Early Assurance Programs

[takishi]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Had trouble finding any applicable threads to post this on....

I am currently a sophomore and am looking into applying early assurance in the upcoming months. No MCAT required, however most E.C.s should have been started in the first couple years of undergrad. The school I am looking into applying to is A.T. Still KCOM. However, I am not to keen on going to a D.O. school. I feel like I have good enough stats to be competitive for traditional application cycle, however standardized tests have not been my strong point, which worries me. Acceptance into the program is binding (although, there is still the option of dropping out in order to apply to other schools).

I am sitting am currently at a 3.85 cGPA and a 3.8 sGPA, in biophysics. About 700+ hrs of patient exposure, 60+ hrs of physician shadowing, a lot international experience, did some humanitarian work in South East Asia, going back to volunteer in China for semester to teach English next year. Currently work in a research lab, with a publication coming up in the next semester. Probably will take the MCAT after 2015, if I do end up taking it.

I am mainly applying as a back up plan just in case I bomb the MCAT. Or I could just focus on getting into the program and not have to worry about taking the MCAT. Not sure whether or not to just go for this or to just suck it up and go through the normal MD application process.

Looking for insight...

 

[BABSstudent]

Had trouble finding any applicable threads to post this on....

I am currently a sophomore and am looking into applying early assurance in the upcoming months. No MCAT required, however most E.C.s should have been started in the first couple years of undergrad. The school I am looking into applying to is A.T. Still KCOM. However, I am not to keen on going to a D.O. school. I feel like I have good enough stats to be competitive for traditional application cycle, however standardized tests have not been my strong point, which worries me. Acceptance into the program is binding (although, there is still the option of dropping out in order to apply to other schools).

I am sitting am currently at a 3.85 cGPA and a 3.8 sGPA, in biophysics. About 700+ hrs of patient exposure, 60+ hrs of physician shadowing, a lot international experience, did some humanitarian work in South East Asia, going back to volunteer in China for semester to teach English next year. Currently work in a research lab, with a publication coming up in the next semester. Probably will take the MCAT after 2015, if I do end up taking it.

I am mainly applying as a back up plan just in case I bomb the MCAT. Or I could just focus on getting into the program and not have to worry about taking the MCAT. Not sure whether or not to just go for this or to just suck it up and go through the normal MD application process.

Looking for insight...

You seem to have answered your own question with this "I am not to keen on going to a D.O. school. "

The process sucks, but it is entirely doable if you really want to be a physician. I say continue doing what you are doing, prepare well for the MCAT, apply early/realistically and you will probably get in somewhere.

 

[NickNaylor]

I am mainly applying as a back up plan just in case I bomb the MCAT. Or I could just focus on getting into the program and not have to worry about taking the MCAT. Not sure whether or not to just go for this or to just suck it up and go through the normal MD application process.

These are some of the exact reasons why you should NOT apply to early acceptance programs, especially if they are binding. These programs are designed for people that have very compelling reasons for attending a particular school. They are not designed to strictly be bypasses for the typical process.

You sound like you're heading in the right direction with respect to applying through the regular cycle. You have interesting ECs and are doing well in your courses. Personally I would not make a binding commitment to a DO school (ESPECIALLY when you say you're not even committed to the DO track) over fear of something which you have not even begun dealing with yet, but maybe I'm crazy.

 

[DokterMom]

How 'bomb' are you talking about in terms of MCAT scores? Your GPA and ECs are excellent and it sounds like you view this as a 'cop out' option --
At least give the MCAT a try. Prep for it using the SDN- recommended methods and time frames. Take the practice tests. If you can figure out why you don't score well on standardized tests, you've got the opportunity to change that. (Anxiety? Over-interpreting the questions? Time management?) Might be worth looking into...

If your score is marginal, DO programs are still a possibility then. If your score is slightly better, you've still got a chance at MD.

Don't choose a path that you consider to be a cop out. You'll regret it