How competitive would I be for DO schools?

[wcbdfy]

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I'm hoping to apply next cycle with around a 3.55 cpga, 3.25 scigpa, and a MCAT in the mid-high 30's.

-100 hrs shadowing in the E.R.
-1.5 years of research
-2.5 years of clinical experience at a student run clinic
-Volunteering with coaching and some community service projects
-Heavily involved with a few on campus organizations

I'll be applying after my 3rd year of undergrad.

I've been reading a lot about DO schools on SDN and the whole philosophy seems interesting to me. I'm hoping to possibly shadow a DO next year before I apply; hopefully, I can get a DO LOR out of it too.

With that kind of numbers/background, would I be a pretty competitive? I know its impossible to predict if someone can get in or not but would you expect me to get some interviews/acceptances?

 

[VeeTeeHokies]

I'm hoping to apply next cycle with around a 3.55 cpga, 3.25 scigpa, and a MCAT in the mid-high 30's.

-100 hrs shadowing in the E.R.
-1.5 years of research
-2.5 years of clinical experience at a student run clinic
-Volunteering with coaching and some community service projects
-Heavily involved with a few on campus organizations

I'll be applying after my 3rd year of undergrad.

I've been reading a lot about DO schools on SDN and the whole philosophy seems interesting to me. I'm hoping to possibly shadow a DO next year before I apply; hopefully, I can get a DO LOR out of it too.

With that kind of numbers/background, would I be a pretty competitive? I know its impossible to predict if someone can get in or not but would you expect me to get some interviews/acceptances?

You would be in great shape, especially with a DO letter. I would recommend shadowing in some other specialities, particularly primary care. I would also try to pick up a leadership position or two before you apply, but I don't think it would necessarily kill you to not have that. Accomplish that and you're a very strong applicant.

This is all assuming that you already have a mid-high 30s MCAT and that you aren't just projecting it. Regardless, with a 25+ you should still be in decent shape.

 

[SoulinNeed]

I'm hoping to apply next cycle with around a 3.55 cpga, 3.25 scigpa, and a MCAT in the mid-high 30's.

-100 hrs shadowing in the E.R.
-1.5 years of research
-2.5 years of clinical experience at a student run clinic
-Volunteering with coaching and some community service projects
-Heavily involved with a few on campus organizations

I'll be applying after my 3rd year of undergrad.

I've been reading a lot about DO schools on SDN and the whole philosophy seems interesting to me. I'm hoping to possibly shadow a DO next year before I apply; hopefully, I can get a DO LOR out of it too.

With that kind of numbers/background, would I be a pretty competitive? I know its impossible to predict if someone can get in or not but would you expect me to get some interviews/acceptances?

Even with a MCAT around 27 (which is more likely, if you're just predicting your MCAT score), then you would still be competitive at many schools.

 

[wcbdfy]

I'm projecting it based taking 3 practice tests and scoring about 31 without any review at all. I still need to take genetics/biochem, 1/3 of ochem series, and 1/3 of physics series. So after those classes, taking kaplan or TPR, and studying on my own time, I think I get push mid-high 30's. I've got 7 months or so, so I've got plenty of time to make that happen.

 

[VeeTeeHokies]

I'm projecting it based taking 3 practice tests and scoring about 31 without any review at all. I still need to take genetics/biochem, 1/3 of ochem series, and 1/3 of physics series. So after those classes, taking kaplan or TPR, and studying on my own time, I think I get push mid-high 30's. I've got 7 months or so, so I've got plenty of time to make that happen.

I scored a 29 on my diagnostic with two months left to study and then averaged ~31-32ish. I was sure I would boost my scores to mid-high 30s given that projection. I scored a 27 on my actual MCAT (which was lower than any of my practice tests). Granted I was over a year removed from the OChem, Phys, and Gen Chem lines and I didn't take a prep course, but you need to be aware of the natural ceiling that some encounter. I think a prep class will boost me over 30 if I end up needing to retake the MCAT, but I think that the mid-high 30s just aren't going to happen for me. Just a heads up to let you know that you can NOT predict your MCAT score based on conjectures of your future plans for it. Be prepared for anything and know how to react accordingly. Good luck with it though!

 

[wcbdfy]

Yeah, I see where you're coming with that. I'm definitely not going to be taking it easy or resting on my score. Even when I took those practice tests, I knew what I needed to work on and when I went through my answers I could tell what my weaknesses were. So I'll be studying hard and making sure I'm on top of it with all of it.

Thanks for the warning though.

 

[jbairddo]

your numbers are good, and from the interviews I have done, you are on par with other candidates who applies to MWU, people have gotten in with less. The one thing I don't think candidates actually do is practice. The last 5 kids I did, 3 were horrible interviewees. You all need to practice, I don't care how great things look, if you can perform under the stress of an interview, no one will think you can get done if someone is dying.
Most interviews are the same no matter what it is for
Why do you want to do (A)? could be work at mcdonalds, go to motorcycle training school or be a doctor, you would be surprised how many didn't have an answer. This is a 7 year $100,000 investment, some passion would be nice.
what are your strengths and weaknesses, again, no matter what, think about this but practice so it doesn't sound rehearsed (all of this should be)
who do you admire/respect/who would you want to meet from history (and from my perspective, don't say your mom unless she worked with underprivileged orphans in Delhi).
you know there will be health care policy questions, read up on what is going on.
research, 2 of the 5 didn't have a clue what a DO was or the history. Duh?
Practice, get three friends together and have each take turns being on the hotseat. look at the interviewers not your hands, you are selling 3 people (depending on the interview process) that you are the best product there is, that there is no other soap that will get their hands cleaner than you, that they will rue the day that when you cure cancer, they missed the chance to have you say it was because of my education at XXXCOM.
HC some of the guys were so depressing that i wanted to kill myself rather than listen to them guess about the questions. there aren't right and wrong answers, but you do have to be able to back up your thoughts.
Saying Obama care is the greatest thing moving medicine forward is fine until you can't back it up with something sound.

Good luck