DO School Deposits

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RespectTheChemistry

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I have been so focused on getting into medical school that I didn't consider until now how expensive DO school deposits are. I realized that is a potential hole in my budget calculations.

I have heard through the SDN grapevine of DO school deposits being in the thousands of dollars. I foresee affording that being a problem in the event that I get accepted.

How long do they give you to pay to hold your seat? If it's 3 weeks, that would be a huge problem. If it's 3 months, that might be okay.

Thanks!

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earlier in the cycle, I believe a month? At this point, a couple weeks
My deposit for TUNCOM was $2000. Some of the for profit schools like BCOM or Noorda have a $3000 deposit, I believe
 
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earlier in the cycle, I believe a month? At this point, a couple weeks
My deposit for TUNCOM was $2000. Some of the for profit schools like BCOM or Noorda have a $3000 deposit, I believe
BCOM's deposit is $2000 as well!
 
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I have been so focused on getting into medical school that I didn't consider until now how expensive DO school deposits are. I realized that is a potential hole in my budget calculations.

I have heard through the SDN grapevine of DO school deposits being in the thousands of dollars. I foresee affording that being a problem in the event that I get accepted.

How long do they give you to pay to hold your seat? If it's 3 weeks, that would be a huge problem. If it's 3 months, that might be okay.

Thanks!
It all depends on when you get accepted and it depends on the school. Below are the general guidelines
  • Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14.
  • Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days.
  • Those accepted between January 15 and May 14 will have 14 days.
  • Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit.
  • After May 15 of the year of matriculation, each medical college may implement college-specific procedures for accepted students who hold one or more seats at other medical colleges.
List of schools that follows these guidelines
 
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It all depends on when you get accepted and it depends on the school. Below are the general guidelines
  • Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14.
  • Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days.
  • Those accepted between January 15 and May 14 will have 14 days.
  • Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit.
  • After May 15 of the year of matriculation, each medical college may implement college-specific procedures for accepted students who hold one or more seats at other medical colleges.
List of schools that follows these guidelines

Thank you so much!
 
CUSOM was $1,500. Most others I had the chance to put in for were $2,000.

I would just start saving early and assume it will cost $3,000. If you HAVE to you can consider a personal loan. This isn't ideal however its better than not getting into medical school.
 
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It’s just a part of the whole money-guzzling scheme. Just find a way to take out the money if you need it. I ended up paying three deposits because of the order I got accepted - my #3, then my #2, then my #1... more than 3 weeks apart each, so well past the deadline for the previous one. It just happens like that sometimes.

If you have a choice, try to schedule your interviews for your top choices early and push back lower choices, so you have a chance to hear back from your #1 fastest. Obviously this is easier said than done if each place only gives you a limited window to select interview dates from, and some schools drag their feet while some give you A/R the next week, so the order of the interviews themselves might not mean anything.
 
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Lecom is $1500 and LMU-DCOM in Tennessee is $1250, which is one of the lowest deposits I believe. At least the deposit is put towards the tuition at whichever school you end up attending.
 
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I have been so focused on getting into medical school that I didn't consider until now how expensive DO school deposits are. I realized that is a potential hole in my budget calculations.

I have heard through the SDN grapevine of DO school deposits being in the thousands of dollars. I foresee affording that being a problem in the event that I get accepted.

How long do they give you to pay to hold your seat? If it's 3 weeks, that would be a huge problem. If it's 3 months, that might be okay.

Thanks!
Mine was $2000 and I had two weeks.
 
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It sucks but honestly they have to do it, otherwise people would hold seats all over the place just for some weird sense of ego or security and leave others (and the schools) scrambling at the last minute to play musical chairs. From what I can tell DO schools seem to take "first shift" and fill a good portion of their classes in the fall/winter semester, while more of the MD A's seem to happen in the Spring. This is why DO schools that accept you before December want that $$ before December. It's a racket, but what isn't anymore? I paid $10 for a bag of f*cking apples the other day.
 
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LUCOM is $2,000 while PCOM-GA is only $750. It varies from school to school but at least they are towards our tuition.
 
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It sucks but honestly they have to do it, otherwise people would hold seats all over the place just for some weird sense of ego or security and leave others (and the schools) scrambling at the last minute to play musical chairs. From what I can tell DO schools seem to take "first shift" and fill a good portion of their classes in the fall/winter semester, while more of the MD A's seem to happen in the Spring. This is why DO schools that accept you before December want that $$ before December. It's a racket, but what isn't anymore? I paid $10 for a bag of f*cking apples the other day.
Do you have PTE and CTE dates like MD schools?
 
It sucks but honestly they have to do it, otherwise people would hold seats all over the place just for some weird sense of ego or security and leave others (and the schools) scrambling at the last minute to play musical chairs. From what I can tell DO schools seem to take "first shift" and fill a good portion of their classes in the fall/winter semester, while more of the MD A's seem to happen in the Spring. This is why DO schools that accept you before December want that $$ before December. It's a racket, but what isn't anymore? I paid $10 for a bag of f*cking apples the other day.

This is hilarious and so true. I get why they do it, but it is ironic that it ends up self-selecting for applicants and families that do have a couple of grand laying around, whereas others like OP has to sweat out the biggest accomplishment of his/her life.

But yeah, do what one has to do if you get that golden ticket to a US school. Personal loans, credit card maxing, fundraising, you name it. Physicians end up making six figures in the end so it might be ramen for a hot second, but if you love the field it will be good to you in the long run.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors
 
It’s just a part of the whole money-guzzling scheme. Just find a way to take out the money if you need it. I ended up paying three deposits because of the order I got accepted - my #3, then my #2, then my #1... more than 3 weeks apart each, so well past the deadline for the previous one. It just happens like that sometimes.

If you have a choice, try to schedule your interviews for your top choices early and push back lower choices, so you have a chance to hear back from your #1 fastest. Obviously this is easier said than done if each place only gives you a limited window to select interview dates from, and some schools drag their feet while some give you A/R the next week, so the order of the interviews themselves might not mean anything.
OMG this is so helpful. I just found out about these DO policies after getting my first II invite, and wish I'd stumbled into this forum before--SMH. To make it worse, I'm a TX applicant, and if I don't pre-match fall semester, i don't find out until our Match Day isn't until February. SMH. I feel like I wasted so much time and money trying to submit ASAP just to end up with this.
 
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OMG this is so helpful. I just found out about these DO policies after getting my first II invite, and wish I'd stumbled into this forum before--SMH. To make it worse, I'm a TX applicant, and if I don't pre-match fall semester, i don't find out until our Match Day isn't until February. SMH. I feel like I wasted so much time and money trying to submit ASAP just to end up with this.
You'll make it back as an attending.

If you had peruse the admissions website of the University's you're applying to, you would have found this information on deposits.
 
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You'll make it back as an attending.

If you had peruse the admissions website of the University's you're applying to, you would have found this information on deposits.
Yeah, no, it's definitely my fault for not looking more into AACOMAS policies beforehand. Looking now, it's literally on the school websites with a little cute tab of its own. That rant was ALL for me. But, I'm certainly glad to know about it late than never.
Anyhoots, no use dwelling. Loopdey-doo, back to secondaries.
 
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It all depends on when you get accepted and it depends on the school. Below are the general guidelines
  • Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14.
  • Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days.
  • Those accepted between January 15 and May 14 will have 14 days.
  • Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit.
  • After May 15 of the year of matriculation, each medical college may implement college-specific procedures for accepted students who hold one or more seats at other medical colleges.
List of schools that follows these guidelines
So, it sounds like DO schools just ignore these guidelines? And ask for the deposit well before Dec 14? Has anyone been successful pushing back on this? I guess they know that you'll just pay because getting that early acceptance takes so much pressure off.
 
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So, it sounds like DO schools just ignore these guidelines? And ask for the deposit well before Dec 14? Has anyone been successful pushing back on this? I guess they know that you'll just pay because getting that early acceptance takes so much pressure off.
Please let us know if these guidelines are not being adhered to.
 
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