Would it be too late to apply in early October?

[Yazo]

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I finished my third year of undergrad a couple of weeks ago and right now I'm starting to study for the MCAT, which I hope to take on August 31. This means that I will have my score in early October and I will have my application ready by then to apply ASAP. I'm also starting to gather letters of recommendation and a committee letter via Interfolio right now.

Would early October be too late in the application cycle?

I have a cGPA of ~3.86 and a sGPA of ~3.80.

Thanks so much!

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

That would be insanely late! DO NOT SUBMIT AN MD APP IN OCTOBER

 

[Yazo]

That would be insanely late! DO NOT SUBMIT AN MD APP IN OCTOBER

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, as well.

What about applying for DO and DPM schools? I've heard that November/December are the latest one should apply for DO and it's similar for DPM.

Thanks!

 

[chaim123]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, as well.

What about applying for DO and DPM schools? I've heard that November/December are the latest one should apply for DO and it's similar for DPM.

Thanks!

What is your dream? To be a physician or a podiatrist? Is one year really that big of a price to pay in exchange for your dream?

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

For DO I've heard that anytime before Thanksgiving is fine.

 

[Yazo]

For DO I've heard that anytime before Thanksgiving is fine.

Thanks!

What is your dream? To be a physician or a podiatrist? Is one year really that big of a price to pay in exchange for your dream?

I'm honestly not sure, haha! I wanted to be an MD for years, but recently I got to shadow a general surgeon that did rounds in a setting which applies to podiatry and I've been interested in the profession ever since.

Do you think it would be a bad idea to apply to both types of programs?

 

[DexterMorganSK]

Thanks!


I'm honestly not sure, haha! I wanted to be an MD for years, but recently I got to shadow a general surgeon that did rounds in a setting which applies to podiatry and I've been interested in the profession ever since.

Do you think it would be a bad idea to apply to both types of programs?

Don't apply to multiple programs. Figure out what you want to be before submitting an app.

Oct is late for MD; fine for few DO schools. DPM schools deadline is June 30th of every year, so you will be fine here as well (to begin classes in 2019).

But like Gonnif said above, focus on the MCAT first.

 

[Lucca]

do not apply in October. 100% of your effort should go into the McAT and then you can think about applying next year.

 

[Skeime]

FWIW I submitted my primary in mid-october and did extremely well this cycle.

However, that’s just my own anecdote and you have to judge for yourself whether you think your late application will shine enough for schools to offer out their later interview spots.

In general, applying in October isn’t a good idea.

 

[Quarterhorse]

FWIW I submitted my primary in mid-october and did extremely well this cycle.

However, that’s just my own anecdote and you have to judge for yourself whether you think your late application will shine enough for schools to offer out their later interview spots.

In general, applying in October isn’t a good idea.

+1

I’m also nontraditional and have several years of experience as an RN, so that may have helped my application stand out from the other late ones.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are admitted to a DO school, or DPM, but feel like you could be a successful applicant to MD schools, will you be asking us this time next year if you should drop your admission offer and apply to MD schools??

Do it once, do it right, do what you can wholeheartedly believe is the best career path for you and be prepared to forsake all other paths.

 

[Yazo]

If you are admitted to a DO school, or DPM, but feel like you could be a successful applicant to MD schools, will you be asking us this time next year if you should drop your admission offer and apply to MD schools??

Do it once, do it right, do what you can wholeheartedly believe is the best career path for you and be prepared to forsake all other paths.

Thanks so much, you're right! I think I will stick to studying for the MCAT and apply for MD in the next cycle.

I saw your signature and I hope you don't mind me asking, but: would being a transport volunteer at a hospital count as clinical experience? My job essentially consists of transporting patients between different departments and even helping to discharge them. During this process I physically help them walk around, get into wheelchairs, their bed, talk to them, etc. A lot of times I'm there along with the doctor or RN that actually discharges them.

One of my pre-med advisors says that this doesn't count as clinical experience, but I wasn't sure. I was thinking of getting a scribing job this summer if that's the case.

Thanks in advance.

 

[LizzyM]

Thanks so much, you're right! I think I will stick to studying for the MCAT and apply for MD in the next cycle.

I saw your signature and I hope you don't mind me asking, but: would being a transport volunteer at a hospital count as clinical experience? My job essentially consists of transporting patients between different departments and even helping to discharge them. During this process I physically help them walk around, get into wheelchairs, their bed, talk to them, etc. A lot of times I'm there along with the doctor or RN that actually discharges them.

One of my pre-med advisors says that this doesn't count as clinical experience, but I wasn't sure. I was thinking of getting a scribing job this summer if that's the case.

Thanks in advance.

Are they patients? Are you in very close physical proximity to them? Do your responses to those two questions fit with my definition of a clinical experience? Are you aware that most pre-med advisors are ill-informed? With the exception of a few schools, most do not expect that you have had health care experience that requires special training or licensing. (A few do like to see a year of experience as an EMT or patient care technician but those are the exception to the rule.)

 

[Oso]

I'm honestly not sure, haha! I wanted to be an MD for years, but recently I got to shadow a general surgeon that did rounds in a setting which applies to podiatry and I've been interested in the profession ever since.

Do you think it would be a bad idea to apply to both types of programs?

Figure out what career you want to do before you spend time and money on applications.

October is essentially too late for MD.

Take a year to figure stuff out and do things right.