Am I competitive? Non-science major for D.O. schools

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Dr.RickSanchez

Dr.RickSanchez

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Hey SDN,

I was curious what you all thought about my cgpa, sgpa, and mcat and how competitive I would be for these school's DO program. Cgpa: 3.68 Sgpa: 3.31 MCAT: 27 Major: Psychology

In regards to extra-curricular activities (if you can even call them that) I have been working in surgery for a year as a support staff (no cleaning, lucky for me), and I worked as a temp (40-50 hrs per week) for 3 months at an in-house treatment center for adults with autism as a psychiatric technician. Did research involving Parkinsons for 1.5 yrs in my undergrad. ~90 hrs shadowing, 10 of which were surgeries in the operating room. No real volunteerism to speak of. Officer for the Psychology Honors Club at my uni for a semester, no real other leadership positions.

Here is the list of schools:

ATSU
DMU
CCOM
KCU
AZCOM
NYIT
NSUCOM
OSUCOM
OUHCOM
PCOM
RowanSOM
UNECOM
WVSOM
WesternCom

My concern is that many of these schools only accept 10-30% non-science majors during a given year. Is this a legitimate reason to not to apply to a school, especially given my lower science gpa? Also, if you have any recommendations on how to make my application stronger I'd appreciate that too!

Thanks everyone!
 
Schools don't make admissions decisions based on your major, that's why the core science classes are there because it makes sure the bio majors and journalism majors all come into med school with the same basis of science knowledge. Don't worry about being a non science major.

Your MCAT and GPA are pretty much on the average range for lots of schools. I think if you apply broadly, shadow a DO and get a LOR from the DO, and also have fantastic PS you'll have success
 
Depending on which state you're from I would not apply to a few of those schools. Osu is nearly impossible to get into if you're not from Oklahoma because their class is small and take ~90% in state and I think the rest have ties there. Ohio is pretty instate bias and require a 5 year contract. With a 3.31/27 I'd sprinkle in some newer schools that have their stuff together.

ACOM
MUCOM
Campbell

Are 3 I can think off the top of my head and you can also throw the VCOMs, LECOMs, and LMU in (they're all established outside vcom-a but it's a branch campus so)
 
Nobody cares what your major is, it is a non-issue. What will be an issue is your list is too top heavy and has state schools on it (OUCOM, OSUCOM) that take over 90% in state... Throw in some more "mid tier" and newer schools to be safe.

Edit: see schools posted above, those a great way to start
 
DO2015CA said:
Depending on which state you're from I would not apply to a few of those schools. Osu is nearly impossible to get into if you're not from Oklahoma because their class is small and take ~90% in state and I think the rest have ties there. Ohio is pretty instate bias and require a 5 year contract. With a 3.31/27 I'd sprinkle in some newer schools that have their stuff together.

ACOM
MUCOM
Campbell

Are 3 I can think off the top of my head and you can also throw the VCOMs, LECOMs, and LMU in (they're all established outside vcom-a but it's a branch campus so)
Click to expand...

Agree.

Remove Ohio, OSU, and Rowan. Your MCAT is low for them and they have bias. Your MCAT is probably too low for AZCOM and CCOM and NYIT has a slight bias I believe.

Add ACOM, LMUDCOM, Campbell, LECOMs. Add BCOM if you really want a safety net. Never apply to LUCOM or WCU
 
Rekt said:
Agree.

Remove Ohio, OSU, and Rowan. Your MCAT is low for them and they have bias. Your MCAT is probably too low for AZCOM and CCOM and NYIT has a slight bias I believe.

Add ACOM, LMUDCOM, Campbell, LECOMs. Add BCOM if you really want a safety net. Never apply to LUCOM or WCU
Click to expand...

No intentions of derailing, but may I ask why you say never apply to WCU? I understand LUCOM.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Why you applying to all the publics? I wouldn't waste my money on OSU, Rowan, OUHCOM or PCOM (basically a state school). Aside from that apply to any DO school you want and you have a good to great chance.

P.S. Don't add the other DO regional/state schools like MSU, TCOM PNWU
 
Scrubs101 said:
No intentions of derailing, but may I ask why you say never apply to WCU? I understand LUCOM.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
I know a few students at WCU and they are perfectly happy at the school. The campus is an actual undergrad/grad campus, not a single building in the middle of nowhere. Hattiesburg is a college town of 50K plus and both WCU and Southern Miss. are based there. I've been to WCU and Hattiesburg a few times and like the campus and town. So you should apply to WCU as well. Also check out the tuition, WCU has a better cost/benefit than a number of other schools.
 
Thanks everyone for your advice. Just some additional information: I am a resident of Idaho (loving those interview flight costs) and am a re-applicant.

It is good to know that I will not be at a disadvantage with my major, I wonder why they put those statistics in the handbook... Oh, from researching PCOM it seems like they still accept 30-40% OOS and it is a private school. Do they really have such an instate bias?

Also, I didn't get an II from CCOM, KCU, or Western last application cycle - other than my work experience I don't have too much that has changed since last year. Is it still worthwhile to reapply?

Edit: Also the reason I chose the ones I did was because I am afraid of going to a newer DO school (est. 2000+) and being a guinea pig.
 
Last edited:
Dr.RickSanchez said:
Thanks everyone for your advice. Just some additional information: I am a resident of Idaho (loving those interview flight costs) and am a re-applicant.

It is good to know that I will not be at a disadvantage with my major, I wonder why they put those statistics in the handbook... Oh, from researching PCOM it seems like they still accept 30-40% OOS and it is a private school. Do they really have such an instate bias?

Also, I didn't get an II from CCOM, KCU, or Western last application cycle - other than my work experience I don't have too much that has changed since last year. Is it still worthwhile to reapply?

Edit: Also the reason I chose the ones I did was because I am afraid of going to a newer DO school (est. 2000+) and being a guinea pig.
Click to expand...

They're just to provide information. The reason why the majority of people that get accepted into medical school have a science field major is not because the schools prefer them, its because most people that apply have a major in the sciences.
 
Dr.RickSanchez said:
Thanks everyone for your advice. Just some additional information: I am a resident of Idaho (loving those interview flight costs) and am a re-applicant.

It is good to know that I will not be at a disadvantage with my major, I wonder why they put those statistics in the handbook... Oh, from researching PCOM it seems like they still accept 30-40% OOS and it is a private school. Do they really have such an instate bias?

Also, I didn't get an II from CCOM, KCU, or Western last application cycle - other than my work experience I don't have too much that has changed since last year. Is it still worthwhile to reapply?

Edit: Also the reason I chose the ones I did was because I am afraid of going to a newer DO school (est. 2000+) and being a guinea pig.
Click to expand...

MCAT is on the low side for all 3 so I personally wouldn't reapply.

Pcom kinda has a regional bias more so than an instate one. It's competitive anyway. It's like the one DO school that everyone has heard of so a 27 might not be able to overcome the bias.

People have hard science degrees because it's what they want. Schools only care about prereqs, overall gpa, and MCAT. The great thing about the MCAT is that it lets people from no name institutions with "easy" degrees measure up against Ivy Leaguers.

As far as being wary of new schools, I think everyone, even those attending them, feel the same way to a degree. But your MCAT will probably be worthless after this cycle so beggars can't be choosers. Good luck!
 
Dr.RickSanchez said:
Thanks everyone for your advice. Just some additional information: I am a resident of Idaho (loving those interview flight costs) and am a re-applicant.

It is good to know that I will not be at a disadvantage with my major, I wonder why they put those statistics in the handbook... Oh, from researching PCOM it seems like they still accept 30-40% OOS and it is a private school. Do they really have such an instate bias?

Also, I didn't get an II from CCOM, KCU, or Western last application cycle - other than my work experience I don't have too much that has changed since last year. Is it still worthwhile to reapply?

Edit: Also the reason I chose the ones I did was because I am afraid of going to a newer DO school (est. 2000+) and being a guinea pig.
Click to expand...
Those 30-40% OOS are from Delaware (considered IS because they don't have a med school) and other places in the northeast. I wouldn't be so choosy as far as going to a new DO school. RVU specifically would be a great opportunity for you
 
Dr.RickSanchez said:
Also the reason I chose the ones I did was because I am afraid of going to a newer DO school (est. 2000+) and being a guinea pig.
Click to expand...

That is over 16 years ago..,. Any school that has already graduated a class is pretty much out of the guinea pig stage. With your stats and being a reapplicant you can't be super choosy. If you are really hesitant about it then don't apply to schools where you would be in the first class.
 
Thank you everyone for the excellent information about the schools. I have added and removed a few schools based on their regional and MCAT biases.

Just for further clarification from anyone else willing to answer:

Should I re-apply to schools that I did not get an interview invitation to? (KCU, CCOM, Western)

and

Should I re-apply to the schools I did get interviews from: LECOM-E (Jan.) and ATSU (March) but was wait-listed at.
 
Dr.RickSanchez said:
Thank you everyone for the excellent information about the schools. I have added and removed a few schools based on their regional and MCAT biases.

Just for further clarification from anyone else willing to answer:

Should I re-apply to schools that I did not get an interview invitation to? (KCU, CCOM, Western)

and

Should I re-apply to the schools I did get interviews from: LECOM-E (Jan.) and ATSU (March) but was wait-listed at.
Click to expand...

Dump CCOM and Western-CA. Apply to Western-Oregon. Re-apply to LECOM and ATSU.
 
kelminak said:
Rohn's lab?
Click to expand...

I don't think there is a Rohn at University of Idaho. Cohen, actually.
Rekt said:
Dump CCOM and Western-CA. Apply to Western-Oregon. Re-apply to LECOM and ATSU.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice everyone, especially Rekt! CCOM had always been at the top of my list, and having a school that is closer to home would be really nice, but I guess it was not in the dice. Maybe if I have to re-take the MCAT I will reconsider CCOM.
 
I'm gonna rock the boat and say apply wherever you want. Yeah you're chances probably aren't great at some of the schools people have mentioned above, but that doesn't mean you have zero chance. So long as you're not short on money and it doesn't delay your secondaries elsewhere, it won't hurt. The only way to eliminate your chances completely is to not apply.

As always, apply as early as possible
 
pericardium said:
I'm gonna rock the boat and say apply wherever you want. Yeah you're chances probably aren't great at some of the schools people have mentioned above, but that doesn't mean you have zero chance. So long as you're not short on money and it doesn't delay your secondaries elsewhere, it won't hurt. The only way to eliminate your chances completely is to not apply.

As always, apply as early as possible
Click to expand...
I agree. Apply wherever you can afford and want, as a wide net might just catch something. It doesn't cost that much or take that much time to click to add a school. Definitely add the schools suggested as such will help your chances, but don't imo eliminate a school just because of an instate or GPA "bias." You can always turn them down later if you get multiple acceptances. If I only got into LU I'd even go there rather than not go anywhere and bust my hump to make it.

The exception is don't waste your money if you don't meet the schools posted (by them in the mcib or online) requirements. That's a flat out no vs just a bias.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
 
DrMike spittin' the truth again. If you can afford it... apply everywhere. You never know. Anecdotal evidence alert... friend of mine got 8 interviews this cycle and one of them was Rowan...with a cGPA and sGPA ~3.4 and like a 28 MCAT.... and she lives on the West Coast. Didn't want to deal with the snow lol
 
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