Is applying early to DO schools just as important as it is with MD schools?

[cbs21]

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Everyone says the key to success for MD schools if you have less than average stats is to apply the day the app opens. Is this also true with DO schools?

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

everyone says the key to success for md schools if you have less than average stats is to apply the day the app opens. Is this also true with do schools?

yes

 

[The Poet Sings]

actually, wait until the last minute. lol jk, of course you should apply early.

 

[cbs21]

I mean realistically speaking DO applicants have lower stats whereas MD applicants you're going to have people with 40 mcats and 4.0s and they will immediately take up interview spots. But for DO most either have high gpa low mcat or vice versa or mediocre mediocre, therefore there isn't a group of applicants who will immediately steal all of the interview spots? So I feel like applying early won't be as important? So I was just wondering is it better to take a later mcat and possibly better score or just apply early and take the mcat less prepared...

 

[The Poet Sings]

I mean realistically speaking DO applicants have lower stats whereas MD applicants you're going to have people with 40 mcats and 4.0s and they will immediately take up interview spots. But for DO most either have high gpa low mcat or vice versa or mediocre mediocre, therefore there isn't a group of applicants who will immediately steal all of the interview spots? So I feel like applying early won't be as important? So I was just wondering is it better to take a later mcat and possibly better score or just apply early and take the mcat less prepared...

i think you should look around some pre-do threads more. yes, osteo schools do often have lower averages but this doesn't mean the quality of students is lacking in any way. at any rate, i won't go into that here. as far as people stealing up the interview spots, yes it'll happen at do schools because they are also looking for certain kinds of applicants who have shown an interest in (fill in the school's main goal/what they like to see in an applicant here). you should apply early and indicate that you intend to retake the mcat. some schools will wait to evaluate you until your newer scores are in if your older score isn't up to their standards. however, i have heard some people on here say that a school rejected them before they got to retake the mcat, even though they indicated they would retake it. i guess in that case, no mcat would make that person fit the school's vision. and it happens. even to 4.0/40Ts.

 

[Cheshyre]

Have fun reapplying next year.

cbs, there ARE plenty of MD candidates who also apply DO. In fact, there actually are people who turn down MD to go DO!

In all seriousness now though, the difference in applicant quality between the two systems is small. You'll see kids with 30s applying MD and kids with 35s applying DO. Yes, DO matriculation stats are in general lower. However, I really believe that DO schools are more interested in finding students that fit the school values. It shows in the questions they ask on their applications. I would know - I've done 29 secondaries now and am starting number 30.

If you're serious about applying to med. school, MD or DO, you'd be well served by doing some research into the respective organizations. The DO book by Norman Gevitz is a good place to start. The history of MD and DO in America is intertwined so you'll get some sense of where both systems come from and what they're looking for. MD vs. DO can be a pretty charged issue so it's up to you form your own opinions on this. Don't get sucked in by what you read here on SDN.

As for other books, Google for pre-med reading lists.

 

[Daedra22]

I mean realistically speaking DO applicants have lower stats whereas MD applicants you're going to have people with 40 mcats and 4.0s and they will immediately take up interview spots. But for DO most either have high gpa low mcat or vice versa or mediocre mediocre, therefore there isn't a group of applicants who will immediately steal all of the interview spots? So I feel like applying early won't be as important? So I was just wondering is it better to take a later mcat and possibly better score or just apply early and take the mcat less prepared...

The schools fill their classes with the best candidates as they find them, and there are plenty of very good DO applicants. Applying as early as possible will serve you well... otherwise you might be limited in your choices of schools. You may as well take every advantage. Also, I don't recommend going into the interviews with the perspective that the other applicants (and hence DO students in general) are sub-par. They won't take too kindly to that. ^.^

 

[DRMRL]

MD= apply early; DO= good stats and apply whenever....let me succinctly tell you why. I know a dude who applied in January and had a 34 and a 3.3...he got an interview invite two weeks later. I know another person who had a 3.72 and 26 complete in october. They waited on him then they said no thanks in february....never let anyone tell you applying EARLY is that important.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

MD= apply early; DO= good stats and apply whenever....let me succinctly tell you why. I know a dude who applied in January and had a 34 and a 3.3...he got an interview invite two weeks later. I know another person who had a 3.72 and 26 complete in october. They waited on him then they said no thanks in february....never let anyone tell you applying EARLY is that important.

This is a big control group with I'm sure controlled variables...definitely base all your "application to med school" decisions on this well thought out study.

You should try and get this published, DRMRL.

 

[rmsgolfer]

MD= apply early; DO= good stats and apply whenever....let me succinctly tell you why. I know a dude who applied in January and had a 34 and a 3.3...he got an interview invite two weeks later. I know another person who had a 3.72 and 26 complete in october. They waited on him then they said no thanks in february....never let anyone tell you applying EARLY is that important.

Just might be the most inaccurate advice I've seen in a while. The earlier the better in all cases. The quoted advice above is almost laughable.

 

[jm192]

It obviously helps. The same reason it helps for MD, it helps for DO.

I know a person who got into a really competitive MD school, 5 points below their MCAT average for last year---applied insanely early.

There are no doubt people waiting to hear back from DO schools, that probably would have interviewed and even gotten in had they applied earlier.

On the flip side, I've been told by someone I consider strongly in the know, that they don't fill up as quickly as they figure more competitive applicants will apply if their MD application didn't go so well.

Applying early DEFINITELY helps you. Now, if you're applying later and have a really strong application--MCAT/GPA/EC's--I would think you still have a decent chance.

But, don't bank on it. If you know you'd be interested in going to an Osteopathic school, I'd recommend going ahead and filling out the AACOMAS instead of waiting to hear back from allo schools, and putting your application a few months behind everyone else.

 

[nyp]

Everyone says the key to success for MD schools if you have less than average stats is to apply the day the app opens. Is this also true with DO schools?

I think it depends on the DO schools you're looking at, what their stats are, and if they have a rolling admissions process. Also, when you're applying early, i dont think it matters whether you're applying on the day the app opens or the week after, as would both still be considered early. just dont delay submitting your app for a couple of months.

 

[HoboCommander]

A lot of DO schools don't start rationing spots until March/April. There's no need to apply really early.

 

[manbeast]

Apply as early as you can with DO and/or MD. There are more seats open earlier in the application season b/c of rolling admissions at most schools. Also, it sucks not knowing where you are going to live until the last minute.

If you have to apply late, you still might get in somewhere but why not give yourself the optimum chance at success?

 

[da Vincis World]

If you already have good grades and a good MCAT applying early is the most important thing that you can do to improve your chances.

 

[JaggerPlate]

MD= apply early; DO= good stats and apply whenever....let me succinctly tell you why. I know a dude who applied in January and had a 34 and a 3.3...he got an interview invite two weeks later. I know another person who had a 3.72 and 26 complete in october. They waited on him then they said no thanks in february....never let anyone tell you applying EARLY is that important.

Wrong. Rolling admissions means rolling admissions. You can have a 4.0/40, but if you apply in Feb and get an immediate interview for a waitlist spot because the class is completely filled with deposits, then the waitlist doesn't move ... well, you're sol. It's simple.

 

[Siggy]

MD= apply early; DO= good stats and apply whenever....let me succinctly tell you why. I know a dude who applied in January and had a 34 and a 3.3...he got an interview invite two weeks later. I know another person who had a 3.72 and 26 complete in october. They waited on him then they said no thanks in february....never let anyone tell you applying EARLY is that important.

Sounds like my story. AACOMAS verified in December, completed secondaries in January and February. Interviewed in February, March, and April. Ended up on 2 deferred acceptance wait lists, a traditional wait list, and withdrew my interview at a 4th DO school because I'd rather wait a year to go to Western than go to Touro-CA starting the fall after application season. I was number 2 on the deferred wait list at COMP and it didn't move until the end of July, 2 weeks before the start of school.


Applying earlier means more interview spots to compete for, no deferred wait list to deal with, cheaper deposits (for example, I was originally wait listed at Nova then Nova came back and offered me a deferred acceptance if the wait list doesn't move. Oh, that offer requires a $2000 deposit too. Unfortunately for Nova, I had already paid a $2000 deposit to hold a deferred wait list spot at my first choice DO school. If I would have applied earlier, the first deposit deadline would have only been $500, which is much easier to let go of than $2000), more choice to move interviews around, and generally less stress.

Regardless of your stats, there is nothing to be gained by waiting to half way though the season to submit, even if you're waiting on those MD interviews that are "coming" because you just completed an SMP.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Sounds like my story. AACOMAS verified in December, completed secondaries in January and February. Interviewed in February, March, and April. Ended up on 2 deferred acceptance wait lists, a traditional wait list, and withdrew my interview at a 4th DO school because I'd rather wait a year to go to Western than go to Touro-CA starting the fall after application season. I was number 2 on the deferred wait list at COMP and it didn't move until the end of July, 2 weeks before the start of school.


Applying earlier means more interview spots to compete for, no deferred wait list to deal with, cheaper deposits (for example, I was originally wait listed at Nova then Nova came back and offered me a deferred acceptance if the wait list doesn't move. Oh, that offer requires a $2000 deposit too. Unfortunately for Nova, I had already paid a $2000 deposit to hold a deferred wait list spot at my first choice DO school. If I would have applied earlier, the first deposit deadline would have only been $500, which is much easier to let go of than $2000), more choice to move interviews around, and generally less stress.

Regardless of your stats, there is nothing to be gained by waiting to half way though the season to submit, even if you're waiting on those MD interviews that are "coming" because you just completed an SMP.

Wheww, dude you had a journey.

 

[rc4ch]

Applying early is key to this game even if your a top applicant or below average. Your chance of success will diminish as you delay. I don't get why you would wait anyways, why not get all this crap out of the way unless your school is lazy and takes forever to write their letters (like mine). There is no reason to wait.

Unless there's money problems...

 

[twocentnews]

If you apply in June, but you're still taking classes, will they put you on hold?

 

[Daedra22]

If you apply in June, but you're still taking classes, will they put you on hold?

Most students apply during the summer between Junior and Senior year, so they anticipate that you might still be taking classes. This does not affect your interview chances or anything, they just look at your academic record up to that point to make their decisions.

 

[D0WNxSH1FT]

Most students apply during the summer between Junior and Senior year, so they anticipate that you might still be taking classes. This does not affect your interview chances or anything, they just look at your academic record up to that point to make their decisions.

What if you apply in June, but are in the middle of retaking a class (after graduation, at a different school). Obviously the GPA is still what it was when you graduated but at the end of the semester (say August) it will change to the new score. Will they recognize, or even know, that you are retaking a class and awaiting a new (better) GPA?

 

[p30doc]

Apply early, but also make sure to be ready to drop some big deposits and possibly lose them if you get early acceptances to schools which may not necessarily be your number #1 choice, but hey at that point you are going to be a doctor and 1-2k is nothing compared to your future debt load.