DO put more weight on the MCAT than MD...

[BestDoctorEver]

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I have noticed on SDN that people with 3.0-3.2 GPA and 29-32 MCAT have no problem to get mutiple interviews at DO schools. However, I have seen stories of people with 3.2-3.4 and 34-37 MCAT that have had a hard time getting interviews at MD. I have concluded that DO schools put more weight on the MCAT than MD. Am I right? Have you guys on SDN noticed the same thing?

 

[jphwki82]

I have noticed on SDN that people with 3.0-3.2 GPA and 29-32 MCAT have no problem to get mutiple interviews at DO schools. However, I have seen stories of people with 3.2-3.4 and 34-37 MCAT that have had a hard time getting interviews at MD. I have concluded that DO schools put more weight on the MCAT than MD. Am I right? Have you guys on SDN noticed the same thing?

Not exactly. Some people have lower MCATs and a higher GPA. Stats are very arbitrary because there is a lot more that those programs are going to look at besides a MCAT & GPA. Hence why they have essays, interviews and extracurriculars on their applications. This has been addressed in previous posts as well.

 

[Helen Wheels]

No, I don't think that is true at all. IMHO, if anything, I'd say DO schools are much more likely to overlook a low MCAT score than MD programs are (speaking as a person who was rejected at 30+ MD programs and accepted DO with a low MCAT).

 

[slarveson]

i think what the OP is referring to, is if you have a 3.2ish GPA and a 30 MCAT for DO that you would get more interviews than a 3.2 GPA and a 33-35 MCAT for MD and i would have to agree with this. I think its commonly known that DO schools put more weight on EC's as well

 

[SoulinNeed]

I have noticed on SDN that people with 3.0-3.2 GPA and 29-32 MCAT have no problem to get mutiple interviews at DO schools. However, I have seen stories of people with 3.2-3.4 and 34-37 MCAT that have had a hard time getting interviews at MD. I have concluded that DO schools put more weight on the MCAT than MD. Am I right? Have you guys on SDN noticed the same thing?

Just an aside, it's probably not a good idea to base med school applicants off people on SDN.

 

[DoctorJDO]

DO schools interview a higher percentage of students than MD schools. Unfortunately, many people apply DO as back up, and when they get in to any MD school, that's where they go. for example, Harvard might interview 100 people, knowing full well that it is the 'best' school and that anyone who gets in will most likely go there. However, a school like LECOM might have to interview 200 people in order to get 100 to attend, because if they get into any "better" school, they will go there instead. that's a good thing for those who want to go DO!

 

[bigyihoroi]

I have noticed on SDN that people with 3.0-3.2 GPA and 29-32 MCAT have no problem to get mutiple interviews at DO schools. However, I have seen stories of people with 3.2-3.4 and 34-37 MCAT that have had a hard time getting interviews at MD. I have concluded that DO schools put more weight on the MCAT than MD. Am I right? Have you guys on SDN noticed the same thing?

I felt that DO schools seem to forgo one weakness that you have, whether it's GPA or MCAT score. So it's not uncommon to see many applicants have stellar GPA but lower MCAT score or vice versa. That's why you see DO students with 3.0 GPA with 31 MCAT or 3.7 GPA with 26 MCAT got interviews and acceptance. This may not be true but that's what it felt like to me sometimes for the admission of DO students.

 

[Goro]

Here's a rough rule of thumb:

MD schools like high GPA (>3.6) AND high MCAT (>30, with 10s in each category, minimum).

DO schools, GPA >3 (avg now around 3.4-3.5) and MCAT >20 (avg ~25+).

Many DO schools overlap MD schools with these rough numbers and can even exceed those of some MD schools.

Lastly, most DO schools want one of the two to be high. My own two cents: a low GPA + a high MCAT school hints that the person is merely good at taking standardized tests.

 

[Slane]

The breakdown of the MCAT score is more important than the overall score itself--a high, balanced score is key. You can have a fairly high overall score whilst still having a fairly low verbal, which a lot of schools are weighing more heavily these days. DO schools, at least the ones that I applied too, also put a lot more weight on the EC's in addition to GPA and MCAT.

 

[Cheshyre]

My own two cents: a low GPA + a high MCAT school hints that the person is merely good at taking standardized tests.

Yeah, gonna call BS on this one.

 

[MedIsInMyBlood]

Not exactly. Some people have lower MCATs and a higher GPA. Stats are very arbitrary because there is a lot more that those programs are going to look at besides a MCAT & GPA. Hence why they have essays, interviews and extracurriculars on their applications. This has been addressed in previous posts as well.

I agree with this.

Also, the difference between a 31 MCAT and a 26.2 MCAT (DO average) is greater in my opinion than the difference between a 35 MCAT and a 30 MCAT (MD average). A 31 MCAT is around 30 percentile points higher than a 26 MCAT....a 35 MCAT is only around 10 percentile points higher than a 30 MCAT.

So, for MD schools, a 35 MCAT may not make up for a low GPA because it is not that much better than the average MD. But, a DO applicant's 30 MCAT score may set him apart from the average DO matriculant's 26.2 MCAT.

 

[mmikey]

I agree with this.

Also, the difference between a 31 MCAT and a 26.2 MCAT (DO average) is greater in my opinion than the difference between a 35 MCAT and a 30 MCAT (MD average). A 31 MCAT is around 30 percentile points higher than a 26 MCAT....a 35 MCAT is only around 10 percentile points higher than a 30 MCAT.

So, for MD schools, a 35 MCAT may not make up for a low GPA because it is not that much better than the average MD. But, a DO applicant's 30 MCAT score may set him apart from the average DO matriculant's 26.2 MCAT.

I never thought of it like that, yet it is so apparent! A 37 vs a 33 is maybe a few Q's difference in each section, as opposed to the difference of a 24 and 30!

 

[jphwki82]

I agree with this.

Also, the difference between a 31 MCAT and a 26.2 MCAT (DO average) is greater in my opinion than the difference between a 35 MCAT and a 30 MCAT (MD average). A 31 MCAT is around 30 percentile points higher than a 26 MCAT....a 35 MCAT is only around 10 percentile points higher than a 30 MCAT.

So, for MD schools, a 35 MCAT may not make up for a low GPA because it is not that much better than the average MD. But, a DO applicant's 30 MCAT score may set him apart from the average DO matriculant's 26.2 MCAT.

Totally agree with your pt as well. In fact, our dean spoke about MCAT scores, and mentioned that distinguishing between some one w/ a 35+ MCAT is redundant. At that point scoring a 40 vs 37 is not really going to make much of a difference.

 

[skatertudoroga]

Totally agree with your pt as well. In fact, our dean spoke about MCAT scores, and mentioned that distinguishing between some one w/ a 35+ MCAT is redundant. At that point scoring a 40 vs 37 is not really going to make much of a difference.

in that case they should just accept people with 37+ or quit pretending like their admissions are based on merit. there is a statistically significant difference between all scores that are not equal. but their reliance on ec's and essays is purely subjective. p.s. one of the pedophiles on Chris Hanson show was a med school adcom who said he never done anything wrong in his life. I hate their guts.

 

[JapaneseSakura]

I have noticed on SDN that people with 3.0-3.2 GPA and 29-32 MCAT have no problem to get mutiple interviews at DO schools. However, I have seen stories of people with 3.2-3.4 and 34-37 MCAT that have had a hard time getting interviews at MD. I have concluded that DO schools put more weight on the MCAT than MD. Am I right? Have you guys on SDN noticed the same thing?

I’ve noticed that too! My sister had a 3.9 GPA and a 21 MCAT and got 2 interviews, waitlisted on one, and got into ONLY ONE school while others with lower GPA’s and High MCAT got more acceptances and interviews.

Even the dean told her that they’ve let down a lot of people who had 4.0 GPA’s

 

[Qudsia]

Here's a rough rule of thumb:

MD schools like high GPA (>3.6) AND high MCAT (>30, with 10s in each category, minimum).

DO schools, GPA >3 (avg now around 3.4-3.5) and MCAT >20 (avg ~25+).

Many DO schools overlap MD schools with these rough numbers and can even exceed those of some MD schools.

Lastly, most DO schools want one of the two to be high. My own two cents: a low GPA + a high MCAT school hints that the person is merely good at taking standardized tests.

I have a relatively low GPA but a decent MCAT score But this is the result of the fact in undergraduate I majored in Biomedical Engineering at a top 15 engineering school in the country. The highest gpa in our program was a 3.3. A GPA is relative based on major and school. The MCAT is an equalizer and far more accurate measure than gpa.

 

[VVSHT]

I have a relatively low GPA but a decent MCAT score But this is the result of the fact in undergraduate I majored in Biomedical Engineering at a top 15 engineering school in the country. The highest gpa in our program was a 3.3. A GPA is relative based on major and school. The MCAT is an equalizer and far more accurate measure than gpa.

Totally agree with you. I majored in BME too, and as a result I have a mediocre gpa (3.5) and a relatively high mcat for DO(34). I am just concerned that i might be perceived as lazy. At a recent osteopathic school orientation I attended the dean said that a low GPA and high mcat might indicate that a student is lazy. This was very disheartening. I studied my ASS OFF during undergrad to get a 3.5 and as a result the MCAT was a piece of cake in comparison. Now they're gonna think im "lazy".

 

[Slack3r]

Or because DO schools accept, on average, applicants with lower overall statistics (both GPA AND MCAT scores) than MD schools. The end.

 

[LifeTake2]

Personally I think you need to look @ both.

However, MCAT scores can be related to yout USMLE scores while UG GPA (especially with so many non-trads now) have little reflection on squat. Thus why if you bomb the MCAT adcoms are going to wonder if you will hurt their stats.

Just my $0.02 worth.