5 DO invites and 0 MD invites..why?

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DOrocker0930

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I applied to ~34 MD schools and ~16 DO schools. My problem is that I have gotten 5 DO interview invites but only 1 MD invite, to which I was eventually rejected. My LizzieM score is 66.5 (3.65gpa/508 MCAT). I think the reason may be that my stats are simply not competitive enough for MD schools, but still 0/34 MD acceptances is statistically really bad in my opinion :/ I will end up going to a CA DO if i don't get any other MD invites, but I still feel pretty confused about not getting any MD invites at this late in the app cycle for 2016-2017.

What could be going on with my application? I would prefer going to an MD over a DO school at the end of the day if I had a choice.

Here are the remaining MD schools that I still have yet to hear any notification from:

CA Northstate
FIU Herbert Wertheim
FSU
Howard U
Lewis Katz SOM
Medical College of Georgia
NYMC
Rosalind Franklin
Rutgers New Jersey
 
State of residence? How much volunteering and clinical experience did you have? Where else did you apply?
 
so in terms of Florida schools, your LizzyM isn't too competitive. FSU was your best shot but you must have not fit their mission. They are very selective as to who they interview.

As for Howard, are you black? If not, that explains why you might not have gotten an II.

As for the rest of the schools, I'm assuming your LizzyM score wasn't up to par.
 
According to the AAMC data, people with your stats have a 49% chance of acceptance. Those stats include everyone, so if you're white or Asian your odds are lower. You're also in the lower half of the range, so the odds are probably somewhat lower for your exact stats. This is just to say that your outcome is not really bad statistically. Of course, if your app was otherwise outstanding and you applied early to a well crafted school list, then I can see why you might be more surprised.

I'm sorry you're disappointed, but getting into DO school is outstanding on its own. You'll be a doctor, make a good living, live happily ever after, etc. Good luck!
 
With a well selected MD list - OP's stats aren't miserable. Acceptance rate of 63% per A24 (https://www.aamc.org/download/321518/data/factstablea24-4.pdf)

Other factors: late completion, Multiple MCAT's, weak ECs/clinical exposure.

Since the OP's stats are on the higher end of most DO's - that result is not unexpected.


Edited to correct for New to Old score conversion
 
OP is a SD below the matriculant median in terms of MD acceptance.
State of residence, time of completion and ECs may contribute to this cycle's success or lack there of.
 
Strange, I had a 508 and a 3.8 and got 10+ MD II and 5 acceptances. Applied to 30 schools. Maybe the small difference in GPA? I also had DI athletics and research experience though which may have helped
 
JPSmyth said:
Strange, I had a 508 and a 3.8 and got 10+ MD II and 5 acceptances. Applied to 30 schools. Maybe the small difference in GPA? I also had DI athletics and research experience though which may have helped
Click to expand...
You are at the medial LizzyM, your EC's , PS, State of residence and app timing may have contributed.
 
MDrocker said:
I applied to ~34 MD schools and ~16 DO schools. My problem is that I have gotten 5 DO interview invites but only 1 MD invite, to which I was eventually rejected. My LizzieM score is 66.5 (3.65gpa/508 MCAT). I think the reason may be that my stats are simply not competitive enough for MD schools, but still 0/34 MD acceptances is statistically really bad in my opinion :/ I will end up going to a CA DO if i don't get any other MD invites, but I still feel pretty confused about not getting any MD invites at this late in the app cycle for 2016-2017.

What could be going on with my application? I would prefer going to an MD over a DO school at the end of the day if I had a choice.
Click to expand...

In order for us to help you assess what went wrong, we need more information. This includes: state of residence, complete school list, application completion date, and a summary list of your ECs.
 
libertyyne said:
Might want to change the username to DOrocker too.
Click to expand...

I did a quick search on OP's posting history

498 on the new MCAT 2015, depressed, want to retake.... help!!!

Turns out OP's 508 was actually the second score and she got a 498 on the first attempt. This could be a killer for MD schools that average the two scores (resulting in a 503 that's well below the 509 matriculant median for MD schools). Still, a 10-point improvement is very significant so I'd expect some MD schools to give OP a benefit of doubt. Something else is missing.
 
Lawper said:
I did a quick search on OP's posting history

498 on the new MCAT 2015, depressed, want to retake.... help!!!

Turns out OP's 508 was actually the second score and she got a 498 on the first attempt. This could be a killer for MD schools that average the two scores (resulting in a 503 that's well below the 509 matriculant median for MD schools). Still, a 10-point improvement is very significant so I'd expect some MD schools to give OP a benefit of doubt. Something else is missing.
Click to expand...
I looked at the stats, and i figured its quite possible not to get any IIs or one with an app that may be missing items . The averaging makes more sense, however I am wondering if there is something else on the app that is missing.
 
libertyyne said:
I looked at the stats, and i figured its quite possible not to get any IIs or one with an app that may be missing items . The averaging makes more sense, however I am wondering if there is something else on the app that is missing.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing it was a poorly made list, so I can see how that would mean only 1 II. I believe the Florida schools are pretty tough for OOS, but if they're from FL, that would make them OOS at Rutgers, which is something like 98% IS. That doesn't suggest the rest of the list was well crafted.
 
libertyyne said:
I looked at the stats, and i figured its quite possible not to get any IIs or one with an app that may be missing items . The averaging makes more sense, however I am wondering if there is something else on the app that is missing.
Click to expand...
cactusman said:
I'm guessing it was a poorly made list, so I can see how that would mean only 1 II. I believe the Florida schools are pretty tough for OOS, but if they're from FL, that would make them OOS at Rutgers, which is something like 98% IS. That doesn't suggest the rest of the list was well crafted.
Click to expand...
ScottTenorman54 said:
Yeah, I was wondering if OP was a FL resident. FSU had like...2 OOS students last year. They are 100% all about training rural/community Floridian docs.
Click to expand...

Yeah the state of residence is key. It would be a tragedy if OP was from a super competitive state like California.
 
ScottTenorman54 said:
Yeah, I was wondering if OP was a FL resident. FSU had like...2 OOS students last year. They are 100% all about training rural/community Floridian docs.
Click to expand...

Yea I figured OP was a FL resident cause he applied to FSU and FIU.

FSU has a really low acceptance rate due to people who are OOS with low stats applying there out of desperation.
 
Agree 100%.


Lawper said:
I did a quick search on OP's posting history

498 on the new MCAT 2015, depressed, want to retake.... help!!!

Turns out OP's 508 was actually the second score and she got a 498 on the first attempt. This could be a killer for MD schools that average the two scores (resulting in a 503 that's well below the 509 matriculant median for MD schools). Still, a 10-point improvement is very significant so I'd expect some MD schools to give OP a benefit of doubt. Something else is missing.
Click to expand...
 
JPSmyth said:
Strange, I had a 508 and a 3.8 and got 10+ MD II and 5 acceptances. Applied to 30 schools. Maybe the small difference in GPA? I also had DI athletics and research experience though which may have helped
Click to expand...
Could you PM me where you were accepted. My stats are relatively close and I was also a D1 athlete. Couldn't find your acceptances on your profile
 
Lawper said:
In order for us to help you assess what went wrong, we need more information. This includes: state of residence, complete school list, application completion date, and a summary list of your ECs.
Click to expand...

State of residence: I live in CA since 2001.
Ethnicity: South Asian
AMCAS app processed/completed: 8/10/16
Summary of my ECs:
1. Volunteer with the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in retail (200 hrs.)
2. Shadowing at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, CA (30 hrs.)
3. Private vocal instruction at my university music department (30 hrs.)
4. Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Summer Intern at Stanford University (100 hrs.)
5. Undergraduate Intern at Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, CA (400 hrs.)
6. College Tutor at Sacred Heart Education Center (20 hrs.)
7. Undergraduate Student Research at Santa Clara University (500 hrs. Nov 2014-Mar 2016, no publication)
8. Volunteer at Foothill Community Health Center doing monthly blood glucose and BP screenings (50 hrs.)
9. Volunteer at Mission Skilled Nursing and Subacute Center to socialize with elderly (20 hrs.)
10. Shadowing a pediatrician at RAMBLC Pediatric Medical Group (7 hrs. total)

Complete school list:
***MD***:
CA Northstate Univ COM
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
East TN State U., James H. Quillen Coll. of Med.
Eastern Virginia Medical School
FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Florida State University
George Washington University Sch of Med & Hlth Sci
Howard University
Indiana University School of Medicine
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Loma Linda University School of Medicine (Did not submit secondary for this school).
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medici
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Medical University of South Carolina
Meharry Medical College
Michigan State University
Morehouse School of Medicine
New York Medical College
Northeast Ohio Medical University (Interviewed at this school but was rejected probably because they favor their 6-year BS/MD students and only have 30 seats out of 6,000 applications for direct entry from 4-year undergrad institutions)
Quinnipiac University SOM
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Scien
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (Did not submit secondary for this school)
Stanford University School of Medicine
The Commonwealth Medical College
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson
University of Arkansas College of Medicine
University of California San Diego
University of California San Francisco
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Riverside
University of Nevada School of Medicine

***DO***:
ACOM (II received but did not attend)
AZCOM (Accepted but withdrew)
DMU-COM (Accepted)
VCOM-Auburn
KCU-COM
LECOM
LMU-COM
MSU-COM
NYIT-COM
NSU-COM
OU-HCOM (Did not submit secondary for this school)
Touro-CA (Accepted)
UNECOM (New England)
WUCOM (Western)
WCU-COM (William Carey)
WVSOM (West Virginia)
Touro-NY (II received but did not attend)

Thank you all so much for reading and replying to my original post. I know there are way too many factors that contribute to a successful app cycle and I may never get to the bottom of it...but i had some time and wanted to reflect on what could have gone wrong. 🙂
 
Last edited:
Thanks! I'll tag in @LizzyM @Goro @gyngyn @gonnif for more thorough feedback. From a quick look, it turns out there is a major problem with your school list (you applied to several schools with low %OOS acceptance). ECs look satisfactory.
 
Bad list. East TN (91.2% IS), Rutgers NJ (88.2% IS), FSU (95.8% IS), MSU (86.4% IS), MC Georgia (94.3% IS), FIU (83.3% IS), Arkansas (89.6% IS) and maybe some others are really tough for out-of-state unless you have some strong ties (Table A-1). Stanford was a pointlessly high reach. If you're white and haven't demonstrated a very strong commitment to underserved populations, then the HBCUs weren't reasonable. Your MCAT scores put you at a disadvantage from the start, as did your California residence.
 
cactusman said:
Bad list. East TN (91.2% IS), Rutgers NJ (88.2% IS), FSU (95.8% IS), MSU (86.4% IS), MC Georgia (94.3% IS), FIU (83.3% IS), Arkansas (89.6% IS) and maybe some others are really tough for out-of-state unless you have some strong ties (Table A-1). Stanford was a pointlessly high reach. If you're white and haven't demonstrated a very strong commitment to underserved populations, then the HBCUs weren't reasonable. Your MCAT scores put you at a disadvantage from the start, as did your California residence.
Click to expand...
Yes I believe you may have hit the mark. It seems that I did not attempt to thoroughly research the schools when making my school list from the beginning of the cycle (last June). I just went on MSAR and kinda picked the schools that were close to my MCAT range.

UCSF and Stanford are dream schools just in my list for fun lol. Also being a CA resident, all the UCs are tough to even get an II. And was not aware that most schools looked at the average of my 2 scores (503) and not my highest (508). In retrospect, not smart moves 🙁

At this point, I know I can't change my circumstances. But I do still hope to get an II from California Northstate since I sent last month, what i believe, to be a strong letter of intent/update on my gap year activities.
 
Last edited:
MDrocker said:
Yes I believe you may have hit the mark. It seems that I did not attempt to thoroughly research the schools when making my school list from the beginning of the cycle (last June). I just went on MSAR and kinda picked the schools that were close to my MCAT range.

UCSF and Stanford are dream schools just in my list for fun lol. Also being a CA resident, all the UCs are tough to even get an II. And was not aware that most schools looked at the average of my 2 scores (503) and not my highest (508). In retrospect, not smart moves 🙁
Click to expand...

This seems to be a very common mistake.

I totally get the dream school thing. We all have things that we have to do because "What if?"
 
MDrocker said:
Yes I believe you may have hit the mark. It seems that I did not attempt to thoroughly research the schools when making my school list from the beginning of the cycle (last June). I just went on MSAR and kinda picked the schools that were close to my MCAT range.

UCSF and Stanford are dream schools just in my list for fun lol. Also being a CA resident, all the UCs are tough to even get an II. And was not aware that most schools looked at the average of my 2 scores (503) and not my highest (508). In retrospect, not smart moves 🙁

At this point, I know I can't change my circumstances. But I do still hope to get an II from California Northstate since I sent last month, what i believe, to be a strong letter of intent/update on my gap year activities.
Click to expand...

Curious, are you gonna go DO or are you gonna apply again for MD?
 
MDrocker said:
Yes I believe you may have hit the mark. It seems that I did not attempt to thoroughly research the schools when making my school list from the beginning of the cycle (last June). I just went on MSAR and kinda picked the schools that were close to my MCAT range.

UCSF and Stanford are dream schools just in my list for fun lol. Also being a CA resident, all the UCs are tough to even get an II. And was not aware that most schools looked at the average of my 2 scores (503) and not my highest (508). In retrospect, not smart moves 🙁

At this point, I know I can't change my circumstances. But I do still hope to get an II from California Northstate since I sent last month, what i believe, to be a strong letter of intent/update on my gap year activities.
Click to expand...
CNU has chosen not to allow its students access to federally insured loans or payback programs.
 
Applying to med school is not like buying Lotto tickets. You get accepted by having a good packet and a good target list, not by flush and shoot strategies.

Here is yet another example of someone who blindly looked at stats and nothing else of value in MSAR.

SDNers are strongly encouraged to pay VERY careful attention to the Acceptance Information pages, and to visit school websites. I am appalled at how many people spend literally 1000s of hours in the research lab, but can't be bothered to actually visit school websites to learn something about them.

MDrocker said:
I applied to ~34 MD schools and ~16 DO schools. My problem is that I have gotten 5 DO interview invites but only 1 MD invite, to which I was eventually rejected. My LizzieM score is 66.5 (3.65gpa/508 MCAT). I think the reason may be that my stats are simply not competitive enough for MD schools, but still 0/34 MD acceptances is statistically really bad in my opinion :/ I will end up going to a CA DO if i don't get any other MD invites, but I still feel pretty confused about not getting any MD invites at this late in the app cycle for 2016-2017.

What could be going on with my application? I would prefer going to an MD over a DO school at the end of the day if I had a choice.

Here are the remaining MD schools that I still have yet to hear any notification from:

CA Northstate
FIU Herbert Wertheim
FSU
Howard U
Lewis Katz SOM
Medical College of Georgia
NYMC
Rosalind Franklin
Rutgers New Jersey
Click to expand...
 
It would be a smart decision to take the CA DO acceptance and run with it. Sure MD cycle could have gone better but that's too late now. Better to start learning and training to become a doctor this fall than trying to reapply MD with uncertainty.
 
I just don't have the stamina in me to start the whole process again, to retake my MCAT, and hand over another couple thousand dollars just for my satisfaction that I got into some MD school (and even that is not guaranteed). Haha, exactly my friend @Lawper :smack:
 
MDrocker said:
I just don't have the stamina in me to start the whole process again, to retake my MCAT, and hand over another couple thousand dollars just for my satisfaction that I got into some MD school (and even that is not guaranteed). Haha :smack:
Click to expand...

Yeah it's not worth it. Now go enjoy the next few months before you start school in the fall.
 
Dang. At least you got accepted! 😉 Good luck.

PS: Does this mean you're gonna change your name to DOrocker?
 
Medical College of Georgia finished interviewing in February, so you will most likely hear rejection from them soon.

As for the comments about the FL schools, they must SERIOUSLY screen for state residence. I live in Georgia but teach in Florida and am certified with the Florida Department of Education. The FL/GA border is a ten minute drive from my house.

Zero Florida interviews. 😢
 
JPSmyth said:
Strange, I had a 508 and a 3.8 and got 10+ MD II and 5 acceptances. Applied to 30 schools. Maybe the small difference in GPA? I also had DI athletics and research experience though which may have helped
Click to expand...

would you mind telling me what your school list was? My stats are almost identical, except the athletics haha.
 
LiFre said:
would you mind telling me what your school list was? My stats are almost identical, except the athletics haha.
Click to expand...

Just use MSAR. My list was my state schools, and every other school that had 508 MCAT within it's accepted range and accepted a decent amount of OOS students.
 
MDrocker said:
I just don't have the stamina in me to start the whole process again, to retake my MCAT, and hand over another couple thousand dollars just for my satisfaction that I got into some MD school (and even that is not guaranteed). Haha, exactly my friend @Lawper :smack:
Click to expand...

You're making the right call. Congrats on the DO acceptances, and good luck in school. Also, you might as well withdraw from CA Northstate. You do not want to go there over a DO school.
 
Congrats on the DO acceptances though. You are going to be a doctor! 🙂

On a side note, applying to 50 schools was probably too many. I believe that if I apply to 15 - 18 schools and don't get in anywhere, I wouldn't have gotten in anywhere either if I applied to >20 schools.
 
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