I'm asking you b/c the pre-DOs would kill me-

[LCspark18]

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I've applied to 15 MD and 1 DO schools. My MCAT score is ok: 30, but GPA low:3.2 due to a rough year (expl. in my PS). I'd LOVE to get in ANY one of the MD schools, but would be cool with going DO if I don't get in MD. I received MSUCOM's 2ndary, & it asks for "special LOR forms" & a survey of my experience with osteo med. None of the profs from whom I requested LOR know anything about a specific committment or understanding I may have to osteo med- a key request , & I would present a blank record of osteo experience. I also know that these profs would not just make up a whole glowing story about me "the super pre-DO!" to fit the format. Also, to meet their premed reqs, I must take an addtnl soc sci class I hadn't planned on. I have strong application otherwise, & guess I feel like this is a lot of work & trouble for an only semi-satisfactory 2ndary to my backup school. However, this IS only my backup, so should I just do the best I can w/it or forget about it?

 

[meanderson]

Have you worked with a DO before? Can you get a LOR from a DO? Do you have any experience in osteopathic medicine? If the answer is no to all of these, I doubt you are a competitive DO applicant.

I don't have any of these either, and that's why I'm not applying to DO school. Yeah, the admitted stats are a bit lower, but in some ways DO schools are even more selective. All but 2 DO schools require a DO letter of rec, and from what I understand this isn't really flexible(they might take just an MD rec if you have sig experience in healthcare).

 

[tBw]

hum. well, shadowing a DO a couple of times to get an additional DO rec letter is not actually terribly difficult (DOs are very used to such requests because so many schools have required letters).

However, the purpose of all this is to assess your genuine interest in DO versus using it as a backup to MD. If all you can provide is a recent letter from a DO with whom you only volunteered post-application then it's not going to look like you really are interested in DO practice or philosophy. It certainly does sound from your post like you don't really want a DO.

How much extra did applying to this one DO school cost you? I imagine a couple of hundred? It would have been cheaper to add just one MD to AMCAS if you really weren't going to follow through with letters and classes. But I guess thats just commenting on the horse thats already bolted....

 

[Doc AdamK in 2006]

It will be tough to get in also because you are only applying to 1 DO school

What are you going to say to them during the interview. "So tBw why did you only apply to one school."

I hope your answer won't be, "well for a backup"

There are some people really committed to being DOs. Don't take a spot that you really don't want

DO school like it when you apply to more than 1 DO school

AK

 

[tBw]

Originally posted by Doc AdamK in 2006

What are you going to say to them during the interview. "So tBw why did you only apply to one school."

hopefully he/she will say "who? my name is LCspark18...."

 

[LCspark18]

Ok, thanks for your replies. I guess it comes down to me being ill prepared- I wasn't thinking a few years ago about experiences I would need in addition to a paper application when I applied to DO schools as well (this was ignorance, not arrogance). However, I'll just have to live with this and work with what I have. I know I'm not the only who ends up applying MD and DO backup, and I think there's probably a lot of good DO docs who originally started out strongly wanting MDs but having a true change of focus and do a wonderful job today. So, I'll just get to work and if they deem me understandably too inexperienced, I'll know I've at least shown as much interest as I could have at this point (however overdue) and know that I gave it my best.

 

[Doc AdamK in 2006]

Then just apply to a couple more DO schools that are close to you

or you could just get 😡 and strom out of the interview...just joking


I just wanted to make you aware that all DO school ask that question at least the 6 I applied to

But I choose MD over DO. Tough decision though

AK

 

[LukeWhite]

Spark, I'd recommend applying to more osteopathic schools, since there's plenty of time and no disadvantage (aside from the money spent).

MSUCOM is *tough* to get into. I was roughly in your situation: MI resident, 30 MCAT, 3.4 GPA with 16 credits' worth of postbac at a 3.7 GPA. I met with the head admissions officer at MSUCOM who told me that I'd be a bit of a long shot to get in.

She did recommend some other osteopathic schools also, and I was thrilled enough with AZCOM that I never pursued the MSUCOM thing after finishing the secondary. MSUCOM is though, as you've deduced, really big on knowing a lot about osteopathy.

I'd shadow a DO for a week and get a letter of rec, immerse yourself in the DO/pre-DO boards here, and apply to some of the other DO schools if you have the inclination. Here's a limited list I'd recommend; the ones I'd apply to again if I knew I had a good shot of getting in and could realistically see myself going to, roughly in order of my own prefs:

AZCOM (Phoenix)
Kirksville (Missouri)
New England (Maine)
Nova (Fort Lauderdale)
CCOM (Chicago)

I've also heard good things about the new school at Virginia Tech, pretty good reports on Touro, and mixed reports on most of the rest.

 

[LCspark18]

Thanks so much. I am spending a good amount of time shadowing a DO doc this week and after a second look at my application, the situation isn't as dire as I had initially thought. For whatever strange reason in my mind, I did not include the fact that I had also applied to PCOM- actually, I did not mention it b/c compared to MSUCOM, it's WAY more expensive to go there and I wasn't sure if I would continue with it. ANYWAY, I appreciate your help and will keep in mind the things you have all said.

 

[trauma_junky]

No offense, but the DO stigma still exists. It may not be blatantly obvious, but it does. Most of the nurses I have dealt with have less faith in the DO's than MD's. In all the DO literature I've had mailed to me, they all brag how certain graduates have the respect of over x number of MD's in their area. I've worked with a handful of DO's and they are competent physicians. I personally don't want to have to ever explain being a DO or have that extra hurtle to jump to get into a surgical residency.

 

[DoctorDoogie4]

In response to the DO, your stats are fine. I would just reccomend getting a letter from a DO. This is not hard to attain. Just look up a DO, call their office, and explain your situation.

As for the stigma associated with a DO, that is a beaten subject. If you ask 10 people one question, you are bound to get 10 different answers. In short, I applied to both allopathic and osteopathic...got accepted to both fields and chose osteopathic. Talked to many program directors and most of them didn't care as long as I took and passed the USMLE. That is the biggest hurdle for DOs in my opinion (if you want to secure an allo training site). The COMLEX (osteo boards) don't have great correlation to the USMLE.

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

I didnt read your thread, but I just wanted to let you know that if nobody else does first that I am your executioner.

 

[anxiousmed]

Follow your heart...(and somewhat to what you have experience and have heard). For me, I was accepted to a DO school my first year applying while I was doing my MPH but I decided that allopathic was the way I wanted to go...it took another year but it all worked out. For me it was worth the effort.

 

[Su4n2]

LCSpark,

first of, yours is a legit question and would get great replies in the osteo board. i think they (including me) only hate trolls that ask questions in order to start a fight.

last year i was doing my mph and thinking that i would apply for 2004. i wasn't getting what i wanted out of the program, so i thought i would apply. problem was that it was in late dec and the md deadline in the NY area had passed (i had to stay in NY). so i applied to NYCOM, shaddowed a DO and got in. BUT i spinned every experience i ever had the DO way. HIV education? goes w/philosophy of prevention and maintaing health. Mph work? same thing. hospice? taught me to see people as individuals rather than diseases, etc. the DO letter was fine, they usually don't state how long u shaddowed and they are used to writing great letters. so don't sweat it. i think you might as well try, that's what i did. i said that if i didn't get in, i would at least have practice interviewing. good luck to you, you sound like a great candidate for either MD or DO. susan

oh, i was asked how many schools i applied to and said
'
just this one. it was fine

 

[LCspark18]

Thanks- your advice and encouragement were greatly appreciated anxiousmed and Susan. It truly helped a lot 🙂 This would have to be my ghost thanking you, however, having been executed by Pre-Dent-david😉 After much thoughtful preparation, my MSUCOM secondary goes out tomorrow, and I excitedly wait for the transmission of my AMCAS primary.

By the way, in regard to previous other posts about letters of rec from DOs, I'll be sending two of them (family friends) and one from my pre-med advisor.

 

[e-spin]

Originally posted by meanderson
Have you worked with a DO before? Can you get a LOR from a DO? Do you have any experience in osteopathic medicine? If the answer is no to all of these, I doubt you are a competitive DO applicant.

Hmmm...I dont think that is necessarily true. Of course I only have anecdotal evidence. My bf applied to DO schools with ZERO exposure to DOs, in fact his physcian LOR was from an MD! Anyhoo...he got an interview at MSUCOM, sadly is waitlisted, but got into a few other DO schools. BTW he is a NY resident. Take that at face value

So LCSpark you are from GB??!! Me too...am in Philly right now but will be returning to MI to attend Wayne State Med!! Your MCAT looks good and if you have strong ECs it can help to balance out your GPA....definitely apply to more than one DO school if you are truly interested.

Best of Luck!!!
Spin

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[LCspark18]

Hey Spin! Yeah I'm from GB- great city of nothing!😛 Actually, it's getting a lot better- you should be nicely surprised by some new developments when you return home. That's awesome that you're going to Wayne State- that's my #1 choice and would be a dream come true. Anyway, congrats and if you have any further tips or words of wisdom, I'd be happy to receive it!

 

[e-spin]

Haha...really, GB is better?...did you go to GBHS...you didnt go to Powers, did you 😛 ??? I am a nontrad so I been away for awhile but if you went to GBHS you may know me or one of my sibs. I can't imagine moving back!! i love Philly...but alas, you gotta do what you gotta do right?
As far as wisdom... you'd be asking the wrong person 😉 I dont know if you looked at my stats on some other threads but if you did you can tell that i am not an exceptional candidate on paper...MCAT 27, 3.1 BCMP. 3.5 AO, and 4.0 Grad School (MS microbiology). But this is advice for ANYONE applying to med school...been positive and persistent...I graduated UG in 99 (yeah I am getting up there in yrs 😉)
If you dont get in the first time around.... and LC I dont see that happening for you...do what you need to do to strengthen your app. But for right now concentrate on procuring great LORs, continue with some ECs, and write great essays. BTW,MSU and Wayne both screen primaries to decide who is worthy of secondaries and both secondaries ask for more essays, if I remember correctly 2- 3 separate 1 pg essays each for both.
Anyway, if you wanna chat about GB or have other specif app questions let me know either via PM or email [email protected].

Peace
Spin😀 😀