Re-applying 3 years later...

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GPA - 3.4
SGPA - 3.6
MAT - 24 (7/8/9... in 2012)
Shadowing - about 10 hours
Hospital volunteering - 100 hours
Non-hospital volunteering - 200 hours

Applied to two schools in my state in 2013, 1 DO 1 MD... Interviewed at both but not accepted (or even WL'd) at either. Haven't done much of anything since then. A lot of life has happened in between, but things are finally calming down and I'm actually working towards applying again. Got my MCAT in July, taking Immunology at my local university, and desperately trying to find some more shadowing... Several questions...

1) Anyone got any advice for finding shadowing? I've tried cold calling and haven't gotten anything. I don't know any doctors and don't currently have a primary care physician.

2) Money is a real issue with me and I don't have any current MCAT study material... Mainly practice questions and tests. Are there any GOOD, CHEAP options out there?

3) Any additional advice or encouragement? I need it.

4) A school called SGU calls me about every other month. It's in the Caribbean. Is that a valid option?

 

[italiancowgirl]

Look around in the forums and you can find the answers to many of these questions. Don't take the mcat until you are ready. The fastest way to a tanked app is repeatedly trying to make a decent mcat without doing enough prep/classwork/practice tests etc. Don't expect one cold call to get you a shadow experience. I hand dropped off resumes to dozens of doctors and then followed up with a call 3-5 days later. Read more on the forums, look at the advice given in the pinned posts. GL

 

[CaffeineTwitch]

1. Honestly, I used the AOA find a D.O. thing and went down the list calling until someone was receptive. I probably called 30 places.
2. Do you have any work skills that could land you some cash? With your previous low MCAT, I would recommend taking a class and all practice tests you can find. One low MCAT can be overcome but if you repeat it you will have a much harder time. I would set your timeline back another year, get a job, and take a class.
3. You really aren't in bad shape. Take the time to properly prepare and I don't think you will have any troubles.
4. I would say it is not a valid option. I had a friend who went Caribbean and got all the fun stuff (debt, loss of time) but never made it into a U.S. residency. Besides, your case isn't desperate, it just needs development.