Can any kind soul look over my list before I submit?

[Daiichi]

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Thanks for any feedback on this list.

I'm a nontrad, ~~3.5 cGPA/3.5sGPA, 509 mcat. Lots of EC's in volunteering, shadowing (DO included, along with DO LOR), and work in healthcare. Residence in MN. I think/hope I'm an overall decent application other than the slightly low GPA.

I'm hoping to get into a school that is basically located in a decently fun/safe area for the sanity of my wife, provides rotations at a quality site, and has a history of matching students into more than just primary care should I suddenly decide I don't want that. Here's what I have come up with so far:

DMU
Western U (both CA and OR)
Rocky Vista
PNWU
Kirksville
KCU
NYIT
Oklahoma State
PCOM
LECOM PA
VCOM

I tried avoiding schools with serious regional biases, or ones that appeared to have poor matches/bad areas/bad rotations. Any that I should remove or add?

Thanks so much.

 

[W19]

You should consider NSU-COM...

 

[HopefulDoc91]

Thanks for any feedback on this list.

I'm a nontrad, ~~3.5 cGPA/3.5sGPA, 509 mcat. Lots of EC's in volunteering, shadowing (DO included, along with DO LOR), and work in healthcare. Residence in MN. I think/hope I'm an overall decent application other than the slightly low GPA.

I'm hoping to get into a school that is basically located in a decently fun/safe area for the sanity of my wife, provides rotations at a quality site, and has a history of matching students into more than just primary care should I suddenly decide I don't want that. Here's what I have come up with so far:

DMU
Western U (both CA and OR)
Rocky Vista
PNWU
Kirksville
KCU
NYIT
Oklahoma State
PCOM
LECOM PA
VCOM

I tried avoiding schools with serious regional biases, or ones that appeared to have poor matches/bad areas/bad rotations. Any that I should remove or add?

Thanks so much.

PNWU definitely has a lot of regional bias. Oklahoma State may as well since it's a publicly funded school

 

[Daiichi]

You should consider NSU-COM...

I was going to, but they require 4 LOR's and they never responded to my email asking if it was ok to apply with the 3 that I had (missing a non-science prof letter). Too removed from college to get another letter, and don't really have any opportunity to ask for someone to write me one at this point. Maybe it's less of a deal that I think it is? Not sure.

PNWU definitely has a lot of regional bias. Oklahoma State may as well since it's a publicly funded school

Thanks, I was iffy on PNWU for that reason, didn't know Oklahoma was the same.

 

[W19]

I was going to, but they require 4 LOR's and they never responded to my email asking if it was ok to apply with the 3 that I had (missing a non-science prof letter). Too removed from college to get another letter, and don't really have any opportunity to ask for someone to write me one at this point. Maybe it's less of a deal that I think it is? Not sure.



Thanks, I was iffy on PNWU for that reason, didn't know Oklahoma was the same.

Apply anyway, it's great school in a great location with good hospital affiliation...

 

[Ho0v-man]

Apply wherever you want. You're good to go for any DO school. Kirksville is very rural compared to the other schools on your list. Make sure you're okay with that. Great place for families though. I'd apply to ccom/AZCOM if you're okay with that crazy tuition.

 

[Grannywang]

I was going to, but they require 4 LOR's and they never responded to my email asking if it was ok to apply with the 3 that I had (missing a non-science prof letter). Too removed from college to get another letter, and don't really have any opportunity to ask for someone to write me one at this point. Maybe it's less of a deal that I think it is? Not sure.



Thanks, I was iffy on PNWU for that reason, didn't know Oklahoma was the same.

You can use a work reference for a letter. They aren't too strict on that.

 

[Goro]

Thanks for any feedback on this list.

I'm a nontrad, ~~3.5 cGPA/3.5sGPA, 509 mcat. Lots of EC's in volunteering, shadowing (DO included, along with DO LOR), and work in healthcare. Residence in MN. I think/hope I'm an overall decent application other than the slightly low GPA.

I'm hoping to get into a school that is basically located in a decently fun/safe area for the sanity of my wife, provides rotations at a quality site, and has a history of matching students into more than just primary care should I suddenly decide I don't want that. Here's what I have come up with so far:

DMU
Western U (both CA and OR)
Rocky Vista
PNWU
Kirksville
KCU
NYIT
Oklahoma State
PCOM
LECOM PA
VCOM

I tried avoiding schools with serious regional biases, or ones that appeared to have poor matches/bad areas/bad rotations. Any that I should remove or add?

Thanks so much.

Delete PacNW and OK COM as they have a regional bias. Replace with MUCOM and/or AZCOM, and definitely add CCOM!

For all DO schools, just by looking at match lists, about 1/3rd of their grads do other than Primary Care. It's about 40% for mine and a few others.

 

[Daiichi]

Apply wherever you want. You're good to go for any DO school. Kirksville is very rural compared to the other schools on your list. Make sure you're okay with that. Great place for families though. I'd apply to ccom/AZCOM if you're okay with that crazy tuition.

Thanks, not sure how I missed that. Don't think my family would be happy in Kirksville.

You can use a work reference for a letter. They aren't too strict on that.

I would but I'm not sure my employer would take kindly to me wanting to leave and apply to medical school 🙁

Delete PacNW and OK COM as they have a regional bias. Replace with MUCOM and/or AZCOM, and definitely add CCOM!

For all DO schools, just by looking at match lists, about 1/3rd of their grads do other than Primary Care. It's about 40% for mine and a few others.

Thank you! Is there a particular reason why everyone is suggesting CCOM? I left them off originally because their tuition is kind of crazy.

 

[Goro]

Thanks, not sure how I missed that. Don't think my family would be happy in Kirksville.


I would but I'm not sure my employer would take kindly to me wanting to leave and apply to medical school 🙁



Thank you! Is there a particular reason why everyone is suggesting CCOM? I left them off originally because their tuition is kind of crazy.

CCOM is one of the top DO schools

 

[Ho0v-man]

Thanks, not sure how I missed that. Don't think my family would be happy in Kirksville.


I would but I'm not sure my employer would take kindly to me wanting to leave and apply to medical school 🙁



Thank you! Is there a particular reason why everyone is suggesting CCOM? I left them off originally because their tuition is kind of crazy.

KCOM might be worth checking out. A lot of nontrads with families. Low COL. There's a little club for the spouses. Good public school district. Spouses are invited to attend the interview. Just keep in mind the nearest city, Columbia, is about 90 minutes away. That's a no go for some folks.

CCOM has arguably the best 3rd year out of all the private DO schools. Also in huge city and it looks like you're into that. I'd leave in OSU personally. Good school and you might get lucky.

 

[SLU Student]

Definitely add CCOM and AZCOM. I would still recommend ATSU-KCOM. It's one of the original D.O. schools.

Unless you really like PNWU/OSUCOM or have strong ties with the respective states they are in, I would remove those. Your chances will be low because they have heavy in-state bias. ~90% of the matriculate class must be in-state residents; this leaves about 10-15 seats for OOS applicants. Your stats are competitive as an OOS applicant, but then again, so are every other OOS applicant that they look at.

 

[Medic741]

Another vote for Marian, great facilities & they have enough affiliations in Indy that you can do first 3 years all in Indy (sounds like you have a family, might be important)

 

[Electric Head]

You're competitive for MD schools as well. Apply there. I would also recommend applying to lower tier DO schools just in case.

If you're fortunate to to have multiple acceptances, I would recommend against attending Western U. Once you factor in compounding interest, your looking at $100k more than the average DO school for a below average quality school.

 

[icamel]

I was going to, but they require 4 LOR's and they never responded to my email asking if it was ok to apply with the 3 that I had (missing a non-science prof letter). Too removed from college to get another letter, and don't really have any opportunity to ask for someone to write me one at this point. Maybe it's less of a deal that I think it is? Not sure.



Thanks, I was iffy on PNWU for that reason, didn't know Oklahoma was the same.

I emailed them awhile ago regarding letter requirements and they do allow for substitutions so it is okay if you don't have the non-science letter but you'll probably still should have 4 letters. Also, if you are nontraditional they would want you to have a total of 5 letters.

 

[icamel]

How come you didn't add UNECOM? Do they have regional bias? I think UNECOM is a great school in a nice area.

 

[fldoctorgirl]

How come you didn't add UNECOM? Do they have regional bias? I think UNECOM is a great school in a nice area.

Yes, they have a strong regional bias.

As per the FAQ on their website: "Generally, 60% of our student body is from New England. On average, about 9% of the students are from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania (combined). The rest of the class is comprised of students from the rest of the U.S. and some international students."

So, you're looking at about a 70% regional bias. Not terrible, but not the best.