Should I apply this year or wait a year?

[Rockie]

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MCAT: 23 BS:8 VR: 7 PS:8
cGPA: 3.41
sGPA: 3.30

EC's:
Panhellenic Exec Board Member
Sorority Member (lots of leadership, including President)
Former Cheerleader
Volunteer for Battered Women's Shelter and Hospital
Doing first summer research this summer (2009)
Doing genetics research next academic year for a full year

Not sure if I should apply now, or hold off a year. I don't have any shadowing yet and my MCAT is low as well as my GPA (which was impacted by my mom dying suddenly my freshman year). I plan on applying to all the schools in Ohio and probably a few osteopathic schools.

Should I wait a year before I apply or should I apply this year?

If I apply this year, any suggestions of places I should apply?

 

[WannaBePreMed]

MCAT: 23 BS:8 VR: 7 PS:8
cGPA: 3.41
sGPA: 3.30

EC's:
Panhellenic Exec Board Member
Sorority Member (lots of leadership, including President)
Former Cheerleader
Volunteer for Battered Women's Shelter and Hospital
Doing first summer research this summer (2009)
Doing genetics research next academic year for a full year

Not sure if I should apply now, or hold off a year. I don't have any shadowing yet and my MCAT is low as well as my GPA (which was impacted by my mom dying suddenly my freshman year). I plan on applying to all the schools in Ohio and probably a few osteopathic schools.

Should I wait a year before I apply or should I apply this year?

If I apply this year, any suggestions of places I should apply?

I would advise you not to apply this year. One more year would give you time to make yourself a stronger applicant.

In the next year:
Bring your gpa up
Retake Mcat
Finish the research
Continue EC's

 

[Stratego]

I think you have a realistic idea of the weaknesses in your application. I'd be surprised if you got an acceptance at one of your MD state schools considering the low verbal, low MCAT score overall, and low GPA. Your GPA is fine for osteopathic, but your MCAT score is 2.5 below the mean for those accepted and also, you are required to have a letter of reference from a physician you've shadowed (some want a DO letter specifically).

With another year to boost your GPA, extra study time to improve your MCAT score, a variety of shadowing, a research experience, and maybe more clinical experience if you need it (you aren't specific on hours so I can't comment), you'd have a much stronger application for both allo and osteopathic schools. I encourage you to wait.