2013-2014 Underdawgs Thread ( Lets get it)

[Elevencents]

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Final Fantasy 10 had someone who gave false hope...

Never played that one 8(

 

[hippiespeak]

How do you like PCOM? I have heard some good things about it. Hoping to get an II there soon

I LOVE it. The outside is unassuming, but the inside, the students, and the faculty all seem really cool. They are really group oriented. You get a good feeling there.
Good luck!!

 

[Launcelot]

Most of the admissions faculty that I've spoken to consider someone competitive if they are at average stats for their own school.

One thing I will admit is you've made me realize getting 1 acceptance is a major thing. I've spoken to a few people who spent years trying to get into medical school and here we are talking about people with 7-10 IIs and 2-3 of them being potential acceptances. It just takes 1 acceptance to change someone's life.

While I'm sitting here lurking various threads and reading about how some of our fellow sdner are stressing over which one of their multiple acceptance to take, I (and many others) can only consider the idea of entering the non-medical job market, post-bacs, or an unrelated master's program to make ends meet before next application cycle if I get nothing this year. 🙁

 

[Escape_Goat]

I just realized that I don't think I've posted here yet.

My stats are 3.44 sGPA, 3.06 cGPA, 33 (9P, 10V, 14B). I had two IAs on my application: one from when I was expelled from my first university, and the second one was the semester I graduated with my master's and was placed on academic probation.

Got two IIs so far this cycle, one to one of my top DO schools.

Spoiler

GA-PCOM

Was promptly accepted to that school and canceled the other interview.

 

[YourMD]

Congrats UD's! You guys are giving me hope! I've taken numerous upper level sciences at a university with an overall gpa of around a 2.8. My current gpa is 3.15 and this semester I'm doing retakes at a CC for a slight boost. Does anyone see this being an issue?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I just realized that I don't think I've posted here yet.

My stats are 3.44 sGPA, 3.06 cGPA, 33 (9P, 10V, 14B). I had two IAs on my application: one from when I was expelled from my first university, and the second one was the semester I graduated with my master's and was placed on academic probation.

Got two IIs so far this cycle, one to one of my top DO schools.

Spoiler

GA-PCOM

Was promptly accepted to that school and canceled the other interview.

Was the expulsion for academic reasons or for something else? Because if the for the latter then that's interesting since many would claim that an IA like that would kill an app.

 

[Escape_Goat]

Was the expulsion for academic reasons or for something else? Because if the for the latter then that's interesting since many would claim that an IA like that would kill an app.

The expulsion was in 2001 for having terrible grades; my freshman sGPA was about 0.77. The latter was for getting a C in a graduate level course last April; had some personal circumstances that ended up affecting my academic performance.

I was told that my personal statement got me the interview, and my interview got me the acceptance.

 

[GypsyHummus]

but in the whole scheme of things, a DO is a DO whether from MSU or LUCOM. Although I have great respect for one and very little for the other, they will both lead to the same destinations.

People who don't get in because they think they are too good for the newer schools and don't apply to them...deserve to be rejected

100% agree. The application process is too taxing on the body as is to not cast the widest net possible

 

[EmCEm]

While I'm sitting here lurking various threads and reading about how some of our fellow sdner are stressing over which one of their multiple acceptance to take, I (and many others) can only consider the idea of entering the non-medical job market, post-bacs, or an unrelated master's program to make ends meet before next application cycle if I get nothing this year. 🙁

Good luck to you.. It is a tough process... Applying and all, but you will get there 🙂

 

[victoriax87]

Underdog here!

3.1 cumulative, 2.9 science, 27 MCAT, non URM

Interviewed at: LMU-DCOM, Marian, Nova, Touro NY, Campbell, ACOM, Touro CA, Liberty
Accepted (so far): LMU-DCOM, Marian, Campbell, ACOM
Waitlisted: Touro CA
On hold: ATSU-SOMA, AZCOM
Rejected Post Interview: Liberty

 

[Elevencents]

Underdog here!

3.1 cumulative, 2.9 science, 27 MCAT, non URM

Interviewed at: LMU-DCOM, Marian, Nova, Touro NY, Campbell, ACOM, Touro CA
Accepted (so far): LMU-DCOM, Marian, Campbell, ACOM
Waitlisted: Touro CA
On hold: ATSU-SOMA, AZCOM

Underdogs need to take a long hard look at this. Apply to the right schools and you can be successful. Well done Victoria.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Underdogs need to take a long hard look at this. Apply to the right schools and you can be successful. Well done Victoria.

I think user3 has been shouting that on the top of the Empire State Building forever and almost everyone here keep dismissing him/her except for a few.

 

[Safari21]

Underdog here!

3.1 cumulative, 2.9 science, 27 MCAT, non URM

Interviewed at: LMU-DCOM, Marian, Nova, Touro NY, Campbell, ACOM, Touro CA
Accepted (so far): LMU-DCOM, Marian, Campbell, ACOM
Waitlisted: Touro CA
On hold: ATSU-SOMA, AZCOM

Congrats! Do you mind sharing which school is your top choice and why?

 

[GypsyHummus]

Underdog here!

3.1 cumulative, 2.9 science, 27 MCAT, non URM

Interviewed at: LMU-DCOM, Marian, Nova, Touro NY, Campbell, ACOM, Touro CA
Accepted (so far): LMU-DCOM, Marian, Campbell, ACOM
Waitlisted: Touro CA
On hold: ATSU-SOMA, AZCOM

Did you have a lot of extra curricula's?

 

[brew]

I just realized that I don't think I've posted here yet.

My stats are 3.44 sGPA, 3.06 cGPA, 33 (9P, 10V, 14B). I had two IAs on my application: one from when I was expelled from my first university, and the second one was the semester I graduated with my master's and was placed on academic probation.

Got two IIs so far this cycle, one to one of my top DO schools.

Spoiler

GA-PCOM

Was promptly accepted to that school and canceled the other interview.

What is an IA? Good job on the acceptances!

 

[user3]

Underdogs need to take a long hard look at this. Apply to the right schools and you can be successful. Well done Victoria.

I think user3 has been shouting that on the top of the Empire State Building forever and almost everyone here keep dismissing him/her except for a few.

I think she also had an interview at LUCOM.

For crying out loud people. If a non-urm can get EIGHT interviews with 3.1/2.9/27, what are all you people worrying about? (unless your numbers are lower)

However, I thought that NSU, Touro-Ca, CUSOM, and MUCOM look very unfavorably upon, if not auto-reject, sci gpa < 3.0. guess not

 

[Escape_Goat]

What is an IA? Good job on the acceptances!

Institutional action. And thank you.

 

[CaptRetired]

The expulsion was in 2001 for having terrible grades; my freshman sGPA was about 0.77. The latter was for getting a C in a graduate level course last April; had some personal circumstances that ended up affecting my academic performance.

I was told that my personal statement got me the interview, and my interview got me the acceptance.

Non-trad here, also. I was a business major in 2001, but in 1995 my GPA from 2 quarters was 1.25. I was also put on academic probation during that period. Through the miracle of grade forgiveness, I applied this year with 3.51 cGPA/4.0 sGPA (really, I had only taken 1 science and failed physics 1 before I recently went back to school). In the middle of my self-assigned post-bacc program, I made a 26 on the MCAT (7V, 8B, 11P)... which brought me 3 II's so far. Once I got the acceptance at PCOM-GA (#1 choice), I cancelled the others. Technically, none of these stats make me a true underdog, but the Institutional Actions CAN be overcome...

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I think she also had an interview at LUCOM.

For crying out loud people. If a non-urm can get EIGHT interviews with 3.1/2.9/27, what are all you people worrying about? (unless your numbers are lower)

However, I thought that NSU, Touro-Ca, CUSOM, and MUCOM look very unfavorably upon, if not auto-reject, sci gpa < 3.0. guess not.

But... but... statistics...

 

[Launcelot]

Underdog here!

3.1 cumulative, 2.9 science, 27 MCAT, non URM

Interviewed at: LMU-DCOM, Marian, Nova, Touro NY, Campbell, ACOM, Touro CA
Accepted (so far): LMU-DCOM, Marian, Campbell, ACOM
Waitlisted: Touro CA
On hold: ATSU-SOMA, AZCOM

Well done, you chose your schools a lot better than I did! Must be a major relief to know that you will be a medical student this upcoming fall! Btw, did you interview at TUCOM-CA sometime in December? If that's you in your profile pic, you look familiar!

 

[user3]

But... but... statistics...

OK, I will admit that something about their ii's and acceptances does not add up. ACOM and LMU I can see. However, I have never seen anyone with < 3.0 sci GPA receive ii's from Touro-CA, GPA-focused CUSOM and MUCOM (Marian's site says that GPA's < 3.2 are rarely accepted), nor NSU (3.0 minimum sci gpa requirement according to their site). Touro-NY has interviewed people with < 3.0 sci GPA's, but I have not seen any with < 28 MCAT.

If her numbers are indeed correct, they are the lowest I have seen receive ii's at those 5 schools and the lowest I have seen accepted at Marian and Campbell this year...

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

OK, I will admit that something about their ii's and acceptances does not add up. ACOM and LMU I can see. However, I have never seen anyone with < 3.0 sci GPA receive ii's from Touro-CA, GPA-focused CUSOM and MUCOM (Marian's site says that GPA's < 3.2 are rarely accepted), nor NSU (3.0 minimum sci gpa requirement according to their site). Touro-NY has interviewed people with < 3.0 sci GPA's, but I have not seen any with < 28 MCAT.

If her numbers are indeed correct, they are the lowest I have seen receive ii's at those 5 schools and the lowest I have seen accepted at Marian and Campbell this year...

Her app is hiding likely unimaginable gold. It's one thing to get lucky and get an II to Touro Ca, Nova, or Touro-Ny. To get all 3 is essentially something even perfect apps rarely get. And MUCOM is heavily stats driven.

 

[user3]

Her app is hiding likely unimaginable gold. It's one thing to get lucky and get an II to Touro Ca, Nova, or Touro-Ny. To get all 3 is essentially something even perfect apps rarely get. And MUCOM is heavily stats driven.

yea, its almost too good to be true. I know of a handful of posters here that were waitlisted or rejected post interview from MUCOM. They all had higher stats than her.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

yea, its almost too good to be true. I know of a handful of posters here that were waitlisted or rejected post interview from MUCOM. They all had higher stats than her.

I feel like you need to be essentially perfect to get into MUCOM out of the interview. I'm going to be really interested in how their waitlist moves this year.

 

[user3]

I feel like you need to be essentially perfect to get into MUCOM out of the interview. I'm going to be really interested in how their waitlist moves this year.

but they have been accepting lots of people with 25-26 MCAT and average GPA's

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

but they have been accepting lots of people with 25-26 MCAT and average GPA's

They've rejected far more.

 

[victoriax87]

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

I was not expecting all the nay sayers. But I guess I should have seen it coming.

Yes I interviewed at liberty. But I interviewed the first week they had interviews and not sure why I got rejected. People with lower stats than me got into liberty who interviewed there after me...

But I digress! Yes I have tons of research (including 2 publications). I also have extensive volunteer work in rural and underserved areas (I am originally from the midwest)--I was able to express this in my personal statement and secondaries and believe my desire to attend came out. I have lots of ties to Indiana so I believe that is what helped me get in. I have ties to Touro CA's area as well in terms of volunteering so that may have helped get me an interview.

As for the gpa--I have taken upper level classes which are harder versions of the basic class and have done well in them. I am assuming my letters of recommendations are good from those upper level classes that make up for it. I retook some at a higher level but AACOMAS didn't replace them since they were not identical style courses so my grades did not get replaced. In my interviews I was able to explain this issue and the ones that took me were ok with it I am guessing. Also--I have kept in touch with admissions directors since before AACOMAS opened up in May, so I have been in contact with them very frequently, which I believe has helped me just get the interview in the first place. I would recommend any and everyone to keep in contact with admissions directors, or even people in charge of applicants.

Yes, I did interview at Touro CA in December!

P.S. At some schools I interviewed, it seemed there were much less deposits sent in than anticipated. I am not sure exactly why, but feel free to call schools up and ask them (especially Liberty and Nova). I believe this may have also played a role in getting the interview in the first place.

Good luck to you all! Call schools/send letters/emails so they know who you are!!!!!

-Vicky

 

[GypsyHummus]

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

I was not expecting all the nay sayers. But I guess I should have seen it coming.

Yes I interviewed at liberty. But I interviewed the first week they had interviews and not sure why I got rejected. People with lower stats than me got into liberty who interviewed there after me...

But I digress! Yes I have tons of research (including 2 publications). I also have extensive volunteer work in rural and underserved areas (I am originally from the midwest)--I was able to express this in my personal statement and secondaries and believe my desire to attend came out. I have lots of ties to Indiana so I believe that is what helped me get in. I have ties to Touro CA's area as well in terms of volunteering so that may have helped get me an interview.

As for the gpa--I have taken upper level classes which are harder versions of the basic class and have done well in them. I am assuming my letters of recommendations are good from those upper level classes that make up for it. I retook some at a higher level but AACOMAS didn't replace them since they were not identical style courses so my grades did not get replaced. In my interviews I was able to explain this issue and the ones that took me were ok with it I am guessing. Also--I have kept in touch with admissions directors since before AACOMAS opened up in May, so I have been in contact with them very frequently, which I believe has helped me just get the interview in the first place. I would recommend any and everyone to keep in contact with admissions directors, or even people in charge of applicants.

Yes, I did interview at Touro CA in December!

P.S. At some schools I interviewed, it seemed there were much less deposits sent in than anticipated. I am not sure exactly why, but feel free to call schools up and ask them (especially Liberty and Nova). I believe this may have also played a role in getting the interview in the first place.

Good luck to you all! Call schools/send letters/emails so they know who you are!!!!!

-Vicky

I guess it just goes to show yah if u want it bad enough, people find a way. Hopefully I can be in your shoes come fall of 2015. Congrats!

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

I was not expecting all the nay sayers. But I guess I should have seen it coming.

Yes I interviewed at liberty. But I interviewed the first week they had interviews and not sure why I got rejected. People with lower stats than me got into liberty who interviewed there after me...

But I digress! Yes I have tons of research (including 2 publications). I also have extensive volunteer work in rural and underserved areas (I am originally from the midwest)--I was able to express this in my personal statement and secondaries and believe my desire to attend came out. I have lots of ties to Indiana so I believe that is what helped me get in. I have ties to Touro CA's area as well in terms of volunteering so that may have helped get me an interview.

As for the gpa--I have taken upper level classes which are harder versions of the basic class and have done well in them. I am assuming my letters of recommendations are good from those upper level classes that make up for it. I retook some at a higher level but AACOMAS didn't replace them since they were not identical style courses so my grades did not get replaced. In my interviews I was able to explain this issue and the ones that took me were ok with it I am guessing. Also--I have kept in touch with admissions directors since before AACOMAS opened up in May, so I have been in contact with them very frequently, which I believe has helped me just get the interview in the first place. I would recommend any and everyone to keep in contact with admissions directors, or even people in charge of applicants.

Yes, I did interview at Touro CA in December!

P.S. At some schools I interviewed, it seemed there were much less deposits sent in than anticipated. I am not sure exactly why, but feel free to call schools up and ask them (especially Liberty and Nova). I believe this may have also played a role in getting the interview in the first place.

Good luck to you all! Call schools/send letters/emails so they know who you are!!!!!

-Vicky

I don't think they were nay sayers. Just impressed and curious.

You've shown that the right attitude goes a long way.

 

[68quebec]

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

I was not expecting all the nay sayers. But I guess I should have seen it coming.

Yes I interviewed at liberty. But I interviewed the first week they had interviews and not sure why I got rejected. People with lower stats than me got into liberty who interviewed there after me...

But I digress! Yes I have tons of research (including 2 publications). I also have extensive volunteer work in rural and underserved areas (I am originally from the midwest)--I was able to express this in my personal statement and secondaries and believe my desire to attend came out. I have lots of ties to Indiana so I believe that is what helped me get in. I have ties to Touro CA's area as well in terms of volunteering so that may have helped get me an interview.

As for the gpa--I have taken upper level classes which are harder versions of the basic class and have done well in them. I am assuming my letters of recommendations are good from those upper level classes that make up for it. I retook some at a higher level but AACOMAS didn't replace them since they were not identical style courses so my grades did not get replaced. In my interviews I was able to explain this issue and the ones that took me were ok with it I am guessing. Also--I have kept in touch with admissions directors since before AACOMAS opened up in May, so I have been in contact with them very frequently, which I believe has helped me just get the interview in the first place. I would recommend any and everyone to keep in contact with admissions directors, or even people in charge of applicants.

Yes, I did interview at Touro CA in December!

P.S. At some schools I interviewed, it seemed there were much less deposits sent in than anticipated. I am not sure exactly why, but feel free to call schools up and ask them (especially Liberty and Nova). I believe this may have also played a role in getting the interview in the first place.

Good luck to you all! Call schools/send letters/emails so they know who you are!!!!!

-Vicky

golden example of underdogs, with comparably low GPA and MCAT, she makes them up with great amount of research, volunteer, and more.. once again, I'm very happy for you!

 

[user3]

golden example of underdogs, with comparably low GPA and MCAT, she makes them up with great amount of research, volunteer, and more.. once again, I'm very happy for you!

but how come this seems to barely help with MD underdogs? Example, someone on MDapps (I believe a non-trad) had 3.4/3.4/32 with their last 100 or so credits being near 4.0. I assume their EC's were also solid. They applied to 25 schools and got just 2 interviews.

 

[FutureGlobalDoc]

but how come this seems to barely help with MD underdogs? Example, someone on MDapps (I believe a non-trad) had 3.4/3.4/32 with their last 100 or so credits being near 4.0. I assume their EC's were also solid. They applied to 25 schools and got just 2 interviews.

I followed that story, and those 2 interviews were at "anythingspossible" and "underdogheadnod". The two top-tier MD schools IMHO.

 

[shinytofu]

the more examples I post, the more I will hopefully make you and others realize competitiveness begins around 3.0/27, 3.2/24, 3.5/22, etc. you always write me off as a citer of anecdotes, but whenever I ask for people with these numbers that truly applied broadly and got no interviews, I get crickets.
.

As an UD with such 3.2/24, I've been hearing crickets myself.

Silence: NOVA, ATSU-KCOM, ATSU-AZ, LECOM- Erie, ACOM, Edward Via CC, Touro NY, WVCOM
Pre-interview Hold: AZCOM, MUCOM, LMU DCOM
Rejected: MSUCOM

For the other UDs that got in, there's prolly some key part of their app i.e. some super life story that got them that ii and acceptance that they haven't revealed to us - so I see them more as the exception rather than the rule.

 

[user3]

As an UD with such 3.2/24, I've been hearing crickets myself.

Silence: NOVA, ATSU-KCOM, ATSU-AZ, LECOM- Erie, ACOM, Edward Via CC, Touro NY, WVCOM
Pre-interview Hold: AZCOM, MUCOM, LMU DCOM
Rejected: MSUCOM

For the other UDs that got in, there's prolly some key part of their app i.e. some super life story that got them that ii and acceptance that they haven't revealed to us - so I see them more as the exception rather than the rule.

how about LUCOM or CUSOM? I guess you could have also tried PCOM-Ga, WCU, PNWU, or KYCOM, although they are more regional. Thanks for sharing though...

 

[danny89]

As an UD with such 3.2/24, I've been hearing crickets myself.

Silence: NOVA, ATSU-KCOM, ATSU-AZ, LECOM- Erie, ACOM, Edward Via CC, Touro NY, WVCOM
Pre-interview Hold: AZCOM, MUCOM, LMU DCOM
Rejected: MSUCOM

For the other UDs that got in, there's prolly some key part of their app i.e. some super life story that got them that ii and acceptance that they haven't revealed to us - so I see them more as the exception rather than the rule.

When did you apply?

 

[shinytofu]

When did you apply?

@user3 - I had a subsection of 6 in PS, so I tried to avoid the schools with autoscreen (TouroNV, CUSOM comes to mind), and I think KYCOM/PCOM-Ga has heavy instate bias?

I was complete most schools early to mid-November. Late, yes. But for a few UD in this thread, they submitted a second batch of applications also in Nov/Dec and got ii's recently (with fast turnaround!) as well.
I called each school, and even the adcom at ACOM told me that I should probably look at next year's cycle for luck. According to her, the average MCAT is now 28 for DO schools, and that is what most schools are looking at.

Kinda jarring to hear that even ACOM's looking at 28 MCAT-average applicants

 

[user3]

@user3 - I had a subsection of 6 in PS, so I tried to avoid the schools with autoscreen (TouroNV, CUSOM comes to mind), and I think KYCOM/PCOM-Ga has heavy instate bias?

I was complete most schools early to mid-November. Late, yes. But for a few UD in this thread, they submitted a second batch of applications also in Nov/Dec and got ii's recently (with fast turnaround!) as well.
I called each school, and even the adcom at ACOM told me that I should probably look at next year's cycle for luck. According to her, the average MCAT is now 28 for DO schools, and that is what most schools are looking at.

Kinda jarring to hear that even ACOM's looking at 28 MCAT-average applicants

looking at your post history, you said your GPA's were 3.38 overall and 3.28 science. If that is really true, I am suprised at your lack of invites. Nonetheless, it was definitely still worthwhile to apply, but you might have been accepted if you had tried LUCOM.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

but how come this seems to barely help with MD underdogs? Example, someone on MDapps (I believe a non-trad) had 3.4/3.4/32 with their last 100 or so credits being near 4.0. I assume their EC's were also solid. They applied to 25 schools and got just 2 interviews.

Because they can be selective, they're not looking for those who have fought through adversity. They're looking at those who have walked down a perfect line.

@user3 - I had a subsection of 6 in PS, so I tried to avoid the schools with autoscreen (TouroNV, CUSOM comes to mind), and I think KYCOM/PCOM-Ga has heavy instate bias?

I was complete most schools early to mid-November. Late, yes. But for a few UD in this thread, they submitted a second batch of applications also in Nov/Dec and got ii's recently (with fast turnaround!) as well.
I called each school, and even the adcom at ACOM told me that I should probably look at next year's cycle for luck. According to her, the average MCAT is now 28 for DO schools, and that is what most schools are looking at.

Kinda jarring to hear that even ACOM's looking at 28 MCAT-average applicants

I think with a 3.3 you should aim for a 28 to be competitive in general. That being said 28 isn't too off, DO schools are getting competitive and unless you're bringing something fresh to the table they expect you to possess high stats.

 

[68quebec]

but how come this seems to barely help with MD underdogs? Example, someone on MDapps (I believe a non-trad) had 3.4/3.4/32 with their last 100 or so credits being near 4.0. I assume their EC's were also solid. They applied to 25 schools and got just 2 interviews.

I was solely talking about DO admission. Why would I even mention about MD admission in DO forum? thx for input though.

 

[DocWinter]

I think user3 has been shouting that on the top of the Empire State Building forever and almost everyone here keep dismissing him/her except for a few.

People need to get off user3's balls. He's just posting numbers to give people hope. It's nice to see after all the condescension and bickering earlier on. This is an UNDERDOG thread, lets tout some underdog success.

I give User credit for keeping some light and hope alive in this thread. I feel like this underdog thread, which I have followed since the 2011 cycle, has taken a wrong turn. THIS IS FOR UNDERDOGS. The poster Victoria has multiple ii and acceptances with a weak GPA and decent MCAT. Her LORs, experiences and PS must indeed be top notch. I have a similar story, and thousands of hours of volunteer work, things to talk about in an interview, and a heart for medicine and humanity landed me an acceptance. No, it's not a "top tier" DO school. I'm moving across the country for something I want very, very much. But I got in, class of 2018, and this is what this place is for.
For the last time, if it's not helpful, if it doesn't give hope, and if you get any amount of sinister., snarkish satisfaction out of saying it, don't say it here. The Underdogs are taking this thread back.

And enough of you guys who haven't even gotten in with bashing the lower tier schools. No decent person would knock someone elses accomplishments, and it's an accomplishment to get it, as we all know very well. It's competitive enough without having to listen to someone demean the achievement and link to a dream. If you don't want to apply, fine, but enough on LUCOM, MUCOM, ACOM, CUSOM, etc.

 

[touchpause13]

I really haven't seen shet on CUSOM, MUCOM, or ACOM. Except for general advice about being cautious with new schools.

Ijs

 

[coolingglasses]

One of the most neurotic people earlier on, oh how things have changed 😉

People need to get off user3's balls. He's just posting numbers to give people hope. It's nice to see after all the condescension and bickering earlier on. This is an UNDERDOG thread, lets tout some underdog success.

You know we (or at least I) didn't call them out because we're trying to demoralize people. We were arguing about what level of stats should be included in a thread for UDs.

I see that we also use a very different definition of UD. For me, it's someone who has a low percentage chance of getting in according to AACOMAS data, not SDN.

I mean, let's be real. When have you EVER seen me trying to bring someone down?

 

[BestDoctorEver]

I give User credit for keeping some light and hope alive in this thread. I feel like this underdog thread, which I have followed since the 2011 cycle, has taken a wrong turn. THIS IS FOR UNDERDOGS. The poster Victoria has multiple ii and acceptances with a weak GPA and decent MCAT. Her LORs, experiences and PS must indeed be top notch. I have a similar story, and thousands of hours of volunteer work, things to talk about in an interview, and a heart for medicine and humanity landed me an acceptance. No, it's not a "top tier" DO school. I'm moving across the country for something I want very, very much. But I got in, class of 2018, and this is what this place is for.
For the last time, if it's not helpful, if it doesn't give hope, and if you get any amount of sinister., snarkish satisfaction out of saying it, don't say it here. The Underdogs are taking this thread back.

And enough of you guys who haven't even gotten in with bashing the lower tier schools. No decent person would knock someone elses accomplishments, and it's an accomplishment to get it, as we all know very well. It's competitive enough without having to listen to someone demean the achievement and link to a dream. If you don't want to apply, fine, but enough on LUCOM, MUCOM, ACOM, CUSOM, etc.

I am all for user3 giving other people hopes. After all, many of us apply DO because we believe in the 'holistic' aspect of DO schools. I think many in the DO forum have been taking the same tone with the MD forum lately, which I think is sad...

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I am all for user3 giving other people hopes. After all, many of us apply DO because we believe in the 'holistic' aspect of DO schools. I think many in the DO forum has been taking the same tone with the MD forum lately, which I think is sad...

What does being 'holistic' have anything to do with anything user3 talks about? Especially since he's actually a proponent of the DO schools being almost exclusively stats driven.

 

[coolingglasses]

I don't wanna drag this up again, but it sounds like people are subtly taking digs.

All I was arguing for was not arbitrarily lowering the limit for people to participate in future threads. It's great to have some hope, but you know what gave me more hope? Advice on where to take my application as an UD, and slowly seeing it manifest into great results during the cycle.

 

[user3]

I don't wanna drag this up again, but it sounds like people are subtly taking digs.

All I was arguing for was not arbitrarily lowering the limit for people to participate in future threads. It's great to have some hope, but you know what gave me more hope? Advice on where to take my application as an UD, and slowly seeing it manifest into great results during the cycle.

do you really think you would not have gotten at least 1 acceptance even if you had mediocre EC's? Assuming you were complete by the end of July, blanketed the entire lower tier with applications (WVSOM, ACOM, MUCOM, CUSOM, LMU, WCU, PNWU, VCOM-CC, PCOM-Ga, KYCOM) plus say, the Touro's, LECOM's, ATSU's, and NSU? I think you would have.

disclaimer: any time I use the term "lower tier" I am only referring to the relative competitiveness of admission to one school vs others-- NOT quality.

 

[coolingglasses]

do you really think you would not have gotten at least 1 acceptance even if you had mediocre EC's? Assuming you were complete by the end of July, blanketed the entire lower tier with applications (WVSOM, ACOM, MUCOM, CUSOM, LMU, WCU, PNWU, VCOM-CC, PCOM-Ga, KYCOM) plus say, the Touro's, LECOM's, ATSU's, and NSU? I think you would have.

disclaimer: any time I use the term "lower tier" I am only referring to the relative competitiveness of admission to one school vs others-- NOT quality.

I often wonder. My "safety schools" based on the numbers available at application time were LMU-DCOM, LECOMs, and ACOM. Of those, only ACOM gave me an ii. Marian was clearly able to pull in higher stat applicants despite being a new school, as they rejected me as well. So did both PCOMs. Hard to say if PNWU would've offered me one in the first place without my connection to the state.

It wouldn't have been out of the realm of possibility, but I think it would've been a much lower percent chance. But this is where you and I differ, since we have different definitions of what constitutes UD.

 

[TwinsFan]

Because they can be selective, they're not looking for those who have fought through adversity. They're looking at those who have walked down a perfect line.

Honestly, there are plenty of MD schools looking for those who fought through adversity and haven't walked a perfect line.

 

[bball4]

The expulsion was in 2001 for having terrible grades; my freshman sGPA was about 0.77. The latter was for getting a C in a graduate level course last April; had some personal circumstances that ended up affecting my academic performance.

I was told that my personal statement got me the interview, and my interview got me the acceptance.

You might've already posted this elsewhere but where did you apply? Also, did you address the IAs head-on in the personal statement or elsewhere? Very curious because I'm in a similar situation with similar stats.

 

[Escape_Goat]

You might've already posted this elsewhere but where did you apply? Also, did you address the IAs head-on in the personal statement or elsewhere? Very curious because I'm in a similar situation with similar stats.

I applied to: NSUCOM, LECOM, LECOM-B, MSUCOM, PCOM, GA-PCOM, NYCOM, FSU, FAU, UCF, UF, NYMC, Howard, Hofstra, Harvard (lol it was free), Rosalind Franklin, Oakland, and Drexel.

There's a few more I'm forgetting as well as a few that I never completed secondaries for since GA-PCOM was one of my top two DO programs.

As for how I addressed my institutional actions, the first sentence of my personal statement was literally "I first realized that the trajectory of my life was in need of change after I was expelled from UCF in 2001." As for the second one, it wasn't even brought up during my interview, but a few secondaries asked for more info and I just said "I had a rough semester because lost my job and then my wife and I experienced our second pregnancy loss a few weeks later."

I was just honest and not embarrassed about any issues with my app. My interview with GA-PCOM was closed file except for GPA and MCAT score and I was asked why my non-science GPA was low (3.1ish). I just said, "I wasn't ready to be in college at 18."

I think the academic probation at the end of my master's tanked my chances with any MD program, since my GPAs were marginal anyway, but whatever. I'm perfectly happy with my acceptance and every decision I've made that got me to this point.