DO list help

[rkdesp]

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Hi there -

My advisor is of no help right now - mostly because she's overwhelmed with thousands of students. So I just wanted to have some suggestions regarding my school list for the DO program. I will also be applying for the MD programs but I'll worry about that later.

ATSU
DMUCOM
CUSOM
PNWU - 2nd time applying
WVSOM

I realize the list is short but a lot of other programs have a GPA cutoff or I would be applying for the 3rd time. Last year, I got an interview at MSU and got rejected because they said I was out of state and they weren't convinced I knew enough about osteopathic medicine. That being said, I'm having a lot of trouble shadowing any physicians right now because of California/San Diego County laws. I don't see the point of applying to the same school for the 3rd time if my application really change much except for more scribing/working/volunteering.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[JibsGuy52]

Need your stats and EC's.

"I don't see the point of applying to the same school for the 3rd time if my application really change much except for more scribing/working/volunteering."

This is also a concern. Why not do something different to show you are actively working on your application? Research work, etc.

 

[rkdesp]

Undergrad gpa - 2.67
Post bacc gpa (no degree) - 3.84
cgpa - 2.8, sgpa - 2.9

MCAT (old) - 9, 9, 11 (bio); i will probably take this again

Volunteer - 1000+ hrs
Medical Scribe - over 2.5 yrs, 1000+ hrs for trauma, family medicine, addiction, ENT, ortho trauma
Shadow - 800+ hrs for multiple specialties

I applied to 1 yr Master's program. So far, I have applied to EVMS, Drexel, and working on BCOM MSBS.

I moved after my post-bacc program was done and I applied for research positions and didn't get them. I was hired as a scribe almost immediately and I had to work because I have bills that need to be paid and it does have something to do with medicine.

 

[cjcarter]

I'd cross off DMU and CUSOM. I know CUSOM has a strict GPA cutoff and DMU's avg GPA is around 3.5-3.6. Your best bet is with the newest schools. Do you have a DO LOR? If not, also cross off WVSOM. I think your MCAT is fine for DO as long as it doesn't expire soon. Your best bet seems to be a SMP if you really want the MD. Good luck.

 

[rkdesp]

Ah yes, sorry about that. Crossing off those 3. Thank you! No, I don't have a DO LOR even though I have been bugging a DO for one but at this point, I think it's a lost cause.

I am hoping for the EVMS med master's program but I am still waiting for my last professor to turn in her LOR!!!

I appreciate the thoughts!

 

[Donna Moss]

Have you considered adding LECOM?

 

[rkdesp]

i applied to that school twice already and i'm not sure if it's a good idea to apply for a 3rd time. do you think i should apply anyway?

 

[123456ers]

See what your new MCAT score is. Based on your current stats, if I were you I'd apply to mostly new schools (ACOM, LECOM-B, etc) and a bunch of SMPs. I know the SMP route seems so tough especially after you've performed well in postbacc while scribing for years, but I think it might be your best bet given the bit of a hole your sGPA and cGPA seems to represent.

If you don't mind my asking, how many credits was your post bacc? And is your sGPA that you presented like the current one including all post bacc work too?

 

[Spectreman]

Yeah, need to know how many post-bacc credits. Worth looking into SMP at a DO school too, had similar stats, did an SMP and now have an acceptance. Your stats are too low for any MD SMP I know of. Best of luck!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You need to retake the MCAT as a lot of schools will not take old MCAT scores for this cycle. Even with your post bac it seems you need to do a masters. I wouldn't apply with so few changes to your app because your changes didn't even address the biggest concern, your GPA.

 

[rkdesp]

72 credits for post bacc. and yea the sgpa includes the post bacc. i have already applied to the evms medical master's program for 1 yr and they prefer for students to go through the app process while they go through the 1 yr program. i am still waiting for the last lor to be handed and the professor said she'll work on it next week (ugh....thanks....). but regardless, it's a master's program and it's not going to touch my undergrad gpa at all.

Thanks everyone!

 

[rkdesp]

Yeah, need to know how many post-bacc credits. Worth looking into SMP at a DO school too, had similar stats, did an SMP and now have an acceptance. Your stats are too low for any MD SMP I know of. Best of luck!

Congrats on your acceptance!! Thanks for the thoughts! And yea I'm working on the SMP app for BCOM and LECOM.

 

[Goro]

Your MCAT score is too weak for MD schools that reward reinvention, except maybe your state school.

You're fine for any DO school.

Undergrad gpa - 2.67
Post bacc gpa (no degree) - 3.84
cgpa - 2.8, sgpa - 2.9

MCAT (old) - 9, 9, 11 (bio); i will probably take this again

Volunteer - 1000+ hrs
Medical Scribe - over 2.5 yrs, 1000+ hrs for trauma, family medicine, addiction, ENT, ortho trauma
Shadow - 800+ hrs for multiple specialties

I applied to 1 yr Master's program. So far, I have applied to EVMS, Drexel, and working on BCOM MSBS.

I moved after my post-bacc program was done and I applied for research positions and didn't get them. I was hired as a scribe almost immediately and I had to work because I have bills that need to be paid and it does have something to do with medicine.

 

[rkdesp]

Your MCAT score is too weak for MD schools that reward reinvention, except maybe your state school.

You're fine for any DO school.

I'll retake the MCAT after I'm finished with the SMP apps and AACOMAS. There isn't much to it to AACOMAS app anyways and I can always add more schools later per people's suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[Spectreman]

72 credits for post bacc. and yea the sgpa includes the post bacc. i have already applied to the evms medical master's program for 1 yr and they prefer for students to go through the app process while they go through the 1 yr program. i am still waiting for the last lor to be handed and the professor said she'll work on it next week (ugh....thanks....). but regardless, it's a master's program and it's not going to touch my undergrad gpa at all.

Thanks everyone!

72 credits of post-bacc is really solid. Still think you'll have a hard time with MD, but DO should be good.

 

[Donna Moss]

.

 

[rkdesp]

72 credits of post-bacc is really solid. Still think you'll have a hard time with MD, but DO should be good.

everybody keeps saying that but then why am i reapplying again? I applied to about 15 DO programs last year and i only got 1 interview. my advisor keeps on insisting that do schools are more acceptable to "diverse education" - really? so why am i doing all this again? sorry for being whiny but i'm just frustrated.

 

[rkdesp]

I saw that you mentioned MSU, I would set up an advising appointment (it's really helpful!) and see what they suggest as to how to work around your shadowing situation. A DO letter would be really helpful. Anne in admissions is really helpful!

i did speak with msu and they basically said to do something like shadowing that would increase my experience with osteopathic medicine. unfortunately, i found that california has very strict rules when it comes to patient privacy and none of the hospitals around me allow premeds to shadow. i asked a premed who lived here and went to school here all her life about shadowing and she said all you can do is to ask people you know. well that's a bust because i just moved here less than 1 year ago and i don't know anyone. argh!

thanks though!

 

[Donna Moss]

.

 

[Spectreman]

everybody keeps saying that but then why am i reapplying again? I applied to about 15 DO programs last year and i only got 1 interview. my advisor keeps on insisting that do schools are more acceptable to "diverse education" - really? so why am i doing all this again? sorry for being whiny but i'm just frustrated.

It's your cumulative, you're being screened out for having below a 3.0. Do well in an SMP at whichever DO school you want to go to and you'll get accepted for sure. cumulative for MD SMP is usually 3.4 minimum, so that's a no-go. I'd jump into a DO SMP this fall, there's still time to get into some of them (PNWU comes to mind). I'm surprised you weren't offered entry into one after being rejected last cycle, but yeah, hit that up and you'll be a student doc in no time.

 

[rkdesp]

Did you explain them the situation verbatim? Have you called clinics in the area? I've found it much harder to shadow at hospitals

i am currently calling clinics and have been for the past 2 months, no hits so far by i'll keep trying.

at the time of the call, i didn't realize that i would have trouble with shadowing but they said for me to do something to increase my experience with osteopathic medicine. they said it's not necessarily shadowing but i don't know what else that could be besides shadowing. is there something else you think i should look into?

 

[rkdesp]

It's your cumulative, you're being screened out for having below a 3.0. Do well in an SMP at whichever DO school you want to go to and you'll get accepted for sure. cumulative for MD SMP is usually 3.4 minimum, so that's a no-go. I'd jump into a DO SMP this fall, there's still time to get into some of them (PNWU comes to mind). I'm surprised you weren't offered entry into one after being rejected last cycle, but yeah, hit that up and you'll be a student doc in no time.

ok thanks! i can use evms for both do and md. bcom would be fine too. or whatever - i'll be fine with whatever. 🙂 Thanks!!

 

[Donna Moss]

.

 

[rkdesp]

Are you near any California DO schools? I know MSU allows people to observe OMM, see if you can observe any OMM classes? @Goro may be a better resource than myself.

Western is about 3 hr drive away but i can call them see if theres anything closer. Thanks!! I really appreciate it!! Msu may be back on the list!

 

[Alienman52]

Hi there -

My advisor is of no help right now - mostly because she's overwhelmed with thousands of students. So I just wanted to have some suggestions regarding my school list for the DO program. I will also be applying for the MD programs but I'll worry about that later.

ATSU
DMUCOM
CUSOM
PNWU - 2nd time applying
WVSOM

I realize the list is short but a lot of other programs have a GPA cutoff or I would be applying for the 3rd time. Last year, I got an interview at MSU and got rejected because they said I was out of state and they weren't convinced I knew enough about osteopathic medicine. That being said, I'm having a lot of trouble shadowing any physicians right now because of California/San Diego County laws. I don't see the point of applying to the same school for the 3rd time if my application really change much except for more scribing/working/volunteering.

Thanks for all the advice!

I would really try to include some newer schools. Although your postbacc GPA is great your overall gpas aren't very high so that you should cast as broad of a net as possible.

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[rkdesp]

I would really try to include some newer schools. Although your postbacc GPA is great your overall gpas aren't very high so that you should cast as broad of a net as possible.

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

I looked through all the DO schools and the ones that are listed are the ones with no GPA cutoff and ones I have not applied to before. Not sure what else I could do....

 

[MADD!!!]

The problem clearly sits with your GPA. Grade replacement would've been a miracle for you here. My recommendation is to apply to the DO post-bacc programs (some have a 2.75 cut-off like ATSU). I wouldn't waste my time with a 3rd app cycle. You have to look at this from an admissions perspective-- Sub-3.0 GPA's are LETHAL. So lethal that most post-bacc's don't even want to accept you, let alone medical schools.

I wouldn't even worry about retaking the MCAT at this point until you have this situation figured out.

 

[DaSlimShady]

I can understand how difficult it must be to find a DO to shadow, and I'm sorry to hear that. I see that you've worked as a scribe (correct me if I'm wrong). Did you work with any DOs at the time? You could reach out to them for a letter as well!

 

[Donna Moss]

.

 

[rkdesp]

I can understand how difficult it must be to find a DO to shadow, and I'm sorry to hear that. I see that you've worked as a scribe (correct me if I'm wrong). Did you work with any DOs at the time? You could reach out to them for a letter as well!

All doctors I scribed for were MDs. Great experience but doesn't really do much for me right now haha.

 

[rkdesp]

I would see if western would let you sit in on an OMM demonstration and see if the school has a list of DO's that would be willing to let you shadow/speak with them

I will definitely do that for Western. Unfortunately, in order for me to go to other DO schools I would have to fly and I definitely don't have the money for that. Thank you though!

 

[DaSlimShady]

All doctors I scribed for were MDs. Great experience but doesn't really do much for me right now haha.

Aw, bummer! And that's true, tbh there's only so long you can scribe for.

 

[rkdesp]

The problem clearly sits with your GPA. Grade replacement would've been a miracle for you here. My recommendation is to apply to the DO post-bacc programs (some have a 2.75 cut-off like ATSU). I wouldn't waste my time with a 3rd app cycle. You have to look at this from an admissions perspective-- Sub-3.0 GPA's are LETHAL. So lethal that most post-bacc's don't even want to accept you, let alone medical schools.

I wouldn't even worry about retaking the MCAT at this point until you have this situation figured out.

I'm applying to some SMPs right now and some of them recommend to apply to the cycle before I start taking classes. I don't know what else to do other than that.

thanks for the thoughts!

 

[rkdesp]

Aw, bummer! And that's true, tbh there's only so long you can scribe for.

Before it gets boring, yea haha.

 

[adrian710]

I think you're straight for any DO school but at the same time I think you need to apply broadly to get love since ur GPA is either gonna be looked as bad (from undergrad) or good (from PB). Your MCAT is also good but it's gotta be almost expired so that's something else. I would literally apply to 20+ DO schools if you have the funds to do so and you'll get several acceptances I think. G'luck.

 

[rkdesp]

I think you're straight for any DO school but at the same time I think you need to apply broadly to get love since ur GPA is either gonna be looked as bad (from undergrad) or good (from PB). Your MCAT is also good but it's gotta be almost expired so that's something else. I would literally apply to 20+ DO schools if you have the funds to do so and you'll get several acceptances I think. G'luck.

Hi there! Last year, I applied to about 15 DO programs and that was with the grade replacement and I only got 1 interview. Everybody keeps saying i'm fine for DO schools but if that's true, then why am I here? Doing this? again? I can't apply to a lot of DO schools because of the GPA cutoff - I will immediately get rejected after paying for the secondary solely based on that. So this year, I am very cautious of how much I spend and how many apps I turn in because of the fact that I've been burned. I still haven't turned in the AACOMAS app for this cycle yet because I'm waiting for an answer from the Master's programs I've been applying to. The fact that I got an interview at a school that mostly accept in-state students tells me I'm not crazy to try again though.

Thanks for the words! I appreciate any advice and encouragement!

 

[pericardium]

Hi there! Last year, I applied to about 15 DO programs and that was with the grade replacement and I only got 1 interview. Everybody keeps saying i'm fine for DO schools but if that's true, then why am I here? Doing this? again? I can't apply to a lot of DO schools because of the GPA cutoff - I will immediately get rejected after paying for the secondary solely based on that. So this year, I am very cautious of how much I spend and how many apps I turn in because of the fact that I've been burned. I still haven't turned in the AACOMAS app for this cycle yet because I'm waiting for an answer from the Master's programs I've been applying to. The fact that I got an interview at a school that mostly accept in-state students tells me I'm not crazy to try again though.

Thanks for the words! I appreciate any advice and encouragement!

It's always a crapshoot what people tell you on SDN, even if they have the best intentions. I was told when I applied, that I wouldn't have to apply broadly because of my "decent" stats, and I could expect numerous interviews. Only ended up getting 3..

Just keep at it and don't give up

 

[rkdesp]

It's always a crapshoot what people tell you on SDN, even if they have the best intentions. I was told when I applied, that I wouldn't have to apply broadly because of my "decent" stats, and I could expect numerous interviews. Only ended up getting 3..

Just keep at it and don't give up

Thanks! i'm just frustrated.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Hi there! Last year, I applied to about 15 DO programs and that was with the grade replacement and I only got 1 interview. Everybody keeps saying i'm fine for DO schools but if that's true, then why am I here? Doing this? again? I can't apply to a lot of DO schools because of the GPA cutoff - I will immediately get rejected after paying for the secondary solely based on that. So this year, I am very cautious of how much I spend and how many apps I turn in because of the fact that I've been burned. I still haven't turned in the AACOMAS app for this cycle yet because I'm waiting for an answer from the Master's programs I've been applying to. The fact that I got an interview at a school that mostly accept in-state students tells me I'm not crazy to try again though.

Thanks for the words! I appreciate any advice and encouragement!

What was your grade replacement gpa? I think no matter what your MCAT ends up being when you retake, your gpa kills you at all but the new schools. Even then it'll be tough. SMP is your best bet. On the plus side, you might rock your SMP and get an MD acceptance.

 

[rkdesp]

I believe it was a cgpa 3.1? and then sgpa of 3.3. I made a mistake though on the app and the gpas came out wrong. aacomas refused to change it and i explained to all the schools but who would believe it?

I think I'll retake the MCAT just to get it out of the way - a lot of schools refuse to accept the old scores anyway.

 

[Ho0v-man]

I believe it was a cgpa 3.1? and then sgpa of 3.3. I made a mistake though on the app and the gpas came out wrong. aacomas refused to change it and i explained to all the schools but who would believe it?

I think I'll retake the MCAT just to get it out of the way - a lot of schools refuse to accept the old scores anyway.

Well that's barely above most schools cutoff with grade replacement and unfortunately it was not even adequately reflected that we're that high on your aacomas application. I hate it for you, but given that new information, the outcome is unsurprising. It sucks that these schools probably didn't care to amend your application, but they have plenty of apps and really don't need to bend over backwards for anyone.

Now that grade replacement is gone, your best bet is an SMP and you'll have to retake the MCAT. The bright side is that this approach could net you an MD acceptance and you'll get to flip the bird to aacomas for mismanaging your app in the first place.

Best of luck

 

[rkdesp]

Well that's barely above most schools cutoff with grade replacement and unfortunately it was not even adequately reflected that we're that high on your aacomas application. I hate it for you, but given that new information, the outcome is unsurprising. It sucks that these schools probably didn't care to amend your application, but they have plenty of apps and really don't need to bend over backwards for anyone.

Now that grade replacement is gone, your best bet is an SMP and you'll have to retake the MCAT. The bright side is that this approach could net you an MD acceptance and you'll get to flip the bird to aacomas for mismanaging your app in the first place.

Best of luck

flip the bird!! LOL!!

yup, already applied to smps. hoping to get into evms. i just need the last freaking lor!! ARGH!

Thank you!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Yeah the more I think about your situation I don't think you should apply this cycle. Take your time and do the SMP, rock the MCAT, and not be a 4th time applicant. I know some schools actually don't consider applicants if they are applying for 4th or higher time. Take the time to get your app complete and the best you can, and then profit. Like Hov-man said about MD schools, that becomes a real possibility if you do this right.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Yeah the more I think about your situation I don't think you should apply this cycle. Take your time and do the SMP, rock the MCAT, and not be a 4th time applicant. I know some schools actually don't consider applicants if they are applying for 4th or higher time. Take the time to get your app complete and the best you can, and then profit. Like Hov-man said about MD schools, that becomes a real possibility if you do this right.

Right, I didn't realize he was going to apply this cycle while in an SMP. That's a bad idea.

Make sure you have the best MCAT you can get and throw everything into your SMP. Don't just keep throwing your had earned money at this broken system. Apply next year when your app is the best it can be so you don't have any regrets. Do it once more and do it right!

 

[liquidstatic]

Hi there -

My advisor is of no help right now - mostly because she's overwhelmed with thousands of students. So I just wanted to have some suggestions regarding my school list for the DO program. I will also be applying for the MD programs but I'll worry about that later.

ATSU
DMUCOM
CUSOM
PNWU - 2nd time applying
WVSOM

I realize the list is short but a lot of other programs have a GPA cutoff or I would be applying for the 3rd time. Last year, I got an interview at MSU and got rejected because they said I was out of state and they weren't convinced I knew enough about osteopathic medicine. That being said, I'm having a lot of trouble shadowing any physicians right now because of California/San Diego County laws. I don't see the point of applying to the same school for the 3rd time if my application really change much except for more scribing/working/volunteering.

Thanks for all the advice!

When did you submit last year?