Defer DO to reapply MD?

[deleted1167451]

I don't want this to be a MD vs DO debate, I have my reasons and I get it. My question is, since I'm deferring, can I retake my MCAT to see how my application could be strengthened and then choose to reapply (e.g. I score 504 -> 515 and then drop my DO A to reapply the next year)? I also have a personal reason to defer that was accepted but I was thinking about how during my free time I could give it one more shot. TBH I think if I didn't try one more time I would have regrets, but if it didn't work out then I would be content with how it worked out.

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[Mr.Smile12]

This won't be an MD/DO debate... this is a decision-making debate. I also don't want to engage in magical thinking.

What does your deferment agreement say you agree to do or not do?

You may have personal reasons, but applicants in your situation are why most medical schools don't want to give out deferments like candy. At least I wouldn't until I got your enrollment deposit which could be up to a few thousand bucks of sunk cost that would prevent you (as it could) from preparing another application or another MCAT.

You got a great break with your A. You took yourself off the Belmont WL. You needed more non-clinical volunteering IMO which also worked against you.

Would you regret wasting a year which you could have had to become a doctor over a year waiting for an offer?

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Life is full of choices, so its important to make good ones. Usually, not always, but usually repeat MCAT scores don't move the needle much. Repeat scores most often are quite similiar or sometimes go down. Many MD schools avg MCAT's and you would need a super score, say 519 to be competetive. 504 is in the DO wheelhouse. For either MD or DO, how your residency app looks is entirely up to you. DO is more of an uphill climb as we know. Personally, I would go with the A. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[wysdoc]

I don't want this to be a MD vs DO debate, I have my reasons and I get it. My question is, since I'm deferring, can I retake my MCAT to see how my application could be strengthened and then choose to reapply (e.g. I score 504 -> 515 and then drop my DO A to reapply the next year)? I also have a personal reason to defer that was accepted but I was thinking about how during my free time I could give it one more shot. TBH I think if I didn't try one more time I would have regrets, but if it didn't work out then I would be content with how it worked out.

You got in to one of the best DO schools in a state you say you want to stay in.
Pushing this away is foolish

 

[candbgirl]

You knew when you applied that a 504 wasn’t competitive for MD. So the fact that you weren’t accepted to a MD school shouldn’t be a surprise.
What does your deferral agreement stipulate?
What do you plan to do to significantly improve your MD application . ADCOMS will be looking for significant improvement in your reapplication.
What is your MCAT score doesn’t magically increase by 11+ points?
Do you really want to go through this whole process again ?

 

[deleted1167451]

This won't be an MD/DO debate... this is a decision-making debate. I also don't want to engage in magical thinking.

What does your deferment agreement say you agree to do or not do?

You may have personal reasons, but applicants in your situation are why most medical schools don't want to give out deferments like candy. At least I wouldn't until I got your enrollment deposit which could be up to a few thousand bucks of sunk cost that would prevent you (as it could) from preparing another application or another MCAT.

You got a great break with your A. You took yourself off the Belmont WL. You needed more non-clinical volunteering IMO which also worked against you.

Would you regret wasting a year which you could have had to become a doctor over a year waiting for an offer?

It says I can't apply to other schools which is fair and I wouldn't. But since I'm taking the year off to deal with some issues, I will have free time. Nothing is stopping me from at least retaking the MCAT and taking some classes. I guess hypothetically if I scored a 512+, volunteered, and did a 4.0 with credits at a cc, would it be enough to move the needle? I guess I'm asking, since there are no cons to retaking the MCAT and if I hypothetically scored well, should I think about reapplying?

 

[wysdoc]

It says I can't apply to other schools which is fair and I wouldn't. But since I'm taking the year off to deal with some issues, I will have free time. Nothing is stopping me from at least retaking the MCAT and taking some classes. I guess hypothetically if I scored a 512+, volunteered, and did a 4.0 with credits at a cc, would it be enough to move the needle? I guess I'm asking, since there are no cons to retaking the MCAT and if I hypothetically scored well, should I think about reapplying?

Your only reason to retake the MCAT would be to reapply to other schools, so you are being disingenuous.
Bless your heart.

 

[chssoccer7]

How would this even work out? You're already too late to make application improvements and apply this cycle, you'd have to reapply in 2025. So you'd for sure be turning down your A in the hopes that you got an A somewhere "better". You'd be delaying yourself at least an additional 2 years, for what? "Prestige"? 504 isn't unheard of for MD, if the MD schools wanted you, you would have gotten an A. The MCAT isn't the (only) reason you didn't get an MD A.

If I were to rank the best ways to go from 1 acceptance to 0, this would be near the top. Please don't do this to yourself.

 

[karaya]

It says I can't apply to other schools which is fair and I wouldn't.

So..... you're just gonna retake MCAT for fun?

C'mon man, don't lie to yourself and don't lie to your school. Deception does not befit a doctor.

 

[chilly_md]

It says I can't apply to other schools which is fair and I wouldn't. But since I'm taking the year off to deal with some issues, I will have free time. Nothing is stopping me from at least retaking the MCAT and taking some classes. I guess hypothetically if I scored a 512+, volunteered, and did a 4.0 with credits at a cc, would it be enough to move the needle? I guess I'm asking, since there are no cons to retaking the MCAT and if I hypothetically scored well, should I think about reapplying?

With what you shared on how you application is, MD is unlikely even if things went as well as you’d like. Especially if you did not want to go to a new school like Belmont.

Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021)

Hi Goro, I was just wondering what I should do in case this cycle doesn't work in my favor. I have a 2.4 sgpa and a 2.6 cgpa. I graduated in 2015 and my last 30 pb credits are a 3.9. What should my next steps be? More postbacc? Apply to an SMP? TIA. I suggest a SMP if this cycle is a shutout.

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[Goro]

It says I can't apply to other schools which is fair and I wouldn't. But since I'm taking the year off to deal with some issues, I will have free time. Nothing is stopping me from at least retaking the MCAT and taking some classes. I guess hypothetically if I scored a 512+, volunteered, and did a 4.0 with credits at a cc, would it be enough to move the needle? I guess I'm asking, since there are no cons to retaking the MCAT and if I hypothetically scored well, should I think about reapplying?

Hope is not a strategy. You're engaging in Magic thinking, this is not healthy in someone who wants to be a doctor.

 

[LunaOri]

If the issues in your life are significant enough to warrant a deferral from med school, it is highly likely that they will be significant enough to hinder your studying and reattempting the MCAT. Take your acceptance and go work on the issues for which you have earned a deferral.

 

[candbgirl]

Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021)

Hi Goro, I was just wondering what I should do in case this cycle doesn't work in my favor. I have a 2.4 sgpa and a 2.6 cgpa. I graduated in 2015 and my last 30 pb credits are a 3.9. What should my next steps be? More postbacc? Apply to an SMP? TIA. I suggest a SMP if this cycle is a shutout.

forums.studentdoctor.net

Good grief ! I’m sorry I didn’t check your post history before I answered. As far as scores are concerned, you are the almost perfect DO candidate. Be happy you have been accepted and even more so that the school gave you a deferment. Congratulation! You are going to be a doctor, but only if you want to be.

 

[deleted1167451]

I appreciate the advice. I have decided to turn down my A to do a postbacc. It's my choice good or bad, smart or not, but it's what will make me happy. GL anyone else.

 

[wysdoc]

OP has made their decision so this thread is closed to further replies