I would actually prefer D.O., the only thing I'm concerned about is that there is only one program in my state (MSU) and out of state is so much higher in tuition. But here's my background, I'll apologize beforehand as it might be a bit of a novel:
Epic fail first couple years of college due to severe clinical depression (ironically, my major was psychology and I had wanted to be a forensic psychiatrist). After a year and a half, I finally got myself together by coming home to a community college. Worked on getting back to normal and my drive back. I was an excellent high school student who loved to learn, but I had to really work to get that back after my downward spiral.
My cGPA for the two places was 2.09, sGPA 2.25.
At that point, I decided I was ready to pursue a degree again, as my drive and determination had returned with a vengeance. I transferred to a private college and spent 4 years earning a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy. I graduated with a cGPA of 3.89.
According to the spreadsheet, my cGPA for the private college was 3.94, sGPA 3.9.
So, for an M.D. program, my cGPA is 3.2, my sGPA is 3.2; it would stay within .05 if I retook certain classes, just because so many classes are already calculated into it (meaning each individual class has less impact, of course). D.O. - if I understand this correctly, and they would only look at my grades from the college I received my degree from - would be the cGPA 3.94 and sGPA 3.9.
I haven't yet taken the MCAT, but my practice tests are ranging from 34-36 (depending on whether they're official practice tests or Kaplan). I have it scheduled for late July, and planned on having my applications in by mid-August. However, after all the lurking I've done on this site the last couple days, it sounds as though I should move both of those deadlines to early June? Just because of my stats, it seems like getting it all in as quickly as possible would be even more important... I was just hoping to have more time to prepare, but it seems as though I can't afford that?
I have also read that having a 'hardship' to help explain academic failure can help your application (particularly for M.D. in this case), and also a steep upward trend for GPA (which I clearly have, and maintained throughout earning my degree).
I haven't had much volunteering, I started this month and planned on having about 150 hours by June for tutoring elementary kids/watching toddlers at a shelter for those working toward their GED, and working at the food bank. No research experience. Thanks to my degree, I have over 1400 hours of clinical experience as a radiation therapist. I took and passed the ARRT boards last July, received an 87, and am currently a registered radiation therapist.
Obviously, though, my hope is to continue on to become a radiation oncologist (and I would hope I know what that entails by now, ha). What are my chances?
EDIT: Oh! And also, I have classes on my private college transcript that were technically math/science/biology classes, but they are labeled RDT rather than BIO, SCI, MTH, etc, just because they were program-specific. I did not include them in the current calculations for my GPAs. Would an admissions committee?
Epic fail first couple years of college due to severe clinical depression (ironically, my major was psychology and I had wanted to be a forensic psychiatrist). After a year and a half, I finally got myself together by coming home to a community college. Worked on getting back to normal and my drive back. I was an excellent high school student who loved to learn, but I had to really work to get that back after my downward spiral.
My cGPA for the two places was 2.09, sGPA 2.25.
At that point, I decided I was ready to pursue a degree again, as my drive and determination had returned with a vengeance. I transferred to a private college and spent 4 years earning a Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy. I graduated with a cGPA of 3.89.
According to the spreadsheet, my cGPA for the private college was 3.94, sGPA 3.9.
So, for an M.D. program, my cGPA is 3.2, my sGPA is 3.2; it would stay within .05 if I retook certain classes, just because so many classes are already calculated into it (meaning each individual class has less impact, of course). D.O. - if I understand this correctly, and they would only look at my grades from the college I received my degree from - would be the cGPA 3.94 and sGPA 3.9.
I haven't yet taken the MCAT, but my practice tests are ranging from 34-36 (depending on whether they're official practice tests or Kaplan). I have it scheduled for late July, and planned on having my applications in by mid-August. However, after all the lurking I've done on this site the last couple days, it sounds as though I should move both of those deadlines to early June? Just because of my stats, it seems like getting it all in as quickly as possible would be even more important... I was just hoping to have more time to prepare, but it seems as though I can't afford that?
I have also read that having a 'hardship' to help explain academic failure can help your application (particularly for M.D. in this case), and also a steep upward trend for GPA (which I clearly have, and maintained throughout earning my degree).
I haven't had much volunteering, I started this month and planned on having about 150 hours by June for tutoring elementary kids/watching toddlers at a shelter for those working toward their GED, and working at the food bank. No research experience. Thanks to my degree, I have over 1400 hours of clinical experience as a radiation therapist. I took and passed the ARRT boards last July, received an 87, and am currently a registered radiation therapist.
Obviously, though, my hope is to continue on to become a radiation oncologist (and I would hope I know what that entails by now, ha). What are my chances?
EDIT: Oh! And also, I have classes on my private college transcript that were technically math/science/biology classes, but they are labeled RDT rather than BIO, SCI, MTH, etc, just because they were program-specific. I did not include them in the current calculations for my GPAs. Would an admissions committee?
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