Comments on some DO schools

[denverrb]

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Hi all,

I am applying to 5 or 6 DO schools, and so far I have chosen LMU, OSU, Pikeville, RVU, WVU, and Ohio. Is there any other information that would be helpful while applying to these schools such as which schools are more established? I know some are newer, but is the provisional status detrimental in the long run?

Thanks

 

[beckhunter116]

Hi all,

I am applying to 5 or 6 DO schools, and so far I have chosen LMU, OSU, Pikeville, RVU, WVU, and Ohio. Is there any other information that would be helpful while applying to these schools such as which schools are more established? I know some are newer, but is the provisional status detrimental in the long run?

Thanks

Are you applying this cycle or the one starting in May? It is really late into the cycle now, just so you know. Maybe you should tell us more on why you picked those schools as they are kind of random and don't include the more established schools like DMU, CCOM, PCOM, LECOM, KCOM. OSU, and Ohio are state schools so if you aren't a resident you have a much slimer chance of getting an interview. WVU is a state school too although they tend to take a large number of OOS students, but the tuition is super-high for them (cost of living in the area is cheap tho). At Ohio if you are an OOS student you sign a contract to practice there for 5 yrs...you can search on here for more details. I'm not going to say anything negative about RVU (there is enough of that in other threads) except that they do not qualify for federal loans until they are fully accredidated so you would have to use private loans.

If you give us a little more info on your stats (gpa/MCAT) and location we can suggest other schools. Or if you are interested in a particular area of medicine like rural medicine (most if not all of the places you listed are rural). I would try to shoot for 10 schools to apply to, because you never know which ones you'll hear back from for an interview. Good luck!

 

[salazaar]

Haha, your list is pretty much exactly opposite to where I applied. I would consiter some of the core established schools like CCOM, DMUCOM, KCOM or PCOM. I would not worry too much about schools with provisional accredidation. It is extrimely unlikely that the AOA would axe one of it's new schools. RVU is rather contraversal, I would run a search on the forum and read up on it before appling.

 

[denverrb]

Are you applying this cycle or the one starting in May? It is really late into the cycle now, just so you know. Maybe you should tell us more on why you picked those schools as they are kind of random and don't include the more established schools like DMU, CCOM, PCOM, LECOM, KCOM. OSU, and Ohio are state schools so if you aren't a resident you have a much slimer chance of getting an interview. WVU is a state school too although they tend to take a large number of OOS students, but the tuition is super-high for them (cost of living in the area is cheap tho). At Ohio if you are an OOS student you sign a contract to practice there for 5 yrs...you can search on here for more details. I'm not going to say anything negative about RVU (there is enough of that in other threads) except that they do not qualify for federal loans until they are fully accredidated so you would have to use private loans.

If you give us a little more info on your stats (gpa/MCAT) and location we can suggest other schools. Or if you are interested in a particular area of medicine like rural medicine (most if not all of the places you listed are rural). I would try to shoot for 10 schools to apply to, because you never know which ones you'll hear back from for an interview. Good luck!

Hey,

My Science GPA is 3.4, Non-science is 3.85 with an overall of 3.65. I looked at these schools because they are close to where I live, thus the interview process (hopefully) would be fairly inexpensive and convenient.

 

[denverrb]

Are you applying this cycle or the one starting in May? It is really late into the cycle now, just so you know. Maybe you should tell us more on why you picked those schools as they are kind of random and don't include the more established schools like DMU, CCOM, PCOM, LECOM, KCOM. OSU, and Ohio are state schools so if you aren't a resident you have a much slimer chance of getting an interview. WVU is a state school too although they tend to take a large number of OOS students, but the tuition is super-high for them (cost of living in the area is cheap tho). At Ohio if you are an OOS student you sign a contract to practice there for 5 yrs...you can search on here for more details. I'm not going to say anything negative about RVU (there is enough of that in other threads) except that they do not qualify for federal loans until they are fully accredidated so you would have to use private loans.

If you give us a little more info on your stats (gpa/MCAT) and location we can suggest other schools. Or if you are interested in a particular area of medicine like rural medicine (most if not all of the places you listed are rural). I would try to shoot for 10 schools to apply to, because you never know which ones you'll hear back from for an interview. Good luck!

BTW,

My location is Tn and yes, I am applying this cycle. It is late, but I spoke with a couple deans of near-by schools and they said I would have a good chance if I applied soon.

 

[da Vincis World]

Also note that WVU is an allopathic school. The DO school in West Virginia is WVSOM and as far as I know it is not affiliated at all with WVU.

 

[beckhunter116]

Hey,

My MCAT is 22P (kinda low), but my Science GPA is 3.4, Non-science is 3.85 with an overall of 3.65. I looked at these schools because they are close to where I live, thus the interview process (hopefully) would be fairly inexpensive and convenient.

Well remember that dean's tell you to apply because they make a lot of money off of people sending in secondaries even though only a portion will receive interview offers. If nothing happens this cycle I would retake the MCAT (plan for May) and apply in June and then you will have a really good shot at getting interviews next cycle.

 

[djd2187]

Hey,

My MCAT is 22P (kinda low), but my Science GPA is 3.4, Non-science is 3.85 with an overall of 3.65. I looked at these schools because they are close to where I live, thus the interview process (hopefully) would be fairly inexpensive and convenient.

I would take the mcats again and wait till next cycle if I were you because there is a great chance that you will be wasting your money.

 

[Laryngophed]

Hi all,

I am applying to 5 or 6 DO schools, and so far I have chosen LMU, OSU, Pikeville, RVU, WVU, and Ohio. Is there any other information that would be helpful while applying to these schools such as which schools are more established? I know some are newer, but is the provisional status detrimental in the long run?

Thanks

OP, you may find the Pros/Cons of your DO school thread helpful. Many students have written reviews of the schools in there, and some of the schools listed above have been listed.

Provisional status is a gamble. If the school becomes fully accredited there are no problems. However, there is a chance the school doesn't achieve accreditation, which is bad because then they can not award you a degree with any standing. Its a gamble, but several of the schools above aren't on provisional status either. Good luck to you and let us know if you have any more questions!

 

[JaggerPlate]

I would take the mcats again and wait till next cycle if I were you because there is a great chance that you will be wasting your money.

+1 ... 22 is too low, and you can do better!!

 

[PunkmedGirl]

OP, you may find the Pros/Cons of your DO school thread helpful. Many students have written reviews of the schools in there, and some of the schools listed above have been listed.

Provisional status is a gamble. If the school becomes fully accredited there are no problems. However, there is a chance the school doesn't achieve accreditation, which is bad because then they can not award you a degree with any standing. Its a gamble, but several of the schools above aren't on provisional status either. Good luck to you and let us know if you have any more questions!

Provisionally accredited school is not a big gamble for someone choosing to go there, because in order for the school to gain full accreditation they must simply graduate class.

 

[iatros]

i'd recommend: old (established) schools, state schools, and / or those affiliated with a hospital

 

[Laryngophed]

Provisionally accredited school is not a big gamble for someone choosing to go there, because in order for the school to gain full accreditation they must simply graduate class.

I believe there is a little more to it than that, i.e. a certain proportion of the class must pass COMLEX Step I&II (+PE). I'm not certain on that and I'm open to correction but I believe its possible for an institution to graduate a class and not achieve accreditation.

 

[Cybii]

Hey,

My MCAT is 22P (kinda low), but my Science GPA is 3.4, Non-science is 3.85 with an overall of 3.65. I looked at these schools because they are close to where I live, thus the interview process (hopefully) would be fairly inexpensive and convenient.

Your stats look similar to mine before I retook the MCAT and scored higher.

I originally had a 22O when I sent out my primaries and filled out my secondaries. I thought my GPA, ECs, volunteering and research would somehow "mask" my score.

I had no invites or responses from any schools (about 3-4 weeks) until I had the score of my second MCAT released and informed the schools (the schools responded a few days later of receiving my updated scores). This was late September. I would be cautious in applying so late. If schools passed my 22 earlier on in the cycle, I don't know why your 22 will be looked at in a different light.

Hold off for this year, retake the MCAT, and take the year in between to do some volunteering to build up your application. Good luck!


P.S: sorry, I know I wasn't addressing your question... but just wanted to give you some advise so you didn't end up wasting your money and not being able to reuse your application next cycle.

 

[Daedra22]

.

 

[denverrb]

Your stats look similar to mine before I retook the MCAT and scored higher.

I originally had a 22O when I sent out my primaries and filled out my secondaries. I thought my GPA, ECs, volunteering and research would somehow "mask" my score.

I had no invites or responses from any schools (about 3-4 weeks) until I had the score of my second MCAT released and informed the schools (the schools responded a few days later of receiving my updated scores). This was late September. I would be cautious in applying so late. If schools passed my 22 earlier on in the cycle, I don't know why your 22 will be looked at in a different light.

Hold off for this year, retake the MCAT, and take the year in between to do some volunteering to build up your application. Good luck!


P.S: sorry, I know I wasn't addressing your question... but just wanted to give you some advise so you didn't end up wasting your money and not being able to reuse your application next cycle.

Hi,

I have already sent off a secondary application with money for one school, so do you think it would be wise to limit my schools on my applicaiton to two or three instead of 6 or so since one of the schools guaranteed me an interview?

Thanks

 

[Laryngophed]

Hi,

I have already sent off a secondary application with money for one school, so do you think it would be wise to limit my schools on my applicaiton to two or three instead of 6 or so since one of the schools guaranteed me an interview?

Thanks

Well, the question becomes this:

Do you want to have a greater chance of acceptance this cycle and do you have the money to apply this cycle and the next cycle?

Only you can answer these questions, but I would personally go for it.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

I believe there is a little more to it than that, i.e. a certain proportion of the class must pass COMLEX Step I&II (+PE). I'm not certain on that and I'm open to correction but I believe its possible for an institution to graduate a class and not achieve accreditation.

All students must pass both Comlex I and II which, IMO, has more to do with the student versus the school. IF there are students that can not pass the boards then they are most likely dismissed from school which in turn will allow the school to fulfill its requirement of having all students passing the boards.

Here's a link to the requirements and guidelines for a DO school to become accredited.

 

[Laryngophed]

All students must pass both Comlex I and II which, IMO, has more to do with the student versus the school. IF there are students that can not pass the boards then they are most likely dismissed from school which in turn will allow the school to fulfill its requirement of having all students passing the boards.

Here's a link to the requirements and guidelines for a DO school to become accredited.

Thanks for the link!👍

 

[Cybii]

Hi,

I have already sent off a secondary application with money for one school, so do you think it would be wise to limit my schools on my applicaiton to two or three instead of 6 or so since one of the schools guaranteed me an interview?

Thanks

If you already sent out secondaries and such, apply to all the schools you wanted to. You don't want to limit yourself! 🙂 Good luck!

 

[Emerald84]

+1 ... 22 is too low, and you can do better!!

+3

 

[Emerald84]

Hi,

I have already sent off a secondary application with money for one school, so do you think it would be wise to limit my schools on my applicaiton to two or three instead of 6 or so since one of the schools guaranteed me an interview?

Thanks

Not sure interviews are really ever guaranteed.....

 

[DO3]

I ended up getting 4 interviews and 3 acceptances with a 23. There is hope for those of us with low MCAT scores.

 

[beckhunter116]

I ended up getting 4 interviews and 3 acceptances with a 23. There is hope for those of us with low MCAT scores.

Do you mind sharing your gpa? Thanks.

 

[DO3]

Do you mind sharing your gpa? Thanks.

Cumulative: 3.5-3.6

Science: 3.35-3.45

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

do3 any of those schools allopathic?

 

[DO3]

do3 any of those schools allopathic?

No. All osteopathic.

 

[Bones DO]

No. All osteopathic.

Care to share which schools you were accepted to?

 

[DO3]

Accepted: LMU-DCOM, VCOM, WCU-COM
Rejected pre-interview: LECOM-Bradenton
Rejected post-interview: PCOM-GA (was told I would be accepted if I raised my MCAT score)
On Hold: AZCOM, WVSOM

Haven't heard from 5 others.

 

[denverrb]

I ended up getting 4 interviews and 3 acceptances with a 23. There is hope for those of us with low MCAT scores.

Thanks, that was encouraging. Did you have a lot of volunteer experience, by the way?

 

[DO3]

Thanks, that was encouraging. Did you have a lot of volunteer experience, by the way?

I did, but actually, none of it was really medical related. I shadowed doctors in a variety of specialties, including one DO. One of my shadowing experiences was a clinic that served patients in a medically underserved area. I also went on a medical mission trip. That's about it. Don't give up. I want my acceptance story to encourage people, because if you told me that I would have ended up with four interviews and three acceptances at the beginning of this process, I would have told you that you were crazy. A lot of prayer helped me as well.

 

[Bones DO]

Accepted: LMU-DCOM, VCOM, WCU-COM
Rejected pre-interview: LECOM-Bradenton
Rejected post-interview: PCOM-GA (was told I would be accepted if I raised my MCAT score)
On Hold: AZCOM, WVSOM

Haven't heard from 5 others.

well done!
👍