School List Help

[kj8210]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys so long story short, I graduated with a 3.43 cGPA and a 3.3 sGPA and I also did my masters at an osteopathic school hoping to gain admissions directly into their D.O program but I fell short and ended up with a 3.35 grad GPA(however this GPA poorly reflects my grades because grades were based on the class average so if the average of the masters class was a 90, thats where they set the cut off for a B). My MCAT score is a 26 and I was wondering what schools you guys think I have a decent shot at? I have shadowed both a DO and MD for over 100 hours. Thanks!

 

[kj8210]

Also does my graduate school gpa hurt my chances?

 

[Wjldenver]

Also does my graduate school gpa hurt my chances?

Realistically, your only alternative is to apply broadly and be sure to include all new schools. The conventional wisdom on SDN is that SMP's are a gamble and can become an hindrance if you don't make the grades. Oh well, it is too late to revisit that decision. Maybe Goro can address your grad GPA question. Good luck and keep striving for your goals.

 

[Shotapp]

Also does my graduate school gpa hurt my chances?

Yes your grad gpa will hurt your chances. Apply early and broadly (specifically targeting new schools such as UIW, A-State NYIT-COM, BCOM, ACOM etc...)
Goro prefers to see strong performances in SMPs (because a solid performance in an audition of medical school is a strong indication that you will succeed once you are actually in medical school.) as oppose to just retaking C/D/F coursework (faster/less expensive and less risk/ok route). That grad gpa though...

 

[kj8210]

Thanks for the advice. Yea I regret taking that Masters program when all I should have done was retaken the MCAT but hopefully I can retake it this time and score well enough to balance out my grad GPA.

Also the worst part is that it was not a typical Masters program where there are grade cut offs already set in place. Our grades were curved so that only the top % received the GPA to matriculate into the D.O program. I don't think its a proper representation of my ability to perform in medical schools because only a set number of people were allowed to have a certain grade so even if I received a 90 in a class, it could be a B.

 

[Shotapp]

I don't know how you are going to explain your performance in the SMP to adcoms. You don't want to lean on excuses for your under-performance. SMPs are a last resort kind of thing (high risk/high reward). You have to kill it in an SMP since it is M0. Don't give up though. Beggars can't be choosy. Apply targeting new schools. There are a couple of new schools opening for applications for their first class. Apply strategically.

 

[kj8210]

Alright I'll apply as broadly as possible. So is the damage repairable? Like if I kill this MCAT will the grad GPA be an after thought? If I don't get in this cycle should I do another Masters program and go that route again? I'm sorry for the constant questions its just my graduate GPA did not really worry me at first because to me showing that I could get B+s and A-s in medical school was me showing that I can handle the med school course load. I also thought schools would see it as a positive that I went to an osteopathic school to get my Masters and that I was actively trying to learn and understand what osteopathic medicine is. This whole situation just has me worked up.

 

[Shotapp]

Don't panic. No to doing another masters program (waste of time/money and might make matters worse). You don't need to retake your MCAT (its an ok score). Just apply and focus on all new schools (don't apply to established schools you won't get much love). Take my advice with a grain of salt (not in medical school yet). I am retaking a few classes before I apply. If I were in your shoes, I would target all fairly new schools and schools that opening for the first time this cycle .

 

[kj8210]

alright heres my list so far, gonna submit my primary this week:

A.T Still Kirskville and Arizona campus
Alabama COM
Burrell COM
CUCOM
Edward Via COM - Aubun and Carolina campus
KCUMB
MUCOM
OUHCOM
OSUCHS
RVU
Touro Nevada
University of Pikeville COM
University of the Incarnate Word COM

anything to add or remove? @Goro

 

[kj8210]

Also do adcoms see my undergrad and grad gpa separately or do they average them?

 

[Espressso]

Also do adcoms see my undergrad and grad gpa separately or do they average them?

Separate. They see gpas based on each year of Undergrad, a year of post/bac and a year of graduate level

 

[Goro]

This is a horrible policy! Can you share which school does this???

Also the worst part is that it was not a typical Masters program where there are grade cut offs already set in place. Our grades were curved so that only the top % received the GPA to matriculate into the D.O program. I don't think its a proper representation of my ability to perform in medical schools because only a set number of people were allowed to have a certain grade so even if I received a 90 in a class, it could be a B.

 

[kj8210]

This is a horrible policy! Can you share which school does this???

Sure, it is Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem Campus. We were not even told of this grading policy during the interview otherwise I would have done my SMP else where. Honestly I had really high hopes for Touro going into the program and after my experience there I would say it has really let me down.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

alright heres my list so far, gonna submit my primary this week:

A.T Still Kirskville and Arizona campus
Alabama COM
Burrell COM
CUCOM
Edward Via COM - Aubun and Carolina campus
KCUMB
MUCOM
OUHCOM
OSUCHS
RVU
Touro Nevada
University of Pikeville COM
University of the Incarnate Word COM

anything to add or remove? @Goro

Do you belong to the state of either of the bolded? Get rid of both of them if you don't belong to either or the one you don't belong to, they are both state schools that take 90%+ IS. Otherwise the list looks good, I would consider adding LMU, WVSOM, LECOM, and DMU.