is 501 terrible?

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pinay58

pinay58

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just wondering if a 501 was a terrible score. i'm going to take it again in may, but i got a 501 considering i work full time night shift in the hospital lab.
 
It's not like all doors will be closed to you, however, not a good score. You know that this will mean that you need to cut back on your hours at work to get your score up the second time.

If this current score is coupled with a 3.6, you will still be fine for a large amount of schools. You need to make sure to weigh your MCAT to your GPA to see how you fair. If this is your first time taking it, then a retake is highly suggested.
 
Thanks! I actually do have a 3.6, so that makes me feel better. I know I need to retake it, but I was just wondering if I'd be able to get into a school even if I didn't
 
pinay58 said:
Thanks! I actually do have a 3.6, so that makes me feel better. I know I need to retake it, but I was just wondering if I'd be able to get into a school even if I didn't
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I believe you still would, your best shot would be for the more mid-tier DO schools (if you have URM status, this might change things a little). Increasing that MCAT score will open up a lot more doors.
 
pinay58 said:
just wondering if a 501 was a terrible score. i'm going to take it again in may, but i got a 501 considering i work full time night shift in the hospital lab.
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Just to be clear and honest: I don't think anyone is going to care about context. If you take it again, you need to improve and you can't frame it as "good given.... (your cat died, you were sick, etc)." A retake could do a lot for your chances, but make it count.
 
I think a 501 is fine! I had a lower GPA and MCAT (3.4 and 25) and I got 6 interviews. Retaking could make you more competitive, but I don't think its necessary.
 
It really depends on which schools you want to go to. For the most established schools, a 501 is on the low side. For the new schools and some mid-tier schools, a 501 is acceptable.
 
docisthegoal said:
I had a 501 with a 3.67 cGPA and 3.6ish sGPA and received 8 interviews. I ended up going to Nova so if you just kill the interviews and have a broad range of ECs/good LORs/good essays you should get some bites.
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Exactly. There is SO much more than MCAT and GPA. Good essays, LORs, and broad range of ECs with a good interview is what it is going to take. But a 3.6 and 26 should be fine for most DO schools.
 
Halcyon45 said:
Exactly. There is SO much more than MCAT and GPA. Good essays, LORs, and broad range of ECs with a good interview is what it is going to take. But a 3.6 and 26 should be fine for most DO schools.
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Many DO schools have average MCAT's of 29-30, and it would only go up. One of the ways to get the DO out of the "bad" stigma compared to MD, is to raise its standards.

A 26 may be fine last cycle, and for some applicants this cycle, but will definitely start becoming more difficult in the future. The standards are steadily increasing at a faster rate than MD schools.

And I agree, there is so much more than MCAT and GPA, but medical school curriculum is rigorous, and having to pass the boards is not for everyone, and more difficult for those who have both low MCAT and low GPA. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future, COMLEX will be replaced with USMLE for all DO students.
 
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mathnerd88 said:
Many DO schools have average MCAT's of 29-30, and it would only go up. One of the ways to get the DO out of the "bad" stigma compared to MD, is to raise its standards.

A 26 may be fine last cycle, and for some applicants this cycle, but will definitely start becoming the more difficult in the future. The standards are steadily increasing at a faster rate than MD schools.

And I agree, there is so much more than MCAT and GPA, but medical school curriculum is rigorous, and having to pass the boards is not for everyone, and more difficult for those who have both low MCAT and low GPA. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future, COMLEX will be replaced with USMLE for all DO students.
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If they replace the Comlex with the USMLE, I'd be shocked. Less $$$ to be made
 
MADD!!! said:
So I keep reading things here like "More established schools" or "Mid-tier DO schools."

Sorry to burst people's bubbles, but I don't think the word "tiers" can be applied to DO programs. There is no formal ranking system for DO's, and as far as I've learned residencies don't think students from DO school X comes from a better/worse institution that students from DO school Y.

Although this post may offend some people who attend DO programs that are considered the "best" by some, I think it's one of the beauties of DO school. We're all equal at the end.

And on another note, unfortunately, if you guys really want to see rankings then you will see every DO program is ranked at the bottom tier (with the exception of MSUCOM) or just considered unranked.
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Practically speaking this is incorrect, and I see this attitude incorrectly guide pre-meds during the application cycle. Although there are no "performance" ranks, there are regional biases, and they essentially count for the same. Therefore, if you graduate from a school that has a solid local reputation, and you want to do your residency there, then hell yes that school is "better" for you. MSUCOM, PCOM, and KCUMB, for example, are considered top-tier, not only because of research initiatives and others, but because they are locally respected by the surrounding institutions.

Are you trying to tell me that if I want to match in Socal I have the same chances whether I graduate from LMU-DCOM or WesternU & Touro-CA? Cause I don't think that's the case and therefore in my scenario WesternU is better ranked than LMU-DCOM. And it doesn't even have to be especially subjective, since I think most people would agree that Socal is a objectively more favorable place to live than Tennessee.
 
MADD!!! said:
So I keep reading things here like "More established schools" or "Mid-tier DO schools."

Sorry to burst people's bubbles, but I don't think the word "tiers" can be applied to DO programs. There is no formal ranking system for DO's, and as far as I've learned residencies don't think students from DO school X comes from a better/worse institution that students from DO school Y.

Although this post may offend some people who attend DO programs that are considered the "best" by some, I think it's one of the beauties of DO school. We're all equal at the end.

And on another note, unfortunately, if you guys really want to see rankings then you will see every DO program is ranked at the bottom tier (with the exception of MSUCOM) or just considered unranked.
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Just because you opened a school slapped D.O. on it doesnt make that school equal to schools that have established a reputation and have large alumni bases. LUCOM and MSUCOM aren't equal. There are hospitals that take grads from my school and not lucom.
 
Not a great score, and you can write off the coastal Touros, CCOM and AZCOM, but plenty of other schools will take you with it. I appreciate that you're working full time; I will be favoring applicants with work histories in the future.

EDIT: DocSyn, I agree 100% with you, but for accuracy's sake, LUCOM has yet to graduate a class.


pinay58 said:
just wondering if a 501 was a terrible score. i'm going to take it again in may, but i got a 501 considering i work full time night shift in the hospital lab.
Click to expand...
 
When applying to DO schools, is it mandatory to have a DO letter of recommendation? I know it varies from school to school - but I was looking on the aacomas website and I couldn't find the exact information whether or not they require a DO letter. They just say you can submit up to 6 letters but nothing on whether or not they have to be MD or DO. Thanks!
 
medschoolplease123 said:
When applying to DO schools, is it mandatory to have a DO letter of recommendation? I know it varies from school to school - but I was looking on the aacomas website and I couldn't find the exact information whether or not they require a DO letter. They just say you can submit up to 6 letters but nothing on whether or not they have to be MD or DO. Thanks!
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You will need to check the requirements for each program, individually. If you don't have a DO letter, just don't send primaries to those schools that require them.

Disclaimer : I was accepted to both schools with which I interviewed. Both "strongly recommended" a DO letter and I only had an MD one. So YMMV.
 
what schools were you accepted to?
J Senpai said:
You will need to check the requirements for each program, individually. If you don't have a DO letter, just don't send primaries to those schools that require them.

Disclaimer : I was accepted to both schools with which I interviewed. Both "strongly recommended" a DO letter and I only had an MD one. So YMMV.
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medschoolplease123 said:
When applying to DO schools, is it mandatory to have a DO letter of recommendation? I know it varies from school to school - but I was looking on the aacomas website and I couldn't find the exact information whether or not they require a DO letter. They just say you can submit up to 6 letters but nothing on whether or not they have to be MD or DO. Thanks!
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Some schools have a mandatory requirement for a DO letter. You can email the admission committee and ask if they do. That's what I did.


medschoolplease123 said:
what schools were you accepted to?
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I know this answer, but if I told you.....he would report me again 😆
 
medschoolplease123 said:
what schools were you accepted to?
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GA-PCOM and ACOM. Interestingly, I sent what I thought were very good secondaries to the VCOMs, but they never sent me an II. They don't "require" a DO letter to apply, but it's so strongly recommended that they require DO shadowing prior to matriculation.

So select your programs carefully.
 
I had a 26 which is around a 501, with a 3.8 GPA, got 12 interview invites, went to 6 interviews, and was accepted by all, and waitlisted by 1
 
Nope, but it always helps.

medschoolplease123 said:
When applying to DO schools, is it mandatory to have a DO letter of recommendation? I know it varies from school to school - but I was looking on the aacomas website and I couldn't find the exact information whether or not they require a DO letter. They just say you can submit up to 6 letters but nothing on whether or not they have to be MD or DO. Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
medschoolplease123 said:
When applying to DO schools, is it mandatory to have a DO letter of recommendation? I know it varies from school to school - but I was looking on the aacomas website and I couldn't find the exact information whether or not they require a DO letter. They just say you can submit up to 6 letters but nothing on whether or not they have to be MD or DO. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Go out of your way to get a DO letter if you are applying to a DO school. It is such a small thing to do, given how much it will help your application. It isn't going to get you in if you didn't have a shot otherwise, but it could mean the difference between you getting the seat vs. someone else with a similar app.
 
thanks for all the responses! yeah I know that it could obviously help in the decision factor. I was just curious because I figured some schools require one while others don't. Definitely going to do it!
 
Would having more DO letters make up for a few blemishes?

I have 3.4c/3.2sgpa pending MCAT Spring 2017 but I have about 10 W's spread out over the 4 years in my pre-reqs just from being too involved. I have held several leadership positions and have 3 DO letters.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
 
Goro said:
Not a great score, and you can write off the coastal Touros, CCOM and AZCOM, but plenty of other schools will take you with it. I appreciate that you're working full time; I will be favoring applicants with work histories in the future.

EDIT: DocSyn, I agree 100% with you, but for accuracy's sake, LUCOM has yet to graduate a class.
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Yes I know that! However, Umich for example will only allow DOs from 5 institutions. Lucom ain't one of them!
 
TheLeadSeed said:
Would having more DO letters make up for a few blemishes?

I have 3.4c/3.2sgpa pending MCAT Spring 2017 but I have about 10 W's spread out over the 4 years in my pre-reqs just from being too involved. I have held several leadership positions and have 3 DO letters.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
Click to expand...

Having a DO letter won't help if your grades are poor. It helps if you have the grades. Your grades are high enough if you do well on the MCAT you will get in. The W's aren't a good thing but once again a good MCAT will make up for it. Be prepared to talk about it during an interview and don't make excuses! Saying you were to involved and that is why you withdrew is a bad excuse. Med school you can't withdraw and you will have to manage alot at once. It's a bad sign. If there is no good reason you will have to explain how you have changed and why you can handle med school.
 
Naomyl23 said:
What schools did you apply to?
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NYIT-COM- Interviewed, went accepted
PCOM- Phili- Interviewed, went accepted
LECOM- B- Interviewed, went accepted
LECOM- E- Declined interview
ACOM- Declined interview
CUSOM- Declined interview
Touro- NV- Declined Interview
Touro- CA- Declined Interview
Touro- NY- Interviewed, went accepted
AZCOM- Interviewed, went accepted
ROWAN- NJ- Interviewed, waitlisted,
WVSOM- declined interview
 
crazyboi1993 said:
NYIT-COM- Interviewed, went accepted
PCOM- Phili- Interviewed, went accepted
LECOM- B- Interviewed, went accepted
LECOM- E- Declined interview
ACOM- Declined interview
CUSOM- Declined interview
Touro- NV- Declined Interview
Touro- CA- Declined Interview
Touro- NY- Interviewed, went accepted
AZCOM- Interviewed, went accepted
ROWAN- NJ- Interviewed, waitlisted,
WVSOM- declined interview
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Thank you so much. Can I please know the breakdown of your mcat.
I also scored a 501 (126/121/126/128) but on the previous exam 492( 124/122/123/123), I hit 122 in CARS and my GPA is 3.88 and I am not sure if I should apply this cycle.
 
Naomyl23 said:
Thank you so much. Can I please know the breakdown of your mcat.
I also scored a 501 (126/121/126/128) but on the previous exam 492( 124/122/123/123), I hit 122 in CARS and my GPA is 3.88 and I am not sure if I should apply this cycle.
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OP applied in 2016, admissions became a lot more competitive since then? Not sure if 501 would yield as many interviews these days as it did 5+ cycles ago.
 
Yes, I also took the old MCAT, so not sure about the breakdowns. But I also had a very good GPA. Over 3.8+ both science and regular gpa!
 
crazyboi1993 said:
Yes, I also took the old MCAT, so not sure about the breakdowns. But I also had a very good GPA. Over 3.8+ both science and regular gpa!
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Same, the GPA is super good (congrats). But I have decided to complete the master for interdisciplinary in Biological and Physical sciences for one year and also applied to medical schools, both MD and DO, on the side. I am doing my masters because if I do good, I will save my spot at Touro
 
Naomyl23 said:
Same, the GPA is super good (congrats). But I have decided to complete the master for interdisciplinary in Biological and Physical sciences for one year and also applied to medical schools, both MD and DO, on the side. I am doing my masters because if I do good, I will save my spot at Touro
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You will receive DO interviews no problem with 3.88/501, given other sections of your application are well done
 
I know someone who got into KCU with a 498, graduated and matched to FM. they had zero hook.
 
Depends on the context. MCAT score? Yes. Murders? Also yes.
 
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