Applying this upcoming cycle...(chances, stats, list of schools..)

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kanda1o

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Hello!

So I'm set to apply this upcoming cycle, ('16/'17 cycle) and I was wondering... well I'm wondering a lot. Mainly about my chances, as well as how to go about formulating a list of schools to apply to.

I'm sort of new to these parts of the forums, all my SDN experience was in the MCAT forums.

I recently graduated (this past December), so I have about a year and a half before school would begin again. I'm working as a scribe now as well as shadowing another DO just for more experience.

Here are my stats:

GPA: 3.36 (sGPA: 3.37), (I have retaken 4 classes, and did better on each one)
MCAT: most recent: 501 (125/126/126/124),
however.. I took the older mcat too and did horribly on it, (18), and immediately studied my a** off for the next year to take the new one and my percentile rank went from like a 20th percentile to the 54th-60th percentile. (....the improvement/jump in percentile is a positive...right?!)

Letters are from: my post-doc in the lab I volunteered in (medical school lab), 3-4 profs, and a physician I shaddowed. (hoping to get another physician one before May)
I have over 500 hours of hospital volunteering which was direct, patient-care exposure. (basically following RN's and PA's around and doing rounds with them in the post-op wing of the hospital in Mount Pleasant).
I'm heavily involved with EC's, mainly Global Brigades, (i did two alt. spring breaks to Honduras the past two years for medical brigades), as well as our chapter of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM), and also other clubs on campus like the pre-med club, minority association of pre-med students (MAPS), Central neuroscience society, and other non-medical clubs (student environmental alliance, amnesty international@CMU). So I have a lot of EC's.

While I feel like my numerical stats are on the lower side, I am very confident about my EC's and letters, as well as my overall people skills when it comes time for interviews.


So here comes the dreaded... "what are my chances??" question.

I'm from Michigan (Central Mich alum), so I plan on applying to CMED (md) and MSUCHM (md), but my list of DO schools are like 20+ right now.

HOW DO I NARROW THEM DOWN?!!

Is there any good website that has updated average stats on each school? I have been using:

http://medical-schools.startclass.com/

...and it seems great. But a lot of the newer-ish DO schools have virtually no stats on there so I'm hesitant. I've used the site though to make a solid spread sheet with basic info including avg gpa, mcat, 1st yr class size, and tuition. But I'm still unsure.



Lastly,

What's the difference between for-profit med schools and non-profit? I get the gist of it, but does it have any baring on the students and their education? Is it something I should be weary about? I've been reading threads and that point comes up a lot in the DO forums here.

I feel like I have SO many more questions about the application cycle, but I guess this is enough for now...

If you read the whole thing... THANK YOU. If you read the whole thing and reply and help me out... BLESS YOUR SOUL.

Much love!
 
We have similar GPA's. MCAT yet to be take but shooting for 504+ on it. My EC's are good, probably a tad below yours, and my LoR's include 1 MD, 1 DO, and 3 science profs. I am applying only DO and plan to apply to 24 schools roughly.

I am not sure that applying to MD is worth it with that GPA/MCAT combo. Also, even for DO, your GPA/MCAT are towards bottom end, so I think you should apply to all lower and mid tier DO schools to give yourself best shot. Apply to 18+ schools. Like I said I have same GPA, planning to get better MCAT, and am still applying to 24 at least.

Make sure you get a DO LoR, I think it helps a lot.

I will call on @Goro to weigh in if he would be so kind do so.
 
Agree with the poster above. From what I've seen, newer schools are frequently accepting applicants with stats similar to yours. ACOM/BCOM come to mind. Good luck applying!
 
If I were in your shoes, I would save my money and not even apply to MD schools, unless you feel like you really have a shot and/or have connections. I would cast a wide net to all the DO schools. I would target most of the newer schools, and the low-tier and mid-tier schools.

All the more established DO schools are a bit more of reach schools, since they have averages of 506+ on the MCAT with a 3.5+ cGPA/sGPA. I would still apply to them and see if you can get a II somewhere.

Most importantly, APPLY EARLY. Try to be complete by July/August.
 
Last edited:
kanda1o said:
Hello!

So I'm set to apply this upcoming cycle, ('16/'17 cycle) and I was wondering... well I'm wondering a lot. Mainly about my chances, as well as how to go about formulating a list of schools to apply to.

I'm sort of new to these parts of the forums, all my SDN experience was in the MCAT forums.

I recently graduated (this past December), so I have about a year and a half before school would begin again. I'm working as a scribe now as well as shadowing another DO just for more experience.

Here are my stats:

GPA: 3.36 (sGPA: 3.37), (I have retaken 4 classes, and did better on each one)
MCAT: most recent: 501 (125/126/126/124),
however.. I took the older mcat too and did horribly on it, (18), and immediately studied my a** off for the next year to take the new one and my percentile rank went from like a 20th percentile to the 54th-60th percentile. (....the improvement/jump in percentile is a positive...right?!)

Letters are from: my post-doc in the lab I volunteered in (medical school lab), 3-4 profs, and a physician I shaddowed. (hoping to get another physician one before May)
I have over 500 hours of hospital volunteering which was direct, patient-care exposure. (basically following RN's and PA's around and doing rounds with them in the post-op wing of the hospital in Mount Pleasant).
I'm heavily involved with EC's, mainly Global Brigades, (i did two alt. spring breaks to Honduras the past two years for medical brigades), as well as our chapter of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM), and also other clubs on campus like the pre-med club, minority association of pre-med students (MAPS), Central neuroscience society, and other non-medical clubs (student environmental alliance, amnesty international@CMU). So I have a lot of EC's.

While I feel like my numerical stats are on the lower side, I am very confident about my EC's and letters, as well as my overall people skills when it comes time for interviews.


So here comes the dreaded... "what are my chances??" question.

I'm from Michigan (Central Mich alum), so I plan on applying to CMED (md) and MSUCHM (md), but my list of DO schools are like 20+ right now.

HOW DO I NARROW THEM DOWN?!!

Is there any good website that has updated average stats on each school? I have been using:

http://medical-schools.startclass.com/

...and it seems great. But a lot of the newer-ish DO schools have virtually no stats on there so I'm hesitant. I've used the site though to make a solid spread sheet with basic info including avg gpa, mcat, 1st yr class size, and tuition. But I'm still unsure.



Lastly,

What's the difference between for-profit med schools and non-profit? I get the gist of it, but does it have any baring on the students and their education? Is it something I should be weary about? I've been reading threads and that point comes up a lot in the DO forums here.

I feel like I have SO many more questions about the application cycle, but I guess this is enough for now...

If you read the whole thing... THANK YOU. If you read the whole thing and reply and help me out... BLESS YOUR SOUL.

Much love!
Click to expand...

That websites numbers aren't accurate.

Gadget schools with lower stats such as:

Wcu
Atsu
Cusom
Wvsom
VCOM
Acom
Lecom
Touro nv/Middletown
PCOM ga
 
When I applied this cycle, I chose schools around my region (Pacific Northwest) because I want to stay in the area. I ended up only applying to five schools. Location was especially important for my wife.
 
bon22 said:
When I applied this cycle, I chose schools around my region (Pacific Northwest) because I want to stay in the area. I ended up only applying to five schools. Location was especially important for my wife.
Click to expand...
How's that working out for you? Unless stats are above average on all fronts, I would say apply to at least 10-12. I'm an avid believer in applying broadly, you never know where you may want to go.
 
adrian710 said:
How's that working out for you? Unless stats are above average on all fronts, I would say apply to at least 10-12. I'm an avid believer in applying broadly, you never know where you may want to go.
Click to expand...
That is great advice. Another reason I only applied to five was because I signed up for the fee waiver far too early while not knowing you had 14 to complete your application after. So unfortunately, it had to come out of pocket.
 
Op your ECs are good. I would think about a retake to put your range at a 505 or better if possible. Pad some DO shadowing hours if you get the time. start having a few people read your PS and give feed back. Go grab a CIB from a local osteopathic med fair or just download the pdf. Sort your top choices by comparing their stats/curriculum/rotation sites/facilities/cost.

Lastly you want to cease the moment of glory at your interview. Know the ACA roughly, know a few things about OMM that you can discuss if needed. Know why you want to do medicine, and why DO. Talk to M1-4 and get acquainted with the path ahead - comlex levels, usmle steps, shelves, GME matching and selection, UFAP, pubs etc... Talk to your school career advising and drill mock interviews until you are comfortable.

Sorry if this is a lot. Good luck.
 
Last edited:
Just my .02, but I think it's def. worth it to keep Central on your list. My good friend applied this cycle with much lower GPA's than you with a 501 and received a later interview. Ditch MSUCHM. I really think it will simply be a donation to the med school.

Also, start talking with/meeting with Anne Snyder at MSUCOM if you haven't done so already. Interaction with the med school is very important for consideration at their school.

Best of luck, fellow Michigander!
 
bon22 said:
That is great advice. Another reason I only applied to five was because I signed up for the fee waiver far too early while not knowing you had 14 to complete your application after. So unfortunately, it had to come out of pocket.
Click to expand...

Do you mind explaining the fee waiver thing? A friend of mine who applied this cycle (15/16) mentioned it briefly but I didn't have a chance to get more information out of him. He basically just told me to make sure to do it.
 
Dr Tony T. Chopper said:
Op your ECs are good. I would think about a retake to put your range at a 505 or better if possible. Pad some DO shadowing hours if you get the time. start having a few people read your PS and give feed back. Go grab a CIB from a local osteopathic med fair or just download the pdf. Sort your top choices by comparing their stats/curriculum/rotation sites/facilities/cost.

Lastly you want to cease the moment of glory at your interview. Know the ACA roughly, know a few things about OMM that you can discuss if needed. Know why you want to do medicine, and why DO. Talk to M1-4 and get acquainted with the path ahead - comlex levels, usmle steps, shelves, GME matching and selection, UFAP, pubs etc... Talk to your school career advising and drill mock interviews until you are comfortable.

Sorry if this is a lot. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I'm extremely confident with the why medicine question, however I just downloaded the CIB and will begin studying that today. Any specifics of the ACA I should be aware of that may come up in interviews? I do have friends at various schools, currently, I plan on messaging them and asking about information concerning applications and interviews.

Thank you!

femmegoblue said:
Just my .02, but I think it's def. worth it to keep Central on your list. My good friend applied this cycle with much lower GPA's than you with a 501 and received a later interview. Ditch MSUCHM. I really think it will simply be a donation to the med school.

Also, start talking with/meeting with Anne Snyder at MSUCOM if you haven't done so already. Interaction with the med school is very important for consideration at their school.

Best of luck, fellow Michigander!
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with Anne! But I'll have to check it out. Would emailing her, kind of out of the blue, be strange? But thank you! I definitely still plan on applying to Central. I have volunteered for 2 years in one of their prized faculty labs at CMED and feel very confident with their whole set up.
 
Another random question for everybody though...

Why do people not apply right away? So the apps open up in May (May 1st, correct?) and MDs can submit, what, June 1st? And DOs on June 2nd? Why do people not submit on that first day/week of June? My plan was to click submit right away in June, I have always thought the earlier the better when it comes to that. But I'm sort of perplexed as to why everyone doesn't do that?
 
kanda1o said:
I'm extremely confident with the why medicine question, however I just downloaded the CIB and will begin studying that today. Any specifics of the ACA I should be aware of that may come up in interviews? I do have friends at various schools, currently, I plan on messaging them and asking about information concerning applications and interviews.

Thank you!



I'm not familiar with Anne! But I'll have to check it out. Would emailing her, kind of out of the blue, be strange? But thank you! I definitely still plan on applying to Central. I have volunteered for 2 years in one of their prized faculty labs at CMED and feel very confident with their whole set up.
Click to expand...


Totally not weird to email out of the blue, but I would try setting up a phone advising appt on their website.
 
kanda1o said:
Another random question for everybody though...

Why do people not apply right away? So the apps open up in May (May 1st, correct?) and MDs can submit, what, June 1st? And DOs on June 2nd? Why do people not submit on that first day/week of June? My plan was to click submit right away in June, I have always thought the earlier the better when it comes to that. But I'm sort of perplexed as to why everyone doesn't do that?
Click to expand...
To make sure app is perfect in every way before sending it out for verification...? I'm not sure I understand the question. Also, I'm pretty sure you can submit app for DO on May 1st now, schools won't get a look at it til way later though.
 
In my case, applying late wasn't my plan and to be honest I never planned on applying.
I've aspired to get a PhD ever since Freshman year until my internship. And I hated it!! This was back in May 2015 and I decided on medicine so I had to work my butt off to shadow, volunteer in the hospital and study for the MCAT. I took it in September, didn't do well so and I gave up for this cycle. I then talked to a friend and he showed a lot of support and I felt I should try to apply. My primary was done mid October and my secondaries done mid November.
This was a very unusual situation for applying late though.

kanda1o said:
Another random question for everybody though...

Why do people not apply right away? So the apps open up in May (May 1st, correct?) and MDs can submit, what, June 1st? And DOs on June 2nd? Why do people not submit on that first day/week of June? My plan was to click submit right away in June, I have always thought the earlier the better when it comes to that. But I'm sort of perplexed as to why everyone doesn't do that?
Click to expand...
 
It's a way to get all of the application process paid for if you don't have the means. You only have 14 days to turn in your application after it has been approved though.
kanda1o said:
Do you mind explaining the fee waiver thing? A friend of mine who applied this cycle (15/16) mentioned it briefly but I didn't have a chance to get more information out of him. He basically just told me to make sure to do it.
Click to expand...
 
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