Application Advice Please ...

[thomasfx10]

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I am very non-trad (46) and I will be applying to medical school this year. I will be taking the MCAT on May 26th ...


Background: Non-Science Degree, all pre-reqs at a CC (Due to cost factors). GPA is 3.5, 3.7 science ... hoping to get at least high 20's on MCAT ....

Plan A: MD School US (Not holding my breath due to my age and taking my pre-reqs at CC)

Plan B: DO school

Plan C: Caribbean (SGU, AUC, ROSS)


Here is my question: So I apply to all those schools, it looks they have their interviews from Sept-May ... For the Caribbean, is quick from what I understand ... Interview, then offer is a short time later.

Anyway, I can see a scenario where I do not hear from any US MD, DO schools, and get accepted into the Caribbean for the Jan 2012 class (They go year around) ... So now I am at the Caribbean school, and I get accepted to a DO school while attending there ... Anyone hear of anyone running into that situation?

I know it sounds like I am jumping the gun, but application cycles open next month, and I like to cover all bases.

Thanks for any replies ...

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

Let me preface my reply by saying that I'm only relying on hearsay...

But if my understanding is correct, the average debt for students coming out of Caribbean schools is often MUCH higher than students coming out of mainland schools. (I've heard people say the debt can be $300,000 and up!)

You already hinted that you don't have a big savings (you said you took pre-req's at community college for financial reasons), so at your age I wouldn't suggest even considering a Caribbean school. It would be a huge burden to pay off your loans. I think your Plan C should be to go to PA or NP school instead.

With that said, your original question becomes moot!

Just my 2 cents, good luck

 

[thomasfx10]

Thanks for the response. I know the cost factor at the Caribbean schools are high, but so are some of the DO schools.

Cost factor of 50K either way will not make a huge difference to me. We all will be in debt 200K (tuition, interest, living expense) or so when it is all said in down (Unless you get instate tuition).

I have not ruled out PA's NP's, however I want to become a doctor first and foremost.

 

[EdLongshanks]

I am very non-trad (46) and I will be applying to medical school this year. I will be taking the MCAT on May 26th ...


Background: Non-Science Degree, all pre-reqs at a CC (Due to cost factors). GPA is 3.5, 3.7 science ... hoping to get at least high 20's on MCAT ....

Plan A: MD School US (Not holding my breath due to my age and taking my pre-reqs at CC)

Plan B: DO school

Plan C: Caribbean (SGU, AUC, ROSS)


Here is my question: So I apply to all those schools, it looks they have their interviews from Sept-May ... For the Caribbean, is quick from what I understand ... Interview, then offer is a short time later.

Anyway, I can see a scenario where I do not hear from any US MD, DO schools, and get accepted into the Caribbean for the Jan 2012 class (They go year around) ... So now I am at the Caribbean school, and I get accepted to a DO school while attending there ... Anyone hear of anyone running into that situation?

I know it sounds like I am jumping the gun, but application cycles open next month, and I like to cover all bases.

Thanks for any replies ...

This one's simple. Put off the Caribbean applications until your DO applications have all been resolved. Surely attending a US school is worth the risk of 6 to 9 months of your life.

 

[thomasfx10]

Yea ... That is what I was thinking too. (AUC & ROSS) have a summer incoming class and SGU starts up in Aug.

Anyone know when the DO application process normally ends? I have seen acceptances as early as Sept. and as late as May.

I am just wondering when people start the "freak out" that they have not heard back.

Thanks

 

[0919mmk]

Yea ... That is what I was thinking too. (AUC & ROSS) have a summer incoming class and SGU starts up in Aug.

Anyone know when the DO application process normally ends? I have seen acceptances as early as Sept. and as late as May.

I am just wondering when people start the "freak out" that they have not heard back.

Thanks

Yeah - I would def say hold off on the carrib (I also hear that entering in winter/spring class is much worse than entering at the end of summer, but I dont remember why lol).

As far as the DO app process, it parallels the MD process closely, meaning that most acceptances are given by end of March, most waitlist movement is done by mid June.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Yea ... That is what I was thinking too. (AUC & ROSS) have a summer incoming class and SGU starts up in Aug.

Anyone know when the DO application process normally ends? I have seen acceptances as early as Sept. and as late as May.

I am just wondering when people start the "freak out" that they have not heard back.

Thanks

For all of the American programs, you could be accepted anywhere up to the first day of class in August/September. There are a couple of active threads in Pre-Allo and Allo (I believe) of current Carib students trying to get a DO acceptance via the application process. I know, a bit different than your scenario, but you might find the discussion useful. Please not that that 6-9 months of Carib that you take before moving back for MD/DO will cause you to incur something north of $30-40k of cost/loans. Is it worth that? My recommendation would be to only apply MD/DO, apply very broadly, and if you don't get it to reapply to the same diverse selection of MD/DO programs and then include the Caribs. Best of luck.