What should I do NOW?

[futureMD4294]

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So I def def messed up big time.
Hi, I am a recent May graduate from UGA, I spent my last 2 months traveling and taking summer courses for PA school (I was pre-PA) and recently I have decided to go, PRE MED. I have landed an OR Assistant job that I will start working part time for on August 8th. My GPAs/EC are all descent; As far as MCAT, I've took one practice FL and received a 487 with NO studying on Kaplan. At this point I have a few options:

- Option 1: Take MCAT on September 10th (<6 weeks) GO ALL IN, apply this cycle to only DO schools because their cycle runs a lot later than MD. {If I score low on last 2 weeks, I will not take the exam}

- Option 2: Take MCAT later in the year, January and/or May, apply early to both MD and DO schools (2 GAP YEARS THO :/ might be discouraging, what would i even do?)

- Option 3: Apply to popular Caribbean schools such as ROSS, with my September MCAT and save 2 years!

mom recommends: September MCAT, and giving it a shot this cycle

Any other suggestions/potential options would be lifesaving.... Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[radian313]

So I def def messed up big time.
Hi, I am a recent May graduate from UGA, I spent my last 2 months traveling and taking summer courses for PA school (I was pre-PA) and recently I have decided to go, PRE MED. I have landed an OR Assistant job that I will start working part time for on August 8th. My GPAs/EC are all descent; As far as MCAT, I've took one practice FL and received a 487 with NO studying on Kaplan. At this point I have a few options:

- Option 1: Take MCAT on September 10th (<6 weeks) GO ALL IN, apply this cycle to only DO schools because their cycle runs a lot later than MD. {If I score low on last 2 weeks, I will not take the exam}

- Option 2: Take MCAT later in the year, January and/or May, apply early to both MD and DO schools (2 GAP YEARS THO :/ might be discouraging, what would i even do?)

- Option 3: Apply to popular Caribbean schools such as ROSS, with my September MCAT and save 2 years!

mom recommends: September MCAT, and giving it a shot this cycle

Any other suggestions/potential options would be lifesaving.... Thanks in advance 🙂

You are potentially going to be a professional and hence while we all love our moms and dads, only you and your test scores can decide when to take it.

Easy. Play it by ear. Prepare for the Sept MCAT and if your scores are where you want them to be +3 points then take it. If not, then dont.

A Jan MCAT mayyyyy net you an interview but youll be going for a waitlist at best. Not recommended.

Avoid Caribbean like the plague.

Good luck.

 

[Goro]

Why would you take a career-deciding, high stakes exam with no preparation? Med schools want people who make good choices.

On the other hand, the Carib diploma mills love people like you. The technical term they and other con artisst use for you is "a mark".

Take the MCAT ONLY when you're 100% ready, even if it means skipping an app cycle. Med schools aren't going anywhere, and by the time you apply, more will have opened.

So I def def messed up big time.
Hi, I am a recent May graduate from UGA, I spent my last 2 months traveling and taking summer courses for PA school (I was pre-PA) and recently I have decided to go, PRE MED. I have landed an OR Assistant job that I will start working part time for on August 8th. My GPAs/EC are all descent; As far as MCAT, I've took one practice FL and received a 487 with NO studying on Kaplan. At this point I have a few options:

- Option 1: Take MCAT on September 10th (<6 weeks) GO ALL IN, apply this cycle to only DO schools because their cycle runs a lot later than MD. {If I score low on last 2 weeks, I will not take the exam}

- Option 2: Take MCAT later in the year, January and/or May, apply early to both MD and DO schools (2 GAP YEARS THO :/ might be discouraging, what would i even do?)

- Option 3: Apply to popular Caribbean schools such as ROSS, with my September MCAT and save 2 years!

mom recommends: September MCAT, and giving it a shot this cycle

Any other suggestions/potential options would be lifesaving.... Thanks in advance 🙂

 

[femmegoblue]

Dude. 100% just spend a solid 4 months studying your brains out, take the MCAT early 2017 and apply to begin fall/summer 2018. Why on earth would you cram everything into 6 weeks to have a late app and risk your score being low? I assume since you were pre-PA you don't have much physician shadowing, let alone DO specifically. Milk that OR job for all it's worth, make some connections and shadow some doctors in their clinics, get a bomb DO LOR for DO school, and do some altruistic volunteering like at hospice or nursing home.

As for two gap years, trust me when I say you will appreciate it. I myself will have three when I being med school, and I feel much more confident, mature, and capable than I did as a floundering 22 y/o.

 

[femmegoblue]

Also no offense but most mom/dads even if they're doctors themselves aren't the best ones to give advice on this.

 

[Espressso]

So I def def messed up big time.
Hi, I am a recent May graduate from UGA, I spent my last 2 months traveling and taking summer courses for PA school (I was pre-PA) and recently I have decided to go, PRE MED. I have landed an OR Assistant job that I will start working part time for on August 8th. My GPAs/EC are all descent; As far as MCAT, I've took one practice FL and received a 487 with NO studying on Kaplan. At this point I have a few options:

- Option 1: Take MCAT on September 10th (<6 weeks) GO ALL IN, apply this cycle to only DO schools because their cycle runs a lot later than MD. {If I score low on last 2 weeks, I will not take the exam}

- Option 2: Take MCAT later in the year, January and/or May, apply early to both MD and DO schools (2 GAP YEARS THO :/ might be discouraging, what would i even do?)

- Option 3: Apply to popular Caribbean schools such as ROSS, with my September MCAT and save 2 years!

mom recommends: September MCAT, and giving it a shot this cycle

Any other suggestions/potential options would be lifesaving.... Thanks in advance 🙂

You could continue working in the OR and maybe getting another part-time job or volunteering gig

 

[futureMD4294]

Also no offense but most mom/dads even if they're doctors themselves aren't the best ones to give advice on this.

Thank you. I loved your advise. Would you suggest taking a shot at DO after taking it in January. I spoke to some admission rep and they said it may be worth a shot
Thanks

 

[femmegoblue]

Thank you. I loved your advise. Would you suggest taking a shot at DO after taking it in January. I spoke to some admission rep and they said it may be worth a shot
Thanks

I mean, I guess you could throw some apps out there, but only if you can get at least 20 hours of DO shadowing and a DO letter by then, as well as volunteer and all that to actually have a strong app. If it were me, I would still wait and have the strongest app possible when I apply the day AACOMAS opens in May 2017. What are your grades? "Decent" can mean a lot of things.

 

[cyang55]

Do not, do not, do not apply to Caribbean schools.

Other than that, If you think you can be 100% ready to take the MCAT in september, you can try it. But do NOT take it if you are not confident! Since you already took the MCAT once, you don't want your second score to be low as well! Med schools won't like it if you had to take the MCAT 3 times to get a high score. If you're not ready, then take it next year and apply early may or June and you'll have a great shot of getting in next year if your scores are good.

Since you have a job right now, it won't be a big deal if you don't get in this year. You can get more experience etc. I would also recommend shadowing a DO and see if you would mind studying OPP/OMM for 2 years. and If you do apply for DO schools, you'll most likely need a DO lor.

 

[femmegoblue]

Just to point out that OP's MCAT was a practice FL, not the actual exam.

Also OP, you have a lot of threads on SDN asking this same question with some sound advice. You posted this same question in three different forums. Everyone has been telling you to WAIT to take the MCAT and to NOT apply "just to get your name out there". Sort of looks like you are just waiting to get the response you want to hear, imho.

 

[futureMD4294]

I mean, I guess you could throw some apps out there, but only if you can get at least 20 hours of DO shadowing and a DO letter by then, as well as volunteer and all that to actually have a strong app. If it were me, I would still wait and have the strongest app possible when I apply the day AACOMAS opens in May 2017. What are your grades? "Decent" can mean a lot of things.

Hey! My cumulative gpa for osteopathic (bc of grade replacement) is 3.65 and 3.5 for science. But MD gpa overall is 3.58 and 3.4 I think. As far as shadowing, I have two anesthesiologist that I've shadowed for about 30 hours. And plenty of hospital student volunteer and hospice hours. Close to 150. I have about 3-4 withdraws since fresh year but I don't know if that's too bad.

Also, my gpa will be a 3.7 overall and 3.6 science if I wait to apply next cycle. Planning on retaking one more class while working in OR.

 

[futureMD4294]

Just to point out that OP's MCAT was a practice FL, not the actual exam.

Also OP, you have a lot of threads on SDN asking this same question with some sound advice. You posted this same question in three different forums. Everyone has been telling you to WAIT to take the MCAT and to NOT apply "just to get your name out there". Sort of looks like you are just waiting to get the response you want to hear, imho.

Hey yea I have! And you're exactly right. I just needed confirmation. It's been a very confusing time
In my life. But to be honest. YOU Have been the most helpful out of all of them. it all really means a lot.

 

[femmegoblue]

I'm glad I can help. You got this. Just be patient and grind it out for the next 9 months or so!

 

[futureMD4294]

Tj

I'm glad I can help. You got this. Just be patient and grind it out for the next 9 months or so!

Will do 🙂
What do you think about the giving it a shot in January, based on the stats I sent

 

[femmegoblue]

I think if you can get a 507+ you should apply.

 

[futureMD4294]

I think if you can get a 507+ you should apply.

Hm gotcha. Are reapplicants looked at badly if it doesn't work out?

 

[futureMD4294]

Just to point out that OP's MCAT was a practice FL, not the actual exam.

Also OP, you have a lot of threads on SDN asking this same question with some sound advice. You posted this same question in three different forums. Everyone has been telling you to WAIT to take the MCAT and to NOT apply "just to get your name out there". Sort of looks like you are just waiting to get the response you want to hear, imho.

What's OP? And OPP/OMM?

 

[futureMD4294]

Do not, do not, do not apply to Caribbean schools.

Other than that, If you think you can be 100% ready to take the MCAT in september, you can try it. But do NOT take it if you are not confident! Since you already took the MCAT once, you don't want your second score to be low as well! Med schools won't like it if you had to take the MCAT 3 times to get a high score. If you're not ready, then take it next year and apply early may or June and you'll have a great shot of getting in next year if your scores are good.

Since you have a job right now, it won't be a big deal if you don't get in this year. You can get more experience etc. I would also recommend shadowing a DO and see if you would mind studying OPP/OMM for 2 years. and If you do apply for DO schools, you'll most likely need a DO lor.

What's OPP/OMM?

 

[PossibleDOC?]

Why would you take a career-deciding, high stakes exam with no preparation? Med schools want people who make good choices.

On the other hand, the Carib diploma mills love people like you. The technical term they and other con artisst use for you is "a mark".

Take the MCAT ONLY when you're 100% ready, even if it means skipping an app cycle. Med schools aren't going anywhere, and by the time you apply, more will have opened.

Goro I'm starting to think you have a word doc of responses for specific issues and just copy and paste lol I just saw another forum you answered like this.....I love it lol not being sarcastic mind you

 

[cyang55]

What's OPP/OMM?

OPP stands for osteopathic principles and practice and OMM stands for osteopathic manipulative medicine. If you don't know these, you shouldn't apply for DO school since they will definitely ask you in your application about them. If you are going to apply next year or even this year, go and shadow a DO asap, and learn about OMM and see if you're interested in it. You don't have to use it after you graduate med school, but it is a part of the curriculum in DO school, so if you can't stand it and don't want to learn about it for two years then don't apply to DO school. But I would recommend you shadow a family practitioner, even better if they do OMM, just to see what it is.

 

[Goro]

Applicants typically need to show significant improvement in the subsequent go-around. Making poor choices the first time around will hurt.

Hm gotcha. Are reapplicants looked at badly if it doesn't work out?

PossibleDoc, I have a doc entitled "goro stickies" on my computer, and it saves me a lot of time in making responses!

Goro I'm starting to think you have a word doc of responses for specific issues and just copy and paste lol I just saw another forum you answered like this.....I love it lol not being sarcastic mind you