MD & DO Will it be worth it to delay a year?

[purplecricket]

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Hi all!

I've posted about this previously (sorry), but I just came from a meeting with my adviser, and they brought up some great points about my application, and I'm really considering pushing it back..AGAIN. To give some stats:
AMCAS undergrad cumulative - 3.16
ACMAS undergrad BCPM - 2.97

Clearly, undergrad was not super great. I'm in a post-bacc certificate program and am set to finish w/ my master's in December. My current GPA in the program is a 3.88. I'm very concerned about getting screened out due to my sub 3.0 from undergrad. MCAT was a 29 last year, plan to retake this summer.

But my biggest struggle has been LORs and clinical experience. My adviser's biggest point is that my clinical experience is VERY limited. I have about 70 hrs shadowing a doctor in the ER, but that was 2 years ago, and have not yet had a DO agree to let me shadow them. Problematic especially since the DO schools I'm interested in require a letter. I don't have anyone that jumps out in my mind to write any strong letters for me, but I hoped that I could get one from a volunteer coordinator and the P.I. I'll be working with for my master's degree. But both of those will take time though since I've only just started at the free clinic in March and will start my M.S. in late May, so too late for this cycle. I just don't want to have to apply, go through all the stress/financial stuff, then get rejected and have to do it all again.

The only real reason I'm concerned about waiting to apply another year is that I'm already 24, and my boyfriend (we live together) feels like it will be "delaying our lives". Also, I've delayed my application already twice, so I feel like at this rate I will never apply. Any insight would be great.

 

[gyngyn]

Apply once, well.
An avoidably weak application will not reflect well upon you.
Nobody knows how many times you chose to delay.
It's understandable that your BF's feelings matter to you, but you are not delaying your life, you're are living it. Medicine is a lifelong process, not an outcome.

 

[BrawnsNBrain]

Hi all!

I've posted about this previously (sorry), but I just came from a meeting with my adviser, and they brought up some great points about my application, and I'm really considering pushing it back..AGAIN. To give some stats:
AMCAS undergrad cumulative - 3.16
ACMAS undergrad BCPM - 2.97

Clearly, undergrad was not super great. I'm in a post-bacc certificate program and am set to finish w/ my master's in December. My current GPA in the program is a 3.88. I'm very concerned about getting screened out due to my sub 3.0 from undergrad. MCAT was a 29 last year, plan to retake this summer.

But my biggest struggle has been LORs and clinical experience. My adviser's biggest point is that my clinical experience is VERY limited. I have about 70 hrs shadowing a doctor in the ER, but that was 2 years ago, and have not yet had a DO agree to let me shadow them. Problematic especially since the DO schools I'm interested in require a letter. I don't have anyone that jumps out in my mind to write any strong letters for me, but I hoped that I could get one from a volunteer coordinator and the P.I. I'll be working with for my master's degree. But both of those will take time though since I've only just started at the free clinic in March and will start my M.S. in late May, so too late for this cycle. I just don't want to have to apply, go through all the stress/financial stuff, then get rejected and have to do it all again.

The only real reason I'm concerned about waiting to apply another year is that I'm already 24, and my boyfriend (we live together) feels like it will be "delaying our lives". Also, I've delayed my application already twice, so I feel like at this rate I will never apply. Any insight would be great.

I worked for a year prior to starting school, and it was a mental break, but it was a waste of time. If you have a healthy relationship, he'd want you to pursue your dreams and would support it no matter what. If he doesn't support it in anyway, break up. Plenty of other fish in the sea that will swim to you once you're a physician.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Your MCAT is fine, but I don't see your application for having the caliber necessary for MD or DO. You have to work on that GPA and EC.

 

[purplecricket]

Your MCAT is fine, but I don't see your application for having the caliber necessary for MD or DO. You have to work on that GPA and EC.

Thanks for the input! I agree, my ECs need some work. As for GPA, I've already graduated undergrad and I've currently got a 3.88 in my post-bacc program (designed for people who need a GPA boost before applying to med/dent school). All my grades have been good so far this semester as well. Not sure what else I can do about the GPA issue though 🙁