Paramedic to DO...

[medik]

Hey all,
I love the fact that this thread exists because this is exactly what I'm looking for! I haven't found a post relevant to mine, so sorry if this seems redundant if I missed anything. I just really want a straight forward answer.

I've been a FF/Paramedic (part time) for roughly 4 years and have been attending school full time to get my bachelors in Biology. Because I work more than 48 hours a week with overnights and 24 hour shifts, my grades aren't as stellar as many others trying to attend medical school, but I like to think it shows dedication to the medical field.
Here's what I have so far My GPA is about 3.1-ish. I had to retake Chem twice because of an issue I had with the professor that taught it, (I literally could not learn from him) but if I heard correctly, DO schools pay attention to the highest grade with retakes, not the average. I'm planning on getting my MS in Neuro for the next two years to boost my GPA a bit and get a little more science experience under my belt.

MCAT- Haven't taken it yet, but I'm thinking a 24 or 25 may be likely.

Research/Experience- I have been an undergraduate research assistant for the past 3 years and by the time I graduate this summer, I'll have been published in 2 papers as well as co-author or first author on at least 5 different posters presented by my colleagues and me at Society for Neuroscience and National Neurotrauma Symposium. Also, as I'd said, I've been a FF/EMT-P for the past 4 years as well as an EMT-B for a year before that. Through that I've had countless hands on experiences with patients. I haven't shadowed any doctors aside from being in medic school, but it's kind of hard to do with three jobs.

Leadership- I only really have one leadership position, and it's as an executive board member with my university's office of admission student ambassador program. I've held that position for three years as well.

With all of that said and done, do I have a fighting chance in hell to get in to a DO program?

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[Total180]

I think aside from your lowish GPA you are looking pretty good. Instead of the MS in Neuro, why not retake a couple more classes to boost your GPA? Do you have any super low grades that would significantly help your GPA if you replaced it with an A? Any grades (especially in the pre-reqs) lower than a C-? I definitely don't think the MS would hurt, but it might be faster to retake some bad grades especially if you are aiming for DO. You obviously don't want to retake a ton of them, but 2 or 3 shouldn't be too bad. Also, I know you are super busy, but I would try and get some shadowing hours in. I know you have a lot of clinical experience, but shadowing gives you an idea of how being a doctor really is...and if nothing else it is one of those things that you might just need to check off the list. I would definitely do it with a DO if you can. Anyway, it's hard to give you a definitive answer without an MCAT of course, but other than the lower gpa (which isn't even TOO low to be looked at...but I would try and get it up a little) I think you look good.

 

[Catalystik]

A masters degree may be expensive to attain, and all DO med schools don't consider the merged uGPA and gGPA, rather looking mainly at the undergrad GPA. I agree you'd be better off to raise your uGPA by using the grade replacement policy that all DO schools use except for the one in Texas. Or you could try for an MCAT score of 30ish and still have a shot at an acceptance with your GPA as it is if you have a recent upward grade trend.

Now if that masters would be one where you earn your way by doing teaching and research plus getting a stipend, so there are fewer economic constraints, then the next thing I'd suggest doing is calling the top three DO schools you'd target, asking them how they'd consider the hard-science masters grades, or what else you can do to become more competitive. Many on SDN have reported very friendly counseling encounters with DO administrators that helped them fine tune their plans to be the best possible applicant.

 

[medik]

Great! Thanks so much guys... The MS programs in neuro generally don't count as an expense after TA stipends and other stipends...and really my only lower GPA class is a C+ in one of my bio gen eds. Aside from that the only things really bringing my grade down are the chemistry classes I had to retake. But I will take your advice and try retaking some lower GPA classes, get in touch with a local DO, and contact some schools.

 

[Catalystik]

Sounds good. We'd like to know what they say if you care to share.