should I finish my DO secondaries????

[jmcfirst]

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Hi all,

I graduated with 3.71 overall gpa, and 3.5 science gpa (exercise science and bio degree)... I scored 22 Q on my MCAT. I have turned in my intial application, and wondering should I even complete my secondaries? I am from NC. I palyed baseball in college, which left little time for extracurricular activies... I am currently working at a local hospital as an CNA/ unit secretary. I first went into sales/brokerage after college, and then decided I wanted to become a doctor, which was first desire anyway... Please advise. Thank you.

Josh

I applied to the DO schools in Pikeville, Lincoln, Ohio, WV, VA, NY-Long Island, Rocky Vista, Pacific Northwest

 

[jmcfirst]

What are my chances of getting in?? Does anyone have similar grades and got in??

Thanks,
Josh

 

[Bones DO]

what was the breakdown of your MCAT?

 

[jmcfirst]

verbal reasoning 9
physical 6
biological 7

thanks for any input.
josh

 

[NSU14]

verbal reasoning 9
physical 6
biological 7

thanks for any input.
josh

You are pretty late in the game for this cycle especially with low MCAT. You need to get those science scores up a couple of points. A 6 and 7 don't show you know much about science. Study hard and get at least a 25 and get your application in right away next cycle and i would say you have a good shot. Being a college athlete is a good extracurricular and you have a great job to talk about at interviews and essay.
Good luck just work on the MCAT!

 

[MSmentor018]

it's late in the game and stats are on the low end but not impossible....I think your chances are slim if you send secondaries now.definitely apply earlier next year and much, much broader!

 

[JaggerPlate]

No. Retake the MCAT. A 6 will probably be a killer, and a 22 is just too low. Retake and get ready to apply early in like 3 months.

 

[Morsetlis]

No. Retake the MCAT. A 6 will probably be a killer, and a 22 is just too low. Retake and get ready to apply early in like 3 months.

Yup.

 

[Biology101]

No. Retake the MCAT. A 6 will probably be a killer, and a 22 is just too low. Retake and get ready to apply early in like 3 months.

yea...that seems like the best you can do at this point. If money is less of an issue, than go for it now and then. You may want to take a MCAT course, that helped me

 

[Cheshyre]

yea...that seems like the best you can do at this point. If money is less of an issue, than go for it now and then. You may want to take a MCAT course, that helped me

The alternative to an MCAT course (if you're self-motivated) is to buy a book. I used Kaplan's and was very happy (they say the verbal is not so good, but your verbal isn't bad and you need to focus on the sciences). 80$ for the main book, $19 for 3 Kaplan practice exams, and some more cash for the AAMC online practice exams was very adequate for me. I studied the book all the way through, then, took practice exams like a fiend. I had around 7 exams total and I'd rotate them. By the time I got back to the first one, I would have forgotten enough about it to make it useful. People say retaking practice exams doesn't help, but I'd say otherwise. If you're not scoring high on your retakes, you're not scoring high on your real exam.

For more help, consult the MCAT forum here. There's a stickied post where someone has a terrifyingly detailed study schedule worked out.

As to whether you should continue applying.. eh. The thing is, I wouldn't apply to medical school more than twice. It doesn't look so good if you can't get in within two tries. Obviously I can't say for sure, but I know that you're not supposed to take the MCAT more than twice. I'd assume that mentality extends to medical school applications as well. However, since you've already sent the primary, you might be committed and might have to check the "I have previously applied to XXXX school" on the secondaries in the future. Not sure how that works. If you're already committed.. well, then money will be the main issue. I don't want to sugar-coat it, but if we ignore your reference letters, medical exposure, and volunteering (you should work on all of those if you need to, btw), that MCAT will sink your application, especially this late in the game where admissions decisions are getting more competitive.

Good luck. I hope you figure out a plan of action soon.

Edit: I'd say it takes ~3 months to properly prepare for an MCAT. You need to figure things out very quickly.

 

[manbeast]

My answer will not represent the majority here...but I think you should at least do 4 or 5 secondaries. Why? - You took the time to fill out the primary, paid to apply, and now you have a (albeit small) chance to get accepted somewhere. Your GPA looks pretty decent. Yeah - 22 is a pretty low MCAT but all you need is one interview and one acceptance. If I was you, I would send in the secondaries and then write letters to the Dean/bug the schools/network/visit the schools. You just might get in somewhere and if you don't, you will already have practiced writing secondaries and shown an interest in the schools - which will make it that much easier when you reapply. You never really know what is going to happen in this process - its a crazy journey and everyone has their own unique stories.

 

[jm192]

If money isn't an issue, I'd go for it still. I think some schools have a deadline closer to the end of March.

I know someone who's been accepted to one of those with a 22 MCAT (I don't know the break down.)

You'd have had a much better chance if you'd already applied, but if the money is there, I think it's worth the shot. If you don't get in, reapply. But if you do, start a year early.

 

[Bones DO]

My answer will not represent the majority here...but I think you should at least do 4 or 5 secondaries. Why? - You took the time to fill out the primary, paid to apply, and now you have a (albeit small) chance to get accepted somewhere. Your GPA looks pretty decent. Yeah - 22 is a pretty low MCAT but all you need is one interview and one acceptance. If I was you, I would send in the secondaries and then write letters to the Dean/bug the schools/network/visit the schools. You just might get in somewhere and if you don't, you will already have practiced writing secondaries and shown an interest in the schools - which will make it that much easier when you reapply. You never really know what is going to happen in this process - its a crazy journey and everyone has their own unique stories.

While the six is a red flag, your good GPA's might even it out a little. Certainly we're kind of late in the game, but why not, if you have a few hundred bucks to throw at it, I'd give it a shot. Good luck either this cycle or the next!

 

[JaggerPlate]

My only objection to doing 4-5 secondaries now is time taken away from figuring out an MCAT game plan and killing it in 3 months.

 

[rddoms]

If you have secondaries, FINISH them! You already spent the money to submit the primaries, so finish the application cycle. Secondaries don't take much time.

I know plenty (n>20) of people who applied late, with MCAT scores around 22, who were accepted. Your application is great overall, even if the MCAT is a bit sub-par. You have a decent chance of getting an acceptance, so don't waste a year (unless you don't really want to go to any of the schools who gave you a secondary).

After you turn in the secondaries, work on studying for the MCAT. If you don't get an acceptance, then you can crush the MCAT the second time, reapply early, and get an acceptance for c/o 2015. If you do get an acceptance, then that's even better.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE: If you are going to do the secondaries, make sure that you would be happy going to any of those schools. IF you decline an acceptance, then you will have trouble the second time around.

Do the secondaries, and get an acceptance. Good luck!

 

[TigressDO]

As to whether you should continue applying.. eh. The thing is, I wouldn't apply to medical school more than twice. It doesn't look so good if you can't get in within two tries. Obviously I can't say for sure, but I know that you're not supposed to take the MCAT more than twice. I'd assume that mentality extends to medical school applications as well.

For me, I had a different experience. This application cycle is my third, and I've taken the MCAT four times (nothing to brag about for sure!). It wasn't held against me since I got into 2 of the 3 schools I interviewed. One school did inquire about the big jump between my first 3 scores and last score, but that was about it.

Your best bet would be to study, get a better score, and apply early. But since you've already paid the primary app fee, look around the forums and see if you can find out which schools still have seats and send in your secondary ASAP.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

My answer will not represent the majority here...but I think you should at least do 4 or 5 secondaries. Why? - You took the time to fill out the primary, paid to apply, and now you have a (albeit small) chance to get accepted somewhere. Your GPA looks pretty decent. Yeah - 22 is a pretty low MCAT but all you need is one interview and one acceptance. If I was you, I would send in the secondaries and then write letters to the Dean/bug the schools/network/visit the schools. You just might get in somewhere and if you don't, you will already have practiced writing secondaries and shown an interest in the schools - which will make it that much easier when you reapply. You never really know what is going to happen in this process - its a crazy journey and everyone has their own unique stories.

a 22 mcat still have chances at DO schools!!! Are we in the prepod forum here? Even if the OP has a good GPA, but a 22 mcat, I believe, kill his/her chances.

 

[jmcfirst]

thank you for all of your respsonses. i am think i am going to go ahead and send them off, and hope for the best.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

Good luck!!!

 

[manbeast]

Awesome! The worst thing that happens is you don't get in - then you will have to apply again next time anyway. Good Luck!

 

[cabinbuilder]

a 22 mcat still have chances at DO schools!!! Are we in the prepod forum here? Even if the OP has a good GPA, but a 22 mcat, I believe, kill his/her chances.

Not necessarily albeit a long shot. I had a girl in my study group at LECOM-Erie who had an MCAT of 17. Just remember too that this late in the cycle all those first pick folks who got accepted to 4+ schools can only attend one and the schools that don't get that student still have to fill their class.

There was someone on this thread who said taking the MCAT more than twice is a death sentence - not necessarily so either. I took the MCAT 4 times and eventually got in. Heed advice more from those of us who have gotten through and are finished then those still trying to get in. Everyone has their own theories.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Not necessarily albeit a long shot. I had a girl in my study group at LECOM-Erie who had an MCAT of 17. Just remember too that this late in the cycle all those first pick folks who got accepted to 4+ schools can only attend one and the schools that don't get that student still have to fill their class.

There was someone on this thread who said taking the MCAT more than twice is a death sentence - not necessarily so either. I took the MCAT 4 times and eventually got in. Head advice more from those of us who have gotten through and are finished then those still trying to get in. Everyone has their own theories.

A 17 ?????? Wow.

 

[avatarftw]

a

 

[ODorDO]

Sorry to hijack the thread! My situation is kind of like OP's except my numbers are a lot lower 3.3cgpa/16N... However, I believe I have enough ec, volunteering, shadowing, and research experiences. I'm really leaning towards applying again this June. Plz leme know what do you guys think. Thanks

 

[Cheshyre]

For me, I had a different experience. This application cycle is my third, and I've taken the MCAT four times (nothing to brag about for sure!). It wasn't held against me since I got into 2 of the 3 schools I interviewed. One school did inquire about the big jump between my first 3 scores and last score, but that was about it.

Your best bet would be to study, get a better score, and apply early. But since you've already paid the primary app fee, look around the forums and see if you can find out which schools still have seats and send in your secondary ASAP.

Dude.
Er... dudette.

You have my eternal respect for having the guts to tough this craziness out 3 times with 4 MCATs. That's... wow. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must've been, financially and emotionally.

Seriously. If we ever meet in real life, I owe you a beer.

EDIT: you too cabinbuilder.

Wow. I'm shocked... really had no idea you could take the MCAT 4 times. You need special permission to take the MCAT a 3rd time, don't you? In any case, my bad.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Sorry to hijack the thread! My situation is kind of like OP's except my numbers are a lot lower 3.3cgpa/16N... However, I believe I have enough ec, volunteering, shadowing, and research experiences. I'm really leaning towards applying again this June. Plz leme know what do you guys think. Thanks

You absolutely cannot apply with a 16.

 

[manbeast]

With a 16 - you do HAVE to retake the MCAT. Unless your best friends with the dean of admissions somewhere.

 

[rc4ch]

Hi all,

I graduated with 3.71 overall gpa, and 3.5 science gpa (exercise science and bio degree)... I scored 22 Q on my MCAT. I have turned in my intial application, and wondering should I even complete my secondaries? I am from NC. I palyed baseball in college, which left little time for extracurricular activies... I am currently working at a local hospital as an CNA/ unit secretary. I first went into sales/brokerage after college, and then decided I wanted to become a doctor, which was first desire anyway... Please advise. Thank you.

Josh

I applied to the DO schools in Pikeville, Lincoln, Ohio, WV, VA, NY-Long Island, Rocky Vista, Pacific Northwest

Like everyone else said, its too late in the game. Your just wasting your money. You might need a 24+ on the MCAT to get in with that GPA. Also, you need to get your DO letter and shadowing and volunteering. Its a waiting game, and you must wait until next cycle. But I think you have a good chance if you keep working on your app.

 

[rc4ch]

Sorry to hijack the thread! My situation is kind of like OP's except my numbers are a lot lower 3.3cgpa/16N... However, I believe I have enough ec, volunteering, shadowing, and research experiences. I'm really leaning towards applying again this June. Plz leme know what do you guys think. Thanks

I don't think you'll have a chance with a 16 either. Not even a chance with a 4.00 GPA with that MCAT score. You need to retake that exam. And your MD profile indicates your East Asian, this would not help you at all (I'm Asian as well)

 

[ODorDO]

Thanks everyone!

I don't think you'll have a chance with a 16 either. Not even a chance with a 4.00 GPA with that MCAT score. You need to retake that exam. And your MD profile indicates your East Asian, this would not help you at all (I'm Asian as well)

I'm actually half philipino, but i'm pretty sure it doesn't help either.

 

[softmed]

Rather than making a new thread, I'll just ask about my own situation here:

32M MCAT
3.8 GPA

Should I bother doing secondaries at this point?

 

[rc4ch]

Rather than making a new thread, I'll just ask about my own situation here:

32M MCAT
3.8 GPA

Should I bother doing secondaries at this point?

I'm guessing no luck with MD and considering DO as last minute freak-out option after the waitlists or rejections?

 

[Bones DO]

Sorry to hijack the thread! My situation is kind of like OP's except my numbers are a lot lower 3.3cgpa/16N... However, I believe I have enough ec, volunteering, shadowing, and research experiences. I'm really leaning towards applying again this June. Plz leme know what do you guys think. Thanks

The 16 is serious bad news bears. I respect the hell out of you, though, for listing "Garage Band" as one of your EC's. 👍 G/L on the MCAT retake, study hard you can do better than that. 🙂

 

[Bones DO]

Rather than making a new thread, I'll just ask about my own situation here:

32M MCAT
3.8 GPA

Should I bother doing secondaries at this point?

LOL you're a jerk. We have a poor soul here asking about what to do with a 16 and you have literally twice that and a far superior GPA. Obviously you'd likely get into a DO school with those numbers unless you wear a Halloween costume to the interviews.

 

[jm192]

Sorry to hijack the thread! My situation is kind of like OP's except my numbers are a lot lower 3.3cgpa/16N... However, I believe I have enough ec, volunteering, shadowing, and research experiences. I'm really leaning towards applying again this June. Plz leme know what do you guys think. Thanks

Unfortunately there is no "enough EC's"

I'm a firm believer they look at MCAT/GPA and THEN the other stuff.

I know there's the whole "DO schools look at the whole applicant..."

But, really, they still weigh MCAT before EC's. They may have lower numbers accepted, but it's not to say the MCAT=EC's. It's a HUGE part of this. You need to be in a more competitive MCAT range for them to really start weighing your research and such.

Retake it, and maybe somewhere around a 22 puts you in business.

You can do it!

 

[jm192]

Rather than making a new thread, I'll just ask about my own situation here:

32M MCAT
3.8 GPA

Should I bother doing secondaries at this point?

YES!

I can't imagine not being offered an interview everywhere you apply with your stats.

 

[TigressDO]

Dude.
Er... dudette.

You have my eternal respect for having the guts to tough this craziness out 3 times with 4 MCATs. That's... wow. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must've been, financially and emotionally.

Seriously. If we ever meet in real life, I owe you a beer.

EDIT: you too cabinbuilder.

Wow. I'm shocked... really had no idea you could take the MCAT 4 times. You need special permission to take the MCAT a 3rd time, don't you? In any case, my bad.

Haha. Thanks. If you're ever in WA, I'll let you buy me a smoothie since I don't drink. Let me tell you, it was not fun taking that darn test 4 times...but it's my own fault. If I had taken it more seriously, maybe I wouldn't have had to. I went from 18R to 27R though. Needless to say, I'm quite broke at this point in time; however, class of 2014, here I come!!!

PS. I didn't have to obtain any special permission to take the test that many times...if they didn't let me, they wouldn't get my money . Moral: If you want something badly enough, you'll find some way to make it happen.😀

 

[MDub1]

To the OP, I would finish your secondaries if I were you. You have a good GPA, good EC's and your MCAT is actually right at the average of a couple of schools you applied to (Pikesville and WV). Check this out (it's a couple of years old but I doubt things have changed that much):

http://www.zimbio.com/member/DOClass2007/articles/625783/Osteopathic+Medical+Schools+MCAT+scores

that's backed up here as well:

http://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/ranmcat.htm

 

[Emerald84]

No. Retake the MCAT. A 6 will probably be a killer, and a 22 is just too low. Retake and get ready to apply early in like 3 months.

+1. You need to do a ton more prep work with the sciences- make sure you do ALL of the reading for the sciences, take all the PS and BS section tests and maybe consider getting Exam Krackers for your ipod. Too low too late in the cycle. Good job on verbal though. I bet you could get that up to a 10 or 11.

Good luck

 

[Emerald84]

LOL you're a jerk. We have a poor soul here asking about what to do with a 16 and you have literally twice that and a far superior GPA. Obviously you'd likely get into a DO school with those numbers unless you wear a Halloween costume to the interviews.

HAR HAR. Lovely DO applicants. Retake if you are under a 25 and have a 7 or less on any section.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Dude.
Er... dudette.

You have my eternal respect for having the guts to tough this craziness out 3 times with 4 MCATs. That's... wow. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must've been, financially and emotionally.

Seriously. If we ever meet in real life, I owe you a beer.

EDIT: you too cabinbuilder.

Wow. I'm shocked... really had no idea you could take the MCAT 4 times. You need special permission to take the MCAT a 3rd time, don't you? In any case, my bad.

To clarify, I took the MCAT the first time way way back in 1992 so by the time I was looking at jumping back onto the pre-med train it was 6-7 years later so the first one really wasn't looked at. So I took the MCAT 1998.1999.2000. I really wanted it that bad. I'm not sure if the rules have changed since then but I never had anyone tell me I couldn't take it a third (fourth) time. Yes, it was a strain emotionally and financially but I applied for the reduced fee for the MCAT (do they still have that option?) and I saved up plus I had a lot of doctor friends who believed in me and help me finanically when life got tough. I just didn't want to be in poverty anymore and always just loved dealing with patients. I wanted to be secure in a profession for the rest of my life and be able to take care of my kids after my first husband left me.

 

[cabinbuilder]

A 17 ?????? Wow.

She had special circumstances in test taking. She took the post bacc program and got straight A's and proved her ability to know the material - did her exams at school orally. She had some difficulty passing the boards but did and now is finishing residency.

Goes to show you that every application has its unique issues and you cannot make blanket statements about who will/will not get into medical school.

 

[JaggerPlate]

She had special circumstances in test taking. She took the post bacc program and got straight A's and proved her ability to know the material - did her exams at school orally. She had some difficulty passing the boards but did and now is finishing residency.

Goes to show you that every application has its unique issues and you cannot make blanket statements about who will/will not get into medical school.

I'll just keep my opinions to myself regarding this situation.