What are my chances?

[lotus824]

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Hello everyone, so I'm considering applying to the next cycle and these are the stats I'm going in with, so PLEASE be honest and let me know what I should expect:

~ 3.20 cGPA, 3.00 sGPA, 29 MCAT
~ Hispanic, FL resident
~ Psychology major with minors in chemistry and biology
~ 1.5 years of research experience in an HIV prevention study in my university's psychology dept, will be a paid research associate starting in the summer
~ Peer leader for freshman biology students
~ Secretary of pre-health honor society chapter
~ 100 hours of shadowing and 150 hours of volunteering at children's hospital
~ Letters of recommendation from pre-health committee, PI of study, doctor I shadowed, and psychology professor

I've wanted to be a pediatrician my whole life and I'll do whatever it takes. Obviously, my grades and MCAT are not impressive. I was considering applying for a Masters in Public Health before since I am interested in that field and some programs in my state offer some immunology/toxicology classes that could boost up my science GPA. Or should I just take more science classes as a part-time student and work at a hospital or some health-related setting for a year and then apply? What do you think would be the best option to get into a DO school in the U.S.? Thanks 🙂

 

[Back 5]

Looks like a thread for WAMC thread.

Retake your science courses, get your sGPA above a 3.3 and I'd say you'd have a good shot applying early in 2014.

 

[Temperature101]

Hello everyone, so I'm considering applying to the next cycle and these are the stats I'm going in with, so PLEASE be honest and let me know what I should expect:

~ 3.20 cGPA, 3.00 sGPA, 29 MCAT
~ Hispanic, FL resident
~ Psychology major with minors in chemistry and biology
~ 1.5 years of research experience in an HIV prevention study in my university's psychology dept, will be a paid research associate starting in the summer
~ Peer leader for freshman biology students
~ Secretary of pre-health honor society chapter
~ 100 hours of shadowing and 150 hours of volunteering at children's hospital
~ Letters of recommendation from pre-health committee, PI of study, doctor I shadowed, and psychology professor

I've wanted to be a pediatrician my whole life and I'll do whatever it takes. Obviously, my grades and MCAT are not impressive. I was considering applying for a Masters in Public Health before since I am interested in that field and some programs in my state offer some immunology/toxicology classes that could boost up my science GPA. Or should I just take more science classes as a part-time student and work at a hospital or some health-related setting for a year and then apply? What do you think would be the best option to get into a DO school in the U.S.? Thanks 🙂

A master in public health would be a waste of money and time. I think you have a shot now. But if you wanna be competitive, you have to retake a few science classes that you got C+ or lower so you can increase your sGPA to 3.3+, and I think 3-4 retake with A will get you there because of the DO grade replacement policy. You should definitely apply this year and I believe if you apply early and broadly you will have a fair shot getting into a DO school especially the newer ones.

 

[TwinsFan]

I'd say you have a decent chance at some of the newer schools this year. Your MCAT and ECs are both pretty good, Hispanic ethnicity may help a bit, but your GPA will hurt you. Retakes to get overall/science to 3.3+ and you should get some interviews.

I would do a year of postbacc classes with several retakes and several new classes and apply early next year. This plus a broad app should work out well.

 

[Dharma]

Hello everyone, so I'm considering applying to the next cycle and these are the stats I'm going in with, so PLEASE be honest and let me know what I should expect:

~ 3.20 cGPA, 3.00 sGPA, 29 MCAT
~ Hispanic, FL resident
~ Psychology major with minors in chemistry and biology
~ 1.5 years of research experience in an HIV prevention study in my university's psychology dept, will be a paid research associate starting in the summer
~ Peer leader for freshman biology students
~ Secretary of pre-health honor society chapter
~ 100 hours of shadowing and 150 hours of volunteering at children's hospital
~ Letters of recommendation from pre-health committee, PI of study, doctor I shadowed, and psychology professor

I've wanted to be a pediatrician my whole life and I'll do whatever it takes. Obviously, my grades and MCAT are not impressive. I was considering applying for a Masters in Public Health before since I am interested in that field and some programs in my state offer some immunology/toxicology classes that could boost up my science GPA. Or should I just take more science classes as a part-time student and work at a hospital or some health-related setting for a year and then apply? What do you think would be the best option to get into a DO school in the U.S.? Thanks 🙂

I say take a shot for this upcoming cycle. Have everything ready to go so when the cycle opens you can just hit send. Your stats will get you interviews at some places and the URM status is not going to hurt either.

Go ahead and boost the GPA, but be sure to include upper level science courses along the lines of what you may see in med school (e.g. biochem, physiology, immuno, etc). Just remember, you need A's across the board in these classes, so don't go too big there! The MPH is good if you really want to do it, but it isn't gonna hold that much weight in terms of your application. It will help to some degree, but it's not much of a game changer. Putting up A's in upper level bio/chem classes... different story. That will help. But still, if you're truly interested in the MPH go for it (just not if the driving factor is to make your app look better).

Regardless, I think you'll get a few interview offers if you apply early and broadly for THIS cycle and possibly have a chance of starting med school in 2014. There have certainly been folks with stats of a lesser caliber (without URM status) who have landed a seat here and there.

Best of luck! Keep the group updated if you can.

 

[hallowmann]

Hello everyone, so I'm considering applying to the next cycle and these are the stats I'm going in with, so PLEASE be honest and let me know what I should expect:

~ 3.20 cGPA, 3.00 sGPA, 29 MCAT
~ Hispanic, FL resident
~ Psychology major with minors in chemistry and biology
~ 1.5 years of research experience in an HIV prevention study in my university's psychology dept, will be a paid research associate starting in the summer
~ Peer leader for freshman biology students
~ Secretary of pre-health honor society chapter
~ 100 hours of shadowing and 150 hours of volunteering at children's hospital
~ Letters of recommendation from pre-health committee, PI of study, doctor I shadowed, and psychology professor

I've wanted to be a pediatrician my whole life and I'll do whatever it takes. Obviously, my grades and MCAT are not impressive. I was considering applying for a Masters in Public Health before since I am interested in that field and some programs in my state offer some immunology/toxicology classes that could boost up my science GPA. Or should I just take more science classes as a part-time student and work at a hospital or some health-related setting for a year and then apply? What do you think would be the best option to get into a DO school in the U.S.? Thanks 🙂

To sum up: URM, 3.2/3.0, 29 MCAT (even distribution?), and good ECs.

Do you have a DO letter? Its kind of important if you want to apply DO.

As of right now an MPH wouldn't make sense. If you want a masters it should be in sciences, like an SMP or something. You need to take science classes that will boost your sGPA (and obviously doing well on any classes will boost your cGPA), If you can retake classes and are going for DO, I'd do that.

If you are going for MD, which quite frankly might be in reach for you given the URM status and the only slightly below average MCAT. This, however, is provided that your GPA does not include retakes. Make sure to apply smartly if you are going for MD, because many schools won't even look at you, while others would love to have you. EDIT: I just saw that you are a FL resident. You should definitely be applying to all of the FL schools, MD and DO, because I think you'd get into at least one of them.

As far as DO goes, I think you could get in as is, but you are an average applicant. Increase your GPAs to around 3.3 and you would be competitive.

Also, this really should be in the WAMC ("what are my chances" if you are new) thread.

 

[BuddyTheElf]

Did you re-take any courses, especially science? If so, grade replacement does wonders for you on the AACOMAS (app for DO schools). Your MCAT is competitive for DO schools and it sounds like you have good ECs. I'd say apply EARLY and broadly. You may get weeded out of quite a few due to your gpa, though.
Good luck