Help with School list, as advisor was useless

[Bones 2020]

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My premed advisor was useless, said she hadn't even heard of a couple of the DO schools...

So, here are my stats. I won't sugarcoat like most people do lol

3.34cGPA with 3 retakes
3.28sGPA with 3 retakes
27 MCAT (8, 9, 10)
BS in Microbio, minors in chemistry and spanish

3 month neuropath research internship

2.5 years on a volunteer advisory board to alleviate student hunger/homelessness at my university
220 hours volunteering at a level 1 trauma center, as of today (still volunteering)
Random volunteering hours with Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, christmas secret santa events for homeless kids

50 hours shadowing an ED doc (not even including the traumas I get to watch while volunteering)
8 hours shadowing an anesthesiologist in Spain (interesting opportunity)
0 hours shadowing a DO, but I am waiting to hear back from my family care doc about shadowing him to get a LOR
7 letters of rec and a committee LOR from my university

25 years old, am taking these years between school and med school to work/save money, and improve my app
First generation college graduate
Oregon resident
Studied abroad in Spain, nearly fluent in Spanish

Here is my school list. I figure my best chances are schools on the west coast, but would love to get away to somewhere different

1. PCOM
2. Touro NY
3. CCOM
4. Des Moines University
5. KCUMB
6. Western University – Pomona
7. ATSU - Arizona
8. AZCOM
9. Western University of Health Sciences – Lebanon
10.New York Institute
11. Touro Cali
12. Touro Nevada
13. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
14. LECOM

Too many schools? I really do not want to have to go through applications again next year, so I am nervous about cutting some out

 

[chizledfrmstone]

In my honest opinion you're applying a little top heavy.

I would add a handful of newer or less established schools. Don't add any state schools.

How long have you been out of of college?

 

[IslandStyle808]

Yeah I agree with chizledfrmstone on this one. Take out the Touros except Nevada. Take out AZCOM and CCOM. You can put in PCOM-ga, ACOM, VCOM (all three), LMU, WVSOM, MUCOM, and a few of the newer schools (except LUCOM). You don't need all of what I listed, but at least some of them will balance your list.

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[deleted158872]

MUCOM heavily favors in-state, right?

 

[Doctoblast]

MUCOM heavily favors in-state, right?

I believe something like 50% of their class is out of state so no

 

[Bones 2020]

In my honest opinion you're applying a little top heavy.

I would add a handful of newer or less established schools. Don't add any state schools.

How long have you been out of of college?

I have been out since the end of Fall 2013. I took the MCAT right after graduation, didn't do well. Started working, started volunteering, retook classes, improved on my MCAT score. So I have been utilizing my time.

Yeah I agree with chizledfrmstone on this one. Take out the Touros except Nevada. Take out AZCOM and CCOM. You can put in PCOM-ga, ACOM, VCOM (all three), LMU, WVSOM, MUCOM, and a few of the newer schools (except LUCOM). You don't need all of what I listed, but at least some of them will balance your list.

I thought PCOM-GA heavily favored southern residents? It's what they claim in their description.

I would keep your list and add some more mid/low-tier. You really have nothing to lose.

How many schools is realistic to apply to? My advisor said 15-20 for MD, but said less would be needed for DO.

 

[spenguin]

I have been out since the end of Fall 2013. I took the MCAT right after graduation, didn't do well. Started working, started volunteering, retook classes, improved on my MCAT score. So I have been utilizing my time.



I thought PCOM-GA heavily favored southern residents? It's what they claim in their description.



How many schools is realistic to apply to? My advisor said 15-20 for MD, but said less would be needed for DO.

That depends on what schools you apply to and how safe you want to be. If you apply to mostly new schools then you can get away with applying to fewer schools. The more schools you apply to the more chance you have of getting in (generally). I would do 10-15 schools if I were you. It's better than having to wait a year because you didnt apply to enough places.

I would apply to 5 reach schools, 5 mid level schools and 5 new/easier ones

 

[chizledfrmstone]

How many schools is realistic to apply to? My advisor said 15-20 for MD, but said less would be needed for DO.

Forget what your advisor has told you. You're getting advice on these forums from people who actually went through the process.

I would apply 15-20 DO schools.

CCOM is a pretty competitive school. AZCOM won't interview you until the very end of the cycle because of your MCAT.

DMU and Western U have stats in the 3.6/28 range. Rumor is KCU is going to be 3.6/28 for c/o 2019.

The Touro schools have their MCAT averages around 30.

Before you add WVSOM, LMU, or ACOM make sure you're willing to go there if accepted.

MUCOM is a nice school.

 

[Bones 2020]

Forget what your advisor has told you. You're getting advice on these forums from people who actually went through the process.

I would apply 15-20 DO schools.

CCOM is a pretty competitive school. AZCOM won't interview you until the very end of the cycle because of your MCAT.

DMU and Western U have stats in the 3.6/28 range. Rumor is KCU is going to be 3.6/28 for c/o 2019.

The Touro schools have their MCAT averages around 30.

Before you add WVSOM, LMU, or ACOM make sure you're willing to go there if accepted.

MUCOM is a nice school.

Wonderful, thank you! BTW she also told us to stay away from this website lol

 

[Doctoblast]

Wonderful, thank you! BTW she also told us to stay away from this website lol

That's probably because there is so much good advice on here that if every premed student knew about it then no students would go see their academic advisors lol

I came to this site for MCAT advice and have been lurking and posting in random threads for about a year. Trust me when I say that there are a lot of people genuinely giving good advice on here. I've seen many advisors and I can say with 100% confidence that the information on this site is better/more accurate than the majority of advisors out there.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

My premed advisor was useless, said she hadn't even heard of a couple of the DO schools...

So, here are my stats. I won't sugarcoat like most people do lol

3.34cGPA with 3 retakes
3.28sGPA with 3 retakes
27 MCAT (8, 9, 10)
BS in Microbio, minors in chemistry and spanish

3 month neuropath research internship

2.5 years on a volunteer advisory board to alleviate student hunger/homelessness at my university
220 hours volunteering at a level 1 trauma center, as of today (still volunteering)
Random volunteering hours with Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, christmas secret santa events for homeless kids

50 hours shadowing an ED doc (not even including the traumas I get to watch while volunteering)
8 hours shadowing an anesthesiologist in Spain (interesting opportunity)
0 hours shadowing a DO, but I am waiting to hear back from my family care doc about shadowing him to get a LOR
7 letters of rec and a committee LOR from my university

25 years old, am taking these years between school and med school to work/save money, and improve my app
First generation college graduate
Oregon resident
Studied abroad in Spain, nearly fluent in Spanish

Here is my school list. I figure my best chances are schools on the west coast, but would love to get away to somewhere different

1. PCOM
2. Touro NY
3. CCOM
4. Des Moines University
5. KCUMB
6. Western University – Pomona
7. ATSU - Arizona
8. AZCOM
9. Western University of Health Sciences – Lebanon
10.New York Institute
11. Touro Cali
12. Touro Nevada
13. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
14. LECOM

Too many schools? I really do not want to have to go through applications again next year, so I am nervous about cutting some out

I think its a good list. Maybe a tad top heavy but I count 4 schools that aren't (Lebanon, nevada, pnw , Lecom)

 

[Bones 2020]

I think its a good list. Maybe a tad top heavy but I count 4 schools that aren't (Lebanon, nevada, pnw , Lecom)

Thanks, I'm working on making the list more even. Lebanon would be nice because I live 1.5 hours away. If I get into only that school, I'd be very happy because all of my family is here. If I had acceptances to that and another out of state, I'm not sure if I would stay. I'd like to be somewhere different for a time

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Thanks, I'm working on making the list more even. Lebanon would be nice because I live 1.5 hours away. If I get into only that school, I'd be very happy because all of my family is here. If I had acceptances to that and another out of state, I'm not sure if I would stay. I'd like to be somewhere different for a time

I think you have a great shot there. On interviews you can see what others schools are like!

 

[Bones 2020]

Does this list look more appropriate?

1. PCOM
2. Touro-NY
3. CCOM
4. DMU
5. KCUMB
6. AZCOM
7. Western - Pomona
8. MUCOM
9. ATSU Arizona
10.Western-NW
11.Edward Via – Auburn
12.Edward Via - Carolinas
13.Touro Nevada
14.NYI
15.PNW
16.LECOM
17.LMU

Some of the schools recommended, I just can't see myself living there/attending that school

 

[Goro]

Suggest adding MUCOM, any of the VCOMs, and perhaps the FL schools.

1. PCOM
2. Touro NY
3. CCOM
4. Des Moines University
5. KCUMB
6. Western University – Pomona
7. ATSU - Arizona
9. Western University of Health Sciences – Lebanon
10.New York Institute
11. Touro Cali
12. Touro Nevada
13. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
14. LECOM

 

[Bones 2020]

Great, thank you everyone!

One more question. I am trying to figure out when to submit. I will not have all my letters until late May, so I will not have my committee letter until probably mid-late June. I know they get these with secondaries so I'm not too worried here. I am also taking a course this term, and will have my final grade the second week of June.

Should I apply asap during May, listing the spring course as in progress, then submit an update as soon as I get the final grade? My advisor said wait until I receive the grade, but it's important to me to submit as soon as possible, especially if it will take 4 weeks to verify the app.

EDIT: Is AACOMAS similar to AMCAS? This is from their website:

Therefore, if these grades are not available when AMCAS receives your transcript, they will not be included in your AMCAS GPAs. In this situation, your AMCAS GPAs will NOT be recalculated even if your registrar sends an updated transcript.

 

[JW2020]

Your advisor is a real winner.......it's very common (sadly) that advisors just don't understand that DO schools are actually competitive and figure any ol premed can get in there. To answer your question, yes you should submit before you receive the grade, schools will want updates and final transcripts (if accepted) eventually anyway and it'd be silly to hold up the process for one class (especially if it's not a pre-req).

 

[Bones 2020]

Your advisor is a real winner.......it's very common (sadly) that advisors just don't understand that DO schools are actually competitive and figure any ol premed can get in there. To answer your question, yes you should submit before you receive the grade, schools will want updates and final transcripts (if accepted) eventually anyway and it'd be silly to hold up the process for one class (especially if it's not a pre-req).

Yep, had a whole lot of em at my state school...

Thank you. It is a grade replacement class (would take me from 3.30cGPA/3.23sGPA to 3.34cGPA/3.28sGPA assuming I keep the A I have so far). Still submit early?

 

[spenguin]

I would wait for the class but you have to be the one tht decides. 2 weeks earlier or 0.04/0.05 grade change.

The only reason I suggest waiting is some schools do screen 3.25 and this class would push you over tht threshold

 

[spenguin]

Wonderful, thank you! BTW she also told us to stay away from this website lol

The pre-allo forums aren't as friendly
And there are a lot of bitter trolls on that side of the bridge

Also you gotta keep yourself from looking at other peoples stats on here. (esp pre-allo). people with amazing stats post more often then people with medium or bad stats

 

[ortnakas]

How were your first two MCATs? Your 27 is respectable, but schools do see all 3.

If you'd like to stay on the west side of the country, you might as well at RVUCOM to your list-- they are getting pickier so they might be a reach for you, but it could be worth a shot.

 

[Bones 2020]

How were your first two MCATs? Your 27 is respectable, but schools do see all 3.

If you'd like to stay on the west side of the country, you might as well at RVUCOM to your list-- they are getting pickier so they might be a reach for you, but it could be worth a shot.

Yeah I saw their matches this year, pretty stellar

I only took it twice. First was a 24 (8,7,9) second was a 27 (8,9,10)