How many DO schools are you applying to and your stats?

[Awesome Sauceome]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Thanks for the advice! What do you think of this list?

Definite:
PCOM
Rowan
UNECOM
CCOM Midwestern
Nova
NYITCOM

Maybe:
Edward Via - Carolinas
Edward Via - Virginia (have to check on prereqs for these 2)
KCUMB
DMUCOM
Pacific Northwest
AT Still - Kirksville
AZCOM Midwestern
Campbell University COM

Any suggestions to add/cross-off?

If I was you this would be my list:
PCOM
Rowan
UNECOM
CCOM Midwestern
Nova
NYITCOM
KCUMB
DMU

The VCOM's are extremely geographically biased. I grew up along the Appalachian mountains my entire life (and I made sure to let them know this) but was a Wisconsin resident at the time of my application, I did not hear a peep from them.

AZCOM and CCOM are insanely expensive. Just keep that in mind before you apply. I mean really sit on it. Dont apply to a school that you could not see yourself at. I certainly cant imagine shelling out that kind of money with the chance of becoming a pediatrician or something like that. Thats like go to jail kind of money.

KCOM is another school I would maybe consider, depending on how rural you want to be. Their match list was excellent this last year.

 

[Oh_Gee]

If I was you this would be my list:
PCOM
Rowan
UNECOM
CCOM Midwestern
Nova
NYITCOM
KCUMB
DMU

The VCOM's are extremely geographically biased. I grew up along the Appalachian mountains my entire life (and I made sure to let them know this) but was a Wisconsin resident at the time of my application, I did not hear a peep from them.

AZCOM and CCOM are insanely expensive. Just keep that in mind before you apply. I mean really sit on it. Dont apply to a school that you could not see yourself at. I certainly cant imagine shelling out that kind of money with the chance of becoming a pediatrician or something like that. Thats like go to jail kind of money.

KCOM is another school I would maybe consider, depending on how rural you want to be. Their match list was excellent this last year.

i knew that about VCOM but still applied to 2 of them lol. those are my regrets. I'm from CA and went to Virginia for spring break for a community service trip but doubt that's enough. Hopefully, I'll save enough money to go to as many interviews as I can but I expect I'll be travel weary after 2 trips. Assuming I get interviews haha...

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

i knew that about VCOM but still applied to 2 of them lol. those are my regrets. I'm from CA and went to Virginia for spring break for a community service trip but doubt that's enough. Hopefully, I'll save enough money to go to as many interviews as I can but I expect I'll be travel weary after 2 trips. Assuming I get interviews haha...

It is my general understanding that the Auburn campus and possibly the carolina campus are slightly less geographically biased. But yea, in general all of the VCOM campuses are likely to bring in locals first.

 

[IDK22]

3.5 cGPA / 3.5sGPA (after grade update) / 20, 26 (10/8/8) highest MCAT / 30 DO schools

 

[PSiloveU2013]

If I was you this would be my list:
PCOM
Rowan
UNECOM
CCOM Midwestern
Nova
NYITCOM
KCUMB
DMU

The VCOM's are extremely geographically biased. I grew up along the Appalachian mountains my entire life (and I made sure to let them know this) but was a Wisconsin resident at the time of my application, I did not hear a peep from them.

AZCOM and CCOM are insanely expensive. Just keep that in mind before you apply. I mean really sit on it. Dont apply to a school that you could not see yourself at. I certainly cant imagine shelling out that kind of money with the chance of becoming a pediatrician or something like that. Thats like go to jail kind of money.

KCOM is another school I would maybe consider, depending on how rural you want to be. Their match list was excellent this last year.

Thanks for the advice, it helped me a lot! I've kept the 8 you mentioned and added KCOM. I am also at 21 MD programs, for a total of 30 schools - eek! Better start writing my secondaries....

 

[medstar11]

cGPA~3.4 sGPA~3.2 MCAT 27 (10/9/8) >2000 of healthcare experience and strong DO letter. I am applying to 16 schools. Does anyone think that is too much or too little?

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

cGPA~3.4 sGPA~3.2 MCAT 27 (10/9/8) >2000 of healthcare experience and strong DO letter. I am applying to 16 schools. Does anyone think that is too much or too little?

Sounds just right

 

[imagine1392]

My stats are 3.3 sGPA 3.4 cGPA, 29 MCAT, 2 years clinical experiences, 3 years research, volunteering, etc. I'm applying to 20 DO schools and based on what you've all been saying I should feel pretty good about my chances but I don't. I applied to 18 MD schools last year and didn't get a single interview. From looking on their websites I know that most DO schools have median MCATs lower than mine but having witnessed the crapshoot that was applying to MD I don't know what to think anymore. Thoughts?

 

[ERK123]

My stats are 3.3 sGPA 3.4 cGPA, 29 MCAT, 2 years clinical experiences, 3 years research, volunteering, etc. I'm applying to 20 DO schools and based on what you've all been saying I should feel pretty good about my chances but I don't. I applied to 18 MD schools last year and didn't get a single interview. From looking on their websites I know that most DO schools have median MCATs lower than mine but having witnessed the crapshoot that was applying to MD I don't know what to think anymore. Thoughts?

Have you shadowed a DO? Do you have a DO letter? Do you think that you can convincingly answer the question "Why DO?" in your secondaries?

 

[user3]

My stats are 3.3 sGPA 3.4 cGPA, 29 MCAT, 2 years clinical experiences, 3 years research, volunteering, etc. I'm applying to 20 DO schools and based on what you've all been saying I should feel pretty good about my chances but I don't. I applied to 18 MD schools last year and didn't get a single interview. From looking on their websites I know that most DO schools have median MCATs lower than mine but having witnessed the crapshoot that was applying to MD I don't know what to think anymore. Thoughts?

20 schools? You'll be deluged with interviews.

 

[pageantry]

I'll throw mine in. 31 MCAT (9/12/10), ~3.7GPA's. 100's of hours of clinical, shadowing, and research, each. 1000's of hours of leadership. 3 DO schools, 17 MD. Planning to add 2 more DO (total of 5), 13 more MD (total of 30). Just need to gather a little more cash.

Am I applying sensibly? Everyone I know with scores and ECs like mine got the most love from MD schools, but I still like my DO choices, if they'll interview me.

 

[ShakaChaka]

mcat 29(9,10V,10B), 3.7cgpa, 3.8sgpa. Applied to 12 d.o. schools. Mainly on the west coast and places that don't have tornadoes lol.
Have lor from a d.o I shadowed, 2 science, 1 humanities. 120 hours of clinical + 35 shadowing d.o.

ORM.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I'll throw mine in. 31 MCAT (9/12/10), ~3.7GPA's. 100's of hours of clinical, shadowing, and research, each. 1000's of hours of leadership. 3 DO schools, 17 MD. Planning to add 2 more DO (total of 5), 13 more MD (total of 30). Just need to gather a little more cash.

Am I applying sensibly? Everyone I know with scores and ECs like mine got the most love from MD schools, but I still like my DO choices, if they'll interview me.

You should be good at 5 depending on the schools. Some schools are a total crap shoot even for those with good stats (PCOM comes to mind).

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

mcat 29(9,10V,10B), 3.7cgpa, 3.8sgpa. Applied to 12 d.o. schools. Mainly on the west coast and places that don't have tornadoes lol.
Have lor from a d.o I shadowed, 2 science, 1 humanities. 120 hours of clinical + 35 shadowing d.o.

ORM.

In my opinion you could apply to less and have just as much luck. Between 6-10 would do the trick and save you a good bit of money and hassle.

 

[imagine1392]

I can't figure out how to quote a response but Awesome Saucome (lol) can you please say more about PCOM? (BTW my MCAT is 7/11/11, the lowest being physical sciences) I called PCOM asking if that 7 was a deal-breaker and they said no and that they'll look at everything. This wasn't particularly reassuring because all my MD schools sent me secondaries for their "holistic approach" aka money grab. The DO I'm shadowing got in there with a 25 back in the day but he's got a racial minority background and comes from a medically underserved area. I hate to be so cynical, but is that what you mean by PCOM being a crapshoot?

 

[imagine1392]

20 schools? You'll be deluged with interviews.

I'm just trying to not have to reapply again 🙁

Here's my next question: to my understanding most (if not all?) DO schools are private. However, I'm finding on their websites that they give preferential treatment to residents of their state or neighboring states. Is this the case for all of them, even the ones who don't advertise it on their website? Did I just waste a ton of money applying to schools like Rocky Vista if I'm not from anywhere near Colorado?

 

[imagine1392]

Have you shadowed a DO? Do you have a DO letter? Do you think that you can convincingly answer the question "Why DO?" in your secondaries?

I am currently shadowing a DO and he will write me a letter. I have a pretty good idea of what to say now so I think I'll have it down by the time secondaries come out

 

[mathnerd88]

I'll throw mine in. 31 MCAT (9/12/10), ~3.7GPA's. 100's of hours of clinical, shadowing, and research, each. 1000's of hours of leadership. 3 DO schools, 17 MD. Planning to add 2 more DO (total of 5), 13 more MD (total of 30). Just need to gather a little more cash.

Am I applying sensibly? Everyone I know with scores and ECs like mine got the most love from MD schools, but I still like my DO choices, if they'll interview me.

I had a 3.71 cGPA and 3.65 sGPA with a 31 on the MCAT. I applied to 15 MD schools. Got no interviews anywhere. I had thousands of hours of research WITH publications and posters at conferences, EMT-B, shadowing, hundreds of hours of clinical, etc...I have a feeling that you should apply to more DO schools, just in case. Maybe it is because I am Asian. With stats like yours, you are borderlining MD/DO. Unless you are URM, I would apply to more DO schools.

 

[pageantry]

I had a 3.71 cGPA and 3.65 sGPA with a 31 on the MCAT. I applied to 15 MD schools. Got no interviews anywhere. I had thousands of hours of research WITH publications and posters at conferences, EMT-B, shadowing, hundreds of hours of clinical, etc...I have a feeling that you should apply to more DO schools, just in case. Maybe it is because I am Asian. With stats like yours, you are borderlining MD/DO. Unless you are URM, I would apply to more DO schools.

I'm assuming you MSAR'd your schools pretty hard? Or would you change that too in retrospect? Either way, good note, thank you.

 

[Doctoblast]

I had a 3.71 cGPA and 3.65 sGPA with a 31 on the MCAT. I applied to 15 MD schools. Got no interviews anywhere. I had thousands of hours of research WITH publications and posters at conferences, EMT-B, shadowing, hundreds of hours of clinical, etc...I have a feeling that you should apply to more DO schools, just in case. Maybe it is because I am Asian. With stats like yours, you are borderlining MD/DO. Unless you are URM, I would apply to more DO schools.

Where did you apply? With those stats and 15 schools I feel like you should've gotten at least a couple interviews even though you are Asian. Unless you had a red flag on your application or if you applied too top heavy?

 

[mathnerd88]

I did not apply to any top schools and none IVY. I kept it within my area and within MSAR standards. I applied to my state schools and around the northeast area.

Two NJ state school one NJ private, NY schools, GWU, etc.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

I can't figure out how to quote a response but Awesome Saucome (lol) can you please say more about PCOM? (BTW my MCAT is 7/11/11, the lowest being physical sciences) I called PCOM asking if that 7 was a deal-breaker and they said no and that they'll look at everything. This wasn't particularly reassuring because all my MD schools sent me secondaries for their "holistic approach" aka money grab. The DO I'm shadowing got in there with a 25 back in the day but he's got a racial minority background and comes from a medically underserved area. I hate to be so cynical, but is that what you mean by PCOM being a crapshoot?

It's just one of those schools that almost seems to pick random applicants. Some schools it's like you know exactly what they are looking for. PCOM might take someone with a 25 MCAT in September but then wait 4 months to interview someone with a 32. Next cycle they will switch it around. They are just a hard school to pin down, they have one of the lowest acceptance rates of all the DO schools.

 

[bshap000]

I applied to 7 DO and 17 MD
sGPA: 3.3
cGPA: 3.4
MCAT: 33 (9 PS,10 VR, 14 BS)

 

[NovMSScr]

3.83 cgpa, 3.84 sgpa. 30 MCAT (12/7 Yikes/11). Currently have 10 schools on my list

Are you applying to MDs as well??

 

[NovMSScr]

3.6/3.55 29 MCAT

6 DO schools and 5 MD (in-state) schools for a grand total of 11 schools

Money is really tight for me, but do you think that's enough? @user3

My list is:
DO
MSUCOM in state
CCOM
PCOM
NSUCOM
KCU
MUCOM

MD
WSUSOM (undergrad here and give preference to their own students)
MSU CHM
Oakland
Western Michigan (new school)
Central Michigan (new school)

Hey just wanted to say that not only do we have nearly identical scores and financial situations but I am also from MI and applying to a lot of the same schools as you. Best of luck!!

 

[studentdocftw]

I had a 3.71 cGPA and 3.65 sGPA with a 31 on the MCAT. I applied to 15 MD schools. Got no interviews anywhere. I had thousands of hours of research WITH publications and posters at conferences, EMT-B, shadowing, hundreds of hours of clinical, etc...I have a feeling that you should apply to more DO schools, just in case. Maybe it is because I am Asian. With stats like yours, you are borderlining MD/DO. Unless you are URM, I would apply to more DO schools.

State of residence?

 

[NovMSScr]

MI Resident 3.63cGPA 3.6sGPA 30 MCAT (9/10/11) w/ poor-fair ECs. At the moment applying to 6 DO and 10 MD, would like to do more but $$$'s tight:

DO:
MSU-COM
CCOM
NOVA
MUCOM
KCU
LECOM

MD:
Central Michigan
Western Michigan
MSU-CHM
Wayne State
Oakland B
Temple
Penn State
Drexel
Rush
Rosalind Franklin

 

[Gandyy]

.

 

[kingston77]

I have 26 MCAT (9/7/10) and GPA 3.85, Canadian resident, 2 publications, and lots of EC's. I see here that many people are applying to 18+ schools. It seems rather expensive, considering the initial application fee's + the secondary application fee. I think if I were to apply to 18+ schools, it would be around $3000. Any ideas on what I should do? Currently I have a list of about 23 schools and having trouble narrowing them down.

 

[mathnerd88]

State of residence?

Permanent residence in NJ, but I wrote that my current address was in MA. For this year, I got smarter and put both residencies as NJ.

 

[Carbon090]

My stats are as follows:
3.9 GPA
30 (10/9/11) MCAT (from a retake)
Good EC's, I have my committee letter done and a DO letter being written at the moment

Is it safe to say applying to 5-8 DO schools is enough?
I'm a Pennsylvanian resident and PCOM is my top choice.

 

[Doctoblast]

Hey just wanted to say that not only do we have nearly identical scores and financial situations but I am also from MI and applying to a lot of the same schools as you. Best of luck!!

Good luck to you as well! Maybe we'll be classmates some day 🙂

 

[PapaGuava]

3.45cGPA 3.4sGPA 29MCAT ~27 DO schools, no MD schools

DO schools calculate your sGPA without math correct?

 

[blkgrnblkylw]

DO schools calculate your sGPA without math correct?

Yeah, when you fill out AACOMAS you will see all the courses that they consider to be included into the sGPA. There are a lot of them, but no math.

 

[Dreamstoo]

3.45cGPA/3.42sGPA/MCAT sometime in July/August. Applying to at least 10 DOs and probably 4-5 MDs at most.

 

[NonTrad16]

I have 26 MCAT (9/7/10) and GPA 3.85, Canadian resident, 2 publications, and lots of EC's. I see here that many people are applying to 18+ schools. It seems rather expensive, considering the initial application fee's + the secondary application fee. I think if I were to apply to 18+ schools, it would be around $3000. Any ideas on what I should do? Currently I have a list of about 23 schools and having trouble narrowing them down.

Afaik international students are at a disadvantage, and would be served by more schools. Not international, but between MD and DO I'll probably have >25, costing over 3k. That said, time spent on classes, lost wages due to PT work, etc amount to more. I'd apply to as many as you can manage (taking into account the need to interview and make a deposit) to avoid a reapplication.

 

[user3]

I'm just trying to not have to reapply again 🙁

Here's my next question: to my understanding most (if not all?) DO schools are private. However, I'm finding on their websites that they give preferential treatment to residents of their state or neighboring states. Is this the case for all of them, even the ones who don't advertise it on their website? Did I just waste a ton of money applying to schools like Rocky Vista if I'm not from anywhere near Colorado?

Don't worry about that.

 

[leslieknope2015]

.

 

[asdf123g]

Is it normal for students to apply +15 schools or is this just SDN being SDN? At my UG the students always applied <10

 

[ERK123]

I'm just trying to not have to reapply again 🙁

Here's my next question: to my understanding most (if not all?) DO schools are private. However, I'm finding on their websites that they give preferential treatment to residents of their state or neighboring states. Is this the case for all of them, even the ones who don't advertise it on their website? Did I just waste a ton of money applying to schools like Rocky Vista if I'm not from anywhere near Colorado?

You may be interested in this report by AACOM that lists the number of matriculants by state for each school. Keep in mind this is matriculants, and not the number of students accepted. The latter information is not available in any publication that I know of.

http://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/data-and-trends/2014_MatCOMState.pdf?sfvrsn=6

 

[ERK123]

Is it normal for students to apply +15 schools or is this just SDN being SDN? At my UG the students always applied <10

I think it depends on the strength of an applicants application, and state of residence.

 

[blah12346497]

.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

I'd like to post my experience mostly to sooth the minds of the "ZOMG I AM APPLYING A MONTH AFTER THE SUBMIT DATE AM I TOO LATE OMG MY LIFE MIGHT BE OVER" crowd.

Graduated undergrad 2006 with 3.38 cgpa and a 3.18 sgpa. Took MCAT in July of last year with a 30 (10/10/10). Took two classes fall semester 2014 to boost GPA to 3.43/3.28 (yes in the middle of the application cycle).

EC's: College swimmer and water polo, 6 years in a military medical unit with multiple decorations and awards, volunteering with roller derby and special olympics and other miscellaneous local activities, shadowing in ER, FM and peripheral/cardiac interventionist atmospheres.

AACOMAS was verified in mid November of 2014. Started receiving secondaries within a week. Got my first interview at LECOM-Erie in January. Further interviews were received from VCOM-CC, KCOM, ATSU-Arizona, and MUCOM. Was placed on interview hold at DMU-COM, CCOM's Chicago and Arizona Campus.

Interview at LECOM was weird- group interview and it snowed like 12 inches the day of the interview. I never heard back from them, which is apparently something they are well known for. Interviewed at KCOM on a Monday and was accepted on that Friday, had already paid for the flight for the VCOM-CC interview so I went and was accepted there as well. I accepted the KCOM acceptance and start in a month (holy !@#$). Turned down all other interviews.

Advice for interviews: Be confident, have conviction and be able to use that confidence and conviction to advocate for yourself. Remember even though its an important day, it is another day. Meaning get plenty of sleep the night before and eat the same breakfast you would eat the day of. Be friendly to everyone from fellow interviewees to the schools janitorial staff, not just because you think you're being watched- but because being rude is a character flaw and you shouldn't do it. Wear a professional suit, but don't be afraid of yourself- so if you'd wear plaid, wear a normal shirt with a semi-conservative plaid tie.

So there you go. I applied late and got in, I might have gotten lucky but at least that might answer some peoples question of "I wont be able to apply till July...SHOULD I JUST GO AHEAD AND KILL MYSELF." Don't do that, especially if you're military...I don't want to have to sit through more suicide prevention briefings.

 

[mk2015]

So far, have 8 DO schools and about 25 MD with cGPA 3.85, sGPA 3.75 and MCAT 29 (10/8/11).

 

[user3]

I'm just trying to not have to reapply again 🙁

Here's my next question: to my understanding most (if not all?) DO schools are private. However, I'm finding on their websites that they give preferential treatment to residents of their state or neighboring states. Is this the case for all of them, even the ones who don't advertise it on their website? Did I just waste a ton of money applying to schools like Rocky Vista if I'm not from anywhere near Colorado?

3.38 cgpa, 3.47 sgpa 26 mcat

31 schools.....

high anxiety of still not getting in anywhere

3.4x/3.4x 25 MCAT - 22 schools

Also high anxiety of not getting in anywhere.

read this-

You will be completely fine. Let me tell you my very fast story... And if you want you could probably find my WAMC post. My stats going into this round were 3.2 cgpa and sgpa with a 26 mcat . I then retook the mcat in August and got a 29. Pre-new mcat I received around 7 II And post I was closer to 10-11 and at the end of the day around 7 acceptances. I am not telling this story to brag but to give you hope that you will be just fine. Apply broadly and be open to anything.

 

[mathnerd88]

I'd like to post my experience mostly to sooth the minds of the "ZOMG I AM APPLYING A MONTH AFTER THE SUBMIT DATE AM I TOO LATE OMG MY LIFE MIGHT BE OVER" crowd.

Graduated undergrad 2006 with 3.38 cgpa and a 3.18 sgpa. Took MCAT in July of last year with a 30 (10/10/10). Took two classes fall semester 2014 to boost GPA to 3.43/3.28 (yes in the middle of the application cycle).

EC's: College swimmer and water polo, 6 years in a military medical unit with multiple decorations and awards, volunteering with roller derby and special olympics and other miscellaneous local activities, shadowing in ER, FM and peripheral/cardiac interventionist atmospheres.

AACOMAS was verified in mid November of 2014. Started receiving secondaries within a week. Got my first interview at LECOM-Erie in January. Further interviews were received from VCOM-CC, KCOM, ATSU-Arizona, and MUCOM. Was placed on interview hold at DMU-COM, CCOM's Chicago and Arizona Campus.

Interview at LECOM was weird- group interview and it snowed like 12 inches the day of the interview. I never heard back from them, which is apparently something they are well known for. Interviewed at KCOM on a Monday and was accepted on that Friday, had already paid for the flight for the VCOM-CC interview so I went and was accepted there as well. I accepted the KCOM acceptance and start in a month (holy !@#$). Turned down all other interviews.

Advice for interviews: Be confident, have conviction and be able to use that confidence and conviction to advocate for yourself. Remember even though its an important day, it is another day. Meaning get plenty of sleep the night before and eat the same breakfast you would eat the day of. Be friendly to everyone from fellow interviewees to the schools janitorial staff, not just because you think you're being watched- but because being rude is a character flaw and you shouldn't do it. Wear a professional suit, but don't be afraid of yourself- so if you'd wear plaid, wear a normal shirt with a semi-conservative plaid tie.

So there you go. I applied late and got in, I might have gotten lucky but at least that might answer some peoples question of "I wont be able to apply till July...SHOULD I JUST GO AHEAD AND KILL MYSELF." Don't do that, especially if you're military...I don't want to have to sit through more suicide prevention briefings.

I agree that people CAN still get in applying late. The problem is that waiting too long only decreases your chances. It is still not a good idea to apply later in the cycle. To maximize your chances, you need to apply early. If these schools weren't rolling, then I would agree that applying later does NOT affect your chances. However, most of the DO schools have rolling admissions, which means applying later DOES decrease your chances.

If you have well above average stats for DO schools, then there is more buffer applying later. For those with average stats or lower, applying later does NO favors for you and makes it worse. As all the seats get filled up, DO schools will start only choosing people with better stats.

Your MCAT score is well above average, so you did have some buffer in applying for DO schools. I would bet that if you applied earlier, you would've gotten more interviews with the same stats.

Applying in May, June, July is considered early still, as DO's don't offer interview spots until at least August.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

I agree that people CAN still get in applying late. The problem is that waiting too long only decreases your chances. It is still not a good idea to apply later in the cycle. To maximize your chances, you need to apply early. If these schools weren't rolling, then I would agree that applying later does NOT affect your chances. However, most of the DO schools have rolling admissions, which means applying later DOES decrease your chances.

If you have well above average stats for DO schools, then there is more buffer applying later. For those with average stats or lower, applying later does NO favors for you and makes it worse. As all the seats get filled up, DO schools will start only choosing people with better stats.

Thank you mathnerd88 for saying what we all already know! Gee I'll have to think of that next time I try to take some of the needless fear and neuroticism out of these already stressed pre-meds lives, you will be there to remind us that the sign above the gate that late applicatants pass through reads "abandon hope, all ye who enter here."

 

[mathnerd88]

Thank you mathnerd88 for saying what we all already know! Gee I'll have to think of that next time I try to take some of the needless fear and neuroticism out of these already stressed pre-meds lives, you will be there to remind us that the sign above the gate that late applicatants pass through reads "abandon hope, all ye who enter here."

Well, I wasn't as lucky as you. I had a 3.71 cGPA and a 3.65 sGPA with a 31 MCAT, and did not get a single interview even though my application was completed by September (this was MD.) I'm a firm believer now that applying early is key. I can't make that same mistake this year. I only applied to schools that were in my range in MSAR. No Ivies. I had a friend with a 4.0 GPA and a 35 MCAT and applied to MD schools in September. Only got 1 interview and luckily got in.

I had that same mentality that it was okay to apply a little later. This is my experience, and I believe this is what happens to most people based on what I've read on SDN and friends. I don't want to incite panic here, but it is in everyone's best interest to apply as early as possible.

Not all people actually know this either. Maybe DO is completely different, but I'm not going to take that chance.

 

[DrPatriot]

read this-

I needed to read that. I'm freaking out. Thanks User3!

 

[MightBeACylon439]

Well, I wasn't as lucky as you. I had a 3.71 cGPA and a 3.65 sGPA with a 31 MCAT, and did not get a single interview even though my application was completed by September (this was MD.) I'm a firm believer now that applying early is key. I can't make that same mistake this year. I only applied to schools that were in my range in MSAR. No Ivies. I had a friend with a 4.0 GPA and a 35 MCAT and applied to MD schools in September. Only got 1 interview and luckily got in.

I had that same mentality that it was okay to apply a little later. This is my experience, and I believe this is what happens to most people based on what I've read on SDN and friends. I don't want to incite panic here, but it is in everyone's best interest to apply as early as possible.

Not all people actually know this either.

1. You applied EXTREMELY LATE in the MD cycle with AVERAGE MD stats. The DO cycle is different in both logistics and stats, which is why I posted this on a Pre-DO forum and not the allo forum.
2. How many schools did you apply to? Did you apply to the right schools with your stats? Did you apply to any DO schools at all (from your post I am assuming this is a no, but I don't like assuming). I suppose I should also mention that I applied only DO, knowing that my GPA and timing would not have allowed me any chances on the allo side. I did my research and made sure I knew what I was doing even though I applied late, if you didn't do your research (which it really doesn't sound like you did) then that is your fault. If anyone else is reading this then they are on the right track as far as doing their research and due diligence in applying to medical school, I applaud them for that, and urge them to do further research.