How many schools are you applying to?

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How many DO schools are you applying to?

  • 1-4

    Votes: 34 10.7%

  • 5-8

    Votes: 58 18.3%

  • 9-12

    Votes: 47 14.8%

  • 13-16

    Votes: 60 18.9%

  • 17-20

    Votes: 38 12.0%

  • 21-24

    Votes: 25 7.9%

  • 25-28

    Votes: 20 6.3%

  • 29+

    Votes: 35 11.0%
  • Total voters
    317
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Mehd School said:
Ended up only applying to DO schools as I ran out of money and time.

With a 3.5/3.6/27 I applied to 12 schools and completed 10 secondaries. Got 8 ii and attended 2 of them. I wasted a lot of money on schools in the capacity that I basically sent secondaries to about 6 schools that statistically were safety schools for me. I wish I would have put some more heavy hitters on my list (namely OSU) but, both my fiance and I were lucky enough to be accepted to the same school and we couldn't be happier. The school I will be attending was my top choice from day one tied with NSU and LECOM-B.

Also, I also wish I would have done more research on the schools. I'll be frank, if I was only accepted to WCU I would have been in trouble, because under no circumstance would I attend that school and then I'd be stuck the next year checking the box that I've been accepted to a US school before. Do your homework, kids, and don't apply to a school you obviously wouldn't want to attend. I applied like I'd be lucky to get interviewed anywhere when in reality I was lucky enough to be in the driver's seat most of the application cycle. Be objective about your numbers.
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Just curious, what's wrong with WCU?
 
johnnycage377 said:
Just curious, what's wrong with WCU?
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To most people, probably nothing at all. I was severely underwhelmed from beginning to end when I interviewed in December. Everyone was nice and the students seemed happy enough, but there was just nothing to the school. I didn't get the feeling that the institution would prepare me well for residency and given their recent scrambling woes I may not be far off. During my interview I asked about their policies to ensure success on the comlex given their shaky track record and to my amazement the interviewers were rationalizing to themselves why the students did so poorly.

My point, using WCU as an example, was to simply be choosy as to where you apply if you have competitive numbers. Perhaps I'm being overly harsh and current students may be offended but that is not my intention. I saw a small list of flaws at that school that made me realize I could never feel good about attending there.
 
chizledfrmstone said:
If someone can help me find sources for OOS figures on other schools that would be great.
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OSU--86% in-state (about 15 OOS students/year)...http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/com/admissions/

metoo said:
Thank you for the advice!

BTW To all those who have given me advice in the past, thank you. SDN has been a big help.
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Yeah, 50% NA will be a benefit no matter where you apply. You might consider OSU-COM, they have the highest native enrollment of any of the DO schools, for obvious reasons. If you happen to be Chickasaw, I think there's even a scholarship available, not sure how much it is though.
 
I applied to 3 schools; I filled out all 3 secondaries.
I received interviews at all 3: ended up 2 waitlist and 1 acceptance.

I am soooo ready for school to start. 🙂
 
chizledfrmstone said:
There is a point of diminishing returns. I would say 13-17 schools is the best bang for your buck if you're planning to apply broadly.

The rest either have regional bias or something weird going on.

Regional bias:
OU-HCOM - Public and require 5 years service post graduation. You sign a contract for this that takes affect once you matriculate. [3] [4]
OSU - Public
MSU - Public and $80k OOS tuition. 86% are IS [5]
PNWU -
TCOM - Public and required to take 90% IS [2]
VCOM -
WVSOM -
Rowan - Public - 88% from NJ [1]

Others:
CCOM - Pretty tough to get into unless you have competitive stats.

[1] http://www.rowan.edu/som/about/index.html
[2] http://web.unthsc.edu/info/200679/admissions_and_outreach/1535/frequently_asked_questions
[3] http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/aid/fin_aid_ohio_residency.htm
[4] http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/admissions/contract.htm
[5] http://www.com.msu.edu/About/FactSheet3.htm

If someone can help me find sources for OOS figures on other schools that would be great.
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MSU OOS tuition is crazy but they do have OOS scholarship
 
My advice is to always apply to some backup schools even if you think you have competitive stats.
 
Mehd School said:
To most people, probably nothing at all. I was severely underwhelmed from beginning to end when I interviewed in December. Everyone was nice and the students seemed happy enough, but there was just nothing to the school. I didn't get the feeling that the institution would prepare me well for residency and given their recent scrambling woes I may not be far off. During my interview I asked about their policies to ensure success on the comlex given their shaky track record and to my amazement the interviewers were rationalizing to themselves why the students did so poorly.

My point, using WCU as an example, was to simply be choosy as to where you apply if you have competitive numbers. Perhaps I'm being overly harsh and current students may be offended but that is not my intention. I saw a small list of flaws at that school that made me realize I could never feel good about attending there.
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I see. Is there any resource you can use to compare match rates for different DO schools (or COMLEX data)? I am applying this cycle and would like to know how the different DO schools stack up against one another.
 
Well I feel extremely discouraged..(not that I don't everyday as a med school applicant), but I was only planning on applying to maybe four DO, 2 MD, and 4 PA programs because of money..I have low-avg stats and even this will put me far into debt especially after applying to 6 PA programs last year.I will qualify for fee waivers, but will that won't really help me apply to MANY schools….🙁
cGPA 3.35 sgpa 3.1, haven't taken the mcat yet, MA in PC office, lots of shadowing and volunteering, psych undergrad …am I wasting my time and pennies here?
 
malamed said:
Well I feel extremely discouraged..(not that I don't everyday as a med school applicant), but I was only planning on applying to maybe four DO, 2 MD, and 4 PA programs because of money..I have low-avg stats and even this will put me far into debt especially after applying to 6 PA programs last year.I will qualify for fee waivers, but will that won't really help me apply to MANY schools….🙁
cGPA 3.35 sgpa 3.1, haven't taken the mcat yet, MA in PC office, lots of shadowing and volunteering, psych undergrad …am I wasting my time and pennies here?
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What MD schools are you applying to and why MD/DO and PA? Did you apply for FAP?

I would honestly try to consolidate as much as possible.

For AACOMAS you're paying $175 flat fee + $35 for each school after the first one. Financially it's better to just take one route and apply 1 application. If you apply to 10 DO schools it will be $525.

If your MCAT comes back 26+ then go DO. I'm not sure which MD schools you're applying for but a 3.35/3.1 is pretty low unless your MCAT is 38+.
 
malamed said:
Well I feel extremely discouraged..(not that I don't everyday as a med school applicant), but I was only planning on applying to maybe four DO, 2 MD, and 4 PA programs because of money..I have low-avg stats and even this will put me far into debt especially after applying to 6 PA programs last year.I will qualify for fee waivers, but will that won't really help me apply to MANY schools….🙁
cGPA 3.35 sgpa 3.1, haven't taken the mcat yet, MA in PC office, lots of shadowing and volunteering, psych undergrad …am I wasting my time and pennies here?
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You are wasting your money applying to MD unless you get a crazy high MCAT. I think you should be fine for DO with a 25 or higher
 
Sorry should have clarified- I am applying to 2 Caribbean MD schools(Ross/SGU) and I am planning on crushing the MCAT. I'm applying to MD/PA/DO because I'am applying to programs that I like and programs my stats are acceptable for. I really like OMM, but I want to broaden my chances of getting in somewhere since they're slim to none anyway. Plus, my state has like 3 new PA program opening that are promising..Chapel Hill.. etc.
Should I just apply DO or wait another year after retakes for a higher sGPA?(assuming I DO rock the MCAT)
I already completed my PA application and paid for GRE scores for 1 school:/
 
Don't go to the Caribbean. Just retake courses until your gpa is acceptable for DO schools.

Being a PA is way different than being a DO/MD. It's probably a better career choice for many, but if you really want to be a doctor you should not hastily enroll in a PA program.
 
Just stumbled upon this thread so thought I'd share. 3.7c, 3.3ish sgpa. 29/28 MCAT. First gen and low income, lots of service, some social science research, top 30 institution. Applied senior year even though I probably should have beefed up the app. Applied to 14 MD, 5 DO. No MD interviews. 3 DO interviews, 2 acceptances (UNECOM, NYIT) and 1 waitlist (TUCOM CA), 1 I never heard from (Western), and CCOM rejected me right out of the gate. Hoping to get off the waitlist this month! Good luck to everyone as this cycle wraps up and to the new applicants!
 
drhouse107 said:
Just stumbled upon this thread so thought I'd share. 3.7c, 3.3ish sgpa. 29/28 MCAT. First gen and low income, lots of service, some social science research, top 30 institution. Applied senior year even though I probably should have beefed up the app. Applied to 14 MD, 5 DO. No MD interviews. 3 DO interviews, 2 acceptances (UNECOM, NYIT) and 1 waitlist (TUCOM CA), 1 I never heard from (Western), and CCOM rejected me right out of the gate. Hoping to get off the waitlist this month! Good luck to everyone as this cycle wraps up and to the new applicants!
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Congrats on your acceptances. Out of curiosity why are you hoping to get off the waitlist at TUCOM CA? UNECOM and NYIT aren't bad schools at all.
 
non-trad 3.5sgpa/3.3cgpa/3.9 postbacc/killer ec's/anticipating 28-31 MCAT

Applying to 30 schools, MD included.
 
O Grady said:
interview invite. 3.77c, 3.70s, 30 MCAT (10/9/11) Average-ish ECs
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You had really good stats, which explain you acceptances at every school you filled secondaries for. Great job 🙂
 
shim0shim said:
And how did that work for you? Did you get into NSU at the end?
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maybe my post was misleading. I did apply to other schools, but NSU was the only school that accepted me. But it was my number one choice for 2 years prior. Like I prayed everyday that I would get an acceptance to NSU, and it was the only med school to accept me...go figure. 🙂
 
Chillywilly said:
maybe my post was misleading. I did apply to other schools, but NSU was the only school that accepted me. But it was my number one choice for 2 years prior. Like I prayed everyday that I would get an acceptance to NSU, and it was the only med school to accept me...go figure. 🙂
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Are you an international student by any chance? Also, do you mind sharing your stats? I am asking all of this because NSU is also my top choice and has been for a very long time. I am an international applicant (from Canada) and really desperate for an NSU acceptance 🙁
 
chizledfrmstone said:
Congrats on your acceptances. Out of curiosity why are you hoping to get off the waitlist at TUCOM CA? UNECOM and NYIT aren't bad schools at all.
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Regional preferences, mostly. But I also really liked the public health focus of the school.
 
I qualified for fee waivers for both AMCAS and AACOMAS, so I'm applying to 15 MD and 3 DO since that is what is paid for. Anyone have any advice on which three DO schools best match my stats?
3.9 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA, 29 MCAT. I had PCOM, UNECOM, and Rowan but I just read about Rowan's heavy IS bias (I'm from Nebraska). Any ideas what I should swap it out for? My only regional preference is to avoid the south. I can't handle the killer heat!
 
Zelda840 said:
I qualified for fee waivers for both AMCAS and AACOMAS, so I'm applying to 15 MD and 3 DO since that is what is paid for. Anyone have any advice on which three DO schools best match my stats?
3.9 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA, 29 MCAT. I had PCOM, UNECOM, and Rowan but I just read about Rowan's heavy IS bias (I'm from Nebraska). Any ideas what I should swap it out for? My only regional preference is to avoid the south. I can't handle the killer heat!
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Maybe CCOM?

I'm applying to roughly 10 DOs and not sure yet about MDs. 3.7 cGPA, 3.6 sGPA, 27 MCAT w/ pending retake
 
Zelda840 said:
I qualified for fee waivers for both AMCAS and AACOMAS, so I'm applying to 15 MD and 3 DO since that is what is paid for. Anyone have any advice on which three DO schools best match my stats?
3.9 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA, 29 MCAT. I had PCOM, UNECOM, and Rowan but I just read about Rowan's heavy IS bias (I'm from Nebraska). Any ideas what I should swap it out for? My only regional preference is to avoid the south. I can't handle the killer heat!
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I laughed a little at your last sentence. You do know Philly gets pretty dang hot and just as humid as the South in the summer?! I'm not knocking it at all-I'm matriculating at PCOM this fall, and moving from Alaska.....needless to say, I'll need to learn to handle the heat 🙂 Just know you're not avoiding it with PCOM!
 
AkGrown84 said:
I laughed a little at your last sentence. You do know Philly gets pretty dang hot and just as humid as the South in the summer?! I'm not knocking it at all-I'm matriculating at PCOM this fall, and moving from Alaska.....needless to say, I'll need to learn to handle the heat 🙂 Just know you're not avoiding it with PCOM!
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I love the south, and the heat is the only reason for my love for the south 😀
 
AkGrown84 said:
I laughed a little at your last sentence. You do know Philly gets pretty dang hot and just as humid as the South in the summer?! I'm not knocking it at all-I'm matriculating at PCOM this fall, and moving from Alaska.....needless to say, I'll need to learn to handle the heat 🙂 Just know you're not avoiding it with PCOM!
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When When we left ak it was a big difference but again the summer in ak get hot so it was not that bad
 
Zelda840 said:
I qualified for fee waivers for both AMCAS and AACOMAS, so I'm applying to 15 MD and 3 DO since that is what is paid for. Anyone have any advice on which three DO schools best match my stats?
3.9 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA, 29 MCAT. I had PCOM, UNECOM, and Rowan but I just read about Rowan's heavy IS bias (I'm from Nebraska). Any ideas what I should swap it out for? My only regional preference is to avoid the south. I can't handle the killer heat!
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Hmm, I'm not sure the other DOs will be safe for you either. I'm from new england so I think that helped with unecom. Maybe nyit?
 
Last edited:
Zelda840 said:
I qualified for fee waivers for both AMCAS and AACOMAS, so I'm applying to 15 MD and 3 DO since that is what is paid for. Anyone have any advice on which three DO schools best match my stats?
3.9 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA, 29 MCAT. I had PCOM, UNECOM, and Rowan but I just read about Rowan's heavy IS bias (I'm from Nebraska). Any ideas what I should swap it out for? My only regional preference is to avoid the south. I can't handle the killer heat!
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DMU, KCUMB, Western U Lebanon, KCOM...

http://www.aacom.org/resources/e-ne...es/School-Map-acronyms-and-new-since-2000.gif
 
How are you guys choosing the schools ? Also, anyone know of an accurate and updated websites for gpa/mcat for DO schools
 
AKMCAT said:
How are you guys choosing the schools ? Also, anyone know of an accurate and updated websites for gpa/mcat for DO schools
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1.) Your state schools (1-2 schools)
2.) Private schools (take out the ones where you don't like the area, cost, facilities)
3.) Public school (if you can stand the higher tuition and have great grades or specifically match what the school wants).

There is no accurate list of GPA/MCAT for DO schools. Even stats on the school webpage are sometimes outdated.

Just choose programs that are solid and you will be fine.
 
Zelda840 said:
I qualified for fee waivers for both AMCAS and AACOMAS, so I'm applying to 15 MD and 3 DO since that is what is paid for. Anyone have any advice on which three DO schools best match my stats?
3.9 cGPA, 3.85 sGPA, 29 MCAT. I had PCOM, UNECOM, and Rowan but I just read about Rowan's heavy IS bias (I'm from Nebraska). Any ideas what I should swap it out for? My only regional preference is to avoid the south. I can't handle the killer heat!
Click to expand...
do not add any of those schools. KCOM, KCUMB, and DMU would be excellent choices. I would not bother with CCOM due to price.
 
Thanks for your post! I'm still in the midst of researching schools to see which I want to apply to. Your post and poll helped jog up some thinking juices.

Btw, what's II?
 
First time applying and applying to over 35+ schools due to very bad 1st mcat and mediocre 2nd mcat. GPa is borderline ok as well.
 
Well, consider it's already been bumped...OP, there is a huge difference between a 3.4 and 3.7 gpa..
 
Howlin_Radio said:
Well, consider it's already been bumped...OP, there is a huge difference between a 3.4 and 3.7 gpa..
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Yea difference between a 3.4 and a 3.7 is astronomical.

Difference between a 4.0 and a 3.7... not very much
 
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