Some serious advice

[DD214_DOC]

I seem to be at a large crossroads right now and would like some advice regarding the options I have laid before myself.

My current stats are 3.24/3.2 cum/sci for MD, 3.31/3.40 for DO, 25 MCAT (6PS, 11VR, 8BS). I had an upward trend in my grades until my last semester of undergrad, where I took all boring lib arts courses. I was also working FT trying to startup my own business.

I've been out of undergrad since May. My current options are below, with my reasoning behind them.

Further undergrad to complete a major in Biology
This option is pretty obvious. Increase both Cum and Sci

Further undergrad to complete major in Philosophy and undertake Chinese, with some additional science.
With my MA background, this is appealing. It will increase both my cumulative and science GPAs and make me stand out as pretty interesting.

MS in Biomedical Science at the med school here
Obvious reasoning. 2.5 year thesis program.

MPH in Epidemiology
Grad work to demonstrate ability. 1 year non-thesis program.

AUC or St. George's
Go straight into med school. Financial burden and separation from spouse would ensue. Tempting option.

Help; I've been struggling with this for weeks.

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[playthatfunky]

I seem to be at a large crossroads right now and would like some advice regarding the options I have laid before myself.

My current stats are 3.24/3.2 cum/sci for MD, 3.31/3.40 for DO, 25 MCAT (6PS, 11VR, 8BS). I had an upward trend in my grades until my last semester of undergrad, where I took all boring lib arts courses. I was also working FT trying to startup my own business.

I've been out of undergrad since May. My current options are below, with my reasoning behind them.

Further undergrad to complete a major in Biology
This option is pretty obvious. Increase both Cum and Sci

Further undergrad to complete major in Philosophy and undertake Chinese, with some additional science.
With my MA background, this is appealing. It will increase both my cumulative and science GPAs and make me stand out as pretty interesting.

MS in Biomedical Science at the med school here
Obvious reasoning. 2.5 year thesis program.

MPH in Epidemiology
Grad work to demonstrate ability. 1 year non-thesis program.

AUC or St. George's
Go straight into med school. Financial burden and separation from spouse would ensue. Tempting option.

Help; I've been struggling with this for weeks.

I would say take a year off of resume building and see if you still really want to do it. If that's not an option go for the MS in Biomedical Science nearby.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Where are you with your own life? This is a weird question and all, but I get the vibe that everything in your life is on hold because of this med school thing. If so, I'd focus on working, hanging out with your wife, getting that business going and doing some phlebotomy stuff. You already have your degree, so taking the extra classes for a biology degree seems sort of superfluous. In the meantime, study some physics and chemistry and up that PS score in April. Don't commit to any graduate program unless you know you want that degree -- plugging through an MA, MS or MPH if you're not really interested in it would be hell.

Also, try to get feedback from schools you've interviewed at to see what's going on.

As for AUC and SGU, they cost a lot of money, but so do all private schools. Also, you only have to be gone for two years. I think your marriage can survive that, but again, you've got to focus on it now.

 

[DD214_DOC]

No idea. The whole idea behind more classes is to improve whatever perceived deficiencies may exist. I don't think my PS is that big of a deal as nobody has ever asked about it.

I would dig grad school for something such as psych or maybe biomed science, but how much a psych MS would add to my application is questionable.

If I knew I could financially do SGU or AUC, I wouldn't even bother with the rest of my DO apps.

 

[playthatfunky]

No idea. The whole idea behind more classes is to improve whatever perceived deficiencies may exist. I don't think my PS is that big of a deal as nobody has ever asked about it.

I would dig grad school for something such as psych or maybe biomed science, but how much a psych MS would add to my application is questionable.

If I knew I could financially do SGU or AUC, I wouldn't even bother with the rest of my DO apps.

there are a million threads on this already but the best doctor i ever saw (urological pain management specialist) was a DO so dont dis em too hard.

 

[DD214_DOC]

there are a million threads on this already but the best doctor i ever saw (urological pain management specialist) was a DO so dont dis em too hard.

I meant I wouldn't bother with my DO apps because of money.

 

[Megalofyia]

You clearly want to be a doctor and I know it's frustrating when you feel like your being given the run around by the schools.
I dont think your GPA is hurting as much as you think .. at least not for the DO schools but also people get into MD schools with GPAs like that too.
No one may have brought it up but that 6 in physical science isn't helping anything. Although the overall MCAT score is fine for DO schools.
You should also take into consideration that you do have an acceptance to AUC so in two years when your applying after doing a masters (if you go that route) you could also be coming back to the state to do rotations if you had gone carrib.

Maybe it would be better to remind yourself of what is motivating you so much to want to go into medicine. What is it that has given you the strength to persevere with this application process? Do something in that rejuvinates you and your drive for medicine, spend time with your wife, and maybe work on getting the MCAT even higher.
The martial arts and psychology stuff is cool and might make your application more unique but you have a pretty heavy background in it now so I dont know how much more of it will add to your application overall.

This is just some stuff to think about.

 

[playthatfunky]

I meant I wouldn't bother with my DO apps because of money.

o i get it now

 

[DD214_DOC]

You clearly want to be a doctor and I know it's frustrating when you feel like your being given the run around by the schools.
I dont think your GPA is hurting as much as you think .. at least not for the DO schools but also people get into MD schools with GPAs like that too.
No one may have brought it up but that 6 in physical science isn't helping anything. Although the overall MCAT score is fine for DO schools.
You should also take into consideration that you do have an acceptance to AUC so in two years when your applying after doing a masters (if you go that route) you could also be coming back to the state to do rotations if you had gone carrib.

Maybe it would be better to remind yourself of what is motivating you so much to want to go into medicine. What is it that has given you the strength to persevere with this application process? Do something in that rejuvinates you and your drive for medicine, spend time with your wife, and maybe work on getting the MCAT even higher.
The martial arts and psychology stuff is cool and might make your application more unique but you have a pretty heavy background in it now so I dont know how much more of it will add to your application overall.

This is just some stuff to think about.

My PS score is paradoxical. My strongest subject in college is my weakest MCAT score. It is my nemesis and I've decided to retake the MCAT in April just to improve that subsection, just because it annoys me. This is regardless of any admission.

I would have thought if any DO school had a problem they would have brought it up. So far, none of them have. I haven't been asked about my transcript, grades, or MCAT.

By the way, I haven't received any rejections yet. WVSOM just sort of shrugged its shoulders and stuck me in the "worry about him later" pile. I'm treating this as a pending rejection. Naturally, they gave no reason.

In all honesty, I really liked WVSOM as a school. I'm not too hip on the cold weather and lack of anything near the school. Really nice people though

I have an interview in GA on the 15th. I remembered why I liked this school so much last year -- the kwoon of my Sifu's Sifu is 5 minutes away.

 

[goat]

Hey JKDMed,

I know this may sound cheesy, but as a fellow South Carolinian, I don't think you should give up hope just yet. Your stats look good for DO (of course everyone could always be more competitive somehow). You have an interview with GA and do not have an official rejection from WV so don't despair. I think you still have some time since your Caribbean start date isn't until August? The only con with the Caribbean, besides financial, is that you'll be distancing yourself from your wife and if I am correct, you turned down WV last year b/c of separation from your wife. Perhaps getting a one year Masters locally may not be a bad idea especially if you can tie it in with how it will help you as a doc and you would still be close to your wife. Good luck!

 

[maishaldan]

First of all, condolences on "wait-list" status. I'm in that lamest of all places myself, in November...WTF!!!

Some of my questions and points will repeat what's already been said:

1. Well, a wait-list ain't a reject; people do clear the list, so there's still hope for WVSOM.

2. You got an interview next week, and you're somewhat early...if it's a DO school. So there's another possibility, I wish you the best.

3. You've turned in your deposit for one of the Carib schools, right? If you really wanna do this med-thing, you've got a seat.

4. It really seems like you do want to do this, so consider these possible scenarios two years from now:

A: Doing stateside rotations after just completing pre-clinical (Caribbean route)

B: Starting your second year at either GA, or WV, (if you get in, a true possibility)

C: Still being in grad school completing the program of your choosing. Or, repeating this application process if you take additional science courses, which is cool; but you've got an acceptance and interviews with the work you've got on display NOW

I know it ain't that simple w/the wife, so I sympathize. I'm sure you and your wife will come up with something. I wish I had something smarter to say, but if you got any questions, don't hesitate to fire off a PM.

-Bert