got waitlisted at two DO schools. What should I do next?

[rlaaudfh87]

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GPA: 3.75 MCAT: 504 (127/123/128/126)
Clinical volunteering:
1) 250 hours (2.5 years) at university hospital (no patient contact)
2) 250 hours (2.5 years) at nursing home (a lot of direct patient contact)
Nonclinical volunteering: 120 hours (1 year) at childcare.
Shadowing:
1) internal medicine doctor (18 hours)
2) anesthesiologist (24 hours)
Research: neurobiology lab (1.5 years) with no publications and presentations (I actually don't know the exact hours since I got credits instead of counting my hours .. )
Leadership:
1) General Bio TA, and Biochemistry TA (one semester each)

I got waitlisted at two DO schools with no acceptance. I think the reason is I applied too late and to few schools. I submitted my secondaries in Dec and applied only 6 schools. I REALLY hope that I can get off the waitlists. I don't know what I have to do now. Do I have to apply post bacc now? any good suggestions while waiting for the waitlists? I am really depressed .. any comments would appreciate it.

 

[sab3156]

Apply early next time. You'll get in. In the meantime, retake your MCAT if you think you can do better, because with a decent MCAT I'll be really surprised if you don't get into an MD school, my man.

 

[rlaaudfh87]

Apply early next time. You'll get in. In the meantime, retake your MCAT if you think you can do better, because with a decent MCAT I'll be really surprised if you don't get into an MD school, my man.

thanks for the comment buddy. but I don't think I can raise my MCAT score 'realistically'. My weakest part is CARS and that is way hard to improve. is there other options I can do? MD is too much for me. Just getting into DO would be happy as well.

 

[sab3156]

thanks for the comment buddy. but I realistically don't think I can raise my MCAT score. My weakest part is CARS and that is way hard to improve. is there another things I can do? MD is too much for me. Just getting into DO would be happy as well.

I feel you, but with a 3.75 GPA and with some cool research experience, I think you'd be crazy to not try again, especially since you are reapplying. You'll get into really any DO school you apply to, if you apply day 1. But in the meantime if you think you can study hard for 2-3 months and do a bit better on the MCAT, you'll be able to apply to both MD and DO schools. I wouldn't be telling you this if your GPA was like 3.4 or something, but for someone in your shoes I think it's really worth it.

Also did you shadow a DO?

 

[Trollest]

You have a shot but you the wrong ECs. Most DO schools are tailor'ed towards PCP and your app screams competitive specialities when you are no where close.

Expand your non clinical volunteering, start volunterring w/ medically underserved populations and get some PCP physicain shadowing.

 

[rlaaudfh87]

I feel you, but with a 3.75 GPA and with some cool research experience, I think you'd be crazy to not try again, especially since you are reapplying. You'll get into really any DO school you apply to, if you apply day 1. But in the meantime if you think you can study hard for 2-3 months and do a bit better on the MCAT, you'll be able to apply to both MD and DO schools. I wouldn't be telling you think if your GPA was like 3.4 or something, but for someone in your shoes I think it's really worth it.

Also did you shadow a DO?

thank you for your comment. really helps me a lot. but i am not confident to retake the MCAT since I am really bad at CARS section. I don't think I can improve that. Thank you for reading my post.

 

[rlaaudfh87]

You have a shot but you the wrong ECs. Most DO schools are tailor'ed towards PCP and your app screams competitive specialities when you are no where close.

Expand your non clinical volunteering, start volunterring w/ medically underserved populations and get some PCP physicain shadowing.

Do you mean I don't have enough non clinical volunteering? yeah I need PCP shadowing though. Thank you and have a good night

 

[sab3156]

You have a shot but you the wrong ECs. Most DO schools are tailor'ed towards PCP and your app screams competitive specialities when you are no where close.

Expand your non clinical volunteering, start volunterring w/ medically underserved populations and get some PCP physicain shadowing.

You trolling? Because your post is complete crap. My app was full of ophthalmology technician work at a well known high volume practice, ophthalmology clinical research at a top 5 ophthalmology research hospital, shadowing probably the most accomplished DO physician researcher in the profession's history at a top 5 research hospital. I had absolutely zero underserved population volunteering, PCP shadowing, or non-clinical volunteering.

I also had a terrible 3.0 cumulative GPA (though with a 3.6 science), and a 36 mcat. It was extremely apparent from my application that I am going for a specific specialty. And I got into a DO early on, and declined other interviews. Not a single mention during my interview of anything "volunteering" related or anything like that.

 

[Trollest]

What i mean is that if you want to impress someone you have to show interest.

And yes, you don't have enough non clinical volunteering. I am pretty sure the average DO applicant has 200 + volunteering hours. The more align they are to the school mission (serving the underserved, rural areas), the better.

And you def need PCP shadowing also make sure to shadow an OMM specialist. It gives you a better picture of osteopathy.

Do you mean I don't have enough non clinical volunteering? yeah I need PCP shadowing though. Thank you and have a good night

Facts vs your anecdotal experience? I will take facts everytime

You trolling? Because your post is complete crap. My app was full of ophthalmology technician work at a well known high volume practice, ophthalmology clinical research at a top 5 ophthalmology research hospital, shadowing probably the most accomplished DO scientist physician in the profession's history at a top 5 research hospital. I had absolutely zero underserved population volunteering, PCP shadowing, or non-clinical volunteering.

I also had a terrible 3.0 cumulative GPA (though with a 3.6 science), and a 36 mcat. It was extremely apparent from my application that I am going for a specific specialty. And I got into a DO early on, and declined other interviews. Not a single mention during my interview of anything "volunteering" related or anything like that.

 

[sab3156]

Do you mean I don't have enough non clinical volunteering? yeah I need PCP shadowing though. Thank you and have a good night

Just be sure to ignore the above poster. Don't worry about people who have zero understanding about how this works.

You have an incredible amount of volunteering. Don't do anymore.

 

[rlaaudfh87]

Just be sure to ignore the above poster. Don't worry about people who have zero understanding about how this works.

You have an incredible amount of volunteering. Don't do anymore.

I read his post with a grain of salt haha. But I know that both of you wrote comments for me to be a better applicant. Anyway what are the options besides volunteering and retaking the MCAT? As I said, I don't think I can get a better score :/ ..

 

[sab3156]

I read his post with a grain of salt haha. But I know that both of you wrote comments for me to be a better applicant. Anyway what are the options besides volunteering and retaking the MCAT? As I said, I don't think I can get a better score :/ ..

Just reapply early. You'll get in for sure. If you don't get in, I'll be very, very surprised.

 

[JudgeIsInTheHouse]

Lots of not-so-great advice on this thread. There will be a good amount of waitlist movement in the coming months.

 

[rlaaudfh87]

Lots of not-so-great advice on this thread. There will be a good amount of waitlist movement in the coming months.

Hope I can get off the waitlist but my life before that would be miserable ..

 

[Grannywang]

Hope I can get off the waitlist but my life before that would be miserable ..

I got off the waitlist 4 days before school started...anything can happen man.

 

[rlaaudfh87]

I got off the waitlist 4 days before school started...anything can happen man.

Can I ask your stats if you don't mind? ..

 

[dial1010usa]

Hope I can get off the waitlist but my life before that would be miserable ..

What state are you from and which schools have you applied? 6 schools were to few.
You can send application to few more schools as the deadlines are 3/15 for few in CA/NV/OR/WA.
In the meantime shadow DO and do more volunteer if you have time.
All the best and hope you will get off waitlist.

 

[Cardboard101]

Applying December was a bad move, which you already know.
The only thing I can recommend is to reapply early. Study and retake the MCAT if you really want, a higher score (513+) will make MD viable. Just understand that this will be riskier than just reapplying DO.
A post bacc is to help your GPA which is already fine.

A lot of wait-list movement happens Feb-May, don't lose hope yet.

 

[rlaaudfh87]

Applying December was a bad move, which you already know.
The only thing I can recommend is to reapply early. Study and retake the MCAT if you really want, a higher score (513+) will make MD viable. Just understand that this will be riskier than just reapplying DO.
A post bacc is to help your GPA which is already fine.

A lot of wait-list movement happens Feb-May, don't lose hope yet.

So I only have 4 months till I reapply. Do you guys think shadowing DO would be enough? I don't think I can accomplish many things within 4 months.

 

[Grannywang]

Can I ask your stats if you don't mind? ..

Pretty similar to yours. I had more work experience than you since I’m non traditional.

 

[justawomanwithapassion]

Hope I can get off the waitlist but my life before that would be miserable ..

I am currently waitlisted at 3 places----we need all of the mental support we can get to stay sane. I definitely feel that hahah we can keep each other's heads up

 

[fldoctorgirl]

You applied too late. With your stats, you'll probably be getting off the waitlist. The comment about your ECs is totally wrong.