Question

[fbradley99]

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[Krisss17]

Hi please forgive me if I am posting this to the wrong area but I am new to SDN.

I have a question I am currently applying to DO schools for the 2009-2010 cycle and my current stats are:
Ov: 3.32
Sci: 3.1
Non: 3.54

I will be retaking 2 science classes in the fall which will make my stats:
Ov: 3.50
Sci: 3.47
Non: 3.54

My question is should I go ahead and apply now and submit everything but let them know I am registered to take those classes or wait until December to officially submit my application? I am also taking my MCAT Sept 3rd 🙂

You may not want to hear this, but I would strongly suggest that you hold off on applying until next year. Between your taking the MCAT relatively late (this is your first time taking it?) and having to retake to prereqs to raise your science GPA, I think you would be saving yourself money and a lot of heart break. Many medical schools won't consider your application complete until they receive your MCAT score which would be in October...already quite late in the application cycle. Since your retakes won't be finished earlier than December (and I'm sure the adcom's would want to see the results), that is going to push it further.

Personally, if it were me...I would first wait until 2010 to apply, I'd reschedule my MCAT until after my retakes, make sure to excel at those retakes, and flush out my application with more volunteering, shadowing, etc. Apply early in the next cycle, and I'm sure you will get success.

Good luck

 

[fbradley99]

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[Krisss17]

I have to say I disagree with this. The OPs stats aren't "bad" to begin with and nowhere in there does he/she mention that the retakes will be pre reqs... just that they are science classes. Not all science classes rare pre reqs. With the stats presented (and assuming a decent MCAT) I'd say they stand a good shot based on all the "what are my chances" threads I've read even if the retakes are not considered. With the retakes considered, yes, very good chance. And as far as taking the MCAT in September too late... man, not sure what your logic is there. Most DO schools accept into Feb 2010 and some even later than that. Not saying that there will be a plethora of spots left or that they have the "best" chance if they wait to submit til late December, but they are by NO MEANS out of it... not even close. Honestly, I see where you are coming from in the post but we aren't talking MD, we're talking DO and there are admissions all the way up to (and after) the deadline, so I don't see any problem with the OP's application.

OP, in regards to your question, I am sorry... I can't help on that. I am wondering something similar becuase I will probably be doing a few retakes in fall as well and am not sure how that scenario works either so I'll be staying tuned to see what others have to say for you... Good Luck

Hey, the OP asked for advice and I gave some suggestions. Don't sell DO schools short, it's going to get harder and harder to get into as the number of applicants are increasing. No her grades are not BAD, but in order to be the most competitive that you can, you need to have a strong application. If you don't have a strong application, then you need to apply first thing during the application cycle. You are doing this person disservice more so. Better to have to only apply once, then have to go through this all over again because you rushed to apply. You might want to check over at the re-application thread to see how many have to go through this application phase again because they either applied late or weren't prepared.

Whether or not the science classes are the prereqs, it will still have an impact on the science GPA...although I would hazard a guess it is most likely a prereq or two.

Again, OP I do wish you luck, I just think that it would be in YOUR best interests to wait until next year and put together the best application that you can. I would check to see if it is possible if you can defer your use of the fee waivers to the next cycle.

 

[fbradley99]

Thank you both for your advice as I appreciate any advice that is given to me! I know I will apply this year it's just a matter of applying now or waiting until October (after I receive my MCAT scores). It's just I would hate to wait until October because then I lose my fee waiver. And my two C's are not in pre-req's. They were in 2 upper level science classes Molecular Biology and Microbial Biology. Both which are 4 credit hours each. I was taken 4 other classes at the time as well! And I just got overwhelmed that semester.

I have been studying my butt off for my MCAT because my goal is to ROCK it!!!!! 😀

I am just hoping that medical schools will see on my application that I have managed good grades going to school full time and working full time during my entire college career. Wish me luck!!!

 

[fbradley99]

Oh and I just spoke with NOVA (one of the schools I am applying to) Told her my situation and she said that I am fine as long as I have all my application/grades done before March.

 

[Octagonecology]

With all due respect to Krissy, your stats are better than mine and I applied later and will probably guarantee that you will do better on the MCAT and I got multiple acceptances. I say go for it! You have nothing to lose and will only be better prepared/experienced for the next cycle if you don't get in.

 

[QuackaDO]

With all due respect to Krissy, your stats are better than mine and I applied later and will probably guarantee that you will do better on the MCAT and I got multiple acceptances. I say go for it! You have nothing to lose and will only be better prepared/experienced for the next cycle if you don't get in.

If this isn't the single most true statement in this thread then I don't know what is...

 

[fbradley99]

sbreland thank you so much for those encouraging words!!! I am going to go for it! I would rather be turned down and know that I tried than wonder what if! Thanks!!!!🙂

 

[Semicolon]

A disservice? Hmmm... that's an interesting angle. I would consider it a disservice to not encourage the OP to go after what they want and to tell them to be meek and hide and wait til next time. Would they have a better chance next year? Most likely... but would they have no chance this time or better yet a poor chance? I think not. The way I see it the disservice would be to convince this person they are not good enough when they ARE and convince them to waste a year of their life waiting til the "best" chance. Life is full of chances... it's all about which ones are good and which ones aren't... if you sit around waiting for only the "best" chance before you'll get off the couch and make an effort I guarantee you that you will be passed by by others that has motivation and determination. It's a life choice... lay back and wait for it to be "safe" or take a chance (that puts them in no danger might I add) and put your heart into it... just depends on what kind of person you are I guess.

For me, I have a less favorable GPA than the OP and I have posted my stuff and have spoken/written with MANY representatives from Admissions at various schools say I stand an excellent chance of getting in (only had 2 say "eh... not so much). Last thing I am going to do is sit on the sidelines eventhough I am not applying til after the first of the year and will be probably including some retakes in there. Would I stand a better chance next year? Sure, but I stand a chance this year and I am not willing to let an opportunity pass me by. I am too old to "wait another year" all the time hoping it will be better next time. If Admissions counselors are calling me "competetive" then the OP is SURELY competetive as well, as long as they apply broadly, so to sum it up I think it would be a disservice to not encourage them to go after their dream. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I'm surely not saying you are "wrong", but a disservice it is not.

Sorry to hijack/derail the thread here.... OP, I think you stand an excellent chance if based on nothing else but my stats that I have gotten favorable reviews on. Go for it with your heart if YOU think you are ready and leave everything on the field... don't hold back. If you don't think you are ready then by all means hold off, but do what's right for you and what's in your heart. I have no need or desire to argue (I could call my girlfriend for that 🙄) so there really isn't much more to say but I wanted to convey the belief that you ARE ready. Good luck.

Dude, are you an English major or something? You love writing essays on this forum. 😀

Krisss17's opinion was just that...an opinion. He/she's no more wrong than you can be. Just because you don't agree, don't write out essays detailing why you're right. Ultimately it's up to the OP, and both pieces of advice have reasoning behind them.

But for the record, I agree that you should go for it. A LOT of it depends on your MCAT however...so definitely ace it!! 👍

 

[bigyihoroi]

Hi please forgive me if I am posting this to the wrong area but I am new to SDN.

I have a question I am currently applying to DO schools for the 2009-2010 cycle and my current stats are:
Ov: 3.32
Sci: 3.1
Non: 3.54

I will be retaking 2 science classes in the fall which will make my stats:
Ov: 3.50
Sci: 3.47
Non: 3.54

My question is should I go ahead and apply now and submit everything but let them know I am registered to take those classes or wait until December to officially submit my application? I am also taking my MCAT Sept 3rd 🙂

If you are pretty sure that you are gonna end up with the following:

Ov: 3.50
Sci: 3.47
Non: 3.54

then I will say go for it.

To me, this is kinda odd. How can your overall gpa jump from 3.32 to 3.5 and sci gpa from 3.1 to almost a 3.5 with just retaking two sci courses? I remember my GPA barely move in the last two years of undergrad even having a 4.0 in one quarter.

 

[WishingStar]

definitely go for it. 👍