DPM schools also have high performing students who have high MCAT/GPA, but the majority high performing students are either not interested in Podiatric Medicine or do not know about this career pathway.
When you compare MCAT and GPA between MD/DO/DPM, you will have to consider the overall pool and matriculation size. DPM pool size is very small compare to MD or DO.
MD/ DO sizes are large enough to hide the “ lesser stellar apples” in their matriculation data. However, it doesn’t mean those lower stat DO/MD students will not be successful doctors or are any less of a doctor compared to higher status students. The same applies for DPM students.
2017-2018 MD schools have 51,680 applicants pool.
2017-2018 DO schools have 20,836 applicants pool.
2017-2018 DPM schools have 844 applicants pool.
The DPM pool size is not even 1% compare to MD (844/51680= 0.016%). In 2017-2018, MD Schools have 50,836 more students they can choose from than DPM schools. DO schools have 19,992 more applicants they can choose from compared to DPM schools.
Using MCAT as a comparison.
MD school from 2017-2019, matriculated 41,174 students into their schools.
- MCAT below 501: 3390 students
- MCAT below 497: 1053 students. It means there are roughly 500 matriculated MD students each year that have MCATs similar to DPM students, yet the DPM pool is less than 1% compare to MD. Avg DPM matriculated size is around 5-600 students.
https://www.aamc.org/download/321508/data/factstablea23.pdf
DO school from 2017-2018, matriculated 7,191 students into their schools.
- MCAT below 500: 1892 (35.8% in new MCAT scale)
- MCAT below 24(old MCAT): 1169 (39.1% in old MCAT scale)
- Mean matriculated MCAT: 503, SD 5.35. Bottom 25% has MCAT less than 497.64
- Mean matriculated old MCAT 25.62, SD: 4.38. Bottom 25% has MCAT less than 21.24.( 493-494)
- Old MCAT 21.24 estimated = new MCAT 493-494.
- Therefore, roughly 25% of DO students had MCATs similar to the avg DPM student. It means every 1 in 4 DO students have similar MCATs to a DPM student, yet DO schools have nearly 20,000 more applicants to choose from compare d to DPM.
https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-...-profile-summary-report.pdf?sfvrsn=4f072597_8
(Table 6)
DPM school from 2017-2018, they matriculated 600 students into their schools.
- Mean matriculated MCAT= 494
https://www.aacpm.org/wp-content/uploads/Matriculant-MCAT-Average-2015-2018.pdf
So when a few unprofessional MD/DO students (which are mostly great student doctors) or pre-meds come to this forum mocking low MCATs ( especially in the other thread that got locked), just remember ~500 MD students each year and 1 in 4 DO students scored the same MCAT as DPM students.
Typically, those students are obsessed with making others feel inferior because they are insecure of themselves.
On the other hand, DPM students don’t need to short sell ourselves. Work hard, study hard, and be the best doctor you can be. Podiatric Medicine plays a crucial role in healthcare.
And yes, DPM schools will continue use the MCAT. Certain DPM school have already matriculated mean MCATs over 500. It will be the norm for all DPM matriculants in the future.