Go DO or try another cycle?

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bshap000

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Hi,

So I was recently admitted to a DO school (TUNCOM) and put down my deposit, but given that this is my first cycle and this is straight out of college, I can't help thinking I should do an SMP to fix my GPA and give allo another shot. Now, my gut feeling is to just take it and not look back, but I wanted some input.

I have not gotten any MD interviews as of yet, nor have I heard anything from PCOM, which I would take in a heartbeat.

Assuming the cycle continues without any changes, what do you all think I should do?

For reference:
cGPA: 3.38
sGPA: 3.23
MCAT: 33 (9,10,14) - this will have expired and need to be retaken which is the main reason I'm leaning towards just going DO
 
whatever5 said:
I would just go DO. If you don't accept it now, you won't be able to use DO schools as a backup anymore and that's a pretty big risk.
Click to expand...

That is a good point. It wouldn't affect allo apps but for osteo apps I'd have to explain why I turned down an acceptance which would be lethal.
That actually makes my decision much easier, so thank you
 
Take the DO acceptance, dont look back.

An SMP would require you to beat out a good 60+% or so roughly of MS1, a class average which will probably have the same MCAT as you except these MS1s will have gotten on average a 3.8 in college, not a 3.3. And you have to beat out hte majority of them. And these MS1s will be studying way way way more in med school than they did in undergrad when with so much less effort they got a 3.8.

And what happens if you don't do that great in an SMP? It's probably over for you then especially considering you will have turned down a DO acceptance already.

Look at it like this........you are a good SMP candidate. You would have a shot at Georgetown Tufts or Cincinnati.......let's say you by chance get into one of them. Cincinnati on average has 32 SMP students a year. About 22-24 of them finish the program and end up at MD programs. Georgetown......there is no official number of how many of their grads get into US MD programs but my guess is probably around 60% of the people who start the SMP will end up with an MD acceptance within 2 years. My guess is Tufts has a similar statistics; 60% of the people who start will get into a US MD program.

Those odds are ok if you can use DO as a backup. Having already turned down a DO acceptance in this case, it will be very difficult for you to get another DO acceptance. And this says nothing about how if you do an SMP next year you are likely looking at starting med school 2 years later than you would if you took the DO acceptance. While I'm not big on the idea of "Don't delay it you are going to lose so much attending salary" there are many for whom this is important is worth consideration.

All in all, while there certainly are disadvantages DO's face, in your shoes there is no way I would turn down a DO acceptance to indulge in such a big risk like what you are proposing.
 
GrapesofRath said:
Take the DO acceptance, dont look back.

An SMP would require you to beat out a good 60+% or so roughly of MS1, a class average which will probably have the same MCAT as you except these MS1s will have gotten on average a 3.8 in college, not a 3.3. And you have to beat out hte majority of them. And these MS1s will be studying way way way more in med school than they did in undergrad when with so much less effort they got a 3.8.

And what happens if you don't do that great in an SMP? It's probably over for you then especially considering you will have turned down a DO acceptance already.

Look at it like this........you are a good SMP candidate. You would have a shot at Georgetown Tufts or Cincinnati.......let's say you by chance get into one of them. Cincinnati on average has 32 SMP students a year. About 22-24 of them finish the program and end up at MD programs. Georgetown......there is no official number of how many of their grads get into US MD programs but my guess is probably around 60% of the people who start the SMP will end up with an MD acceptance within 2 years. My guess is Tufts has a similar statistics; 60% of the people who start will get into a US MD program.

Those odds are ok if you can use DO as a backup. Having already turned down a DO acceptance in this case, it will be very difficult for you to get another DO acceptance. And this says nothing about how if you do an SMP next year you are likely looking at starting med school 2 years later than you would if you took the DO acceptance. While I'm not big on the idea of "Don't delay it you are going to lose so much attending salary" there are many for whom this is important is worth consideration.

All in all, while there certainly are disadvantages DO's face, in your shoes there is no way I would turn down a DO acceptance to indulge in such a big risk like what you are proposing.
Click to expand...

This has pretty much been how I've been thinking, that the risk of doing the SMP and reapplying far far outweighs the disadvantage of being a DO in the match.
I just wanted confirmation I'm making the right choice 😛
 
Don't do SMP!
I'm sure you can get one MD!
Stick with DO if not!
 
Well, how fast do you want to be a doctor?

If you want that MD degree, it will take you two more years.

Is it worthwhile? You tell me.

bshap000 said:
Hi,

So I was recently admitted to a DO school (TUNCOM) and put down my deposit, but given that this is my first cycle and this is straight out of college, I can't help thinking I should do an SMP to fix my GPA and give allo another shot. Now, my gut feeling is to just take it and not look back, but I wanted some input.

I have not gotten any MD interviews as of yet, nor have I heard anything from PCOM, which I would take in a heartbeat.

Assuming the cycle continues without any changes, what do you all think I should do?

For reference:
cGPA: 3.38
sGPA: 3.23
MCAT: 33 (9,10,14) - this will have expired and need to be retaken which is the main reason I'm leaning towards just going DO
Click to expand...
bshap000 said:
Hi,

So I was recently admitted to a DO school (TUNCOM) and put down my deposit, but given that this is my first cycle and this is straight out of college, I can't help thinking I should do an SMP to fix my GPA and give allo another shot. Now, my gut feeling is to just take it and not look back, but I wanted some input.

I have not gotten any MD interviews as of yet, nor have I heard anything from PCOM, which I would take in a heartbeat.

Assuming the cycle continues without any changes, what do you all think I should do?

For reference:
cGPA: 3.38
sGPA: 3.23
MCAT: 33 (9,10,14) - this will have expired and need to be retaken which is the main reason I'm leaning towards just going DO
Click to expand...
 
I would take the DO acceptance, unless you cannot see yourself going DO. Do you see research being a big component of your future?

Personally, I would not think it worthwhile to go through this entire process again
 
Take the DO. Silly to retake the MCAT and have to apply again. You have an acceptance. Go.
 
Goro said:
Well, how fast do you want to be a doctor?

If you want that MD degree, it will take you two more years.

Is it worthwhile? You tell me.
Click to expand...

To me, speed is not the issue, I'm a senior in college now, so I'm below the average matriculate age as it is.

The bigger concern to me is the risk of it blowing up in my face as there would be so many things that could go poorly (SMP, MCAT, cycle in general) and as posters above said, DO would not really be an option anymore.

I don't really care about the title or prestige, the sticking point for me is that no one seems sure how the AOA-ACGME merger will play out and affect DOs in the match


foxm1 said:
I would take the DO acceptance, unless you cannot see yourself going DO. Do you see research being a big component of your future?

Personally, I would not think it worthwhile to go through this entire process again
Click to expand...

I actually do want to do research, but secondary to clinical work, not in lieu of it. I would assume that being a DO wouldn't preclude me from doing so?
 
bshap000 said:
I actually do want to do research, but secondary to clinical work, not in lieu of it. I would assume that being a DO wouldn't preclude me from doing so?
Click to expand...

You would absolutely still be able to do research, it just may be more difficult to get funding for your projects.
 
Goro said:
Not at all.




I actually do want to do research, but secondary to clinical work, not in lieu of it. I would assume that being a DO wouldn't preclude me from doing so?
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]

Okay good, that's good to hear


Thank you all for your input!
 
bshap000 said:
Hi,

So I was recently admitted to a DO school (TUNCOM) and put down my deposit, but given that this is my first cycle and this is straight out of college, I can't help thinking I should do an SMP to fix my GPA and give allo another shot. Now, my gut feeling is to just take it and not look back, but I wanted some input.

I have not gotten any MD interviews as of yet, nor have I heard anything from PCOM, which I would take in a heartbeat.

Assuming the cycle continues without any changes, what do you all think I should do?

For reference:
cGPA: 3.38
sGPA: 3.23
MCAT: 33 (9,10,14) - this will have expired and need to be retaken which is the main reason I'm leaning towards just going DO
Click to expand...

DO = MD. Go with DO.
 
Take the DO acceptance and run! The stress and uncertainty of an SMP is not worth it if you're already in somewhere.
 
Take the DO. Take the least amount of risks unless there is no other alternative.
 
Go to the Caribbean
 
Take the DO and run. You have a 90%+ chance of becoming a practicing physician if you do. If you don't you have a 50/50 shot of getting an MD and a 0% chance of getting a DO

(Oversimplified I know but still...go DO)
 
bshap000 said:
Thanks everyone (well except for the carib troll post)!

I'm just going to go with DO!
Click to expand...

No but for real go to the Carib!

unless you have indisputable reasons not to? oh wait you do? just go DO then!
 
Look,your GPA would take at least a few years to improve to MD-acceptable levels.
Even 2 years of a perfect 4.0 would leave you with a <3.5sGPA.....Do you want to wait that long and hope that you get in?
And hope that your MCAT hasn't expired by that point
 
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