aside at least three months to study for this test full-time. Treat it like your job. Trust me on this, as I am speaking from experience. I can tell you that no matter what else you have to offer, you won't go to far with US allopathic schools without a solid MCAT score. In your case, that means a 30 or above. I am a reapplicant with some great EC's and other academic qualifications, but nothing happened for me until a nailed that 30. Voila. I have had three interviews so far (2 MD, 1 DO) and have another MD interview scheduled next week. FWIW, I am an August MCAT'er. If you don't think you can afford to set aside a few months to grind it out, find a way. Work two full-time jobs now if you have to in order to save up some money to support yourself between May and August. You are a shoe-in for St. George's and probably for osteopathic schools as well. But if you really don't want to go that route, then you have to kick your ass into gear and nail that MCAT. Best of luck.
 
All of these shennanighans with moving to a rural state to pray on their allopathic schools is just rediculous and a bit condescending. If, on your fifth application cycle you show interest in a given state and a given school for the first time, your motivations are going to be transparent. Speaking as a WV state resident and an applicant to both WVU and Marshall, the state residency criteria are more involved than just how long you've been in the state. The adcoms are not stupid and if you're just there to fool them into thinking you're interested in rural health, you've got another thing coming.

I have to agree... the OP smells faintly of troll. If not, while I respect your perserverance, just go to the DO/foreign schools. You'll have the career you want and you can perhaps do some good by people. Becoming a doctor to be Xyz, M.D. is just silly and you're certainly not getting anywhere by making a career of applying.

my2c

-dope-
 
First of all, as everyone else has noted, you have demonstrated an amazing commitment to your dreams. That being said, it is also important to note that sometimes dreams are just that . . . dreams. We all want to get into medical school, but none of us are given a guarantee that it will happen. The fact that both the MCAT and the ADCOMs have repeatedly denied you the status you seek requires some thought on your part. Perhaps you should retake the MCAT again and do all that other stuff to improve your application. More likely, you should reflect on the cost/benefit ratio of your actions. Repeatedly applying to medical school and preparing for the MCAT takes a lot of time. Due to your demonstrated desire for medicine, it might be more fruitful for yourself and the health community if you devoted that time to some other area of the health sector. If patient contact is your motivating factor, then maybe training to be a nurse or a PA would suit you. Or, if you really like the science aspect, then you could go into research. Finally, if you desire to make a grand scale difference, then you might want to consider public health. Unlike most areas of medicine, those in public health can change the very policies that shape health care today. Bottom line: Pick a goal and work hard to achieve it. If it doesn't work out for you, then pick something else and work incredibly hard to achieve it. Health care comprises so many more careers than just that of a physician. You can change lives without an M.D. and perhaps find yourself happier in an area of medicine you never considered before. Take care and good luck!
 
I also wanted to comment to the OP about his ridiculous ostracism of DO schools. I worked in a radiation oncology depeartment with 4 MDs and 1 DO. There was no difference in their roles except that the DO was so well respected that he was offered the position as assistant chairman of the department even though he was the newest one in the department. People who worked with him didn't even know he had a DO, rather than an MD after his name. And some who did had NO CLUE the difference nor did they care. He also seems to be the most organized and brightest doctor there, so regardless of why one chooses the DO route it's what you make out of it and how you go about your medical practice that earns you respect and accomplishment. Best of luck to you, please change your attitude because it could make or break it for you!
 
omgletmein said:
my stats:
B.S. in Microbiology and Master in Health Administration both from University of Michigan (ann arbor)

AMCAS science UG GPA: 3.14
AMCAS overall UG GPA: 3.34

AMCAS science G GPA: 4.0
AMCAS overall G GPA: 3.7

MCAT taken five times (most recent on top):
(VR) (PS) (WS) (BS)
08 07 N 10
07 08 M 10
05 09 P 10
07 07 N 09
09 08 Q 07

extracirricular activities up the "a"

i applied once after undergrad and then during grad and after grad. And i still didn't get into medical school so i did a year of research and told by professors that it would help me get into Medical School. bunch of bs. nothing is happening. not even an interview.

so, what do i do now???? i'm 24 and after applying to med schools 3 times (more than $5k for apps and 2nd apps, mcats, sunk costs, etc), this is my fourth time and i still haven't even gotten an interview. i talked with every admission dean out there, did the extra crapp and still nothing.

should i apply postbacc? wtf do i do?
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My stat's are similar to yours. Except your GPA is higher and your MCAT is lower. I have a bachelors in Business and a Masters is Health Administration also. My mcat is 27 V-11, P-8, B-8. I have two years of work experience at an academic medical center in an administrative position. Anyway, I applied to my state school and am interviewing in a couple of weeks. I think your best bet is at your state school. I would re-take the cat and spend the whole summer getting ready for it. Your verbal score has continued to improve so it can probably get better.
Don't give up!
 
Good luck. I think it only gets more difficult here. Taking the MCAT might not help that much. Some people are just not able to break 30 no matter how hard they study.

I'm not having much luck too. My GPA is better than your's and I have a 35 on my MCAT (10, 13, 12) and it's not looking that good. I am a Masters student in Biochemistry (thesis, research, etc.) and good LORs and unique extracurricular activities. I've been told from schools that it's my GPA that's preventing me from getting an interview. Seriously consider going overseas somewhere. I know I am.
 
I think that after this many years, it's crazy that you haven't looked into what DO really means. I live about two blocks away from the office of two plastic surgeons who happen to be DOs. Think about what's really important the stupid initials after your name, or practicing medicine. There is an awesome DO school in my state, so around here it is very common to see DO doctors. I would assume that in any state with a good DO school you would find the same thing. Most everyone I know (not pre-med, friends and family) have no clue what the difference is between DO and MD, they just know that Dr. so-and-so takes good care of them.

Think about this, if you had applied the DO route the first time around, you could be finishing up your medical education right now.

The only difference to you between DO and MD is prestige, and I think it's silly to let your pride keep you from being a doctor, if that's really what you want to do. There is no speciality that will be unavailable to you if you go the DO route. DOs and MDs have the very same job. Please do some research on this!
 
MCAT 5 times!? eek!

Ad coms thinking RED FLAG. Don't take it anymore. Go abroad.
 
Hey Phil-
Do you know anything about the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland?
 
It takes at least 5 years at a medical school in Ireland. Still, it is one of the better alternatives for someone who can’t get in a school here, MD or DO. I’ve heard of a guy who eventually decided to go there. He enjoyed his school and those frequent Europe tours very much. There were a few times that he stayed in London to study for exam. The guy is training in a residency program at a state medical school now. What if he had insisted on a medical school here….

I’ve heard it again and again from a dad who claims that he once was a very bad medical student somewhere abroad. He is always glad that I….I mean... his son is a very good student in a so and so medical school here. He said that it is the student h**self rather than the school that s/he goes to. I know that he is not quite right. Parents always sound a kind of weird, don’t they? It happens too often that a dad doesn't know that his son is going to the best medical school in this world.
 
I don't know whether the OP is a troll or not, but I love his/her title.

I think most of us can relate. Whether it's one school in particular or any school in general...

Everybody...Let's say it together!

OMG LET ME IN YOU SOBs!!! :laugh:
 
unfortunately taking the mcat again is not going to help even if you get a 30 this time. You have taken the test too many times.I wish i could tell you that med schools care about your persistence but with 10K applicants a year most med schools can't give you proper consideration without decent numbers. There is always the story you hear about the one out of a million who may get in( who even knows if that occurs?) Be realistic, D.O schools are great and you may get in and carrib schools grant you the MD degree and you are licensed to practice in the U.S. What more do you want? I know it sucks not getting in here but you gotta look past it. You are wasting time and will probably come to this point on your own somewhere down the line we only hope you realize it now. Best of luck in whatever path you choose
 
jiy76 said:
unfortunately taking the mcat again is not going to help even if you get a 30 this time. You have taken the test too many times.I wish i could tell you that med schools care about your persistence but with 10K applicants a year most med schools can't give you proper consideration without decent numbers. There is always the story you hear about the one out of a million who may get in( who even knows if that occurs?) Be realistic, D.O schools are great and you may get in and carrib schools grant you the MD degree and you are licensed to practice in the U.S. What more do you want? I know it sucks not getting in here but you gotta look past it. You are wasting time and will probably come to this point on your own somewhere down the line we only hope you realize it now. Best of luck in whatever path you choose
Click to expand...


After taking the MCAT 2X they average it out, so taking it over again will not help your situation. You have to accept that the only 2 paths you take are DO schools and carribean schools. Don't be so judgemental on your alternatives, there are many past premeds left in the wayside flipping burgers or something they didnt want to do becuase of organic chemistry. Remember that MD/DO is a degree you didnt have before premed... and you should be damn proud of being a doctor no matter where you studied. Ross and St Georges are excellent options. If you want to study in Europe, Royal College of Surgeon in Dublin Ireland is excellent.
 
DelAGator said:
After taking the MCAT 2X they average it out, so taking it over again will not help your situation.
Click to expand...

Do they really average out the scores? I have never heard that.
 
I'll PM you some links some time soon
2tall said:
I don't know whether the OP is a troll or not, but I love his/her title.

I think most of us can relate. Whether it's one school in particular or any school in general...

Everybody...Let's say it together!

OMG LET ME IN YOU SOBs!!! :laugh:
Click to expand...
When I do apply, I am sure I will use this phrase repeatedly 👍
DelAGator said:
After taking the MCAT 2X they average it out, so taking it over again will not help your situation. ------------------------------------------------
Ross and St Georges are excellent options. If you want to study in Europe, Royal College of Surgeon in Dublin Ireland is excellent.
Click to expand...
Your first comment is true for some schools (I believe Loyola is one, but don't quote me on that), but not all. Some schools only look at your MCATs of the past three years. Anything older is essentially viewed as "expired."

I agree that the foreign medical schools you mentioned are good options (for some). AUC and Saba are up-and-comers as well, but less established Caribbean medical schools. RCSI has a solid rep and as stated above is five years, if I remember correctly. There's other schools out there too that are worthy of consideration such as Trinity. Israeli medical schools such as Sackler and Ben Gurion are worth a look too. Of course, it's not exactly the safest area in the world.
 
Phil Anthropist said:
I'll PM you some links some time soon

When I do apply, I am sure I will use this phrase repeatedly 👍

Your first comment is true for some schools (I believe Loyola is one, but don't quote me on that), but not all. Some schools only look at your MCATs of the past three years. Anything older is essentially viewed as "expired."

I agree that the foreign medical schools you mentioned are good options (for some). AUC and Saba are up-and-comers as well, but less established Caribbean medical schools. RCSI has a solid rep and as stated above is five years, if I remember correctly. There's other schools out there too that are worthy of consideration such as Trinity. Israeli medical schools such as Sackler and Ben Gurion are worth a look too. Of course, it's not exactly the safest area in the world.
Click to expand...

People are stating that you have a decnt shat at getting into a DO school or even a european school with your track record are fooling you. RCSI looks VERY heavily at the MCAT. They will tell you other things are more important but really I do not know anyone there with less than a 30, although, their grades sucked with some of them. Also, you probably would have a hard time getting interviews at DO schools. Look at the averages and look to see if you have shown an upward trend in your record. I always was told that if you have a 7 on a section of the MCAT, ADCOMs have a hard time looking past those numbers. Please, do not look at these schools as guarantees because they are not. I wish you the best! You also might want to look at who is writing your LOR.
 
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