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Hello everyone,
This will be my first post on the sdn forum, I am looking for some advice on what I can do to have a shot at gaining acceptance into either an MD or DO program. Just in case you all are wondering I might post this on both the allopathic and osteopathic pre-med forums. My post may be a little lengthy, but I really want to provide you all with an accurate picture of my current situation. Ill try a bullet format that way it will allow you read it easier and faster. So here it goes:
Stats:
- MCAT x 2 = 14N (2005), 22N (2009)☹
- Undergraduate cum. GPA = 2.5, sGPA= 2.6
- Post bac. cum. & sGPA = 3.9 (earned about 80 units in courses such as anatomy, physio, micro, pharmacology, nutrition, re-takes and currently taking more classes)
Background
- Worked fulltime throughout my undergrad. in order to help support myself, my mother & younger brother
- Hispanic-Mexican American
- First college graduate in the family
- Grew up in a single parent home in a pretty rough neighborhood
Education
- B.S. biology
- Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica W.I. Dismissed (2007)
Past Employment & EC
- 11 years experience working in clinical labs as lab tech. Just incase any of you are wondering I started working in a lab when I was 19.
- ER internships during my undergrad (several years ago)
- Community healthcare clinics (several years ago)
- Shadowed several physicians (ER, endocronologist, pathologist )
Current EC
- Volunteering at a local hospital (ER & other departments)
- Will soon begin assisting in a Clinical research project at local university (if grant proposal is approved)
- Shadowed MD
- Shadowed DO
My Story
With my lousy GPA & MCAT scores I didnt even bother applying to any U.S. med. schools in 2006. I was devastated and close to giving up. So after graduation I decided it would be best to take sometime to think things over. After a few weeks I decided that becoming a physician was to important to me, so I went ahead and apply to the top 4 Caribbean medical schools (St. George, Ross, AUC & SABA). I understood that with my stats any chance of gaining acceptance into these schools was pretty low, but I knew that I had to at least try. In short, I would get rejected by St. George, AUC & SABA.
Luckily I had been in contact with the Dean of Admissions of Ross and he saw it fit (sympathy, $$$?) to at least grant me an interview. A short time after my interview I was informed that I wouldnt be offered a seat in their M.D. program but was accepted into their Medical Education Review Program or MERP in Miami. MERP is a 16-week rigorous program that offers an opportunity for admission to Ross University School of Medicine. The courses for this program included medical chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, human physiology, biophysics, microbiology and immunology.
At this point I was desperate so I went ahead and attended MERP. I did really well in the program and passed all my courses. This led to my acceptance to the Ross MD program.
To make a long story short I was dismissed after my first semester failing two courses (anatomy & physiology). This was a truly devastating and debilitating experience for me.
Looking back I can identify several possible reasons why I failed out. Primarily I blame myself for poor study habits and for underestimating the sheer volume of information that is thrown at you in medical school. Also my understanding of physiology and anatomy was pretty shaky even though I had passed them in MERP. Another factor is that my wife had to stay behind (California) so she could continue to pursue her career. I also cant leave out moving and adjusting to life in a third world country. But as stated above I primarily blame myself for this failure.
Its now been a few years since this happened. Since then I have started my own business and done a lot traveling, this has kept me fairly busy. But no matter what I did or where I went, one of the first and last thoughts in my head before I went to sleep or after I would wake up was about becoming a physician. Realizing that even after a few years my desire to become a physician hadnt died down I decided it was time to renew my pursuit of medicine.
Here are several actions I have taken since then to correct and improve my weaknesses and my application:
- Taken both anatomy and physiology courses at local college and obtained a grade A in both classes. Also received great LORs from both professors.
- Re-took MCAT, went from a 14→22. I realize a 22 is still low, Im debating whether or not I should take it again. Ive never been a good standardized test taker ☹
- Taking descent size course (12-16 units, all science) loads at local college and maintaining a post grad. GPA of 3.9
- Volunteering and shadowing (MD &DO)
Questions:
1. Im thinking of applying to both MD & DO programs in 2011. What do you guys & gals think I should do to help increase my chances of gaining acceptance?
2. In the future will anyone be interested in reading and critiquing my personal statement?
Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated, thank you!🙂
This will be my first post on the sdn forum, I am looking for some advice on what I can do to have a shot at gaining acceptance into either an MD or DO program. Just in case you all are wondering I might post this on both the allopathic and osteopathic pre-med forums. My post may be a little lengthy, but I really want to provide you all with an accurate picture of my current situation. Ill try a bullet format that way it will allow you read it easier and faster. So here it goes:
Stats:
- MCAT x 2 = 14N (2005), 22N (2009)☹
- Undergraduate cum. GPA = 2.5, sGPA= 2.6
- Post bac. cum. & sGPA = 3.9 (earned about 80 units in courses such as anatomy, physio, micro, pharmacology, nutrition, re-takes and currently taking more classes)
Background
- Worked fulltime throughout my undergrad. in order to help support myself, my mother & younger brother
- Hispanic-Mexican American
- First college graduate in the family
- Grew up in a single parent home in a pretty rough neighborhood
Education
- B.S. biology
- Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica W.I. Dismissed (2007)
Past Employment & EC
- 11 years experience working in clinical labs as lab tech. Just incase any of you are wondering I started working in a lab when I was 19.
- ER internships during my undergrad (several years ago)
- Community healthcare clinics (several years ago)
- Shadowed several physicians (ER, endocronologist, pathologist )
Current EC
- Volunteering at a local hospital (ER & other departments)
- Will soon begin assisting in a Clinical research project at local university (if grant proposal is approved)
- Shadowed MD
- Shadowed DO
My Story
With my lousy GPA & MCAT scores I didnt even bother applying to any U.S. med. schools in 2006. I was devastated and close to giving up. So after graduation I decided it would be best to take sometime to think things over. After a few weeks I decided that becoming a physician was to important to me, so I went ahead and apply to the top 4 Caribbean medical schools (St. George, Ross, AUC & SABA). I understood that with my stats any chance of gaining acceptance into these schools was pretty low, but I knew that I had to at least try. In short, I would get rejected by St. George, AUC & SABA.
Luckily I had been in contact with the Dean of Admissions of Ross and he saw it fit (sympathy, $$$?) to at least grant me an interview. A short time after my interview I was informed that I wouldnt be offered a seat in their M.D. program but was accepted into their Medical Education Review Program or MERP in Miami. MERP is a 16-week rigorous program that offers an opportunity for admission to Ross University School of Medicine. The courses for this program included medical chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, human physiology, biophysics, microbiology and immunology.
At this point I was desperate so I went ahead and attended MERP. I did really well in the program and passed all my courses. This led to my acceptance to the Ross MD program.
To make a long story short I was dismissed after my first semester failing two courses (anatomy & physiology). This was a truly devastating and debilitating experience for me.
Looking back I can identify several possible reasons why I failed out. Primarily I blame myself for poor study habits and for underestimating the sheer volume of information that is thrown at you in medical school. Also my understanding of physiology and anatomy was pretty shaky even though I had passed them in MERP. Another factor is that my wife had to stay behind (California) so she could continue to pursue her career. I also cant leave out moving and adjusting to life in a third world country. But as stated above I primarily blame myself for this failure.
Its now been a few years since this happened. Since then I have started my own business and done a lot traveling, this has kept me fairly busy. But no matter what I did or where I went, one of the first and last thoughts in my head before I went to sleep or after I would wake up was about becoming a physician. Realizing that even after a few years my desire to become a physician hadnt died down I decided it was time to renew my pursuit of medicine.
Here are several actions I have taken since then to correct and improve my weaknesses and my application:
- Taken both anatomy and physiology courses at local college and obtained a grade A in both classes. Also received great LORs from both professors.
- Re-took MCAT, went from a 14→22. I realize a 22 is still low, Im debating whether or not I should take it again. Ive never been a good standardized test taker ☹
- Taking descent size course (12-16 units, all science) loads at local college and maintaining a post grad. GPA of 3.9
- Volunteering and shadowing (MD &DO)
Questions:
1. Im thinking of applying to both MD & DO programs in 2011. What do you guys & gals think I should do to help increase my chances of gaining acceptance?
2. In the future will anyone be interested in reading and critiquing my personal statement?
Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated, thank you!🙂
