Advice: Should I wait and reapply?

[ClaraOswald]

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Hey all,

I applied this last cycle with a 27 MCAT (8 VR, 9 PS, 10 BS) and a 3.473 cGPA. I applied to 13 MD programs that accepted my stats and didn't get any interviews. I've since raised my cGPA to 3.511 and plan on ending my undergrad with a 3.56. I've had an upwards trend in my GPA throughout my undergrad career. My sGPA is around 3.65. I have 2 years of research experience, 100+ shadowing hours, 200+ volunteering hours. I also applied late in the cycle, app was not submitted until late August and processed by mid September with most secondaries submitted around October.

I also applied to 7 DO programs and got into one program in the midwest. However, I also applied to public health programs (was not sure I would get in this cycle) and was accepted to WashU, Brown, and UA for a MPH.

I was wondering whether it is worth it to wait and gamble on a reapp, retake MCAT, continue with ECs, and reapply MD. Or, should I just take DO and be happy. I am not interested in pursuing any of the super competitive residencies such as derm or rads. I am mainly worried about not having as many opportunities as a DO and enduring stigma from peers. I think we are all ambitious individuals here and can understand that concern..

Thoughts? Thank you for your help!

 

[TheSummit]

Majority opinion will tell you to go DO

 

[MrLogan13]

You have a DO acceptance, take it.

 

[referee3]

:troll:

 

[Lucca]

No one will care about DO vs. MD by the time you finish your residency training considering that most of the people on this forum who already don't give a **** will be your colleagues. If you don't care neither does anyone else.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I've heard that your chances of getting accepted again, if you get even one acceptance and then don't take it, are much smaller the second time around. @TheSummit is right, I think most of us will tell you to go to the DO school.

 

[ridethecliche]

I believe rescinding the DO applications means that you can kiss DO goodbye.

It would not affect your odds at MD schools as the two application systems don't communicate. Whether reapplying MD only is right or not is a decision that only you can make, but you should realize DO will not be 'plan B'.

 

[DokterMom]

You realize that DO and MD both have the exact same 'job' right?

Your GPA, even if improved, will still be low for MD. Not fatal, but low. A 27 MCAT does not have good odds for MD. Are you so sure your retake would bring it up into 'safe for MD' territory? How about if both scores were averaged together? Let's just say you'd need a 33-equivalent. Do you have any reason to believe that's likely?

Since the two systems are separate, you theoretically could apply MD having turned down a DO acceptance -- But frankly, your numbers, even if improved, are still more DO-league than MD-league -- and there, you would have shot yourself in the foot BIG TIME.

If turning down a low-tier MD school acceptance and reapplying is looked down upon, I think turning down DO and having to reapply DO would be even more verboten. Why? As you note, there is still some stigma -- hence why you're thinking about turning it down. Your actions 'buy into' and validate the whole stigma thing, and I've got to think that's something DO schools are even more sensitive to...

Take your acceptance and run with it.

 

[raiderette]

Be a doctor. Go DO.

 

[candbgirl]

Reasons to go DO:
1) MCAT very low for MD
2) GPAs average<below average for MD
3) ECs not spectacular-do you have any clinical hours(not shadowing)? You said you have 200 volunteer hours-what does that include?
4) you'd be a MD re applicant!
5) what makes you think you'd be accepted this year when you weren't last year?
6) you have a DO acceptance. Grab it and run. You'll be a doctor in 4 years!

 

[Goro]

Your MCAT is circling the drain for MD schools.

The stigma you refer to against DOs exists only in the minds of ignorant pre-meds, some elderly MDs, and a few ******* residents running around these forums.

I suggest that you retake the MCAT, do better and apply to MD schools, because I'd rather see your seat go to someone who really wants to be a doctor four years from now.

Hey all,

I applied this last cycle with a 27 MCAT (8 VR, 9 PS, 10 BS) and a 3.473 cGPA. I applied to 13 MD programs that accepted my stats and didn't get any interviews. I've since raised my cGPA to 3.511 and plan on ending my undergrad with a 3.56. I've had an upwards trend in my GPA throughout my undergrad career. My sGPA is around 3.65. I have 2 years of research experience, 100+ shadowing hours, 200+ volunteering hours. I also applied late in the cycle, app was not submitted until late August and processed by mid September with most secondaries submitted around October.

I also applied to 7 DO programs and got into one program in the midwest. However, I also applied to public health programs (was not sure I would get in this cycle) and was accepted to WashU, Brown, and UA for a MPH.

I was wondering whether it is worth it to wait and gamble on a reapp, retake MCAT, continue with ECs, and reapply MD. Or, should I just take DO and be happy. I am not interested in pursuing any of the super competitive residencies such as derm or rads. I am mainly worried about not having as many opportunities as a DO and enduring stigma from peers. I think we are all ambitious individuals here and can understand that concern..

Thoughts? Thank you for your help!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Thanks for your responses!

 

[youmed]

I think you should be thankful that you were accepted to that one DO school and not think about whether you think you have a shot at MD schools. Looking at this cycle's 1/7 track record for DO programs, I think it's safe to say that you should definitely take the opportunity, think of it as a clean slate, and start your career in medicine as a medical student starting this fall.