What would you do?

[redwings54]

Hey all. So here is my situation: 3.04 overall, 2.83 science. MCAT taken twice 25(7V, 9B, 9P), 24(all 8's). RA, TA, chem tutor, chair of community service org, captain of rugby team, chem research with publication and presentation at national conference, and a international fellowship studying psychoneuroimmunology in Russia and Scotland. Also, shadowing MDs and DOs as well as working in a hospital for 2 months as a phlebotomist.

OK, thats the background crap. The options I am looking at now are as follows:
-Taking a few classes online this spring from Berkeley to boost up science GPA
-Taking an EMT course to get more medical experience and maybe provide a job to do part time during a post bac
-Apply to Drexel MSP for next fall to boost GPA, take grad classes to prove I can handle the material and retake the MCAT
-UPenn special science program which is all undergrad, but can help boost my GPA a lot and is well respected
-LECOM and PCOM post bac programs at their DO schools to increase my GPA and prove I can handle the work

So these are my main options I think. They all cost about the same amount and require me to move to a new place. I really like osteopathic schools philosophy and have no real qualms about the stigma or difficulty in getting into really hard residency spots since I either want to be a pediatrician or a fp doc. So if anyone has any experience with these schools or has any advice I would be very appreciative. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sundarban1]

Why not look into an SMP program with a linkage?

 

[stookie]

UC Berkeley offers online classes? What kind of classes? Advanced science? Can you please provide a link?

 

[silverdime]

Why not look into an SMP program with a linkage?

That's tricky, since only some SMPs encourage MCAT retakes. Georgetown does not, and would be a bad choice. Ros Frank isn't designed for MCAT retakes, either. BU allows retaking the MCAT, but doesn't emphasize it as much as the programs the OP is looking at.

Since both Drexel and UPenn have good linkages and will help both MD and DO apps, it sounds like your choice is between DO only or MD and DO. If you want to get into med school as soon as possible, and you seem to like osteopathic medicine, the DO schools might be the best route. In fact, your stats are decent enough that you could apply directly. Are you in this year's cycle?

 

[redwings54]

That's tricky, since only some SMPs encourage MCAT retakes. Georgetown does not, and would be a bad choice. Ros Frank isn't designed for MCAT retakes, either. BU allows retaking the MCAT, but doesn't emphasize it as much as the programs the OP is looking at.

Since both Drexel and UPenn have good linkages and will help both MD and DO apps, it sounds like your choice is between DO only or MD and DO. If you want to get into med school as soon as possible, and you seem to like osteopathic medicine, the DO schools might be the best route. In fact, your stats are decent enough that you could apply directly. Are you in this year's cycle?

Yeah, I applied this years cycle to 11 DO schools only. But I got the bad news from my undergrad that they were only going to give me a reserved recommendation so I decided to withdraw from all of the schools I hadnt already sent secondaries to. Fortunately, the three schools I did send the secondaries to are ones that I really would like to attend. Those schools are KCOM, NOVA, and UNECOM (my top choice). Because of the committee letter being bad, I asked three of my profs to write individual letters for me. They just got sent in this past week so I am behind the game as of now. The committee wouldnt give me a strong rec cause I received a C on my thesis one semester and because I came home early from my fellowship. They felt I didnt have the "follow through" needed for med school and that I could stand some maturation. If you read through this thread there is a lot more about what happened to me: Redwings54's Story so far

So as far as doing an SMP, Drexel and UPenn both have linkages that are pretty strong and they arent true SMPs. PCOM and LECOM both are official SMPs and also have linkages to their schools. For someone like me, at least someone with my stats, SMP programs like BU's MAMS and Georgetown are pretty much out of reach. I doubt I would get in and the programs dont seem to be what I am looking for. Drexel seems awesome and exactly what I need, although with the MSP program, I would take the MCAT in the Spring of 2007 and not even apply again untill the summer of 2007 for admission in 2008. So thats putting things off for a long time, although I am only 23 right now. As far as the Berkeley online classes, I have been advised a few times not to take them because they arent really considered that highly. Judy Levine from Examkrackers.com told me to deffinitely not do the online thing. So my questions now are for anyone that has completed or are currently completing these postbac programs. What do you like about them? What dont you like? Would you suggest them favorably? Did they help you get into school? Thanks

 

[silverdime]

Yeah, I applied this years cycle to 11 DO schools only. But I got the bad news from my undergrad that they were only going to give me a reserved recommendation so I decided to withdraw from all of the schools I hadnt already sent secondaries to. Fortunately, the three schools I did send the secondaries to are ones that I really would like to attend. Those schools are KCOM, NOVA, and UNECOM (my top choice). Because of the committee letter being bad, I asked three of my profs to write individual letters for me. They just got sent in this past week so I am behind the game as of now. The committee wouldnt give me a strong rec cause I received a C on my thesis one semester and because I came home early from my fellowship. They felt I didnt have the "follow through" needed for med school and that I could stand some maturation. If you read through this thread there is a lot more about what happened to me: Redwings54's Story so far

I wanted to let you know that two friends of mine were accepted to UNECOM last year, each with a 24/25 on the MCAT and a GPA around 3-3.1, and I didn't think their ECs were as strong as yours. One of the two applied very, very late in the cycle and still made it in. Good luck with the DO schools...you never know.

 

[redwings54]

Bump

Just trying to get some more ideas or advice from people. Thanks guys