tips for a first-timer? :D

[gimmealyfe]

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hi folks! first time poster here... i have a few questions i wanted to ask you guys. 🙂

i'm extremely interested in DO schools as opposed to the MD schools (nothing wrong with MD, i just find that i can identify myself more with the DO mission statements that i've read on some of the DO school sites) and i want to apply as part of the 2005-2006 incoming class. i was wondering if anyone can give me any advice on how to better facilitate such an endeavor? 😀

my overall GPA right now is a paltry 3.0, which i'm planning to pull up to about a 3.4 in my last year undergrad (there are some classes that i need to make up) and my first MCAT score is 23S. i'm planning to retake it during august and studying my arse off right now to aim for a 35 MCAT score (helps make up for lack of an outstanding GPA).

any advice? school recommendations? deadline reminders (i've looked up the deadlines for all the schools listed on AACOMAS but i'm not sure how many other schools are out there)? and um... i guess any pitfalls that you might have personally experienced would be welcome so that i may try to avoid them. 🙂

thanks in advance for all your help! good luck to everyone!

 

[dr.z]

All schools are listed on AACOM web site. TCOM in Texas does not use AACOMAS application. Apply at your earliest convenience.

 

[TheFish005]

this is probably just a typo or something, but do you mean 2006-2007 entering class? you're a tad (like a whole year) late for applying for 2005 entry.

as for your application, if you can manage to pull your gpa to a 3.4 or 3.5, you should be fine, even with the 23 mcat. I think the MEAN mcat in my class was a 26. i think a 35 is a big of an unrealistic goal. pulling an mcat up even a few points is very difficult. i would recommend taking a prep course such as kaplan or princeton review. 28-30 would be more doable from a 23, and plenty to get you into most med schools, DO or otherwise. also, do you have any exposure in the field of medicine (volunteer or employment)? this is a biggy, especially for DO schools. they tend to look more at your character, experiences, and activities than simply the numbers. this may sound like alot of work, but it's doable if medicine is really what you want.