DO: Too late to apply?

[Bodiddly Bop]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone! I seek advice!
I have been applying to allopathic medical schools for the past 2-3 months -- doing well, have interviews, etc. Since applying I have gradually become more interested in osteopathic medicine, and am now sure that I would prefer it to the allopathic route. My question is -- is it too late for this admissions year??
I know that I haven't missed any deadlines, but I have learned from my MD applications that rolling admissions is extremely harsh on late applicants.
My first choice school is PCOM philly campus. I also am interested in applying to CCOM, UMDNJ, and Western (pomona). Anyone heard of someone applying this late in the past and getting into these schools?
If you are somebody well versed in the admissions process of osteopathic schools, I would really appreciate some advice!
Here is a brief summary of stats --
UC Berkeley GPA 3.6
MCAT 33P
EC: 4 years of work in health field; medical assistant, counselor for kids with chronic illnesses, medical attendant, PT aide, etc. Some volunteer stuff but not much
Note: I have no letter from a DO, and no experience shadowing a DO, but I do have 2 MD letters. How important is the DO letter?

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

 

[MSSM2013]

why would you go DO when it's more expensive than your state school?

 

[Jayscin]

Hello everyone! I seek advice!
I have been applying to allopathic medical schools for the past 2-3 months -- doing well, have interviews, etc. Since applying I have gradually become more interested in osteopathic medicine, and am now sure that I would prefer it to the allopathic route. My question is -- is it too late for this admissions year??
I know that I haven't missed any deadlines, but I have learned from my MD applications that rolling admissions is extremely harsh on late applicants.
My first choice school is PCOM philly campus. I also am interested in applying to CCOM, UMDNJ, and Western (pomona). Anyone heard of someone applying this late in the past and getting into these schools?
If you are somebody well versed in the admissions process of osteopathic schools, I would really appreciate some advice!
Here is a brief summary of stats --
UC Berkeley GPA 3.6
MCAT 33P
EC: 4 years of work in health field; medical assistant, counselor for kids with chronic illnesses, medical attendant, PT aide, etc. Some volunteer stuff but not much
Note: I have no letter from a DO, and no experience shadowing a DO, but I do have 2 MD letters. How important is the DO letter?

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

I say go for it! You have plenty of time. Just make sure to pay attention to the deadlines for the secondary applications. Keep in mind that it's taking about 8-10 weeks for AACOMAS to verify applications.

Good luck!

 

[lastcall]

OP, it's kind of late but not too late... as someone mentioned, it takes approx. 8-10 weeks for Aacomas to verify your primary application. So, send in your app to Aacomas ASAP.
Look at the secondary questions for the schools you are particularly interested in and start writing out your essays for those schools if you haven't already done so. Also have all your LORs ready to go.
Best of luck to you

 

[redrok]

You should be able to use everything from your AMCAS app to apply with some minor changes to make things like the personal statement more toward osteopathic medicine.

Also, if I were you, I would find a D.O. to shadow somewhere, even if only for 5-10 hours (better with even more though), but at least that way you have some real experiences with osteopathic medicine.

I would do this immediately and list it on the AACOMAS app as something you are currently involved in under your extra curricular activities and describe who you will be working with, where at, and anything else you feel you can list if you are able to get in even a few hours before submitting (you will not be able to wait too long as you shadow as you really need to get AACOMAS on the verification as it is taking a long time lately).

Since you don't have to submit letters until you secondary apps, you should be able to get one from whoever you shadow and there should be plenty of time (I would inform him/her you want one when you start).

Some might not say this is important as you have definitely shadowed an M.D., but nearly all your interviews will involve some questions concerning your feelings about osteopathic medicine and you have a stronger interview if you can tell about experiences. In my interview probably 90% of my questions were specifically about osteopathic medicine as opposed to just medicine in general and I was lucky enough to have some great experiences to share.

I really don't think it is too late for you at all (because you have good stats and EC's, but I think you may want to apply to 5 or so schools - just to be sure.

 

[salazaar]

yeah dude, go for it.

 

[Bodiddly Bop]

You should be able to use everything from your AMCAS app to apply with some minor changes to make things like the personal statement more toward osteopathic medicine.

Also, if I were you, I would find a D.O. to shadow somewhere, even if only for 5-10 hours (better with even more though), but at least that way you have some real experiences with osteopathic medicine.

I would do this immediately and list it on the AACOMAS app as something you are currently involved in under your extra curricular activities and describe who you will be working with, where at, and anything else you feel you can list if you are able to get in even a few hours before submitting (you will not be able to wait too long as you shadow as you really need to get AACOMAS on the verification as it is taking a long time lately).

Since you don't have to submit letters until you secondary apps, you should be able to get one from whoever you shadow and there should be plenty of time (I would inform him/her you want one when you start).

Some might not say this is important as you have definitely shadowed an M.D., but nearly all your interviews will involve some questions concerning your feelings about osteopathic medicine and you have a stronger interview if you can tell about experiences. In my interview probably 90% of my questions were specifically about osteopathic medicine as opposed to just medicine in general and I was lucky enough to have some great experiences to share.

I really don't think it is too late for you at all (because you have good stats and EC's, but I think you may want to apply to 5 or so schools - just to be sure.

Thank you for the advice, I am trying to contact some D.O.s now. Know of any good schools that are particularly lenient to late applications?

 

[redrok]

Sorry, I don't know if there are any schools like that, but what I do know is that nearly all (if not all) D.O. schools are on rolling admissions, so if you got a list of schools together that you really like, you could probably contact each of those schools and ask them where they are as far as seats remaining for the cycle.

I think that is about the best you could do to find out what your chances are to some degree. I do know that there is a brand new D.O. school (WCU-COM) that was just listed in AACOMAS a few weeks ago, so you might have a really good shot there as you would actually be pretty early in their application cycle unlike most schools that started accepting applications months ago. Depending on how serious you are about going the osteopathic route, I would apply there in your situation (even as a backup option). But then again, I'm not bothered by the new school thing and provisional accreditation. You will want to research this of course and make that choice on your own.

 

[da Vincis World]

Go to whatever school you get into...in the end you will be a physician.