What are my chances for D.O

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Aaron S.

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Thank you in advance, I am planning on applying in a week and I need some constructive feed back on my stats, thanks again!

-illinois resident
-3.05c / 3.3sci
-27mcat

EC's

-Thousands of reseach hours, currently writting manuscripts for liposomal drug delievery systems, and patents. I have been accepted to speak and present my work at multiple conferences this fall.

-75 hours shadowing an MD.

- A-licensed sport skydiver.

-PADI rescue diver.

- Co-founder of a non for profit
Retreat center.

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- You seem like a good candidate for most DO schools however the only thing holding your app back is the lack of patient contact clinical hours. Just my two cents but the likelihood of acceptance to a program is high. Apply broadly.
 
Thanks for a quick response, I am worried about my patient contact hours as well.

My mom owns a chiropractic clinic in conjunction with a few local MD's, Ive spent years working in her clinic, but I do not think that would apply as patient contact. Our clinic is the expectation in that we dont do quacky stuff and actually work together with the medical field, however im very hesitant to put this in my application.
 
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Did you talk to or interact with patients? If you had any sort of interaction with patients it should count as clinical hours but I am unaware if adcoms look at chiropractic clinics differently. If I were you I would put that in and say what kind of activities you really did with patients.
 
I was doing nutritional education and protocol implementation, so I was working with patients directly.

Just out of curiosity are you a med student? Graduate? Pre-med?
 
I was doing nutritional education and protocol implementation, so I was working with patients directly.

Just out of curiosity are you a med student? Graduate? Pre-med?

I am a premed student at the moment. I have read countless times on this website that if you can smell the patient, then it counts as clinical hours from Lizzie M. I am sure that more experienced users can pitch in here.
 
This will actually be a hindrance. DOs are NOT chiropractors.

Get thee to a real clinic, hospital, nursing home or hospice.

Thanks for a quick response, I am worried about my patient contact hours as well.

My mom owns a chiropractic clinic in conjunction with a few local MD's, Ive spent years working in her clinic, but I do not think that would apply as patient contact. Our clinic is the expectation in that we dont do quacky stuff and actually work together with the medical field, however im very hesitant to put this in my application.
 
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Hey goro! I read alot of your comments on sdn, thanks for taking a second to respond.

-What do you think about my stats? I have solid LOR's from my research advisors, and MD.

- How many patient contact hours should I have? Would it be beneficial to shadow more? Or volunteer at a nursing home, hospital etc?

- Im going into senior year, with my trend, I should have a 3.3c / 3.5 sci upon graduation

- Lastly, should I even apply this cycle? My research taking off and im finally getting an opportunity to present at national conferences. I feel like
 
** sorry typing from my phone and got cutoff.

- I feel like my application would be twice as strong after I get my papers finished and some conferences under my belt.
 
Although your GPA is on the low side you have a good MCAT for most DO schools. Apply broadly to at least 20 schools and include most of the newer schools and schools with lower MCAT medians such as:
ACOM
BCOM
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
LUCOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
CUSOM
MU-COM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
 
This will actually be a hindrance. DOs are NOT chiropractors.

Get thee to a real clinic, hospital, nursing home or hospice.
I disagree. His mom owning a chiropractor spot is out of his control and he isn't claiming that they are equivalent. At least at my school, there are a few former chiropractors in the class.
 
I'd be happier if he saw people in hospital and/or clinics. My Adcom colleagues would disagree and we've wait-listed people whose sole clinical experience was in chiropractic practice (or optometry or pharmacy.)

I disagree. His mom owning a chiropractor spot is out of his control and he isn't claiming that they are equivalent. At least at my school, there are a few former chiropractors in the class.
 
Would a 3.05 cGPA not be too low?
 
Thanks for all the help
3.3 science GPA with a 27 MCAT is probably sufficient(particularly if with an upward trend) to get some II's at the new DO's.

My upward trend is pretty high, 3.7gpa for multiple semesters with upper level biology and chem.

Most of my C's came from the two years of french I took and my first year of college.
 
Ah okay if your upward trend is strong then yeah go for it.
 
I'd be happier if he saw people in hospital and/or clinics. My Adcom colleagues would disagree and we've wait-listed people whose sole clinical experience was in chiropractic practice (or optometry or pharmacy.)

Thanks for the feedback, I agree with both of you guys, I don't want chiropractic to be my only experience. However, it has shown me the struggle of working with insurance companies, hippa compliances, meaningful use and the absurd documentation that goes with that.

In addition, we work with medical doctors, including orthopedic surgeons and pain management specialists.

I strongly feel that my understanding of healthcare goes further then a clincal volunteer experience could offer.

The same pressures that face medical doctors are seen in all fields of patient care regardless of the profession.

Just my two cents :/

And yes, I do need clinical volunteer work to "round" out my application.
 
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