Chances from those who applied?

[Eliassam1]

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I am applying to 25 D.O. schools. (Looking for 2015) Currently my Gap Year

PCOM
ROWAN-NJ
AT STILL
WESTERN
TOURO (CA and NY)
LECOM
UPIKE
CAMPBELL
ALABAMA
etc

23 years old, Syrian/Middle Eastern, NJ resident

BS in Public Health, conc in Community Health,

GPA. 3.6 sGPA- 3.4

MCAT- Dec 6. (Practice Tests are 22-24. I'm not a good standardized test taker)

Worked as research assistant for 3 years. Regarding adolescent sexual behaviors.
3 national presentations and 3/4th author on 3 publications in Spring 2015.

Worked in Academic Advising, advising students on schedules and classes

Over 4000 hours of Volunteer/ Advocacy Work.
1.Traveled to Nicaragua/Study Abroad
2. Formed Public Health Club on campus, was president and treasurer.
3. EMT
4. Internship at Trauma Center
5. Shadowed D.O. Physician (400 hours)
6. Sigma Alpha Lambda- Treasurer
7. Patient Advocate for rare disorder through national organization
8. Case presentation volunteer at Cornell for past 4 years.

Access to 10 LOR- DO and MD physician,Physics and Chem professors, Supervisor, English prof, Advisor, Epidemiology prof, etc

Personal Statement- Had rare genetic disease growing up, looking to become a physician in order to help those patients who weren't as fortunate as I was. (Had dual organ transplant after high school, treatment for 10 years, medications and surgeries)

Chances, Thoughts? Its my MCAT that has me worried.

Thank You in advance.

 

[Bokeh]

I would recommend not taking the MCAT until your practice scores are higher. Are you using the official AAMC practice exams? Everything else is fine. With that said, people have gotten in with MCAT scores in that range before, but you limit your chances.

 

[100111]

I think you need the 24 mcat at a minimum and your application fully submitted on june 1st and all the secondaries returned on the very first day you get them. Number of D.O. applicants and mcat scores are shooting up every year.

 

[Eliassam1]

I would recommend not taking the MCAT until your practice scores are higher. Are you using the official AAMC practice exams? Everything else is fine. With that said, people have gotten in with MCAT scores in that range before, but you limit your chances.

I agree with you, it's just that there changing it. Restudying for a totally new exam is not something I'm looking forward to unless I have to. Jan 2015 seats are filled.

Yes they are the AAMC tests.

Would you know what schools?

 

[Eliassam1]

I think you need the 24 mcat at a minimum and your application fully submitted on june 1st and all the secondaries returned on the very first day you get them. Number of D.O.
applicants and mcat scores are shooting up every year.

I was planning to still apply for this term. Many people I have spoken to and know of that are applying for 2015. I agree ideally i would love to submit first in June, but I don't know if I can wait another year. It'll be two years off

 

[Bokeh]

I agree with you, it's just that there changing it. Restudying for a totally new exam is not something I'm looking forward to unless I have to. Jan 2015 seats are filled.

Yes they are the AAMC tests.

Would you know what schools?

Most of the people I know that have gotten in with lower scores have been at newer schools. @Goro might be able to provide some further insight into this. Right now, I think your biggest hurdle is that MCAT score. I don't know when it is considered "too late" to apply, but as seats fill up, I assume the remaining spots become more competitive.

 

[007Cardio]

I would say go ahead apply if you really don't want to wait another year. Unfortunately, even with a good GPA and a good life story/obstacles overcome, a poor MCAT score doesn't help much. I would apply to new or low tier DO schools to increase chances of being accepted this late. Good luck.

 

[Eliassam1]

I would say go ahead apply if you really don't want to wait another year. Unfortunately, even with a good GPA and a good life story/obstacles overcome, a poor MCAT score doesn't help much. I would apply to new or low tier DO schools to increase chances of being accepted this late. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. Would you consider the list low tier? Any others?

Campbell
Alabama
LMU
William Carey
Touro CA
UPike

 

[100111]

I was planning to still apply for this term. Many people I have spoken to and know of that are applying for 2015. I agree ideally i would love to submit first in June, but I don't know if I can wait another year. It'll be two years off

In that case practice practice practice for the mcat. There'll be less seats available, but there's always a shot. It's just a matter of not minding the application expenses. Some people can't afford to spend the thousands for primary and secondary twice. If you can, go on ahead! Goodluck dude.

edit: ^I wouldnt call touro-ca lower tier. I'm pretty sure their mcat average was 29. Double-check that though

 

[Eliassam1]

In that case practice practice practice for the mcat. There'll be less seats available, but there's always a shot. It's just a matter of not minding the application expenses. Some people can't afford to spend the thousands for primary and secondary twice. If you can, go on ahead! Goodluck dude.

Yea at this point I have to spend money to make money lol. Thank You.

 

[AlteredScale]

Thanks for the advice. Would you consider the list low tier? Any others?

Campbell
Alabama
LMU
William Carey
Touro CA
UPike

Would add MUCOM and EVCOM-Auburn.

 

[007Cardio]

Thanks for the advice. Would you consider the list low tier? Any others?

Campbell
Alabama
LMU
William Carey
Touro CA
UPike

Yeah Alabama and LMU would be low tier. Don't know about the others. VCOM-Auburn is another new school worth a shot.

 

[Bokeh]

Would add MUCOM and EVCOM-Auburn.

Marian was pushing a near 28 average for last year's class. I'm sure it'll go up this year.

 

[AlteredScale]

Marian was pushing a near 28 average for last year's class. I'm sure it'll go up this year.

Yeah I'm going by the n=1 example. My close colleague was just accepted there with a 23 MCAT yesterday. So it may be worth the shot IMO if OP scores below their average.

 

[Bokeh]

Yeah I'm going by the n=1 rule. My close colleague was just accepted there with a 23 MCAT yesterday.

Yeah, to OP, you'll find cases like these. It is possible. A friend of mine is a 2nd year there and got in with a mid 20s score. Averages are just that. There are people above and below them.

 

[Goro]

Strongly agree. You should be aiming for at least a 25. Anything in the low 20s will kill your chances at the CA- and NY Touros, AZCOM, KCUMB, PCOM, and CCOM, and will limit you to mostly the newest schools.

I would recommend not taking the MCAT until your practice scores are higher. Are you using the official AAMC practice exams? Everything else is fine. With that said, people have gotten in with MCAT scores in that range before, but you limit your chances.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Thanks for the advice. Would you consider the list low tier? Any others?

Campbell
Alabama
LMU
William Carey
Touro CA
UPike

All VCOMs
MU-COM
WVSOM

 

[Eliassam1]

Thank You to all who responded. I will be applying to following and hope for the best. Having everything submitted by January because of Dec MCAT is late; but I will take a chance.

Also, would it look bad if I'm taking BioChem in Spring because some school require BioChem prereq? Or would it be a good sign?

Alabama
Campbell
Edward Via, All 3
Liberty
LMU
MU COM
Ohio Univ- (Only because they are accepting second class in 2015 at Dublin and first class at Cleveland campus)
Pike
WV SOM
UNE
William Carrey

LECOM out of reach?? I heard it's very GPA and EC heavy.