Do I have a shot at DO schools? Applying 2019-2020 cycle

[mgmd3733]

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Hi! I am hoping to apply to med schools this summer (2019) to start in 2020, and I was hoping for some advice based on my stats. I am not too confident, so I was hoping to get some opinions to see if I should only apply to DO programs (if so, which ones?) or if I should wait until next cycle. I really would like to apply this year though!

• Neuroscience major, Spanish minor at liberal arts college. I’m from PA. Just graduated.
• 3.4 gpa. I recalculated it for DO med schools (which I believe don’t include math), and then I have a 3.27 cum, 3.19 sgpa, and 3.37 other gpa 🙁
• Mcat: first time got a 494. I know. Bad. Big mistake. Taking it again in July and actually preparing now.
• Research
  • 2 years neuro research in 2 different labs. No publications but several conferences. One national and one international
• Member of one honor society
• Dean’s list 3 semesters
• Shadowing ~150
  • In cardiology, neuro, obgyn, anesthesiology
• Volunteer ~170
  • 2 summers at a hospital on an ENT and oncology floor
  • A summer in pt/ot at a medical center
  • A hospice program
• Past work experience
  • Tour guide
  • Also an admissions fellow (I give one on one infos and interviews to prospective students)
• Gap year job
  • Starting a job as a research coordinator in a cardiac catheter lab in a hospital this summer for a year
• Community service
  • Community chair of my sorority for 3 years I plan about 3 events in the surrounding area a semester
  • For two years I volunteered as a karate instructor for younger kids at the place I practice
• extracurriculars: string ensemble for 2 years, dance team for 3
• Have a committee LOR (includes 2 science profs (one of them I do research with), another prof, hospital I volunteered at, an MD, and my boss

Like I said, I want to apply this summer because I’m already doing a gap year, however I realize another year may be necessary in my case. I know I will be late in the cycle. Do I have a shot at DO schools? I know I don’t with my current mcat, but I am retaking it and in practice right now getting about 508. I want to submit an app in the next few weeks to get it processed (apply to throw away school), so when I get my mcat score back I can apply to more schools. All help is appreciated thank you!
(also it is my first time posting here, I hope this is in the right spot...)

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Depends on what your MCAT ends up being. A word of warning, I know it is going to be very tempting to try your luck with new DO schools with your low MCAT. Don't do it. Even if it takes another year it will be worth it to get a better MCAT score and apply to the established DO schools. There is simply too much risk going to a new school, as their attrition rates are high, board pass rates/average scores are low, and very very poor clinical education.

 

[PapaGuava]

Thread moved to the WAMC subsection.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Depends on what your MCAT ends up being. A word of warning, I know it is going to be very tempting to try your luck with new DO schools with your low MCAT. Don't do it. Even if it takes another year it will be worth it to get a better MCAT score and apply to the established DO schools. There is simply too much risk going to a new school, as their attrition rates are high, board pass rates/average scores are low, and very very poor clinical education.

Even for a new DO schools a 494 is way too low.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Even for a new DO schools a 494 is way too low.

Seeing as a quarter of all DO matriculants have under a 500 I'm going to say no it's not. Not anymore. Someone has to fill the seats at these new schools and the majority of them will be very low stat applicants.

 

[Faha]

Post your new MCAT score here when available in August. A September application is not late for DO schools.

 

[discovermed9000]

Depends on what your MCAT ends up being. A word of warning, I know it is going to be very tempting to try your luck with new DO schools with your low MCAT. Don't do it. Even if it takes another year it will be worth it to get a better MCAT score and apply to the established DO schools. There is simply too much risk going to a new school, as their attrition rates are high, board pass rates/average scores are low, and very very poor clinical education.

Which new DO schools do you suggest not applying to? Also, do you think attrition rates are higher at new DO schools because their applicant pool tends to be individuals who will have a higher chance of failing?

 

[GoHorseGo]

Which new DO schools do you suggest not applying to? Also, do you think attrition rates are higher at new DO schools because their applicant pool tends to be individuals who will have a higher chance of failing?

I’ve been curious about this as well. I know @Goro has advised myself (among others) to avoid newer programs like CaliHS, BCOM, ICOM and ATSU(soma).

Hope that helps some! Interested to see the reasoning behind avoiding newer programs

 

[Goro]

Which new DO schools do you suggest not applying to? Also, do you think attrition rates are higher at new DO schools because their applicant pool tends to be individuals who will have a higher chance of failing?

I agree with GoHorses' list above, and also can't recommend: Touro-NY, Nova, Wm Carey, LUCOM, for different reasons. MSUCOM? Read up on Larry Nasser and you decide. LMU has an accreditation warning, which concerns me.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Which new DO schools do you suggest not applying to? Also, do you think attrition rates are higher at new DO schools because their applicant pool tends to be individuals who will have a higher chance of failing?

All of them, and yes attrition is likely higher because they admit a greater percentage of weaker students.

The only new school that appears to be doing things right is ARCOM, but I still wouldn't recommend it until they graduate a class. Campbell has their heads screwed on right too, but I wouldn't classify them as new anymore. Any school that opens its doors from here on out should be avoided like the plague.

 

[mgmd3733]

Post your new MCAT score here when available in August. A September application is not late for DO schools.

Do you think I should submit any primaries before I get my new mcat score back besides one to get it processed? Like could I apply to a few schools? Would they acknowledge that I still have another mcat to take/care? Or is that a bad idea

 

[Faha]

Only apply to 1 school. Otherwise all the schools see is that MCAT of 494 which is a bad first impression.

 

[lbrez98]

I was wondering the same thing about DO schools but a little different case. I was supposed to take the MCAT yesterday but decided it would be better to study more and wait a little. A little bit about me:

GPA: 3.766
sGPA:3.635
~80 hours of volunteering (in the emergency room, at a free clinic where I do vitals and patient history, on a children's floor in the playroom)
100+ hours of shadowing (ER, sports med, orthopedic surgery, pediatric orthopedic surgery, general practitioner)
I also do research but dont have a count on the hours
EC: President of club Gymnastics for 2 years (will be in it 4 years), club golf (leadership position for 1 year), club powerlifting, AED
I have also gone on a medical immersion trip to Jamaica and will be going on one to Panama this winter
Awards: Deans list all 6 semesters I have been in college
Jobs: I have been a camp counselor for 2 summers and was a medical assistant for 4 months this past semester

The only thing I am struggling with is my MCAT. I have been scoring 497 on the practice exams. I am now planning on taking it in the middle of July but am wondering if I should wait to apply next cycle or would be okay to apply to mostly DO schools in August and some MD schools with lower MCAT scores. I am hoping to raise it to at least a 505

 

[Faha]

As long as your MCAT is 500 or higher you would be competitive for at least 15 DO schools that I am aware of. August is not late for a DO application. Post your score here when available.

 

[l;aksjdf;aljk;f]

Have you presented any research posters as part of either lab? make sure not to forget that. Also I would apply to Cambell SOM as one of my friends did witha 497 3.6 cGPA and was offered a slot. Worst case scenario is you have to apply a few times before getting in. Remember its a marathon not a sprint so adding a year here and there is not an issue. My brother is an orthopedic spine specialist and it took him 2 tries to get into medical school and 5 years to get his undergraduate degree and he is doing just fine as a physician. Good luck

 

[lbrez98]

As long as your MCAT is 500 or higher you would be competitive for at least 15 DO schools that I am aware of. August is not late for a DO application. Post your score here when available.

I ended up getting a 497...thoughts on if I should apply or wait until next cycle?

 

[Faha]

I ended up getting a 497...thoughts on if I should apply or wait until next cycle?

I ended up getting a 497...thoughts on if I should apply or wait until next cycle?

You could receive interviews at these DO schools with your statss:
VCOM (all 4 schools)
CUSOM
ACOM
ARCOM
NYIT-Arkansas
UIWSOM
ICOM
CHSU-COM (new school)
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
LUCOM
LECOM (all schools)
Sam Houston State (new school accepting applications later this year)
Most of these schools have MCAT medians in the 498 to 502 range to you could receive interviews with your 497. You should apply this month and submit all your secondaries by September.

 

[Seihai]

I ended up getting a 497...thoughts on if I should apply or wait until next cycle?

Take a look at the link in my signature with the mean MCAT for most DO schools. Plenty of DO schools have stats in the range of a 497.

If you're committed to applying this cycle and you don't want to retake the MCAT, then you can apply to plenty of DO schools this cycle.