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I have been reading some questions about why DO schools are easy to get in--and how you can have lower stats and get in etc.. and I sense a general culture regarding DO schools as being "easy", terms like "Fallback" etc are often used as well.
Well...a couple of points I think are worth mentioning>>>
1. Just because someones numerical scores aren't as high as someone elses, does not lower their stats! Stay with me here and read on to hear my reasoning.....DO schools understand its not necessary to get a 40 on the MCAT to survive the rigors of medical school. Those inflated numbers are a result of ever growing applicant pools and a necessary function of supply. However, I challenge some of those 40 MCAT scorers to be able to list on their applications some of the very UNIQUE experiences and other qualities that make a DO candidate successful. Those are stats that you just can't measure using standardized tools.
2. Having been through the process, been on some interviews and have some acceptances, I can assure anyone that DO schools certainly are not "EASY" to get into. This has been the most trying and draining process I have ever been through. Its literally exhausting and I look forward to ending it soon (pending an acceptance from my 1st. choice school). In addition, during the interviews we learn a lot about the curriculum and again, most of the current DO candidates I have talked to at the schools make it very clear that osteopathic medical school is extremely demanding and rigorous (as it is essentially identical to allopathic) however it even has an added component that allopathic students dont get--OMM.
So while in relative terms the DO schools might accept a larger % of students with lower MCAT scores (realizing that a score of 25+ usually indicates some level of academic ability) The DO schools average GPA are pretty much the same as most MD programs (except for the upper tier MD programs)
So the successful DO applicant in my opinion is CERTAINLY capable of completing an allopathic program;however, as a function of economics (supply) was not able to secure a position there because MD programs must use some criteria as to who they will grant acceptances to. I should also add as a caveat that there are MANY (probably the slight majority) of DO applicants who do NOT regard DO as an back-up option to an allopathic school---I for one have received an interview invitation to an allopathic program, but the school is geographically unfavorable and doesnt have residency programs where I would like to practice. My choice is to attend a DO school is based on the fact that I would like a U.S. medical education and ultimately practice in California. In addition, I have read about many applicants on this forum who have stellar numbers and chose DO programs for their own personal philosophies about medicine and the delivery of healthcare.
anyways....my rant is done. Good Luck to all of this years current cycle applicants (except that guy that wants to make sure all the CCOM students have high "stats" so that he can jack his ego off)😍
Well...a couple of points I think are worth mentioning>>>
1. Just because someones numerical scores aren't as high as someone elses, does not lower their stats! Stay with me here and read on to hear my reasoning.....DO schools understand its not necessary to get a 40 on the MCAT to survive the rigors of medical school. Those inflated numbers are a result of ever growing applicant pools and a necessary function of supply. However, I challenge some of those 40 MCAT scorers to be able to list on their applications some of the very UNIQUE experiences and other qualities that make a DO candidate successful. Those are stats that you just can't measure using standardized tools.
2. Having been through the process, been on some interviews and have some acceptances, I can assure anyone that DO schools certainly are not "EASY" to get into. This has been the most trying and draining process I have ever been through. Its literally exhausting and I look forward to ending it soon (pending an acceptance from my 1st. choice school). In addition, during the interviews we learn a lot about the curriculum and again, most of the current DO candidates I have talked to at the schools make it very clear that osteopathic medical school is extremely demanding and rigorous (as it is essentially identical to allopathic) however it even has an added component that allopathic students dont get--OMM.
So while in relative terms the DO schools might accept a larger % of students with lower MCAT scores (realizing that a score of 25+ usually indicates some level of academic ability) The DO schools average GPA are pretty much the same as most MD programs (except for the upper tier MD programs)
So the successful DO applicant in my opinion is CERTAINLY capable of completing an allopathic program;however, as a function of economics (supply) was not able to secure a position there because MD programs must use some criteria as to who they will grant acceptances to. I should also add as a caveat that there are MANY (probably the slight majority) of DO applicants who do NOT regard DO as an back-up option to an allopathic school---I for one have received an interview invitation to an allopathic program, but the school is geographically unfavorable and doesnt have residency programs where I would like to practice. My choice is to attend a DO school is based on the fact that I would like a U.S. medical education and ultimately practice in California. In addition, I have read about many applicants on this forum who have stellar numbers and chose DO programs for their own personal philosophies about medicine and the delivery of healthcare.
anyways....my rant is done. Good Luck to all of this years current cycle applicants (except that guy that wants to make sure all the CCOM students have high "stats" so that he can jack his ego off)😍