What route should I take?

[DantheManimal]

So this is my first cycle applying. Non trad, late applicant (complete Nov., secondaries all done by Jan. 1), only applied to DO. So far received 1 preinterview hold (AZCOM) and 3 interviews. All 10 schools gave me a II. Of the interviews, I have one rejection (WesternU COMP), one wait list (ACOM 1 week ago), and one decision coming soon (TouroNY Middletown).

D.O. stats MCAT 504, cGPA 3.05, sGPA 3.44

M.D. stats MCAT 504, cGPA 2.79, sGPA 3.10

No research, 200+ shadowing M.D., solid LORs, had to work full time while in school with upward trend (most recent 60 units cGPA 3.72)

My question is basically what do I do? I'd consider a postbacc with linkage if there's no gap year so I could be class of 2021, but I'm thinking that most linkage programs where u don't have a gap year are for D.O. only, which I think if I had applied early I for sure would have got in somewhere based on number of II and interviews. I'm intrigued about M.D. possibilities if there's any way to get in the class of 2021 assuming I kill it in a postbacc program. It's a catch 22 because I would want to apply early, but I'd have no grades yet to show M.D. schools.

Does anyone have advice please? Should I do postbacc or not? I actually prefer D.O. philosophy, but I have some concerns about residency competitiveness. If I get in Touro, obviously this is all moot. On the other hand, if I have to wait a year anyway, I'd like to know if there are M.D. options via postbacc so I could be competitive for both M.D. and D.O.

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[ConfusedChemist]

Not without a much higher MCAT, no, MD is not a possibility. A 504 is way to low for MD for people with a 4.0 GPA

Spending thousands on a post-bacc is not at all worth it in this case I'd say

 

[DantheManimal]

Not without a much higher MCAT, no, MD is not a possibility. A 504 is way to low for MD for people with a 4.0 GPA

Spending thousands on a post-bacc is not at all worth it in this case I'd say

I agree. I probably sbould have mentioned that if I go the postbacc route I'd obviously retake the MCAT. I think I could easily get a 512 or better on the MCAT if I retook it this summer (for mine, I only studied for it for 2 weeks and I never even took biochem before which showed up a lot). On the old MCAT practice tests I get anywhere between 31-34 rather consistently which is not great but good enough for most schools. Just wondering if I do that, which programs do schools weigh heavily (relatively) the postbacc/grad GPA?

 

[esob]

What portion of the new MCAT made your percentile drop? I would target that section if you are planning to retake.

 

[DantheManimal]

What portion of the new MCAT made your percentile drop? I would target that section if you are planning to retake.

CARS. For whatever reason I had a really difficult time with it. I scored 58th% on it (125) which is crazy because on every practice test I've taken, CARS was always my highest score. Typically in the 80-90th%. My highest was actually the Bio/Biochem section (127 ~ 78th% and I've never taken biochem before). Go figure. Obviously if I retake, I'd put more than a couple weeks into studying for it. That was just because it was the last MCAT date in August so I only had 2 weeks to prep when I decided to take it.