Hardest DO School to get into

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BayesianDoc

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  1. Attending Physician
I am wondering from those of you that applied this year or previous years which DO school seems the hardest to gain acceptance to. Now I understand the many factors considered for admission so if you will just post what schools rejected you or did not even contact you after the 2? appl. was put in. I would like to try to get a quantitative list from that. I do not know maybe its worthless but I am interested. I only applied to one school so I will not be able to post a rejection.

It is obvious which schools are the hardest to get into in the allopathic world.

If anyone has any feedback on a better way to do this please feel free to add it.

I mean no disrespect to those that were not able to gain acceptance at all and I wish you all the best of luck in the next cycle.

Regards
Raptor5
 
for me personally, i applied to PCOM twice, this being the second time, with no type of response...

just took my money and disappeared. 🙄
 
State schools are probably more difficult to get into than are privates.
 
Any school that didn't accept me (i.e. everyone but NSUCOM...). That includes all the MD schools!

Just kidding, I didn't applyt o any MD schools.

Q, DO
 
I checked a few schools, and it seems that they all are hard to get into. Look at how many applied, and what percentage got in - less than 5%
 
It is probably harder for students to get into a public out of state school. On the flip side, many private schools receive numerous applications but only interview a handful.
 
Originally posted by BACMEDIC
I checked a few schools, and it seems that they all are hard to get into. Look at how many applied, and what percentage got in - less than 5%

The number of people who are "accepted" out of the applicant pool is SIGNIFICANTLY larger than the number of matriculates. This fact tends to be more accurate in schools that are less desirable.
 
I was written a formal letter from MSU saying that I would not receive an interview. I did not even hear back from NYU. All the others I either interviewed or declined.
 
UMDNJ-SOM

Followed closely by CCOM and OUCOM.

Others that are more selective but have larger classes: NYCOM and PCOM.


UHS and LECOM are the easier schools to gain admission to.
 
Originally posted by JPHazelton

UHS and LECOM are the easier schools to gain admission to.

Why is that? Is it because less people apply to them or because they are not up to par with the others?
 
Just curious...if one applies through AACOMAS to all of the schools, are there some schools that will not send you a secondary application to fill out? Meaning...do the schools ever reject you before you send in a secondary?
 
I agree...I wouldn't apply to any school where I was going to have to freeze my a$$ off 8 months outta the year!
 
Originally posted by STAC
Just curious...if one applies through AACOMAS to all of the schools, are there some schools that will not send you a secondary application to fill out? Meaning...do the schools ever reject you before you send in a secondary?

Yes, some schools do not send secondary applications to every applicant. I know for a fact that TUCOM is selective in their application process and NYCOM only sends secondary applications to individuals they wish to interview.
 
Is it true that some schools never get back to you, and you are supposed to just assume that you're toast because they take your money and never call or write? I've heard from someone that they applied to PCOM 2x and never heard back after the secondary.
 
I read on US News that 0.6% of out of state applicants get into UMDNJ-SOM. This program is the smallest DO program so that's probably why it's so difficult.

I'm just thankful to be part of the lucky 0.6%!!!

-J
 
KCOM the founding school is at the top of the list for most difficult D.O. school to get into, unless your LDS. Just kidding my LDS beloved classmates
 
State schools are the hardest to get into, especially if you are out of state applicant. This applies to OSUCOM, OUCOM, MSUCOM, and I think VCOM as well as New Jersey.

Of the private DO schools, I would rank PCOM as the hardest to get into.
 
I had a hard time trying to figure out where I wanted to apply. I looked at the info provided on the AACOMAS site. I looked at number of applicants, how many matriculated, size of each class, ratio of in state vs of state, the cost of living, weather (to a small degree), and considered the diff between instate and out of state tuition. of the 8 places I applied to, I didnt get an invite from NYCOM or UMDNJ-SOM.

Those interested in PCOM should try to go an open house at PCOM. I went over the summer and Mrs. Erdner (Admissions Dir) actually recognized me at the interview. That way, you can ask more personal questions about the process and the numbers(MCAT/GPA).

I think every school is hard to get into.. U KNOW HOW HARD U WORKED TO GET THERE. And schools weigh numbers, LORs,extracuriculars differently...

As an undergrad, I asked, "Which med school's the best?" And I was told.. THE ONE THAT ACCEPTS U...
 
Those interested in PCOM should try to go an open house at PCOM. I went over the summer and Mrs. Erdner (Admissions Dir) actually recognized me at the interview.

That is exactly what happened with me. I went to the open house in July or August and when I interviewed in Sept. she said she remembered me from somewhere.

Raptor5
 
I don't think you can compare the public schools to the privates... These public schools have in-state quota's which require them to take people from their own state regardless of the stats of the people applying from out of state... So all the public schools aside.. I will probably have to say CCOM is the hardest one to get into--although I know for a fact through personal connections that you can buy/influence your way into that school.
 
Everyone seems to have their own opinion, so here is mine. In my experience, the private schools were harder to get into overall.
 
Originally posted by dollarbincommon
Why is that? Is it because less people apply to them or because they are not up to par with the others?

Numbers. Both are good schools.
 
Unlike most private school PCOM accepts most significant number from in-state--well above 80 % (*Ironically, this school accept some money from pensylvania for instate residents as well as have right to charge private tution from all of the students*) In fact if you are a pensylvania resident you have roughly over "FIFTY" percent chance of getting into this medical school!! It may be is most easy private medical school to get into in this country...if you are a pensylvanian.
 
Getting into the state schools as an out-of-stater is probably the hardest. However, Fenrezz's situation seems to contradict this idea. 😉
 
Originally posted by haujun
Unlike most private school PCOM accepts most significant number from in-state--well above 80 % (*Ironically, this school accept some money from pensylvania for instate residents as well as have right to charge private tution from all of the students*) In fact if you are a pensylvania resident you have roughly over "FIFTY" percent chance of getting into this medical school!! It may be is most easy private medical school to get into in this country...if you are a pensylvanian.


Over 50% of the applicant pool(md/do) is admitted somewhere. it appears as though the larger the class size, the easier it is to get in.
 
Originally posted by bigmuny
Over 50% of the applicant pool(md/do) is admitted somewhere. it appears as though the larger the class size, the easier it is to get in.

It's actually less than 50, like 40 something, but it varies each year.

1999
Allopathic
Applicants: ~ 38,000
Matriculants: ~16,000

= 42%

I couldn't find anything for osteopathic during 1999.
 
PCSOM- We are actually really selective about who we admit. We rate you more on what part of the nation you are from then your credentials. Last year we rejected a lot higher gpa's and MCAT's then what we accepted.
 
Originally posted by JKDMed
It's actually less than 50, like 40 something, but it varies each year.

1999
Allopathic
Applicants: ~ 38,000
Matriculants: ~16,000

= 42%

I couldn't find anything for osteopathic during 1999.

2003
applicants=34786
matriculants=16538
47.5%
2002
16538/33625
49%
If you add in all the DO spots, then you are well over 50%, assuming a fair amount of applicants applied both md and do. it does appear that applications are on the rise again though. not to fret though, with the way the aoa is allowing new schools to open at the rate they are, it will be tougher to get into nursing school than medical school soon(and our degrees will mean as much).
 
Originally posted by BUmedic
Of course this will depend on each individual applicant, but
I'm from out of state, and got into OSU, which is a state school, and a rather hard thing to do.

In order of hardest to get into, in my opinion only:

1. CCOM (rejected)
2. OSUCOM (accepted)
3. DMUCOM (hold first, interview later, but declined interview)
4. KCOM (accepted)
5. AZCOM (accepted)

My MCAT had to go up 4 points before anyone but AZCOM contacted me, so they are a distant 5th and easiest for the schools I applied to.

Interesting...no mention of TCOM.
 
I figured by now someone would have mentioned the factor of who does the interviewing at the schools. Not all interviewers are the same. (Needless to say that not all interviewees have the same personality despite whether or not they have the same scores).

Also, there are so many other factors that come into play on how hard it is to get into a school, i.e., date of applying, size of the class, etc.
 
Originally posted by STAC
Just curious...if one applies through AACOMAS to all of the schools, are there some schools that will not send you a secondary application to fill out? Meaning...do the schools ever reject you before you send in a secondary?

I was outright rejected from Ohio's Osteopathic school. It is the only DO school that didn't give me a secondary.
 
Originally posted by Fermata
Getting in out-of-state for TCOM is not easy.

True, however, BUmedic is from Frisco, TEXAS in the DFW metroplex about 45 minutes from TCOM which I guess was my point. I was just raggin him a little is all.😉 :meanie: 😉
 
Most private DO schools have state mandates (tax incentives, etc.) to make sure they have a certain % of students from the state the school is located. This is why PCOM and CCOM accept such a high % of in-state applicants. PCSOM, DMU, LECOM, and NYCOM also must have a high % of in-state students. Really, as far as I can tell, only KCOM and UHS do not give a significant favor to a person, in these two schools' case, from Missouri. For all other schools a disproportionate # of students come from the state that the school is located. The same is true for the majority of allopathic schools, also.

Examples:

PCOM Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 3,154 664 410 256
In state: 476 317 274 171
Out of state: 2,678 347 136 85

Western's Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 1,936 487 387 178
In state: 598 271 212 136
Out: 1,338 216 175 42


Compare the above #s w/ KCOM
Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 2,256 485 397 158
In state: 140 43 39 28
Out: 2,116 442 358 130

Even KCOM is slightly favoring, based on these #s alone, the Missouri resident.
 
Originally posted by Demosthenes_7
Most private DO schools have state mandates (tax incentives, etc.) to make sure they have a certain % of students from the state the school is located. This is why PCOM and CCOM accept such a high % of in-state applicants. PCSOM, DMU, LECOM, and NYCOM also must have a high % of in-state students. Really, as far as I can tell, only KCOM and UHS do not give a significant favor to a person, in these two schools' case, from Missouri. For all other schools a disproportionate # of students come from the state that the school is located. The same is true for the majority of allopathic schools, also.

Examples:

PCOM Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 3,154 664 410 256
In state: 476 317 274 171
Out of state: 2,678 347 136 85

Western's Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 1,936 487 387 178
In state: 598 271 212 136
Out: 1,338 216 175 42


Compare the above #s w/ KCOM
Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 2,256 485 397 158
In state: 140 43 39 28
Out: 2,116 442 358 130

Even KCOM is slightly favoring, based on these #s alone, the Missouri resident.
 
Originally posted by Demosthenes_7
Most private DO schools have state mandates (tax incentives, etc.) to make sure they have a certain % of students from the state the school is located. This is why PCOM and CCOM accept such a high % of in-state applicants. PCSOM, DMU, LECOM, and NYCOM also must have a high % of in-state students. Really, as far as I can tell, only KCOM and UHS do not give a significant favor to a person, in these two schools' case, from Missouri. For all other schools a disproportionate # of students come from the state that the school is located. The same is true for the majority of allopathic schools, also.

Examples:

PCOM Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 3,154 664 410 256
In state: 476 317 274 171
Out of state: 2,678 347 136 85

Western's Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 1,936 487 387 178
In state: 598 271 212 136
Out: 1,338 216 175 42


Compare the above #s w/ KCOM
Fall 2002 Admissions Statistics

Applied Interviewed Accepted Enrolled
Total: 2,256 485 397 158
In state: 140 43 39 28
Out: 2,116 442 358 130

Even KCOM is slightly favoring, based on these #s alone, the Missouri resident.

LECOM's class of 2007 student body consists of 72% of people from out of state.
 
Originally posted by STAC
True, however, BUmedic is from Frisco, TEXAS in the DFW metroplex about 45 minutes from TCOM which I guess was my point. I was just raggin him a little is all.😉 :meanie: 😉

I was only thinking AACOMAS, but I'll add in the TCOM thing, if it makes you feel any better.
 
Of course this will depend on each individual applicant, but
I'm from out of state, and got into OSU, which is a state school, and a rather hard thing to do.

In order of hardest to get into, in my opinion only:

1. CCOM (rejected)
2. TCOM (no word)
3. OSUCOM (accepted)
4. DMUCOM (hold first, interview later, but declined interview)
5. KCOM (accepted)
6. AZCOM (accepted)

My MCAT had to go up 4 points before anyone but AZCOM contacted me, so they are a distant 5th and easiest for the schools I applied to.

For those that are wondering about the TCOM thing, since I am a Texas resident: The Texas application system drops your GPA down, since they don't count plus grades. For example, if you have several C+'s that were borderline almost B's, they drop down to 70's, since you can only get ABCDF. I had a borderline science GPA, and so this certainly didn't help. After visiting both campuses, however, I like OSUCOM the most. The only issue is that TCOM is the cheapest for residents.
 
Originally posted by BUmedic
I was only thinking AACOMAS, but I'll add in the TCOM thing, if it makes you feel any better.

Originally posted by BUmedic
TCOM is my 1st choice, and I haven't heard from them.

Originally posted by BUmedic
I contacted TCOM regarding their interview status, and informed them of my multiple admissions to DO schools (KCOM, AZCOM, OSUCOM). Here was the response:

"Justin:

Unfortuantely, we have decided not to invite any more applicants to interview before the February Texas Medical School Match. After the match, we may consider additional applicants for admission.

Good luck to you on your choice for medical school.



Mike Kennedy
Associate Director of Medical Student Admissions
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
University of North Texas Health Science Center
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 735-2204
(800) 535-TCOM

[email protected]
http://www.hsc.unt.edu"

So it looks like TCOM is done---sorry folks!


What will you do if they ever do call you?
 
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