Are new DO schools more lenient with requirements?

[LA_CRC]

I'm interested in applying to the inaugural class of VCOM's Louisiana campus (I'm a Louisiana resident and want to stay in the area, but my GPA is too low for LSU). My cGPA meets their cutoff but my sGPA is below it (3.06 and they have a 3.2 cutoff). High MCAT (517).

I'm planning to take a few classes this fall to try to bump up my science GPA, but with this being a new campus do you think they are likely to be more lenient with the requirements? I thought my high MCAT score might make up for it, but I'm not sure how strict those cutoffs are.

I know the only real answer is "Apply and see," but I'm just wondering if anybody has experience with this kind of thing.

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[DameJulie]

I suggest contact the Office of Admissions to find out whether they will give you a pass.

For VCOM's other campuses, the GPA requirement are strictly enforced, at least in the past cycle.

 

[Osminog]

VCOM is unique in that it seems to heavily emphasize GPA over MCAT performance. The MCAT averages at VCOM schools have been 499-500 (<50th percentile), while their GPA averages are consistently 3.6+. Your low GPA-high MCAT combination will probably not do you any favors, even if they do decide to make an exception for you. Ask the admission office to make sure.

 

[deleted967981]

I'm interested in applying to the inaugural class of VCOM's Louisiana campus (I'm a Louisiana resident and want to stay in the area, but my GPA is too low for LSU). My cGPA meets their cutoff but my sGPA is below it (3.06 and they have a 3.2 cutoff). High MCAT (517).

I'm planning to take a few classes this fall to try to bump up my science GPA, but with this being a new campus do you think they are likely to be more lenient with the requirements? I thought my high MCAT score might make up for it, but I'm not sure how strict those cutoffs are.

I know the only real answer is "Apply and see," but I'm just wondering if anybody has experience with this kind of thing.

I have friends hoping to go to VCOM @ ULM, and they all set up meetings with the admissions people to discuss their applications. From what they’ve said, they are friendly and helpful with what criteria they need to meet to be competitive applicants there.

 

[drducky.]

I doubt it. I also had a lower GPA (still met their 3.2 req tho) but higher MCAT. I didn't even receive an secondary from VCOM even though I was competitive enough to receive 9 IIs from other schools.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I would not apply to a new DO school with a 517.

 

[LA_CRC]

I would not apply to a new DO school with a 517.

I know, but I'm a non-trad with a family and staying in Louisiana would make such a huge difference in moving expenses, cost of living, and free help with our kids from family. I'd give a kidney to get into LSU, but, here we are...

 

[Goro]

I would not apply to a new DO school with a 517.

I can't recommend applying with a 3.06 sGPA either.

 

[WoundupKnight]

I know, but I'm a non-trad with a family and staying in Louisiana would make such a huge difference in moving expenses, cost of living, and free help with our kids from family. I'd give a kidney to get into LSU, but, here we are...

Have you considered SMP or PB? This seems like one of the cases where it’d be a good option considering your high mcat.

 

[LA_CRC]

I can't recommend applying with a 3.06 sGPA either.

Do you mean you wouldn't recommend applying at all, or not applying to this particular program?

 

[Goro]

Do you mean you wouldn't recommend applying at all, or not applying to this particular program?

Not applying at all. Unless you have a massive rising GPA trend

 

[LA_CRC]

Have you considered SMP or PB? This seems like one of the cases where it’d be a good option considering your high mcat.

I have. There's a fairly inexpensive 1-year SMP at LSU Shreveport that I'm looking into. I'm hesitant to uproot my family for a single year, only to then uproot them again for med school. We're currently discussing the possibility of me moving to Shreveport for the SMP year alone, leaving my kids and husband at home 3 hours away (we have a lot of family around to help). I'm hesitant to separate us like that, and to spend another year on the SMP (I feel old, ha), but good performance there may open more doors for me in Louisiana (Tulane or even one of the LSU campuses). I'm pretty confident that I would do well in the SMP, as I have addressed the issues that contributed to poor performance in undergrad.

 

[dr.wieners]

For GPA VCOM supposively looks at your last 120 credit hours if you are below the cutoff. I feel like your MCAT should deserve some attention, so it wouldn't hurt to give admissions a call.

 

[Faha]

If your cGPA is above 3.2 apply to the 2 LSU schools. Almost 40% of Louisiana applicants who apply are accepted to either of those schools. The GPA-MCAT grid shows you have a 50% chance for a MD acceptance if your cGPA is above 3.2

 

[DO2015CA]

you need to apply to an SMP and do well then go to an MD with 517. You are clearly smart enough. You just need to prove you can handle med school curriculum.

 

[LA_CRC]

If your cGPA is above 3.2 apply to the 2 LSU schools. Almost 40% of Louisiana applicants who apply are accepted to either of those schools. The GPA-MCAT grid shows you have a 50% chance for a MD acceptance if your cGPA is above 3.2

Really? That's quite encouraging. My cGPA is in good shape, but I assumed the sGPA would keep me from getting a foot in the door. My ECs are decent (various volunteering and shadowing experiences, and a year of full-time clinical research), and I've been told I interview well. I'm very committed to practicing primary care/women's health in Louisiana, which I think would make me attractive to those programs.

I might just send out a few Hail Mary applications this cycle and plan to do the SMP. It's not terribly expensive, and if I do end up getting accepted for 2020 it will be a good brush up on the basic sciences before med school.

 

[deleted967981]

I believe LSU Shreveport also looks at your last 30 hours over 120 separately as well.

 

[Cornfed101]

I have. There's a fairly inexpensive 1-year SMP at LSU Shreveport that I'm looking into. I'm hesitant to uproot my family for a single year, only to then uproot them again for med school. We're currently discussing the possibility of me moving to Shreveport for the SMP year alone, leaving my kids and husband at home 3 hours away (we have a lot of family around to help). I'm hesitant to separate us like that, and to spend another year on the SMP (I feel old, ha), but good performance there may open more doors for me in Louisiana (Tulane or even one of the LSU campuses). I'm pretty confident that I would do well in the SMP, as I have addressed the issues that contributed to poor performance in undergrad.

You realize that training will basically be like this, right? Med school is four years (although DO rotations can be spread out), but then a lot of people do an internship year in a different location that the rest of their residency. You could also do a fellowship which could very well be in a different location as well. You need to be comfortable uprooting your family... kinda comes with the territory.

 

[LA_CRC]

You realize that training will basically be like this, right? Med school is four years (although DO rotations can be spread out), but then a lot of people do an internship year in a different location that the rest of their residency. You could also do a fellowship which could very well be in a different location as well. You need to be comfortable uprooting your family... kinda comes with the territory.

I'm aware of that, thank you. However, with school-age children there is a significant difference between moving approximately every 4 years and moving for a single school year. Given my age and interests, I don't anticipate pursuing a specialty in which preliminary intern positions are common, nor do I anticipate pursuing fellowship training. Obviously this could change, and I'm prepared for that outcome, but I'm also trying to remain sensitive to my family's needs as much as possible during this process (I realize this will be a juggling act throughout my training and future practice).

We've made arrangements for me to attend the SMP unaccompanied if I am accepted.

 

[Deecee2DO]

I'm aware of that, thank you. However, with school-age children there is a significant difference between moving approximately every 4 years and moving for a single school year. Given my age and interests, I don't anticipate pursuing a specialty in which preliminary intern positions are common, nor do I anticipate pursuing fellowship training. Obviously this could change, and I'm prepared for that outcome, but I'm also trying to remain sensitive to my family's needs as much as possible during this process (I realize this will be a juggling act throughout my training and future practice).

We've made arrangements for me to attend the SMP unaccompanied if I am accepted.

Dude your MCAT score is extremely good- good enough for top tier MD programs. Unfortunately, your GPA keeps you out of the running right now for MD, so an SMP is definitely your best bet. Get that GPA up and you have a ton of potential. I'd imagine you'll kill the SMP considering how well you did on the MCAT. Good luck

 

[Cornfed101]

I'm aware of that, thank you. However, with school-age children there is a significant difference between moving approximately every 4 years and moving for a single school year. Given my age and interests, I don't anticipate pursuing a specialty in which preliminary intern positions are common, nor do I anticipate pursuing fellowship training. Obviously this could change, and I'm prepared for that outcome, but I'm also trying to remain sensitive to my family's needs as much as possible during this process (I realize this will be a juggling act throughout my training and future practice).

We've made arrangements for me to attend the SMP unaccompanied if I am accepted.

I didn't mean this disrespectfully at all. I also have two children and it is a juggling act for sure. I have just seen classmates and friends make the mistake of only applying to a handful of medical schools because of location constraints from a spouse's employment and it is tough to make it work. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Ho0v-man]

Apply MD as a Hail Mary and to the SMP. I would not apply to the new vcom with such a great mcat. Especially if you want to stay in state. For all you know, your third year site will be in Virginia or South Carolina if you pick one of the vcom metastases, er... new campuses.

It’d suck, but I’d move away from family for the year if I got the smp. Good luck!

 

[hungrydoc710]

VCOM loves thier high GPA's so doubtful they will cut slack