WAMC DO: 3.69cGPA, 3.9sGPA, 507 MCAT

[al.tb727]

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I plan on submitting an application through AACOMAS next week, I know it's late in the cycle but I want to go through the process and get a repetition in before the beginning of the next cycle. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

1. 3.69 cGPA and 3.9 sGPA
2. 507 MCAT: Chem - 127, CARS - 128, Bio/Biochem - 126, Psych/Soc - 126 (I'm considering retaking as I studied hard for about a month before I took it, my practice Bio/Biochem scores were significantly better)
3. FL Resident
4. White
5. BA in International Studies Univ of South Florida, BS in Biomedical Sciences Keiser University (Tampa)
6. Hospice volunteering (approx. 80 hours)
7. Im currently employed as a laboratory scientist in pharmaceutical drug development (approx. 10000 hours to this point), another 300 paid hours on a 'DNA barcoding' protocol which used sample culturing/PCR/sanger sequencing for sample identification for fungal biobank I worked at (another approx. 1800 hours as a lab technician).
8. Psychiatry shadowing (approx. 40 hours)
9. Approx 200 hours between tutoring and community center volunteering
10. Teaching/tutoring as VP of biomedical sciences club at Keiser University (approx. 100 hours)
11. Dean's List (4.0) at Keiser University while obtaining my degree in Biomedical Sciences, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member
12. I'm weak on clinical hours but I have strong letters of rec from a practicing psychiatrist, Biomed program director, two other PhD instructors and one of the Dean's of Keiser.

Target schools: LECOM-Bradenton, NOVA Southeastern, Burrell, OCOM, VCOM

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What is your endgame? Is AACOMAS still open? Do these schools have a deadline? Why are you planning to spend TWICE for the application cycle when you don't have to? Are you in some sort of rush?

Perhaps the newer DO schools are still hungry for applicants and want to interview them to fill their seats. OCOM and Burrell FL specifically need to fill seats. Granted no DO schools are truly "filled" until after the May/June shuffle (as per traffic rules)... but I'm just not sure why you are doing this rather than work on your application to be optimal.

Clinical experience: not enough. Hospice volunteering 80 hours... you need more. Shadowing is just 40 hours in psychiatry? I'm not sure how I feel about that. I think having some experience with more hands-on patient care would be desirable too (IM/FM, surgery). Psychiatry doesn't take that much space in a med school curriculum. Get to around 200 hours total experience with shadowing in traditional hospital departments... you would be in a better position.

Break down your non-clinical volunteering (tutoring vs. community center) and tell us what you are doing.

 

[al.tb727]

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What is your endgame? Is AACOMAS still open? Do these schools have a deadline? Why are you planning to spend TWICE for the application cycle when you don't have to? Are you in some sort of rush?

Perhaps the newer DO schools are still hungry for applicants and want to interview them to fill their seats. OCOM and Burrell FL specifically need to fill seats. Granted no DO schools are truly "filled" until after the May/June shuffle (as per traffic rules)... but I'm just not sure why you are doing this rather than work on your application to be optimal.

Clinical experience: not enough. Hospice volunteering [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]] hours... you need more. Shadowing is just [emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]] hours in psychiatry? I'm not sure how I feel about that. I think having some experience with more hands-on patient care would be desirable too (IM/FM, surgery). Psychiatry doesn't take that much space in a med school curriculum. Get to around [emoji[emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]] hours total experience with shadowing in traditional hospital departments... you would be in a better position.

Break down your non-clinical volunteering (tutoring vs. community center) and tell us what you are doing.

Thank you for the thorough and thoughtful response, it’s much appreciated.

AACOMAS is still open and the schools I listed accept applications through early April. As mentioned, I know it’s late in the cycle but I hoped to possibly get feedback on my competitiveness if they are still accepting applications (even if the feedback is nothing more than a rejection). I realize I will be spending twice, assuming I won’t be accepted into any schools, but it’s a price I’ve justified to myself to see where I stand at this moment.

You are right about my clinicals, I’m aware that it’s a weakness and I’m actively seeking local DOs to shadow to gain that experience and build hours before the next cycle. AACOMAS is vague with respect to their classification of the kind of laboratory science I perform. According to their application page I believe it falls under ‘health related experience’ although it’s clearly not clinical by any stretch.

Do you believe there’s tangible value as an applicant for DO to have that kind of experience to make up for a lack of clinical hours?

Thanks again!