MD & DO Unsure on where I stand

[rj42]

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Alright. So as it stands right now my GPA at my current college is at a 2.9, BUT I still have to take a bulk of my science classes (A&P, Physiology stand alone, Orgo 2, Biochem, cell bio and other science courses). I am on the fence about the MD/DO or possibly the PA route and was curious to see what others think of the resume? So, this is my current situation.

I have changed my major 3 times from Journalism to Information technology to Biological Sciences currently. I'll end up with about 200ish undergrad credits with a Major in Bio science, minor in chemistry and public health.

To explain the 2.9 GPA, I had a point in my academic career where I was at a crossroads of what I really wanted to do and didn't have motivation and ended up doing very poorly at a previous university than the one I am currently attending and this was while I was information technology. Since then I transferred to my current university and had a slow and rough start. I got straight C's for the most part, but since then have gotten A's and B's with the exception of Orgo 1 (a D will retake).

Since I do have over 30 credits remaining I think I can recover to a 3.4 maybe a 3.5 if I ace out?

E.C.'s include: Graduated from CC with high honors, apart of Biological Sciences Honor society, Volunteer organization, currently volunteering in a research project to improve quality of communication between patients and physician's at the VA hospital. I will be taking an EMT course for 8 credits to boost my GPA and gain PCE/HCE. I worked at a retirement home as a dietary aide for 5.5 years ~4,000 hours HCE? Supervisor at same retirement home. I plan on going on a medical mission trip this summer as well and volunteering in other areas as well.

Brothers and sisters all pre-med, grandfather(passed away unfortunately) general medicine surgeon

MCAT/LOR/Shadowing hours in progress.....

I have time being almost 25 y/o and was just wondering what areas of my resume are strong and where I can improve from now until I apply next year?

Any help is appreciated! 🙂

 

[Faha]

If you increase your GPA to 3.3 and score over 500 on the MCAT then you would be competitive for at least some DO schools. With a higher GPA and and a MCAT of 508 you may have a chance for interviews at some MD schools.

 

[Blanky]

You arent going to be able to apply next year. You have 200 credits at 2.9, I doubt 30 credits is going to move you more than like +0.2.

 

[candbgirl]

You need shadowing for sure. Around 50 hours including time with a primary care physician. What do you do with your research project? How about at the retirement home? Do you interact with the residents? I’m not sure about the work at the retirement home being clinical experience. If the people you interact with are in skilled nursing it might be but if they are residents and you work with the dietary department I don’t think it would count. You probably need some work in a hospital setting. Are you sure your EMT courses will count in your AMCAS GPA calculations? I never realized that it does but it’s something to check out!

And why are you doing a mission trip? Your time would be better spent working right here in the US. ADCOMS can and do look at mission trips as voluntourism and that isn’t positive..

Come back when you have your MCAT score and people will be glad to help you out.

 

[Shotapp]

You have 200 credits bruh. It's going to take a lot more credits than 30 to raise your GPA to a 3.4.

 

[rj42]

You need shadowing for sure. Around 50 hours including time with a primary care physician. What do you do with your research project? How about at the retirement home? Do you interact with the residents? I’m not sure about the work at the retirement home being clinical experience. If the people you interact with are in skilled nursing it might be but if they are residents and you work with the dietary department I don’t think it would count. You probably need some work in a hospital setting. Are you sure your EMT courses will count in your AMCAS GPA calculations? I never realized that it does but it’s something to check out!

And why are you doing a mission trip? Your time would be better spent working right here in the US. ADCOMS can and do look at mission trips as voluntourism and that isn’t positive..

Come back when you have your MCAT score and people will be glad to help you out.

Some clarification: For the research project I ask people if their interested in participating in the study. I will have to participate in more extensive researching before I graduate however. At the retirement home I supervised the independent, assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing areas. I primarily worked as a dietary aide in the skilled nursing wings in coordination with the dietitian, nurse, CNA's and physical/respiratory therapists depending on patient's treatment plan. The patients in the skilled nursing are a combination of residents and, a majority, of those who are not. I will try to get an ER tech job and work the year before I apply. I have done a lot of different volunteering in the States and just want to branch out of my comfort zone by participating in a volunteer experience where I don't necessarily know the language well and provide help to population stricken with unfortunate illnesses and just use my knowledge to hopefully help them on the way to recovery.

I've had mixed responses for the EMT course counting towards GPA, but I do believe it counts towards cGPA if taken for credit.

For the GPA, my 2.9 reflects ONLY my current university and excludes about 110 credits where my GPA was a ~3.5 cGPA, thus earning the high honors distinction. So, the 30 credits could push me to a 3.4-3.5 range I hope. The 200 credits was a bit of an exaggeration. I didn't really check, but I have ~130 credits currently. So, I would think my cGPA is at a 3.2ish currently. sGPA is too early to tell. I still have majority of the classes to take, but it is for sure above 3.0. I feel as if my resume may be "competitive" and average range or a bit below, which means a lot hinges on the MCAT to really show my understanding and be a big factor into the admissions decision.

Thanks everyone for the input! Was my understanding clear and a good estimate?

 

[Blanky]

Please, add your credits entirely and get a REAL gpa.