Chances - will apply DO only

[lboki]

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Any advice to maximize chances of getting in? Will only apply to DO school (both parents are DO’s), will apply June 2019 so have another year to become a better applicant.

Top 20 University USNWR
Div 1 athlete

GPA 3.7
Science GPA currently 3.36, should rise a little by application time.

MCAT took it after sophomore year (mistake as too early) got 501. Will take again spring 2019 and will be much better prepared. Won’t take again until ready and practice exams reflect a better score.

No geographical preference. Willing to move anywhere but prefer a more established school (but will apply to newer schools too to maximize admission chances).

Volunteering includes nursing home for a couple years, outreach health programs in community. Job this summer at an physical therapy clinic lined up.

Difficulty finding a DO to shadow near me, but will have a good primary care MD letter. Will have good letters from science faculty.

Thank you any application advice!

 

[sab3156]

And why the hell are you applying DO only? Cuz of your parents?

Fix your MCAT and apply to MD schools. You will get into a bunch of them. Don't make the mistake of going DO with your stats.

 

[lboki]

And why the hell are you applying DO only? Cuz of your parents?

Fix your MCAT and apply to MD schools. You will get into a bunch of them. Don't make the mistake of going DO with your stats.

And why the hell are you applying DO only? Cuz of your parents?

Fix your MCAT and apply to MD schools. You will get into a bunch of them. Don't make the mistake of going DO with your stats.

I should clarify that I want to apply to only DO schools no matter how great my application is. My parents passion for OMT (minimal part of their practice but used throughout career) has played a role I will admit as it has helped me my entire athletic career. But definitely haven’t been pushed into medicine by my parents. In fact of my 4 siblings, I’m the only one going into healthcare at all.

 

[RNthenDoc]

This is a situation that is very interesting to me, but I am glad you know what you are passionate about!

 

[sab3156]

I should clarify that I want to apply to only DO schools no matter how great my application is.

Very interesting... can't say I agree with your position, but at least you know what you're doing and getting yourself into.

You'll get into vast majority of DO schools with your stats and athletic background and osteopathic family. With a better MCAT score, you will get into each one. Keep in mind, though, you can probably learn OMT later. However, if you change your mind and want to do a competitive specialty, you're going to be a much tougher position than if you had gone MD.

 

[femmegoblue]

And why the hell are you applying DO only? Cuz of your parents?

Fix your MCAT and apply to MD schools. You will get into a bunch of them. Don't make the mistake of going DO with your stats.

Keep in mind OP's sGPA is 3.36, and is not exactly "you'll get into a bunch of them (MD)" level. I do agree you should retake your MCAT (aim for 507) to make yourself more competitive for established schools like KCU, public schools, DMU, CCOM. I'm crossing my fingers that you live in Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio or NJ!

I admire your commitment to osteopathy/OMT because thus far in my curriculum the importance of a really comprehensive musculoskeletal background has been emphasized especially in PM&R. Also there's a lot of people at my school (me included) who don't care at all about OMT, and your passion for it will really work in your favor in the admissions process. Also it helps when people learning OMT actually want to learn OMT. Good luck!

 

[sab3156]

Keep in mind OP's sGPA is 3.36, and is not exactly "you'll get into a bunch of them (MD)" level.

He said it will rise a bit. Even at a 3.5 sgpa, with a 3.7 cumulative gpa and better MCAT, he will be fine applying to a lot of MD schools. He goes to a strong undergraduate school (the name of your school alone will carry you a bit) and played division 1 sports. His application is great, so not sure why you think he isn't good for a lot of MD schools. A lot of low tier and mid tier schools will be happy to interview him.

 

[femmegoblue]

He said it will rise a bit. Even at a 3.5 sgpa, with a 3.7 cumulative gpa and better MCAT, he will be fine applying to a lot of MD schools. He goes to a strong undergraduate school (the name of your school alone will carry you a bit) and played division 1 sports. His application is great, so not sure why you think he isn't good for a lot of MD schools. A lot of low tier and mid tier schools will be happy to interview him.

I guess my point was not that he's not good, but he's asking for advice for DO schools and that's what he's set on so discussing the MD's seems rather moot.

 

[sab3156]

I guess my point was not that he's not good, but he's asking for advice for DO schools and that's what he's set on so discussing the MD's seems rather moot.

I was specifically replying to your comment about not being good enough to get into a lot of MD schools, which was absolutely not true - he has decent GPA (since his sGPA is going up a bit), and things like academic pedigree and division 1 sports aren't ignored by ADCOMs. Of course, the MCAT needs a major tune-up. As I said earlier, however, he will get into DO schools easily, and as you said - if he wants schools with higher MCAT scores, then he just needs to retake the MCAT and do better. He has the family ties to the field, the outstanding school and athletics background, and great GPA.

 

[Goro]

Any advice to maximize chances of getting in? Will only apply to DO school (both parents are DO’s), will apply June 2019 so have another year to become a better applicant.

Top 20 University USNWR
Div 1 athlete

GPA 3.7
Science GPA currently 3.36, should rise a little by application time.

MCAT took it after sophomore year (mistake as too early) got 501. Will take again spring 2019 and will be much better prepared. Won’t take again until ready and practice exams reflect a better score.

No geographical preference. Willing to move anywhere but prefer a more established school (but will apply to newer schools too to maximize admission chances).

Volunteering includes nursing home for a couple years, outreach health programs in community. Job this summer at an physical therapy clinic lined up.

Difficulty finding a DO to shadow near me, but will have a good primary care MD letter. Will have good letters from science faculty.

Thank you any application advice!

You're fine for all DO schools except the coastal Touros, CCOM and AZOM.
I can't recommend Nova or LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM is suspect given the details of the Larry Nassar case.
Use caution in considering schools with required lecture attendance. This is another one of my pet peeves as you're an adult learner.

 

[QueenJames]

As a 2nd year DO student about to take boards and has rotations given for next year...

Go MD dude.

Please.

DO is great if you are like me and don't care what you end up in (medicine is going to be my side gig if anything. Planning on entering a field and setting up rotations where 30-40 hours is doable... think FM or Psych).

I definitely don't question my DO school at all. We have great learning and I can do a full adult physical that can knock your socks off.... but step 1 doesn't care for that.

Plus... OPP?

The ONLY reason I take it serious is cause the reimbursement for it is AMAZING. Cat's out of the bag. I plan on incorporating it into my practice as well.

Some of it (like... hmmm... 25% of it is legit in practice and will be applicable)... but the fact we have to waste a lot of time learning about it and taking stupid board exams centered around it when I'm sure that MDs in the future can take a 3-4 day course on it and be just as proficient and useful as DO students who had access to practice for years is ridiculous.

But if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up... best to keep your options open man.

 

[Medic741]

And why the hell are you applying DO only? Cuz of your parents?

Fix your MCAT and apply to MD schools. You will get into a bunch of them. Don't make the mistake of going DO with your stats.

+1

 

[dr.grenouille]

You're fine for all DO schools except the coastal Touros, CCOM and AZOM.
I can't recommend Nova or LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM is suspect given the details of the Larry Nassar case.
Use caution in considering schools with required lecture attendance. This is another one of my pet peeves as you're an adult learner.

wait why is Nova on your list suddenly??

 

[Magus5454]

wait why is Nova on your list suddenly??

Declining board scores

 

[Goro]

Declining board scores

Four consecutive years of declining first time pass rates, but board scores will be in that equation. They're now equivalent to brand new schools. This is not acceptable for a veteran school.

 

[WingedOx]

MSUCOM is suspect given the details of the Larry Nassar case.

Not sure how much that would affect actual clinical education there unless you're expecting a lot of turnover at the top to cause ripples downstream. In terms of Michigan schools I worry about, I'm more concerned about Wayne's split from the Detroit Medical Center.


/OP: Take this MD's advice with a grain of salt, but I'd also advise against not trying your luck at LCME (MD) schools. OMM training as an M1-2 isn't worth the other hassles involved. I grew up next door to one of the largest Osteo training hospitals in the country and knew people with parents as DOs who made similar decisions as what you're proposing, and while I can't say they have any regrets, they did close doors to themselves.

 

[Goro]

Not sure how much that would affect actual clinical education there unless you're expecting a lot of turnover at the top to cause ripples downstream. In terms of Michigan schools I worry about, I'm more concerned about Wayne's split from the Detroit Medical Center.

Oh this has nothing to do with clinical education, but everything with moral choices.