Just asking for thoughts. Undergrad in English + Creative Writing with a 3.41. Several years working in education --> child development --> developmental biology, led to an interest in medicine. 3.41 also in my formal career-changer post-bac pre-med program; A's in intro and upper division Bio classes, B's in calc/chem/second semester physics. Have needed to work 25-30 hours/week to support myself through my education ( undergrad and post-bac) after a parent passed away my freshman year of college. I did take a few weeks off work to study for the MCAT and managed a 515 (128/129/128/130). ECs include significant hours working as a scirbe in a local county ER, volunteering at a local children's hospital, and all of the work I did during/after undergrad (barista, admin assistant/preschool teacher, operations coordinator, library assistant). 4 LOR: 2 from science professors, 1 from the hospital I scribe at, 1 from past work (more of a personal letter, I presume). CA applicant. ORM. First-generation college student.
I understand the concern adcoms will have given the lack of improvement between my undergrad and postbac GPAs. I understand that it's a given that pre-meds are supposed to drop everything in pursuit of their studies during formal post-bacs, but it simply wasn't a financial option for me. I don't want to make excuses for a lower-than-average GPA. I've written in secondaries about the reflection I've done on the value of protected study time and how I've learned how to be the best student I can be. I've been told that my PS, ECs, and MCAT are strong by my letter writers. I've applied broadly to mid and low tier MD schools. I would apply to DO schools, but have been hesitant due to my lack of DO exposure (no DO docs that work in my ER).
I guess I'm looking for realistic expectations for the cycle? Should I be focusing on applying DO right now? I'm complete everywhere (as on 8/12, when my last letter writer submitted) to 30ish schools, a few weeks earlier for schools that only required 3 LOR.
Thanks for any advice/thoughts!
