DO Application Timeline

[EnzymaticFuture]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone. Would a July MCAT still be considered early for DO schools?

Also, can someone give me a brief timeline overview for an early DO school application cycle? Do we need to turn in our MCAT scores and LORs to be verified?

 

[Rusrus]

The general rule of thumb is to have everything submitted (primary application, secondaries, MCAT, LORs, etc.) before thanksgiving.

Taking the MCAT in July would mean you receive the results by August, which is fine as long as you are scoring around your goal. Keep in mind that you can submit your primary application for verification prior to this time so be sure to allot time in between your study schedule to work on the application as well (it takes up to a month for an application to be verified.) Other verifications like updated MCAT scores or LORs are typically processed a bit faster.

 

[PapaGuava]

The AACOMAS application will open up allowing you to enter your information in early May (dates may change). Here you can input everything you have from your experiences, personal information, research, grades/info of all the courses on your transcript etc. In your case, the MCAT scores would be sent in August but you could have everything else verified by that point which would be great.

Schools may not send you a secondary without your verified MCAT score since your application won’t be considered complete. However, once you get that in, you will begin to receive secondaries (assuming you meet the minimums).

Once your secondary application for a school is finished, your application file will be complete. From here you can be invited to an interview, deferred to a later screening, or declined an interview.

You can be pulled off a waitlist for a school as late as the week before classes begin at a medical school but hopefully you’ll know where you’re headed between August-February.

I’d suggest reviewing the schools you plan to apply to and their requirements/process to make things easier when it comes time to apply. @EnzymaticFuture

 

[EnzymaticFuture]

Thanks for the reply @Rusrus and @PapaGuava ! Do y’all know if there’s a MSAR version for DO schools or should I just do my research on each individual schools?

 

[PapaGuava]

Yes there is! You can buy either a printed version for like $15, or you can download the pdf files on AACOM. The printed version was very helpful!

-Sent a pm

 

[SerUnMedico]

I apologize if these questions might have been answered somewhere on this thread.
(1)Should I bother to submit my AACOMAS application when:

(a) I’m still waiting for my grades/transcript at end of school year (for my school to submit it);
(b) I’m taking the MCAT on 6/28 and possibly taking it again, depending on how I feel;
(c) My professors seem to be taking their sweet time to submit LOR, they’ll probably submit at end of June, after their busy school year has ended.
Or
Should I submit my application now with all of these still pending? I don’t suppose I will be getting secondaries until those documents are complete/submitted..?

(2) For anyone who knows about WesternU and Touro, are the secondaries the same questions or do they send separate secondaries? Like, WesternU COMP and COMP-NW? And Touro TUCOM and TUNCOM?

(3) On the AACOMAS application, on some schools, they ask if I’m interested in the DO/MPH Program- I am but I’m not 100% sure if it’s something I want to do and it’s a yes or no question. I’m not sure if I want to spend time answering the supplemental essays if I click on “yes”
Does that make sense?

TIA! I appreciate your time!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I apologize if these questions might have been answered somewhere on this thread.
(1)Should I bother to submit my AACOMAS application when:

(a) I’m still waiting for my grades/transcript at end of school year (for my school to submit it);
(b) I’m taking the MCAT on 6/28 and possibly taking it again, depending on how I feel;
(c) My professors seem to be taking their sweet time to submit LOR, they’ll probably submit at end of June, after their busy school year has ended.
Or
Should I submit my application now with all of these still pending? I don’t suppose I will be getting secondaries until those documents are complete/submitted..?

(2) For anyone who knows about WesternU and Touro, are the secondaries the same questions or do they send separate secondaries? Like, WesternU COMP and COMP-NW? And Touro TUCOM and TUNCOM?

(3) On the AACOMAS application, on some schools, they ask if I’m interested in the DO/MPH Program- I am but I’m not 100% sure if it’s something I want to do and it’s a yes or no question. I’m not sure if I want to spend time answering the supplemental essays if I click on “yes”
Does that make sense?

TIA! I appreciate your time!

You can wait a little longer since the AACOMAS "early" window is a little longer given the pecking preferences of MD/AMCAS over DO/AACOMAS among premeds. I would submit as soon as you know your latest grades. Transmitting your transcripts won't take that much time thanks to electronic data delivery portals (Parchment, Clearinghouse, etc.).

Professors need time to decompress and take vacations, write grants, or attend their children's graduations from school. Just check in.

Some schools send secondaries automatically, others their portal access, others just want payment. Check the school-specific threads and history about your questions about WesternU and Touro.

Do you have any experiences that support your interest in DO/MPH? From what it sounds, you're probably better off not spending the time on those essays, but I don't know your application.