Any reason not to do this?

[shockazulu]

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So I'm thinking of applying at the end of my junior year (So in 10 months). Being realistic my GPA should be a 3.6 and my practice MCAT scores have all been just North of 30 (Highest I've gotten is a 33). Certainly not the best application ever but my plan is to apply to only one school next year (Campbell). Campbell is less than an hour away from my family, and is my first choice by far. They have the Early Decision Admission Track, which wouldn't matter that much since it would be the only school I would apply to anyway. If I don't get in I'll try again after my senior year, and then apply broadly, and hopefully with a much better application. Any feedback would be nice. I figure at worst I would be out of 75 dollars and be upset for a few weeks.

 

[AlteredScale]

Hey that sounds like a good plan!

I wonder if schools you didn't apply to the year before can see if you are a reapplicant? If that's the case then you might just have some explaining to do ya know? Nothing too bad.

 

[keels99]

I agree that this sounds like a good plan! Good luck!

 

[Promethean]

I think most schools just care if you have applied to their school previously. And I think when you apply Early Decision, you are telling that school how much you love it. I would be surprised if many Early applicants are rejected, unless they have fairly weak apps, just based on the fact that even med schools love to be loved.

I am also only applying to the few schools that I most want this year, since I can't see dropping several thousand dollars interviewing all over the country when I really don't want to go more than a few hundred miles away. It isn't a bad strategy, if you have the back up plan of trying elsewhere next time round.

Your plan sounds reasonable to me. It is going to cost you more than $75, between MCAT, AACOMAS application fee, etc. Since you have so much time, rock some of the free online MCAT study materials, see how high you can push that score. If you have a week free to do nothing but study (yeah, right!) I recommend getting a 1 week subscription to the Jcoreview.com MCAT videos. There are about 50 hours worth of vids that cover all the basic sciences, and they were my secret to a 5 point bump in my score. Dude's voice is a little annoying at first, and they might seem simplistic, but when you are taking the test and you can see the cartoon demonstrating the concept playing in your head, it really helps.

 

[hallowmann]

Just curious why you would only apply to 1 school, a DO school, when you have boarderline MD stats? I get the wanting to stay close to home, but there a bunch of MD schools in and near NC, so if you want your life to be easier (face less bias and have more opportunity when applying for residency) and you break 30 on the MCAT, I'd apply to all of those, and maybe some other DO schools somewhat nearby. Heck, it'd be worth it just based on how much you'd save in tuition and with the added scholarships if you attend a public school.

CUSOM will take you with a 3.6 and 30 whether you apply early acceptance or not.

 

[shockazulu]

Just curious why you would only apply to 1 school, a DO school, when you have boarderline MD stats? I get the wanting to stay close to home, but there a bunch of MD schools in and near NC, so if you want your life to be easier (face less bias and have more opportunity when applying for residency) and you break 30 on the MCAT, I'd apply to all of those, and maybe some other DO schools somewhat nearby. Heck, it'd be worth it just based on how much you'd save in tuition and with the added scholarships if you attend a public school.

CUSOM will take you with a 3.6 and 30 whether you apply early acceptance or not.

All valid points. I figured with a 3.6/30 and early acceptance I would have a reasonable shot of getting in, and Campbell is the only school I would really be trilled to get into. If I got into my Undergrads Med School I would be happy to have gotten into Med School, but bummed that I'm still so far away from home. I may be in the minority but I don't see that big of a difference between D.O and MD., stigma wise anyway. But like I said if I didn't get in I would cast a much wider net next cycle.

 

[Movado 21]

Hey that sounds like a good plan!

I wonder if schools you didn't apply to the year before can see if you are a reapplicant? If that's the case then you might just have some explaining to do ya know? Nothing too bad.

FYI--You are only considered a reapplicant at programs you have applied to in previous years.

Hope that helps!

 

[hallowmann]

...I may be in the minority but I don't see that big of a difference between D.O and MD., stigma wise anyway...

If only residency directors felt the same way...

 

[medickdb]

All valid points. I figured with a 3.6/30 and early acceptance I would have a reasonable shot of getting in, and Campbell is the only school I would really be trilled to get into. If I got into my Undergrads Med School I would be happy to have gotten into Med School, but bummed that I'm still so far away from home. I may be in the minority but I don't see that big of a difference between D.O and MD., stigma wise anyway. But like I said if I didn't get in I would cast a much wider net next cycle.

I would save yourself some time and money by casting your net wide this cycle. Applying to only one school is incredibly silly. With your stats (MCAT pending; honestly, a practice test is a practice test), I'm sure you can make it into CUSOM, but you never know. Apply to CUSOM, but also apply to other schools just in case. I interviewed at CUSOM mid August last year. I heard back within a few days. If you really want to go there, you'll know pretty fast unless you're placed on the wait list.

You've heard the saying, "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket." Spend the extra few hundred dollars and apply elsewhere, too. At the end of the day, you need to get in somewhere, anywhere first. Then, you can worry about picking and choosing when you get multiple acceptances.

 

[keels99]

I thought when you attempted to do early acceptance at most schools you are only allowed to apply to one...?

 

[polylux]

So I'm thinking of applying at the end of my junior year (So in 10 months). Being realistic my GPA should be a 3.6 and my practice MCAT scores have all been just North of 30 (Highest I've gotten is a 33). Certainly not the best application ever but my plan is to apply to only one school next year (Campbell). Campbell is less than an hour away from my family, and is my first choice by far. They have the Early Decision Admission Track, which wouldn't matter that much since it would be the only school I would apply to anyway. If I don't get in I'll try again after my senior year, and then apply broadly, and hopefully with a much better application. Any feedback would be nice. I figure at worst I would be out of 75 dollars and be upset for a few weeks.

I think this is a great idea. The only thing I would recommend is shooting an application to UNC Chapel Hill, Brody, and Duke at the same time - literally only because they are also all in NC and thus should be relatively close to your family and you have decent enough stats to give those instate MDs a chance. I think this gives a really good chance at your top choice this first time around and then also a second chance if you need to apply twice, instead of just going wherever happens to accept you the first time around.

That said, I think this is only a good idea because you've stated CUSOM is your first choice by far, which means why not put your eggs in that basket. A 3.6 and 30 will get you into CUSOM without problem, assuming you also fit their mission statement of serving NC, which you seem to with the desire to stay with your family.

 

[shockazulu]

I think this is a great idea. The only thing I would recommend is shooting an application to UNC Chapel Hill, Brody, and Duke at the same time - literally only because they are also all in NC and thus should be relatively close to your family and you have decent enough stats to give those instate MDs a chance. I think this gives a really good chance at your top choice this first time around and then also a second chance if you need to apply twice, instead of just going wherever happens to accept you the first time around.

That said, I think this is only a good idea because you've stated CUSOM is your first choice by far, which means why not put your eggs in that basket. A 3.6 and 30 will get you into CUSOM without problem, assuming you also fit their mission statement of serving NC, which you seem to with the desire to stay with your family.

Thanks. I think ECU only takes in state, and technically I'm not in state. The last time I lived in NC was 2011. I joined the Military and have lived in Arizona ever since. If Brody didn't have in state bias it would be first on my list. I'm not going to waste money applying to Duke but UNC is def high on my list.