What would you do?

[thecgrblue]

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So, I know this guy....*wink*

sitting with a 3.1 cGPA with 2.9 sGPA and 27Q MCAT. Was accepted to an optometry school for the c/o 2015, had a quarter-life crisis, and deferred acceptance to apply to medical school.

Things are not looking good for this cycle, with these options, what would you do?

a) Take the O.D. acceptance and run
b) Do an SMP, reapply
c) Do a M.S. in something, reapply
d) Move to South America and start a surf shop
e) insert own answer here

 

[seraphkz]

Seems like you don't really know what you want to do.

Pick a profession that you love, and go from there.

 

[DrWily]

So, I know this guy....*wink*

sitting with a 3.1 cGPA with 2.9 sGPA and 27Q MCAT. Was accepted to an optometry school for the c/o 2015, had a quarter-life crisis, and deferred acceptance to apply to medical school.

Things are not looking good for this cycle, with these options, what would you do?

a) Take the O.D. acceptance and run
b) Do an SMP, reapply
c) Do a M.S. in something, reapply
d) Move to South America and start a surf shop
e) insert own answer here

1) Think long and hard about if medicine or optometry is what you want to do forever. Have you shadowed a physician? Volunteered in a clinical setting with patients? D.O. schools will let you retake classes to get your GPA up. Your GPA is below average and your MCAT is average which means you're going to have to get that GPA up unless you can prove you're the 2nd coming of Ghandi/Mother Theresa.

2) SMP programs are expensive and not that worth it UNLESS you get into one that has a guaranteed linkage (get above 3.0 in SMP, and automatic acceptance into D.O. program). If you're hardcore MD, do an SMP/M.S. program.

3) Only get an M.S. if you want an M.S., not for getting into medical school. Not worth it for reasons stated in #2.

4) South America is awesome, but I don't know how to surf. Can't advise you on this one

5) Grade Replacement for reasons listed in #1. Can get that GPA up relatively quick to be competitive, but it will take some time (1 yearish). If you can wait this long and really want to be a physician, it's worth it.

 

[thecgrblue]

Are there DO SMPs with super-duper linkage? I've seen that TOURO-CA has guaranteed interview, but haven't seen anything with other schools such as AZCOM or ATSU-MO.

Not hardcore MD, didn't even apply MD this cycle and probably won't if I reapply. I have shadowed quite a bit and am going to volunteer some more.

Agreed with GPA, my B.S. is in Physiology and there aren't really any higher-level classes offered in this area than those I already took. Should I retake most of them?

My MCAT was taken without studying and I'm actually planning on studying and then retaking come April-ish.

 

[se20001984]

id take another year in school..get me gpa to 3.1-3.2

while doing that,,,id observe the od profession...if u got in once ull get in again

 

[DrWily]

Are there DO SMPs with super-duper linkage? I've seen that TOURO-CA has guaranteed interview, but haven't seen anything with other schools such as AZCOM or ATSU-MO.

Not hardcore MD, didn't even apply MD this cycle and probably won't if I reapply. I have shadowed quite a bit and am going to volunteer some more.

Agreed with GPA, my B.S. is in Physiology and there aren't really any higher-level classes offered in this area than those I already took. Should I retake most of them?

My MCAT was taken without studying and I'm actually planning on studying and then retaking come April-ish.

Retake any science course that you got a C in or lower. I'd start with th easier ones that you just did poor in for whatever reason. Retake that mcat if u think u can get 30+. Get a 30+ and u'll be fine to get in somewhere. WesternU has DO SMP with awesome linkage but only 10 spots for that per year. Just make sure you consider all the pros and cons of becoming a physician.