DO Re-applicant- MCAT retake?

[Tall Tyrion Lannister]

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Thanks for the input.

 

[Ki-100]

I think if the DO school average MCAT is 502. There is no need for you to re-take the MCAT unless you are sure your re-take will result a higher grade. Getting a LOR is require for most DO school.

 

[SergeantBuzzKill]

DO LOR is not required at most schools, in fact, I can only think of one that does (OSU). A physician LOR is required, but this can be MD or DO in most cases. Plenty of applicants get accepted to DO programs with an MD letter, but DO is preferred. In your case, a higher MCAT would be ideal to compensate for the lower cGPA, but absolutely do not retake unless you are 100% ready.

 

[Magus5454]

DO LOR is not required at most schools, in fact, I can only think of one that does (OSU). A physician LOR is required, but this can be MD or DO in most cases. Plenty of applicants get accepted to DO programs with an MD letter, but DO is preferred. In your case, a higher MCAT would be ideal to compensate for the lower cGPA, but absolutely do not retake unless you are 100% ready.

ARCOM, some others definitely require a DO letter.

 

[gensurghopeful]

You'd squeak in for sure at newer schools - ICOM, Touro in Utah, ARCOM...

 

[Osminog]

You'd squeak in for sure at newer schools - ICOM, Touro in Utah, ARCOM...

...Touro in Utah?

 

[gensurghopeful]

...Touro in Utah?

I'm sry - RVUCOM in Utah

 

[Cardboard101]

DO LOR is not required at most schools, in fact, I can only think of one that does (OSU). A physician LOR is required, but this can be MD or DO in most cases. Plenty of applicants get accepted to DO programs with an MD letter, but DO is preferred. In your case, a higher MCAT would be ideal to compensate for the lower cGPA, but absolutely do not retake unless you are 100% ready.

A DO LOR is required at 10 DO schools with another 6 where it is strongly preferred over a MD.

 

[Tall Tyrion Lannister]

DO LOR is not required at most schools, in fact, I can only think of one that does (OSU). A physician LOR is required, but this can be MD or DO in most cases. Plenty of applicants get accepted to DO programs with an MD letter, but DO is preferred. In your case, a higher MCAT would be ideal to compensate for the lower cGPA, but absolutely do not retake unless you are 100% ready.

Do you think having a DO letter, applying way earlier, plus a few extra ECs and those slight GPA bumps will be enough to push me over the line? The last cycle I submitted my secondary in October. My interview was in April for a waitlist spot only. But yes a few extra MCAT points would help.

 

[Tall Tyrion Lannister]

A DO LOR is required at 10 DO schools with another 6 where it is strongly preferred over a MD.

Yea one of my interviewers told me it goes a long way to have a DO letter because it shows interest in the field. But obviously a lot of schools you can still get in without it.

 

[Tall Tyrion Lannister]

You'd squeak in for sure at newer schools - ICOM, Touro in Utah, ARCOM...

I think ICOM and ARCOM had a 3.2 cGPA minimum, unfortunately. Yea it is hard to overcome a poor uGPA but I got a lot of positive feedback from my interviewers about how I turned things around so I still feel encouraged.

 

[Tall Tyrion Lannister]

I think if the DO school average MCAT is 502. There is no need for you to re-take the MCAT unless you are sure your re-take will result a higher grade. Getting a LOR is require for most DO school.

basically same question I asked sgtbuzzkill... Do you think having a DO letter, applying way earlier, plus a few extra ECs and those slight GPA bumps will be enough to push me over the line? Last cycle I submitted my secondary in October. My interview was for a waitlist spot only.

 

[Cardboard101]

How many units was your post-bacc?

 

[Tall Tyrion Lannister]

How many units was your post-bacc?

30

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[Tall Tyrion Lannister]

How many units was your post-bacc?

I also had a few extras (18) diy credits outside of the official postbac I took. It was at a school that has a med school but it was not officially associated with the med school. The certificate post-bac GPA was 3.81

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[Magus5454]

I think ICOM and ARCOM had a 3.2 cGPA minimum, unfortunately. Yea it is hard to overcome a poor uGPA but I got a lot of positive feedback from my interviewers about how I turned things around so I still feel encouraged.

ARCOM doesn't have a set GPA or MCAT cut off. And ICOM maybe more strict next year, but this year I know people got an interview with a < 3.2. I would say its different for people with an exemplary post bacc as well.

 

[Cardboard101]

Retake the MCAT if you think you can get a significantly higher score, get a DO LOR and apply.
It's up to you if you want to wait another year and try MD.