Please Help

[Simran1031]

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Stats:
23 Q
3.4 (2nd yr to 4th yr) UVa
3.8 (1st yr) - VTech
3.8(4th yr)
I did really well my first and last year of college
I am a south asian female.
i have research experience, clinical experience.
i created my own major to study how social factors impact the manifestation of disease. factors such as economics, education, access to health care, cultural norms and so forth.
i wrote my senior thesis on the social implications of HIV/AIDS focusing on S.Africa.

I just graduated this may at which point i had posted on the non traditional thread where people told me to not take the july mcat and take some time off before retaking the mcat. right now I have a job in corporate america which i hate. i jsut feel like the job i have right now is everything i did not want to do. i am working to save up some money but i am starting to feel very sad and unhappy and want to get back into school. Previously, I was thinking of taking a leave of absence from work to take the April MCAT and study starting January for the April MCAT and to apply to matriculate 2010. But now I am thinking..should i just apply to the carribean? That way i feel like i wont lose a year. i just dont kno how long i can carry on with this job. and i guess i could just get another job but i was just trying to hang in htere for a few more months. any thoughts?

i have always wanted to be physician to serve individuals who do not have access to health care. i just think that even know the carribean schools aren't as credible, if my fundamental goal is to serve individuals who lack access, why not the Caribbean? i would appreciate any advice on this matter. ross applications are due nov. 1 for january enrollment. should i just go for it? i dont know how much longer i can continue to be in corporate America... i just want to be able to live my dream and i am willing to work very hard to achieve this dream....also, will not i not be able to gain more patient access in the Caribbean?

 

[kiganga]

This is obviously a personal decision that you will have to make, but...

Your application is strong enough for an american medical school with the exception of your MCAT score, a retake and score increase would dramatically alter your application and make it competitive. Also you have only been working at your job for a few months. In my experience jobs that I hate get better after a few months so that may become less soul-sucking.

My advice is to tough it out, retake, and go for it next year if it is imprtant to you to attend an American medical school. Especially if you consider osteopathic schools and shadow an osteopathic physician, you have an excellent shot.

I think any decision you make would be fine, I just think it would be a mistake to settle for a carribean school because you are so demoralized by your current situation. Good Luck.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I agree. Going to the Caribbean at this point is not a good plan. Even just an extra point or two on your MCAT will put you in great shape for a DO acceptance. Aim for higher, obviously, but the Carib should be very low on your list of priorities.

 

[GreenShirt]

You could try applying to DO schools with you current MCAT. The national average for DO schools is only a 26 so you would be within range. If you are interested in working with underserved populations there is DO school called A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona that specializes in training this type of physician. They place their students with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for 3 years of clinicals. The NACHC is the nation's healthcare safety net and provides medical care regardless of ability to pay.

In the end, retaking your MCAT could open more doors for you.