How many people with high MCATs actually end up matriculating to DO schools?

[WhyMee2]

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I scored a 523 on the MCAT, but my low GPA (3.1 cumulative, 3.2 science) will probably limit me to DO schools only.

I'm just trying to figure out how many people with high MCATs actually end up matriculating to DO schools. Would it be a waste of my MCAT score? Should I just bite the bullet and go for an SMP?

 

[Cawolf]

That depends on the rest of your application. Clinical experience, upward trend, life experience, time since graduation, research, volunteering, and other factors will be the determinants. If you simply have a low UG GPA and just finished, you will be more limited. If you graduated a while ago and have been doing well more recently, you have more application freedom.

 

[samac]

You could apply DO and probably get it. Usually we have one or the other, a decent GPA or decent MCAT. Some people (me) are just kind of mediocre for both.
You can do DO if you want to.

 

[WhyMee2]

That depends on the rest of your application. Clinical experience, upward trend, life experience, time since graduation, research, volunteering, and other factors will be the determinants. If you simply have a low UG GPA and just finished, you will be more limited. If you graduated a while ago and have been doing well more recently, you have more application freedom.

It's mix of A's B's and C's with no real pattern. It's due to poorly managed bipolar disorder. When I'm feeling fine, I can get A's in every class.

 

[Cawolf]

It's mix of A's B's and C's with no real pattern. It's due to poorly managed bipolar disorder. When I'm feeling fine, I can get A's in every class.

And you graduated recently? You have similar stats to me (applied this cycle), but my GPA had a strong upward trend. If you just finished school, and really want to do MD, some gap years may suit you.

 

[LuluLovesMe]

And you graduated recently? You have similar stats to me (applied this cycle), but my GPA had a strong upward trend. If you just finished school, and really want to do MD, some gap years may suit you.

How many interviews did you end up getting Cawolf? do you have an MDApps? 😳

 

[Cawolf]

How many interviews did you end up getting Cawolf? do you have an MDApps? 😳

I am very pleased with how my cycle went. I will PM you, but I will say that I ended up with some great DO and MD choices!

 

[GrapesofRath]

To answer the question

https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/data-and-trends/2014_Mat.pdf?sfvrsn=12

88 people last year matriculated into DO schools who hit 35+ on the MCAT. That amounts to 1.4% of matriculants. Note not a single matriculant last year hit 40 on the MCAT. There were 280 people who applied to DO schools who hit 35+ on the MCAT. My guess is many of them who didnt matriculate simply got into MD programs, not that they were largely rejected from all DOs.

About 21% of DO matriculants hit 30 on the MCAT or higher to give more perspective. About 20% fail to hit 25.

 

[Cawolf]

@GrapesofRath I wish I had seen that this past summer. I may have reconsidered my DO strategy, as I definitely applied to too many!

 

[WhyMee2]

To answer the question

https://www.aacom.org/docs/default-source/data-and-trends/2014_Mat.pdf?sfvrsn=12

88 people last year matriculated into DO schools who hit 35+ on the MCAT. That amounts to 1.4% of matriculants. Note not a single matriculant last year hit 40 on the MCAT. There were 280 people who applied to DO schools who hit 35+ on the MCAT. My guess is many of them who didnt matriculate simply got into MD programs, not that they were largely rejected from all DOs.

About 21% of DO matriculants hit 30 on the MCAT or higher to give more perspective. About 20% fail to hit 25.

Wow so that's 88 out of 6465 matriculants or just over 1.3%

It certainly feels like I would be wasting my MCAT score if I apply to DO schools.

 

[Lawpy]

I scored a 523 on the MCAT, but my low GPA (3.1 cumulative, 3.2 science) will probably limit me to DO schools only.

I'm just trying to figure out how many people with high MCATs actually end up matriculating to DO schools. Would it be a waste of my MCAT score? Should I just bite the bullet and go for an SMP?

I think with strong ECs and strong research, you can apply MD-only. Few friends of mine did that and got IIs and acceptances to even the top tiers.

Strong recent upward GPA trend also helps significantly (aim for a year or two)

 

[GrapesofRath]

Wow so that's 88 out of 6465 matriculants or just over 1.3%

It certainly feels like I would be wasting my MCAT score if I apply to DO schools.

Historically a little less than half of applicants with your stats who applied to MD schools were successful. Much of your odds will be directly tied to the reasons behind the discordance in your GPA and MCAT score and how you have addressed/overcome them(ie with a strong recent academic performance)

But yes only a handful of people(if that) matriculate into DO schools with your MCAT score.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

@Mad Jack had a 3.8/35 and he matriculated at DO school. Just keep in mind that he's actually a ghost, so this example may not be statistically relevant.

 

[asturner91]

I'm applying this cycle with a 36 (12/12/12) and an overall GPA of 3.1 which includes my Masters. I've got good to great ECs with a story. I've had 5 II (3 MD and 2 DO). I had an acceptance at DO about a month ago and I think I have a shot at an MD acceptance within the next month or so. So there's my anecdote.

 

[baratheonfire]

I scored a 523 on the MCAT, but my low GPA (3.1 cumulative, 3.2 science) will probably limit me to DO schools only.

I'm just trying to figure out how many people with high MCATs actually end up matriculating to DO schools. Would it be a waste of my MCAT score? Should I just bite the bullet and go for an SMP?

I have a bad GPA too (3.3 sgpa and cgpa, want to get it to 3.5 by next semester). How did you prep?

 

[mehc012]

I'm applying this cycle with a 36 (12/12/12) and an overall GPA of 3.1 which includes my Masters. I've got good to great ECs with a story. I've had 5 II (3 MD and 2 DO). I had an acceptance at DO about a month ago and I think I have a shot at an MD acceptance within the next month or so. So there's my anecdote.

Wait, how does that gpa include your Masters? In AMCAS, undergrad and grad gpas are separated.

It's mix of A's B's and C's with no real pattern. It's due to poorly managed bipolar disorder. When I'm feeling fine, I can get A's in every class.

I had a similar-looking trend (for similar, though not identical reasons). I also had an etOH IA freshman year (about 6-7yrs ago at time of application). To throw my own anecdote into the mix:
cGPA upon graduation: a bit under 3.2
gpa during postbacc work: 4.0
final cGPA: 3.3
MCAT: 14/12/14 (40)
Tons of recent clinical experience, some research/volunteering, etc. Tons of non-medically related ECs from my pre-premed days.

Applied to 25 MD schools, 5 interviews, no acceptances thus far. Should've thrown some DO apps in the mix, because it's not looking like it will be a successful cycle for me. :/

There are definitely some success stories, but at the end of the day statistics are statistics. Even if you do everything right from here on out, there are no guarantees things will work out for you in the end. The application cycle is more exhausting and expensive than it looks from the outside, so you want to give it your one single, best, shot. Good luck to you.

 

[LuluLovesMe]

Wait, how does that gpa include your Masters? In AMCAS, undergrad and grad gpas are separated.


I had a similar-looking trend (for similar, though not identical reasons). I also had an etOH IA freshman year (about 6-7yrs ago at time of application). To throw my own anecdote into the mix:
cGPA upon graduation: a bit under 3.2
gpa during postbacc work: 4.0
final cGPA: 3.3
MCAT: 14/12/14 (40)
Tons of recent clinical experience, some research/volunteering, etc. Tons of non-medically related ECs from my pre-premed days.

Applied to 25 MD schools, 5 interviews, no acceptances thus far. Should've thrown some DO apps in the mix, because it's not looking like it will be a successful cycle for me. :/

There are definitely some success stories, but at the end of the day statistics are statistics. Even if you do everything right from here on out, there are no guarantees things will work out for you in the end. The application cycle is more exhausting and expensive than it looks from the outside, so you want to give it your one single, best, shot. Good luck to you.

With 5 Interviews, you're bound to get an acceptance.

I wish I could say the same for 2

 

[Goro]

It really depends upon how fast you wish to be a doctor.

If you're boning for that MD degree, then the SMP is for you. Keep in mind that you have to ace it.

An MCAT score isn't "wasted" if your GPA suggests that you might fail out of med school.

I scored a 523 on the MCAT, but my low GPA (3.1 cumulative, 3.2 science) will probably limit me to DO schools only.

I'm just trying to figure out how many people with high MCATs actually end up matriculating to DO schools. Would it be a waste of my MCAT score? Should I just bite the bullet and go for an SMP?

 

[Mad Jack]

You could apply DO and probably get it. Usually we have one or the other, a decent GPA or decent MCAT. Some people (me) are just kind of mediocre for both.
You can do DO if you want to.

Some people are also pretty solid all around. Each class usually has a mix of those that are geographically limited, extremely interested in primary care, are "True Believers" in regard to OMM, or that just bombed out on the MD side of things but had decent stats and went DO to save themselves a year.

 

[Mad Jack]

@Mad Jack had a 3.8/35 and he matriculated at DO school. Just keep in mind that he's actually a ghost, so this example may not be statistically relevant.

OP specifically asked about people. I haven't been people for hundreds of years.

 

[LuluLovesMe]

Some people are also pretty solid all around. Each class usually has a mix of those that are geographically limited, extremely interested in primary care, are "True Believers" in regard to OMM, or that just bombed out on the MD side of things but had decent stats and went DO to save themselves a year.

Of the people who had decent stats but went DO to save themselves a year, do any express regrets?

Which group do you fall into?

 

[Mad Jack]

Of the people who had decent stats but went DO to save themselves a year, do any express regrets?

Which group do you fall into?

The saving a year category- I didn't have my app together in time for MD.

In hindsight, I wish I'd gotten an MD app together earlier, I just hadn't expected my performance to be as high as it was on the MCAT, despite my average on the AAMC officials being a 35. It would make a lot of the programs I'm interested in a sure shot versus a fight. Still wouldn't give up a year to go MD over DO though.

 

[deleted659912]

I think it's completely possible to get an MD acceptance if you apply widely and have good ECs. I don't think DO schools will hold your MCAT against you since your GPA is low.