Feeling defeated

[heyyyla]

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Posted this on Reddit, but I thought I’d get SDNs 2 cents too: Hey all, feeling a bit frustrated and needing some honest feedback. I submitted in Sept, and my apps were officially “complete” in October when I got my MCAT score back (512), and since then, it has been radio silence except for DUQCOM (waitlisted after II) and OCOM (II invite, rescinded app). I had my PS reviewed my multiple MDs and DOs, cGPA 3.57 (upward trend) sGPA 3.7, 500+h as trauma ED scribe, 200+ volunteer hours, research in 2 fields spanning 3 years, and a unique story. I am completely confused, and starting to feel like it’s not going to happen for me this cycle. My top choice is PCOM Philly, (Philly ties (born there, parent lives there) attended virtual webinars and in-person tour) but I also applied to UNECOM, Edward Via (no secondary), Campbell, WVUCOM, Rowan (I know instate bias, I got a LOR from a Rowan DO alum), and NYITCOM. It has been radio silence from ALL of these schools regarding IIs. Am I cooked? Should I call schools? Emails them? Should I prep to reapply?

 

[jmag2013]

For Edward Via, when you say no secondary do you mean you didn’t receive one or didn’t complete one?

Also have you looked at UNC COM? New school but public! They just opened apps in December

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously

H

Thread 'WAMC, late(?) applicant (512, 3.6 cGPA)'

Oct 29, 2025

Hello all, I just graduated from undergrad with a BS in forensic biochemistry, I was originally intending on taking a full gap year, due to my MCAT being in mid September of this year, but decided due to family/financial reasons to bite the bullet and apply this year: I only applied DO, my top choices are PCOM (I have a parent in philly, and spent alot of time in philly growing up), NYITCOM (I have family in NY), or Rowan.
I'm mainly concerned that since I took my MCAT in september, I got my score back in October. Thus my apps were completed in october (late). So i'm putting my neck out to...

• heyyyla
• Replies: 2
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

I'm unclear with your II's. Did you go to those 2 interviews?

 

[wysdoc]

According to your past posts, you turned down your interview invitation to OCOM. Why?
Calling and emailing schools is not a good plan for you, going to all interviews you are invited to would be more wise.

 

[heyyyla]

According to your past posts, you turned down your interview invitation to OCOM. Why?
Calling and emailing schools is not a good plan for you, going to all interviews you are invited to would be more wise.

I went to the DUQCOM interview (I was waitlisted after the interview) but did not attend the OCOM interview after looking into the school and realizing they didn’t have a cadaver lab, are having some issues, and have a very high cost of attendance. I think I should have gone, but I can’t change that now.

 

[heyyyla]

Previously

H

Thread 'WAMC, late(?) applicant (512, 3.6 cGPA)'

Oct 29, 2025

Hello all, I just graduated from undergrad with a BS in forensic biochemistry, I was originally intending on taking a full gap year, due to my MCAT being in mid September of this year, but decided due to family/financial reasons to bite the bullet and apply this year: I only applied DO, my top choices are PCOM (I have a parent in philly, and spent alot of time in philly growing up), NYITCOM (I have family in NY), or Rowan.
I'm mainly concerned that since I took my MCAT in september, I got my score back in October. Thus my apps were completed in october (late). So i'm putting my neck out to...

• heyyyla
• Replies: 2
• Forum: What Are My Chances? WAMC Medical

I'm unclear with your II's. Did you go to those 2 interviews?

I went to the DUQCOM interview. Waitlisted after interview.

 

[heyyyla]

For Edward Via, when you say no secondary do you mean you didn’t receive one or didn’t complete one?

Also have you looked at UNC COM? New school but public! They just opened apps in December

I’m hesitant to apply to new DO schools when I am fairly confident that if I apply next cycle I could get into my top choices, I’m just wondering where I went wrong with this cycle to be hearing radio silence from these schools

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I went to the DUQCOM interview. Waitlisted after interview.

If this WL turned to an A, would you go?

What happened with OCOM?

 

[heyyyla]

If this WL turned to an A, would you go?

What happened with OCOM?

Absolutely, I really liked the school, and the faculty was really lovely.
I declined my OCOM interview due to them not having a cadaver lab (dealbreaker for me, aiming for forensic path), and having a high cost of attendance for not having a real cadaver lab.

 

[Goro]

If you have to reapply next year, you definitely need to have more schools on your list your application is competitive for my school, for one.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Absolutely, I really liked the school, and the faculty was really lovely.
I declined my OCOM interview due to them not having a cadaver lab (dealbreaker for me, aiming for forensic path), and having a high cost of attendance for not having a real cadaver lab.

Don’t get choosy until you have choices.

 

[heyyyla]

Don’t get choosy until you have choices.

Understood, but I'm still confused as to how my application has gotten attention from only OCOM and DUQCOM... what do I need to do to avoid this next cycle if I need to reapply?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Understood, but I'm still confused as to how my application has gotten attention from only OCOM and DUQCOM... what do I need to do to avoid this next cycle if I need to reapply?

So let me take another tact, as we talking about DO schools. How have you updated PCOM (your top and preferred geographic choice) or Rowan DO (geographic proximity) this cycle?

 

[heyyyla]

So let me take another tack, as we talking about DO schools. How have you updated PCOM (your top and preferred geographic choice) or Rowan DO (geographic proximity) this cycle?

Yes I have. I just sent letters of interest with updates last week to all schools I applied to

 

[MeningiomaAndCoffee]

Absolutely, I really liked the school, and the faculty was really lovely.
I declined my OCOM interview due to them not having a cadaver lab (dealbreaker for me, aiming for forensic path), and having a high cost of attendance for not having a real cadaver lab.

I don't think a cadaver lab is necessary for forensics pathology.

I'm a pathology resident on autopsy rotation right now and having done 17 autopsies over the past month, you can learn autopsy without all the unnecessary nitty grity knowledge from cadavers. Also, the cadavers are formalin fixed and autopsies are fresh so the tactile feel is totally different.

The other difference is that autopsy is a complete opposite focus to med school cadaver education. Cadaver education focuses on everything except the internal organs. And autopsy is everything about the internal organs with very little about the non-organ stuff.

Having a cadaver lab is a bonus, but between not getting into any med school vs. not having a cadver lab....the correct decision should be pretty easy.

It's late this cycle. Next cycle, apply to more schools and don't limit yourself at this stage on any program.

 

[heyyyla]

I don't think a cadaver lab is necessary for forensics pathology.

I'm a pathology resident on autopsy rotation right now and having done 17 autopsies over the past month, you can learn autopsy without all the unnecessary nitty grity knowledge from cadavers. Also, the cadavers are formalin fixed and autopsies are fresh so the tactile feel is totally different.

The other difference is that autopsy is a complete opposite focus to med school cadaver education. Cadaver education focuses on everything except the internal organs. And autopsy is everything about the internal organs with very little about the non-organ stuff.

Having a cadaver lab is a bonus, but between not getting into any med school vs. not having a cadver lab....the correct decision should be pretty easy.

It's late this cycle. Next cycle, apply to more schools and don't limit yourself at this stage on any program.

Thanks for the heads up 🙂

 

[Goro]

Understood, but I'm still confused as to how my application has gotten attention from only OCOM and DUQCOM... what do I need to do to avoid this next cycle if I need to reapply?

Bad LOR?
Do you have any IAs?

 

[heyyyla]

Bad LOR?
Do you have any IAs?

Definitely no IAs! I only asked for LORs from profs/docs I know very well, I would be genuinely floored if one of them wrote me a poor LOR

 

[MeningiomaAndCoffee]

How many DO schools did you apply to?
Ultimately, it's a numbers game. There's thousands of applicants for so few positions.
For example, my cycle, I had a 3.9X gpa, 508 mcat, 10+ publications and got 3 interviews at new schools only. And applied to 35 programs. And its only gotten more competitive since then. We're currently in situation where you may not get many interviews even if you have a decent app.

I recommend you don't hold back at all and include ALL the schools, even the ones you think doesn't fit you. Check the ego.
Even when you're applying for residency some years later, check the ego. I ranked #14 on ROL and glad I interviewed at the whole range of programs from high tier to low tier. If you applied to only those 9 programs, then statistically your odds are not good.

 

[heyyyla]

How many DO schools did you apply to?
Ultimately, it's a numbers game. There's thousands of applicants for so few positions.
For example, my cycle, I had a 3.9X gpa, 508 mcat, 10+ publications and got 3 interviews at new schools only. And applied to 35 programs. And its only gotten more competitive since then. We're currently in situation where you may not get many interviews even if you have a decent app.

I recommend you don't hold back at all and include ALL the schools, even the ones you think doesn't fit you. Check the ego.
Even when you're applying for residency some years later, check the ego. I ranked #14 on ROL and glad I interviewed at the whole range of programs from high tier to low tier. If you applied to only those 9 programs, then statistically your odds are not good.

I think you commented on my reddit post! I applied to 8 schools, I applied so narrowly because I knew my app was going to be late, and I originally intended on doing a complete gap year and applying for the 2027 cycle. After getting my MCAT score back, and with the new loan stuff with OBBB, I decided to apply to a few schools to see what happens. I realize now that I need to apply broader if I need to reapply next cycle!