WAMC without a postbacc?

[PremiumCO]

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Am I screwed without a post bacc? I would be more than happy attending any DO school, I just want to be a doctor.

Colorado Resident, ORM
Biochemistry Major; Biology, Mathematics and Writing Minors
cGPA: 3.34
sGPA: 3.15
MCAT: 508
My junior and senior year gpas are 3.42 and 3.72, respectively, so I have a slight upward trend.
It might also be worth noting my junior year gpa would be better but I received a C+ and a B- one semester due to a tragic family death during midterms. I'm not sure if that would be worth justifying in my application.

Clinical Volunteering: 150 hours at a free clinic.
Clinical Work: 700 hours as a CNA. Just started as a scribe and can have 2000+ hours before matriculation.
Shadowing: 44 hours (16 primary care, 28 ED)
Non-clinical Volunteering: 50 hours working with disadvantaged high school kids at a Christian outreach; 5 weeks working at a summer camp; 20 hours working on a skin cancer prevention coalition on college campuses
Leadership: Founded a Christian Fraternity and held multiple leadership positions; RA for 1 year
Tutoring: 30 hours paid middle school math tutor
No awards other than 1 semester on the dean's list.
No Research

I am very interested in primary care and have a solid story and PS to tie why I am interested in it. I also have a strong DO LoR.
Do I stand a chance without spending money on a postbacc? And is there any area in my ECs I can also improve?

 

[ABysmalGains]

I have a similar GPA with a much lower MCAT and have multiple II's this cycle. If you are genuinely interested in primary care and have a unique personal statement I don't see why you could't have some luck.

 

[Etan19197]

I have slightly lower stats, 3.31 cGPA, 3.18 sGPA with a 507 MCAT. Same major actually and I've had 2 interviews this cycle. Definitely apply broadly. My biggest mistake was not having a physician letter so my DO options were extremely limited. I would apply once and if you don't get in maybe try the post bacc but I'm confident you will get interviews.

 

[PapaGuava]

Thread moved to the WAMC subsection.

 

[PremiumCO]

@ABysmalGains @Etan19197 Thank you both for the encouragement! Were the II's you received primarily from newer DO schools? Were any more established schools forgiving of your lower gpas?

 

[Etan19197]

@ABysmalGains @Etan19197 Thank you both for the encouragement! Were the II's you received primarily from newer DO schools? Were any more established schools forgiving of your lower gpas?

Both of mine came from established schools. However, the interview I attended already resulted in a waitlist. Could be because of my gpa but who knows.

 

[ABysmalGains]

@ABysmalGains @Etan19197 Thank you both for the encouragement! Were the II's you received primarily from newer DO schools? Were any more established schools forgiving of your lower gpas?

Mine are from established schools, I just fit their mission well.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[CrapshootDO]

@ABysmalGains @Etan19197 Did either of your II's turned into acceptances yet?

 

[Etan19197]

No I withdrew from one school and am on the lowest tier of my top choice. Met with them and they gave some solid advice. Said I had a chance to be accepted without a post bac next cycle, but taking a couple courses during the cycle would greatly increase my chances. However, I lacked a lot more than a solid sGPA this cycle.

 

[ABysmalGains]

a few waitlists and a hold. I really need to boost my sgpa but there's still hope. I also think me applying really late hurt my chances.

 

[Ozymandias34]

No I withdrew from one school and am on the lowest tier of my top choice. Met with them and they gave some solid advice. Said I had a chance to be accepted without a post bac next cycle, but taking a couple courses during the cycle would greatly increase my chances. However, I lacked a lot more than a solid sGPA this cycle.

They wanted you to take a couple classes during the cycle you applied in? Wondering because i might do that as well during my upcoming cycle and will just update them on my new grades

 

[Etan19197]

They wanted you to take a couple classes during the cycle you applied in? Wondering because i might do that as well during my upcoming cycle and will just update them on my new grades

Yeah she basically showed me the view that each adcom sees applications. There was a column for “Post Bacc GPA” and she told me that even taking one course to fill the blank with a 4.0 would help. So since I work full-time I’ll be taking 3-5 classes from May-April. Obviously every school is different. This school values updates pretty highly though.

If you have a low gpa I would advise to do it since if you do have to reapply you’ll already have some courses to build off of.

 

[Ozymandias34]

Yeah she basically showed me the view that each adcom sees applications. There was a column for “Post Bacc GPA” and she told me that even taking one course to fill the blank with a 4.0 would help. So since I work full-time I’ll be taking 3-5 classes from May-April. Obviously every school is different. This school values updates pretty highly though.

If you have a low gpa I would advise to do it since if you do have to reapply you’ll already have some courses to build off of.

Exact advice i was looking for. Thank you! And good luck in your journey my friend

 

[PremiumCO]

They wanted you to take a couple classes during the cycle you applied in? Wondering because i might do that as well during my upcoming cycle and will just update them on my new grades

I went to a DO admissions fair a little bit ago and asked a bunch of questions, and 3 DO adcom reps told me I should apply this cycle, and that even taking 3-4 classes during the cycle in case of reapplication would drastically improve my chances next time around, so I am also doing this. It seems like a good idea.