What are my chances?

[john335568]

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Hi! I am currently a senior in undergrad. I didn't apply to anything last cycle in an effort to do more stuff and get my grade up. I also was not sure if i would graduate on time because I transfered schools partway through. Initially I wanted go to med school but I have a pretty low gpa I am looking at my other options. I want to provide care in the medical field and optometry is really interesting to me and I have been doing research into it. I haven't done any shadowing of optometrists yet. I would rather not spend years of post bacc classes if I don't have to. I really am a hard-working and driven person in spite of pretty low grades, I truly believe I would be a great optometrist, otherwise I would pursue another field that is less rigorous.

My GPA right now is 3.1, with my science gpa about 3.0.
I have about 60 hours of shadowing a DO.
I have a pretty decent upward grade trend last 3 semesters I have averaged a 3.5 gpa. I was pretty unfocused my first two years but am trying to overcome that.

I have one year of astronomy research.

About 40 hours volunteering in a hospital.

I currently work in home health care.

I have not taken OAT or MCAT

I am not willing to go to Caribbean schools. But other than that I am completely open to whatever I need to do to make things happen.

Thanks for your time!

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

You seem like a good candidate for taking the MCAT and then doing an SMP, especially for DO schools with linkage.

I bet you could do well on the OAT and get in.

I know you could get into pharmacy school (and rural jobs are still around).

Definitely could do podiatry. Whatever people say, if you were okay with being a PCP, then being a pod isnt much different and makes a pretty penny.

I would suggest that Occupational therapy is possible.

PT is out. PA is out. DVM is out. Dental is probably out.

the world is your oyster

 

[john335568]

You seem like a good candidate for taking the MCAT and then doing an SMP, especially for DO schools with linkage.

I bet you could do well on the OAT and get in.

I know you could get into pharmacy school (and rural jobs are still around).

Definitely could do podiatry. Whatever people say, if you were okay with being a PCP, then being a pod isnt much different and makes a pretty penny.

I would suggest that Occupational therapy is possible.

PT is out. PA is out. DVM is out. Dental is probably out.

the world is your oyster

Thank you I'm trying to explore my options. Is there a link to a list of schools with linkage? Having trouble finding it. My biggest fear of doing SMP is getting through and still not getting in to med school and being in more debt.
My number one choice for DO school would be Ohio University. I live in Ohio.

From what I have read pharmacy seems like it is a really bad career to get into.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

VCOM, touro

I think if you took the MCAT and score 510ish you could probably get into new DO schools anyway

if you would be happy in rural midwest, west, or south, then it's (pharm) good. otherwise, nah.

 

[Weirdy]

Thank you I'm trying to explore my options. Is there a link to a list of schools with linkage? Having trouble finding it. My biggest fear of doing SMP is getting through and still not getting in to med school and being in more debt.
My number one choice for DO school would be Ohio University. I live in Ohio.

From what I have read pharmacy seems like it is a really bad career to get into.

For podiatry, consider Kent State. It is in Independence Ohio.

Unless you really don't want to do feet, what THEBACKANDFORTH suggested.

 

[john335568]

Do you think it would be feasible to apply to two things in one cycle? Such as DO schools and OD or podiatry?

Another thing I did not mention is I am white, but I am from Appalachia, I know certain places for undergrad at least which consider that an underrepresented group, are there any med schools who look at that more favorably?

 

[Weirdy]

Do you think it would be feasible to apply to two things in one cycle? Such as DO schools and OD or podiatry?

Another thing I did not mention is I am white, but I am from Appalachia, I know certain places for undergrad at least which consider that an underrepresented group, are there any med schools who look at that more favorably?

Was pre-med. Considered both OD and DPM when my grades weren't competitive enough for MD/DO route.
You have a great upward trend and can probably handle the curriculum.

What you should really be asking yourself is this: Do I like optometry, podiatry, or DO more if I have to do it for the rest of my life?

Sounds cliche, but do not go into a field simply because you can. Make sure you are doing it because you at least like some part of it.

For both OD and DPM, your specialty is locked in. While DPM has slightly more variety than OD, your scope of practice is still limited to the foot and ankle.

Do not shotgun applications. You will be left with acceptances while your head is still not sure what it wants to do.
Do not graduate with a degree only to regret working in a profession you are stuck in.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

Do you think it would be feasible to apply to two things in one cycle? Such as DO schools and OD or podiatry?

Another thing I did not mention is I am white, but I am from Appalachia, I know certain places for undergrad at least which consider that an underrepresented group, are there any med schools who look at that more favorably?

OP there are some DO schools around Appalachia that will probably interview you with good mcat. Podiatry is essentially practicing medicine.its a good backup.

I’d do as you suggested, take the mcat this year and apply next summer to DO and Pod schools. Good in demand career no matter what doing patient care

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

And OP, if you thought being a PCP was a good job, then you won’t deeply regret being a pod. They function in an identical way.

I’m a fan of making the pragmatic choice and moving on sometimes. It’ll be fine. You’re going to end up with a career better than the vast majority of people no matter what!

 

[john335568]

And OP, if you thought being a PCP was a good job, then you won’t deeply regret being a pod. They function in an identical way.

I’m a fan of making the pragmatic choice and moving on sometimes. It’ll be fine. You’re going to end up with a career better than the vast majority of people no matter what!

I honestly don't care about the money (as long as I have enough to pay my loans off haha) or the prestige. Everybody in the health care industry is important for it to function. I just want to be the best I can be and make a positive difference on my community, in a field I am passionate about, which is medicine. I honestly hate it when people look down on others out of arrogance. We are all in this together 🙂.

 

[john335568]

Was pre-med. Considered both OD and DPM when my grades weren't competitive enough for MD/DO route.
You have a great upward trend and can probably handle the curriculum.

What you should really be asking yourself is this: Do I like optometry, podiatry, or DO more if I have to do it for the rest of my life?

Sounds cliche, but do not go into a field simply because you can. Make sure you are doing it because you at least like some part of it.

For both OD and DPM, your specialty is locked in. While DPM has slightly more variety than OD, your scope of practice is still limited to the foot and ankle.

Do not shotgun applications. You will be left with acceptances while your head is still not sure what it wants to do.
Do not graduate with a degree only to regret working in a profession you are stuck in.

For OD I definitely think I could do that as a career. I don't know about podiatry I have never been to a podiatrist, however I did shadow a wound care doctor which assuming it is pretty similar, I think I would be able to handle it. (I don't know what kind of overlap is there but that is my closest experience.)

What did you end up doing if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Weirdy]

For OD I definitely think I could do that as a career. I don't know about podiatry I have never been to a podiatrist, however I did shadow a wound care doctor which assuming it is pretty similar, I think I would be able to handle it. (I don't know what kind of overlap is there but that is my closest experience.)

What did you end up doing if you don't mind my asking?

2nd year podiatry

Love it so far. Went in not knowing all of the surgical, woundcare, derm involved.
Key difference was a lot of optometry was refraction. They are very good at what they do and are trained to do more than what they see in the office typically. But I wanted more hands on stuff.

Its a lot of work but worth it. Hope you pick something you like. For optometry you do not have a 3 year residency. You do have a 1 year optional residency, but it is not mandatory like podiatry. Graduate and start working.

Have a lot of friends who also went OD and they like it. Laid back, good hours, decent pay. Just watch for saturation in certain cities and the usual.

 

[Weirdy]

And OP, if you thought being a PCP was a good job, then you won’t deeply regret being a pod. They function in an identical way.

I’m a fan of making the pragmatic choice and moving on sometimes. It’ll be fine. You’re going to end up with a career better than the vast majority of people no matter what!

With the exception that OP has a chance to do surgery when and if the cases present.

But yes, I also hope OP picks what they will enjoy whether it be DO, OD, DPM.

 

[john335568]

Slight update I looked at my GPA. I actually averaged a 3.6 the last 3 semesters and have close to a 3.3, should be a 3.35 by the time I graduate. I didn't calculate my science gpa yet because I have 6 more science classes to take over next semester and summer.

Does not change my plans much, but if anyone has anymore input based on these slightly better metrics just wanted to give the update.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

Slight update I looked at my GPA. I actually averaged a 3.6 the last 3 semesters and have close to a 3.3, should be a 3.35 by the time I graduate. I didn't calculate my science gpa yet because I have 6 more science classes to take over next semester and summer.

Does not change my plans much, but if anyone has anymore input based on these slightly better metrics just wanted to give the update.

If your sGPA is above 3.2 and you get above a 505+ on the MCAT, I'd then apply very broadly to DO schools and do pod as a backup in the same cycle

I'd probably apply to DO schools regardless, but you will need an okay MCAT to have a good shot. There are mcat vs gpa stats published online