Should I even try to apply?

[Member071191]

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Hello,

I need some advice on whether I should apply to DO school this summer for beginning DO school August 2014. I originally wanted to apply to MD school but it seems like my gpa won't be going up anytime soon (4 C's , too many hours, and can't make all A's).

Most likely at the end of this semester (end of my junior year) my sgpa will be 3.20 (3.24 with math class) and my cGPA 3.41. I am planning to take the MCAT in July. I have close to 200 hundred hours of clinical volun., no shadowing yet.
Unfortunately, 2 of my C's were in O-Chem, low level genetics course (I don't think this will matter as I will probably get an A in higher level Molecular Biology/Genetics class at the end of this sem.), and a C+ in Biochem. I want to retake O-chem this summer but my Univ. will not allow retakes for grades of C or higher.

Should I wait a year and apply after my senior year? ( I will probably apply to MD as well) Not expecting my grades to go down now that I know how to study for classes but still will be difficult for me to make all A's.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[SurgeDO]

i think you are going to have a very hard time getting in somewhere with multiple C's in some of the main prerequisites.

if your university does not allow you to retake your C classes, i would do everything i could to retake them somewhere else to at least bring them up to a B.

rock your MCAT...take a year to build up your grades...retake your MCAT again if needed...apply broadly.

good luck!

 

[coolingglasses]

I think your Ochem grades (and maybe your biochem) will hurt. But otherwise, the number of Cs doesn't really matter as long as your GPA is on point. I had two Cs in my PB (histology capstone, general genetics) and I still came out alright.

 

[hallowmann]

Hello,

I need some advice on whether I should apply to DO school this summer for beginning DO school August 2014. I originally wanted to apply to MD school but it seems like my gpa won't be going up anytime soon (4 C's , too many hours, and can't make all A's).

Most likely at the end of this semester (end of my junior year) my sgpa will be 3.20 (3.24 with math class) and my cGPA 3.41. I am planning to take the MCAT in July. I have close to 200 hundred hours of clinical volun., no shadowing yet.
Unfortunately, 2 of my C's were in O-Chem, low level genetics course (I don't think this will matter as I will probably get an A in higher level Molecular Biology/Genetics class at the end of this sem.), and a C+ in Biochem. I want to retake O-chem this summer but my Univ. will not allow retakes for grades of C or higher.

Should I wait a year and apply after my senior year? ( I will probably apply to MD as well) Not expecting my grades to go down now that I know how to study for classes but still will be difficult for me to make all A's.

Any advice is appreciated.

Many schools require grades of a B- or above in the pre-reqs, meaning your O-Chem grades would be an issue, and would basically mean you don't fulfill the requirements or at least it looks bad to adcoms. Some schools require biochem, making that grade an issue. I would study hard, do well on the MCAT, then come back.

Either way, MD or DO, you have to retake O-Chem. Most if not all MD schools also require a grade above a C for the pre-reqs. So either way, you need to retake them. I would just try and take them at a CC or other school after you take the MCAT. At that point if you do well in them and have a 33+ on the MCAT, I'd apply broadly to MD and DO.

At this point you can't apply, and it might be in your best interest to wait, but see what you get on the MCAT and if you can fit in the retakes at a different school. If so, you might still be able to apply (provided you get everything you need done by August).

Come back after your MCAT for more advice.

Also, you need to get some shadowing in. The DO letter is a requirement/strongly recommended at about half of the DO programs.

 

[Like]

In my opinion, your gpa is too low to consider MD, unless, you're going to score a 40 on the mcat, you are an URM, and have amazing ec's. If you fit all three categories, then feel free to take a year off and get your application together as well as prepare for a significant year-off.

Realistically, if you do not wish to take a year off, apply for that DO!
Make sure you do well on the mcat, aim for at least a 30.
Since your university won't allow you to retake organic chemistry, go elsewhere, a community college if need be, but make you sure you get two A's. This would do you wonders because the AACOMAS has a grade forgiveness policy and this would sky-rocket your s-gpa. Good luck with whatever you choose to do! 😍

P.S. 200 hours is a significant amount of volunteering, especially for DO's
Some people get in with much, much less.

 

[pre med 2014]

Some C's are ok but if you have 4 in pre Reqs you need to do grade replacement

 

[Goro]

Concur strongly. It's OK for you to take do your re-takes at the local CC.
Remember, you should always present the most competitive package possible.

i think you are going to have a very hard time getting in somewhere with multiple C's in some of the main prerequisites.

if your university does not allow you to retake your C classes, i would do everything i could to retake them somewhere else to at least bring them up to a B.

rock your MCAT...take a year to build up your grades...retake your MCAT again if needed...apply broadly.

good luck!

 

[OldMemphis]

Hello,

I need some advice on whether I should apply to DO school this summer for beginning DO school August 2014. I originally wanted to apply to MD school but it seems like my gpa won't be going up anytime soon (4 C's , too many hours, and can't make all A's).

Most likely at the end of this semester (end of my junior year) my sgpa will be 3.20 (3.24 with math class) and my cGPA 3.41. I am planning to take the MCAT in July. I have close to 200 hundred hours of clinical volun., no shadowing yet.
Unfortunately, 2 of my C's were in O-Chem, low level genetics course (I don't think this will matter as I will probably get an A in higher level Molecular Biology/Genetics class at the end of this sem.), and a C+ in Biochem. I want to retake O-chem this summer but my Univ. will not allow retakes for grades of C or higher.

Should I wait a year and apply after my senior year? ( I will probably apply to MD as well) Not expecting my grades to go down now that I know how to study for classes but still will be difficult for me to make all A's.

Any advice is appreciated.

Apply. Realize that no one really knows what they are talking about on here. I met a heart surgeon yesterday that didn't get a secondary request her first application cycle. There are things more important than your grades. And through the application process you will open a dialogue with the schools you want to attend. Applying twice isn't a bad thing. And who knows? Maybe your personal statement will resonate with someone on the committee and at least get you an interview.

 

[touchpause13]

mods: please move to WAMC

 

[GUH]

Many schools require grades of a B- or above in the pre-reqs...

I don't think this is true.

 

[Mehd School]

I don't think this is true.

I agree with GUH. I have researched this extensively and found exactly zero schools that would screen you out for having less than a B in a pre-req.

I got a D in Orgo 2 (death in immediate family) and followed that up with a C. I wasn't in a good place, and I shouldn't have been in school the following semester, but such is life. My other intangibles are good (3.4c/3.5s) so hopefully this doesn't haunt me.

Out of all of the pre-req's (Gen chem, Orgo, Physics, and Bio), I think Organic is probably the most common for pre-meds to get C's in ... or worse. My boss got into a top 5 MD school with a C in organic, so you do the math (things were MUCH more competitive then, too).

 

[Dr.TurkandJD]

I disagree with a lot of what is being said. Yes, C's will hurt you, but you aren't applying to Yale. Retake those C's, get A's and you should be competitive. Also, rock your mcat! Listen to Goro, retake at the CC!

 

[playaodamonth]

I agree with GUH. I have researched this extensively and found exactly zero schools that would screen you out for having less than a B in a pre-req.....
My boss got into a top 5 MD school with a C in organic, so you do the math (things were MUCH more competitive then, too).

I'd disagree with the bolded statement above, but the rest I'd agree with. Retake some of those C's at a CC. 3.2sGPA/3.4cGPA is actually alright, not great, but alright for a good amount of DO schools, as long as you have an MCAT to back it up that is (shoot for a 30 to be on the safe side). Other than that, make sure to get a DO LoR.

The only thing I'd be worried about is taking a July MCAT, that means you won't get your results until August....kind of late for a primary app to be completed unless you're positive you'll rock the MCAT....

 

[Beandog]

Many schools require grades of a B- or above in the pre-reqs,.

False. The generally accepted minimum is a C. I haven't heard of a single DO school that will give you that information.

For minimum acceptable grades, C- would not be acceptable, but a C would be.

 

[Dr.TurkandJD]

False. The generally accepted minimum is a C. I haven't heard of a single DO school that will give you that information.

For minimum acceptable grades, C- would not be acceptable, but a C would be.

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