WAMC / School list help please! (ORM from CA, 3.7x, 509)

[CiliasStr3et]

I'm an ORM (asian) from CA looking to apply for DO schools this cycle. I may do MD but I'm scared I'm at a major disadvantage already. I'm about to finish my primary and send it out end of august latest hopefully.
My cGPA and sGPA are both 3.7x and my MCAT is 509 with my CARS being a 124. I'm on my 2nd gap year right now.
Clinical experience: I only have a medical assistant job as my source of clinical hours, I've put about 600-700 hours in this.
Research: I have about 500 hours in this, spread among 2 different labs but no pubs. I didn't get too much done in either, but contributed to group efforts.
Shadowing: I shadowed a primary care DO for 60 hours.
Non clinical volunteer: I have helped out at 2 different food banks for about 60 hours combined as well.
Hobbies: I have an online business that I have run since high school, nothing majorly impressive tho.
LOR: 1 from DO (that I have to write), 1 from PI (strong I hope), and 3 from regular professors I had (most likely weak), 1 from a PA I work with
Only honors I've gotten are dean's list for a few quarters, nothing else.

The schools I'm looking at are Touro CA/NY, WesternU, and CHSU (although very shaky and heard awful things). I want to stay around California hopefully but I can't really be choosing here. Please help me with my school list! Thank you so much

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[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums. You probably already know your non-clinical volunteering is sub-par and you could be screened out at most schools. You aren't late for DO programs, but you can't be choosy to stay in California. If your desire to be in medical school is urgent, take note of the newer DO programs.

You could try for MD programs within California if you have a demonstrated mission fit. Again, the lack of non/clinical volunteering will work against you.

 

[Faha]

You are competitive for all DO schools with your stats. Apply broadly and I suggest these schools:
WESTERN
TUCOM-CA
TUNCOM
AZCOM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
CCOM
MU-COM
UIWSOM
CUSOM
WVSOM
PCOM
NYITCOM
Touro-NY
LECOM
You could also receive interviews at MD schools and I suggest these:
California University
Loma Linda (if you fit their mission)
TCU
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Oakland Beaumont
Belmont
NOVA MD
Wake Forest
Eastern Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
George Washington
Drexel
Temple
Penn State
Jefferson
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Alice Walton (when it opens)
Roseman (when it opens)

 

[MD_Maker]

It's up to your values. Do you want to be doctor 1 year sooner and take the risk? With a good application, I could see you having some success, but it's not a given. Either that, or take a year to work on your app and make it really strong. Based on what you described here, it's a bit sparse.

 

[CiliasStr3et]

Welcome to the forums. You probably already know your non-clinical volunteering is sub-par and you could be screened out at most schools. You aren't late for DO programs, but you can't be choosy to stay in California. If your desire to be in medical school is urgent, take note of the newer DO programs.

You could try for MD programs within California if you have a demonstrated mission fit. Again, the lack of non/clinical volunteering will work against you.

For DO, is my hours okay? or should I continue to work on it? Anticipated hours could be more in the future.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

For DO, is my hours okay? or should I continue to work on it? Anticipated hours could be more in the future.

The more established the DO program, the more likely the low numbers of completed hours matter.