I'm fixing to apply to DO schools this summer with a 3.42 cgpa and ~3.1 science gpa. Assuming that the rest of my application looks okay (28 MCAT, shadowing, clinical volunteer experience, bilingual, teaching & tutoring, Pre-SOMA president, probably average LOR's except a strong DO letter), it is likely that my science gpa will keep me from getting accepted? What worries me the most is that I've gotten multiple C's in my chemistry classes, a few A's and lots of B's in my other prerequisites.
Gen Chem 1 lecture/lab: B/B
Gen Chem 2 lecture/lab: C/B
Organic 1 lecture/lab: C/B
Organic 2 lecture/lab: C/A
Physics 1 lecture/lab: A/A
Physics 2 lecture/lab: B/A
Biology 1 lecture/lab: B/B
Biology 2 lecture/lab: B/not taken yet
I also got an A and B in two nutrition classes, which I think are also factored in by AACOMAS
Even worse, I took a nursing Chemistry class my freshman year that I put absolutely no effort in after finding myself extremely dissatisfied with my decision to switch to nursing that I also made a C in..however, my school counts general chem 1 as a more difficult equivalent of it, so I think I can consider it a replaced grade, though I know I still have to list it.
In addition to organic chem & lab, calculus, and a social science, I took two extra science classes this semester to help my science gpa:
Anatomy: A
Microbiology: A
And made A's in everything but my organic lecture that I got a C in, which I know was were I really needed to prove myself🙁 It was just a really difficult class with an exceptionally hard professor and more than I could handle with my other classes/work/volunteering and everything else I had going on.
So my question is, should I try to retake some of the C's I got in chemistry over the summer and then apply? If so, would general chem or organic be better? Or would it be better to take upper level chemistry classes to show that I can do it? (which would be the more ideal option- ironically, I'm a chemistry major so these are classes I need to take anyway). Or would I have my best chance at acceptance by applying early (June 1st) with the grades I have?
Perhaps I should even consider taking the MCAT again? I made a 28 with only studying about two weeks, since that was really all the time I had to dedicate to it.
What bothers me is that I honestly don't think my chemistry grades are reflective of my potential to do well in medical school, and most of my mediocre science grades are from my first years of college before I started really applying myself. I took anatomy and microbiology this semester b/c they are difficult "weed-out" classes at my school for pre-nursing and PA students, and I found them to be extremely easy. I don't think that makes me a genius by any means, but I think it shows there is more to my intellectual capabilities than my chemistry grades indicate. I just don't know the best way to prove that to medical schools.
I know waiting another year to apply is an obvious option, but I just rather not do that unless getting in this cycle is pretty unrealistic.
Any advice or direction would be tremendously appreciated.
Thank you so much for any replies.
Gen Chem 1 lecture/lab: B/B
Gen Chem 2 lecture/lab: C/B
Organic 1 lecture/lab: C/B
Organic 2 lecture/lab: C/A
Physics 1 lecture/lab: A/A
Physics 2 lecture/lab: B/A
Biology 1 lecture/lab: B/B
Biology 2 lecture/lab: B/not taken yet
I also got an A and B in two nutrition classes, which I think are also factored in by AACOMAS
Even worse, I took a nursing Chemistry class my freshman year that I put absolutely no effort in after finding myself extremely dissatisfied with my decision to switch to nursing that I also made a C in..however, my school counts general chem 1 as a more difficult equivalent of it, so I think I can consider it a replaced grade, though I know I still have to list it.
In addition to organic chem & lab, calculus, and a social science, I took two extra science classes this semester to help my science gpa:
Anatomy: A
Microbiology: A
And made A's in everything but my organic lecture that I got a C in, which I know was were I really needed to prove myself🙁 It was just a really difficult class with an exceptionally hard professor and more than I could handle with my other classes/work/volunteering and everything else I had going on.
So my question is, should I try to retake some of the C's I got in chemistry over the summer and then apply? If so, would general chem or organic be better? Or would it be better to take upper level chemistry classes to show that I can do it? (which would be the more ideal option- ironically, I'm a chemistry major so these are classes I need to take anyway). Or would I have my best chance at acceptance by applying early (June 1st) with the grades I have?
Perhaps I should even consider taking the MCAT again? I made a 28 with only studying about two weeks, since that was really all the time I had to dedicate to it.
What bothers me is that I honestly don't think my chemistry grades are reflective of my potential to do well in medical school, and most of my mediocre science grades are from my first years of college before I started really applying myself. I took anatomy and microbiology this semester b/c they are difficult "weed-out" classes at my school for pre-nursing and PA students, and I found them to be extremely easy. I don't think that makes me a genius by any means, but I think it shows there is more to my intellectual capabilities than my chemistry grades indicate. I just don't know the best way to prove that to medical schools.
I know waiting another year to apply is an obvious option, but I just rather not do that unless getting in this cycle is pretty unrealistic.
Any advice or direction would be tremendously appreciated.
Thank you so much for any replies.
