Applying to DO school - Early January

[minwoo]

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I'm currently waiting for interviews at about 6 MD schools with a 3.4 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA, 31 MCAT (10/10/11 2nd take). I have 150+ volunteer hours at Vandy hospital, leadership ECs, and community/volunteer work .

If I begin the application process for DO school now, would I have any shot at getting in? I would shadow a DO in January for the schools that require DO recomendation letters.

Until now, I've been really stubborn about getting into an allopathic school, but after doing alot of reading and talking with different people, I realize that whether as an MD or DO, both can equally serve in great ways. I would much rather become a medical student at an osteopathic school in the Fall of 2011 than wait another year to get into an allopathic school...

 

[Bravetown]

Ah probably not this late, but hey give it a shot if you want couldn't hurt either you get in or you are in the same position as you are now.

 

[med10333]

its definitely late to submit an AACOMAS application (like AMCAS). its going to take them time to verify it, then you're going to have secondaries to fill out, you need a D.O. letter. Realistically, it will be around February/March by the time you are considered by schools. So you will be interviewing around March/April if you're lucky.

If you already have submitted an AACOMAS, then yes continue with it. If money is not a problem, definitely do as many secondaries as you can

Your stats aren't too high either btw. Your MCAT is high for D.O. schools, bt your GPA's are just a tad below average. If you applied earlier, you would have definitely gotten something. But by April, who knows.

I was also stubborn about MD at first, but my dad (an MD) reassured me that D.O. vs. M.D. is a pointless debate, both are perfectly fine in the real world. And after I actually met with many D.O.'s (neuroradiologist, plastic surgeon, Family medicine, Infectious disease), they all told me it made no difference in their careers that they were D.O.'s. I got this info in July, so I was able to quickly get to the AACOMAS application.

But in the end, you'll never know if you don't try. I say apply quickly.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

If money isn't a concern I would make sure to have your primary submitted by this weekend at the latest.

It is very late and the odds are stacked against you but you may still have a shot, just be ready to have an answer if asked if you're using DO schools as a backup.

 

[lftbndlbrnchblk]

Honestly, being this late in the cycle, I don't think it's worth doing even if money isn't an issue or you're able to obtain a DO letter. Let's say you don't get in. You're a reapplicant at that point. Most secondaries ask what you've changed from this cycle to the next. Aside from more shadowing hours, what can you put down? I'd say just wait until the next cycle opens up for DO in May and MD in June and be amongst the earliest group. You'll have everything set, a good MCAT and GPA, letters, PS - everything good to go. You can even get a head start on secondaries now, they hardly ever change. Just look around this site for the prompts. No one's got a gun to your head, telling you that you need to be a doctor tomorrow. Do it right and give yourself the best chance. I don't understand this roll the dice game and see where you end up and just go there that some people on here recommend. What is that? If it's important to you, one year won't kill you. The application process is a full time job, pretty much, you'll hardly notice the year go by and before you know it, you're accepted at a handful of schools this time next year like many are on this board, myself included. I was fortunate to get an early start and those who also did are thanking their lucky stars they're not putting applications together right now because they know how steep that uphill battle is.

 

[CopToEM]

If money isn't an issue then throw some applications out and see what happens. Be prepared to explain why it took you so long to submit (I don't suggest saying you were hoping for allopathic schools first).

The chances weigh heavily against you at this point. I believe statistically only about 5% of osteopathic applicants are accepted (correct me if I'm wrong) so imagine what the percentage chance is now that roughly > 50% of acceptances have been dished out.

With the doomsday statement made... you will never know if you don't try. Numerically, you're a great applicant, so the fact that you're late to the game may be entirely overlooked by many schools.

As I've said on this board a thousand times - the best medical school in the nation is the one who accepts you. Apply broadly and hope for the best!

Good luck!

 

[seap3]

If the OP is just beginning the DO app process now, I honestly don't think there is any chance at getting an acceptance this late in cycle. Although mcat is good, the gpa is borderline. And it really does look like the OP is using DO as a last resort, especially with just shadowing a DO in January and getting a last minute letter.

So when you say waiting for MD interviews - do you mean waiting for invites or waiting to attend your interviews?

 

[DrElliotReid]

If the OP is just beginning the DO app process now, I honestly don't think there is any chance at getting an acceptance this late in cycle. Although mcat is good, the gpa is borderline. And it really does look like the OP is using DO as a last resort, especially with just shadowing a DO in January and getting a last minute letter.

So when you say waiting for MD interviews - do you mean waiting for invites or waiting to attend your interviews?

From what i gather, i think the OP means waiting for invites.

I agree with many of the responses here. It's very late in the cycle and even if you do get interviews there's a high chance you will be waitlisted just b/c classes are filling up. Despite your good MCAT and fairly solid GPA, the timing of your application will hurt you. I speak from previous similar experience (applying to DO late in the game with a better GPA but slightly lower MCAT score). I got waitlisted and never taken off those lists.

Just be realistic. Sometimes schools can tell you're applying to DO b/c the MD's aren't working out based on the time crunch of your DO shadowing etc...If you have the time and money for it though, take a shot. You never know until you try.

 

[minwoo]

I interviewed at one in-state school and have been put on hold🙁 and am waiting for interview invites at the remaining schools. I forgot to mention that I am non-trad at age 27...i took a year off after graduating from VT (w/ a Finance degree) in 2006 to work for myself and then went back to school at a local university to do the post-bacc from Jan 08 - Aug 09.

One thing that was mentioned that really concerns me is what to do if I don't get accepted this cycle and were to become a reapplicant. I was thinking about taking Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, etc to raise my sGPA and take another short at allopathic schools, but there's no guarantee i'll ace those classes. Would it be terrible if I just applied to DO schools next cycle without any additional courses/volunteering/shadowing? I'm really running tight on money now and would much rather get a paying job somewhere...

 

[jinobi]

If you've received mostly holds this cycle from allopathic schools, there's not much chance that these schools will offer you an interview if you don't take any additional courses to bump up your GPA.

Many DO schools have a physician's letter requirement; while some require one from a DO, some will accept MD or DO letters. If you have a MD letter ready, and you want to apply for DO this cycle, I would submit your AACOMAS app as soon as possible with your MD letter. Your DO letter would come in too late for this cycle.

MCAT looks solid, GPA is decent for DO school.

 

[MightyMoose]

Many DO schools have a physician's letter requirement; while some require one from a DO, some will accept MD or DO letters. If you have a MD letter ready, and you want to apply for DO this cycle, I would submit your AACOMAS app as soon as possible with your MD letter. Your DO letter would come in too late for this cycle.

MCAT looks solid, GPA is decent for DO school.

I agree. If the OP has a physician LOR and s/he can submit soon, I could see him/her gaining an acceptance, but there are two concerns I would have, the acceptance might not be from a school s/he really wants to attend, and if s/he waits until next year I can see quite a bit more success.

I have seen people get accepted with lower stats that were applying later in the year, but usually there are some other circumstances involved. I wouldn't write the OP off, but s/he should know it's becoming an uphill battle at this point in the season.

 

[seap3]

Would it be terrible if I just applied to DO schools next cycle without any additional courses/volunteering/shadowing? I'm really running tight on money now and would much rather get a paying job somewhere...

I think if you waited until June to submit for next cycle you would be in an excellent position. You would need to do your DO shadowing though. Many schools require a DO letter, and even if they don't, it's good to show you've had some exposure.

I just think it's looking like a last minute thing now without the DO shadowing, but like a PP said, you may have a shot at some school - it may just not be at a school you'd really like to attend. If you wait until next cycle, you'd most likely get to be more selective.

 

[Hokie06]

hey man, im really happy to see you on SDN didn't expect to see you here ^^
and congratulations on your awesome MCAT score! very very well done!

since you came here for some feedback, i'll share with you what I think~~

it seems like you really want the MD after your name~ if thats the case i'll tell you this. you have an excellent MCAT score, you couldn't ask for a better 31. it is well balanced and it sounds like you have a lot of other good things under your belt. a MD school WILL take you, whether it be this year, next year, or the year after, as long as you're patient and you continue to improve your grades, you WILL get in.

Going the DO route is an awesome choice too, but don't go through it unless you are 100% sure. The degree will be with you for the rest of your life. Regardless of your age now, waiting another year to get into MD school is nothing in the grand scheme of things. yea you might be losing a year worth of physician income, but its nothing compared to the degree that you will be having for the rest of your life. if MD is what you want, take those upper level science classes, give it all u got to get no less than A-, and take another stab at MD schools. But If you are 100% sure you don't mind being a DO, then apply THIS year. yea some schools might think you are applying as a backup, but in all honesty, there WILL BE schools that would love to take with your balanced scores and EC. just make sure you get your stuff together now and apply smart (out of state friendly ones like LECOM, DMU, LMU, VCOM etc. you have nothing to lose by applying this cycle especially with your mcat score.

what ever you decide to do, just remember one thing, you're getting in some where and you will become a good doctor. good luck bro

 

[dadams09]

do it an apply. I did the same thing last year and I got into several DO schools and was waitlisted on other MD schools. I ended up doing DO, not complaining about it. OMM is a pain but that's my own 2 cents. It is better than waiting another year to achieve you goals...

Just be careful of the school, stay away from the new unestablished ones...they are more trouble than they are worth most likely. TOO MANY KINKS to workout.

 

[Hoya2011]

Like a few others have said, saving or losing 1 year at this stage in your life probably won't mean much in the grand scheme of things...I'm in a similar situation, but have decided to postpone until the next cycle for a number of reasons

1-Preference in location (Think about it...you're will spend 4 years of your life there...with the few remaining schools with late deadlines, there aren't many choices)
2-caliber of school (established vs newly erected)
3-avoid stigma of "re-applicant" if rejected this cycle (although I'd doubt this would be a major concern, given your stats)
4-Gap year (unlimited possibilities- self explanatory)