Deferred/Now apply again or save money?

[RedheadDoc]

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Hiya gang! Here's my deal. I only applied to a few DO schools last year because my MCAT was very low. I ended up getting on the wait list at one school but got an acceptance for the class entering in summer 2010 if a seat wasn't available this year. I went ahead and told them to take me off the wait list and that I would just start next summer.

I'm OOS so I'd be paying insane tuition at the school I got into. So now since I have a free year with a guaranteed spot at this school, I'm going to apply to other DO schools in case I can get into a cheaper one. But this time, I might also apply MD in addition to DO. Friends said I have nothing to lose and they're right. Except money. So tell me, do you think I have a shot at any school with my stats? It would have to be out of state since my state schools are out of the question.

Biochemistry major.

Overall GPA: 3.8
Sci GPA: 3.9
MCAT: PS/VR/BS = 8/8/9 = 25 S

About 700 hours of volunteering, 250 of that is clinical. Member of community service club on campus and lots of leadership stuff. Girl Scout assistant leader. AHA volunteer. Very little research (one semester and it was meaningless). I'm about to graduate and will work for this year while I apply again.

Anyway, there's other stuff that probably won't matter. So will any MD schools give me a shot? If yes, which ones?

 

[Brown8472]

To tell you the truth, you will have to sell your application in order to get noticed, but I have seen lower stats than yours with admission to prominent private MD schools. You just have to get ready for a bumpy road and some rejection letters. Keep a positive attitude, after all you know where you will be next year.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Do you have in-state MD schools?

 

[jwrigh69]

You mind me asking what state your from? It makes a difference.

 

[Bacchus]

I don't have much in the way of advice but I can guess what DO school you got into with insane tuition. I see where you're coming from on this one, I really do.

 

[ksmi117]

Moving to the What Are My Chances? forum.

 

[scarletgirl777]

Hiya gang! Here's my deal. I only applied to a few DO schools last year because my MCAT was very low. I ended up getting on the wait list at one school but got an acceptance for the class entering in summer 2010 if a seat wasn't available this year. I went ahead and told them to take me off the wait list and that I would just start next summer.

I'm OOS so I'd be paying insane tuition at the school I got into. So now since I have a free year with a guaranteed spot at this school, I'm going to apply to other DO schools in case I can get into a cheaper one. But this time, I might also apply MD in addition to DO. Friends said I have nothing to lose and they're right. Except money. So tell me, do you think I have a shot at any school with my stats? It would have to be out of state since my state schools are out of the question.

Biochemistry major.

Overall GPA: 3.8
Sci GPA: 3.9
MCAT: PS/VR/BS = 8/8/9 = 25 S

About 700 hours of volunteering, 250 of that is clinical. Member of community service club on campus and lots of leadership stuff. Girl Scout assistant leader. AHA volunteer. Very little research (one semester and it was meaningless). I'm about to graduate and will work for this year while I apply again.

Anyway, there's other stuff that probably won't matter. So will any MD schools give me a shot? If yes, which ones?

This is one situation where applying again is a fine idea. Is there no way you could retake the MCAT and bump it up like 3 points? If not, I would just get an MSAR and apply to MD schools with low MCAT averages that interest you and accept students from your state. Your GPA is great and that has to count for something.

 

[student1799]

Agree with scarletgirl: the MCAT is your only problem. If you could improve your score to 30 (or at least high 20's), you'd have an excellent shot at MD school. I don't know exactly why you did poorly the first time (lack of preparation? nerves?), but it ought to be possible to raise your score if you work on this full-time for a few months.

I would definitely not try to apply this cycle with a 25, though, since you're almost certain to get rejected at MD schools with a score like that. (The national avg MCAT for accepted applicants is about 31.) Better to polish the MCAT and apply next year with a strong app than put yourself through a lot of grief this year and end up having to reapply.

 

[flip26]

Retake the MCAT this summer. If you get a 28+, apply to a handful of MD schools (state schools, and a few others). Otherwise, I would not apply to more DO schools - are you sure that you are allowed to do such a thing under their rules? You would not be allowed to do it under MD / AMCAS rules...

 

[pietachok]

Do a search on MDApplicants. You can see every school that accepted someone with a 25 or under on the MCAT. There aren't too many, but there are some MD admits and they aren't all URM. A quick look showed non-URM acceptances w/ a 25 to: BU, EVMS, Indiana, Jefferson, Loma Linda, LSU, Loyola, Marshall, Wright State...but it's clearly going to be easier if you are in-state at one of the schools w/ a lower MCAT and/or URM.