I am applying to DO schools in combination with Allopathic schools. Need Help!

[IAmBlessed]

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Hello SDN! I am a former applicant for the 2015 cycle for admissions. It looks like from the result so far, I'm most likely not going to get accepted into any allopathic school 🙁. I'm not sure what happened, my mcat is a 31 (9verbal,11bs,11ps), my GPA is a 3.83 (3.7science gpa), and I graduated from a top 20 university. I am still adamant about medicine, so I am thinking about applying to some DO schools. I did some research and I found out that DO and MD are almost identical in how they are taught at school and how its actually practiced. My question to you is this.

As an applicant, how is applying to DO schools different from Allopathic schools? Would they accept all my science letters? Do we have to volunteer in different places? I have a physician letter from an MD thats being added to my application, but I'm afraid the DO admissions won't care for the insight of a physician thats not in the exact same field. Can somebody give me some information on this?

 

[costales]

You need to find out what happened.

 

[Mavs88]

An MD and a DO are in the same field. It's the same thing plus one. Anyway, that only real difference is that many schools require a DO letter. Your biggest hurdle is going to be explaining a good and real reason as to why you want to go for DO...not that you didn't get into MD.

Also, you may want to apply more broadly and to safety MD schools because your stats are pretty good.

 

[hallowmann]

You need to find out what happened.

This.

There isn't a huge difference in the app process. Become familiar with basic things like the history of osteopathic medicine, and if possible shadow a DO to get an LOR. Other than that, "why DO?" is the same question as "why medicine?". If you're asked to elaborate specifically on osteopathic principles, then maybe you'll have to talk about it, but it was only asked at 1 of my DO interviews.

 

[DoctorKrieger]

As an applicant, how is applying to DO schools different from Allopathic schools? Would they accept all my science letters? Do we have to volunteer in different places? I have a physician letter from an MD thats being added to my application, but I'm afraid the DO admissions won't care for the insight of a physician thats not in the exact same field. Can somebody give me some information on this?

Like others said, find out what happened this cycle. Did you even get interviews?

For the app process itself, I'm sure you're aware that DO schools (except TCOM) use AACOMAS instead of AMCAS like the MD schools. DO schools will accept the same science letters (although check with each school to see what they require). Most will accept an MD letter, but a few insist on a DO letter. Volunteering? Nothing different there.

 

[AM508]

As far as finding out what happened, that is always a good idea. It seems like this application cycle has been pretty tough. I had similar stats to the OP along with a career in healthcare and got 1 II from an MD school that would have cost $60K per year and 12 II from DO schools, so obviously nothing wrong with my application, letters..etc. I know in my case my MD selections were very narrowly tailored for schools that have some rural aspect. This is likely what limited my application. @IAmBlessed , how broadly did you apply as that could clearly be the issue?

 

[JimmyB123]

As far as finding out what happened, that is always a good idea. It seems like this application cycle has been pretty tough. I had similar stats to the OP along with a career in healthcare and got 1 II from an MD school that would have cost $60K per year and 12 II from DO schools, so obviously nothing wrong with my application, letters..etc. I know in my case my MD selections were very narrowly tailored for schools that have some rural aspect. This is likely what limited my application. @IAmBlessed , how broadly did you apply as that could clearly be the issue?

Sounds like this was somewhat normal this year then. I had similar stats to OP, no luck at MD schools, but interviews/acceptances at every DO school I applied to. MD admissions are just really difficult.

 

[jqueb29]

Sounds like this was somewhat normal this year then. I had similar stats to OP, no luck at MD schools, but interviews/acceptances at every DO school I applied to. MD admissions are just really difficult.

Yeah I think this is the new normal and has been since at least the Class of 2018 cycle, based on my experience. I had very similar stats to OP. Applied to 18 MD schools, got 2 interviews, and 1 acceptance. Applied to 14 DO schools, got II's at all 14, and got accepted at all 3 of the ones I interviewed at before I started declining the rest of my DO II's.

 

[ortnakas]

Agree with finding out what happened. I had slightly lower stats than you last cycle, with my retake MCAT in January, and received three interviews (two wait list, one acceptance).

Were you rejected pre- or post- interview? Are you on pre-interview hold anywhere or on any wait lists? Do you have any red flags?

 

[Desired Member]

You need to find out what happened.

I have almost identical stats (not at top 20 undergrad though...more like top 100) and only MD invite I got was state school and I just got rejected from there. Probably because im not a legacy or an URM...and im a first time applicant...just an average kid with no sob story to sell them

 

[Goro]

Dig up my post on guide to DO applications in this forum. Then dig up my guide to med school applications.

Hello SDN! I am a former applicant for the 2015 cycle for admissions. It looks like from the result so far, I'm most likely not going to get accepted into any allopathic school 🙁. I'm not sure what happened, my mcat is a 31 (9verbal,11bs,11ps), my GPA is a 3.83 (3.7science gpa), and I graduated from a top 20 university. I am still adamant about medicine, so I am thinking about applying to some DO schools. I did some research and I found out that DO and MD are almost identical in how they are taught at school and how its actually practiced. My question to you is this.

As an applicant, how is applying to DO schools different from Allopathic schools? Would they accept all my science letters? Do we have to volunteer in different places? I have a physician letter from an MD thats being added to my application, but I'm afraid the DO admissions won't care for the insight of a physician thats not in the exact same field. Can somebody give me some information on this?