Is it fair to say that DO schools put more emphasis on the MCAT than MD schools?

[BestDoctorEver]

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From looking at the "underdog" thread in the osteo forum, I see many applicants with low 3+ (3.0-3.2) GPAs with mcat in the high 20's (usually 27+) have an easier time in securing acceptance to DO schools. However, glancing thru the allo forum I have noticed many with applicants with 3.3-3.4 GPAs and 33+ mcat have a harder time in securing acceptance. I know there other factors that come into play in the admission process. But from what I see in the allo forum it seems like the allo schools put equal emphasis on both GPA and MCAT as opposed to DO schools that seem to put a little bit more emphasis on the MCAT.

 

[spicedmanna]

From looking at the "underdog" thread in the osteo forum, I see many applicants with low 3+ (3.0-3.2) GPAs with mcat in the high 20's (usually 27+) have an easier time in securing acceptance to DO schools. However, glancing thru the allo forum I have noticed many with applicants with 3.3-3.4 GPAs and 33+ mcat have a harder time in securing acceptance. I know there other factors that come into play in the admission process. But from what I see in the allo forum it seems like the allo schools put equal emphasis on both GPA and MCAT as opposed to DO schools that seem to put a little bit more emphasis on the MCAT.

I don't think that's a fair statement to make, that we can comfortably say that. I think it is probably more fair to say that Allopathic medical school place more emphasis on numbers in general, but even that is arguable. The best rule of thumb, and fairest statement, is make your application as well-rounded and good as possible.

 

[SLC]

I'm one of those underdogs you refer to.

I don't know if it's a fair assessment to make. I've always been told that DO schools evaluate the whole application pretty evenly.

I had a lackluster GPA, but a high MCAT. I notice that for many here that's where the relative "competitiveness" of my application ended. But I also have stellar EC's, excellent letters, a boatload of shadowing, a GENUINE commitment to Osteopathic medicine, and (I think) a pretty agreeable personality.

I can't comment on anyone else's app, but I'd wager that my application was pretty damn competitive once people looked outside my GPA.

Had I applied with the same numbers, but average everything else, I'm sure I wouldn't have made it in.

 

[racerwad]

I'm in the same boat as SLC. My GPA wasn't even lackluster but my MCAT was ok. And, like SLC, I really think that the rest of my application and my interview really sealed the deal. If anything, the numbers point to the fact that osteo schools really do consider the complete application instead of any one single thing. If I didn't have a decent MCAT I don't think I would've gotten in on just ECs and supporting information.

 

[drctother]

Not true at all

Plenty of people on SDN got into med school for 2015 class with high GPAs and low MCATS, which i dont agree with at all but hey!

I wish you were right, and it makes sense considering the MCAT is standardized....and US undergrad schools vary HUGELY....but sadly no

 

[Dr Yiot]

there are tons of people i know of who got in with great gpa's and horrible mcats. its all relative. someone on the board, i think it was aspiring osteo got in with a 3.9 and a 21.

its a fluke process and no one can really get into the head of adcoms and what they are thinking.

your best bet is just to try and make your application as best as possible.

 

[99redballoons]

Not true at all

Plenty of people on SDN got into med school for 2015 class with high GPAs and low MCATS, which i dont agree with at all but hey!

I don't get it. You disagree with schools accepting students with lower MCAT scores and high GPAs? That seems kind of silly.

 

[DocEspana]

If anything, it is the opposite of what the OP suggested. Allopathic schools definitely put more emphasis on MCATs than DO schools do. Proof? Generally allopathic schools have higher MCAT and GPA than DO schools, but there are a few DO schools that have a higher average GPA than a few allopathic schools. You (probably... I clearly didnt check every state) won't find any osteopathic school with a higher average MCAT than an allopathic school.

For every one person like me, who has a 3.2 GPA but a 34 MCAT you get 3 people with a mediocre MCAT (27) or lower but a 3.85 or better GPA. There is no formula for osteopathic school acceptances, but if you look at the trends, it does tend to be people who either 1) scored mediocre in one category but aced the other (tends to be GPA > MCAT) or 2) had a long career in another field before returning to a dream of medicine.

The latter can't really be factored in as their life experience often counts just as much as their grades. But the former is who I'm sure we're mostly referring to anyway. School stats suggest the high GPA/low MCAT far outnumbers the high MCAT/low GPA guys.

 

[Dr Yiot]

If anything, it is the opposite of what the OP suggested. Allopathic schools definitely put more emphasis on MCATs than DO schools do. Proof? Generally allopathic schools have higher MCAT and GPA than DO schools, but there are a few DO schools that have a higher average GPA than a few allopathic schools. You (probably... I clearly didnt check every state) won't find any osteopathic school with a higher average MCAT than an allopathic school.

For every one person like me, who has a 3.2 GPA but a 34 MCAT you get 3 people with a mediocre MCAT (27) or lower but a 3.85 or better GPA. There is no formula for osteopathic school acceptances, but if you look at the trends, it does tend to be people who either 1) scored mediocre in one category but aced the other (tends to be GPA > MCAT) or 2) had a long career in another field before returning to a dream of medicine.

The latter can't really be factored in as their life experience often counts just as much as their grades. But the former is who I'm sure we're mostly referring to anyway. School stats suggest the high GPA/low MCAT far outnumbers the high MCAT/low GPA guys.

I was thinking this but didnt wanna say it lol

 

[drctother]

I don't get it. You disagree with schools accepting students with lower MCAT scores and high GPAs? That seems kind of silly.

The US has thousands of community colleges and universities. Many of these schools are a joke. If you were to take a student from one of the "hardest" universities in the country (say with a 3.2) and compare him/her to a student from a community college with a 4.0....well thats just not fair. These final GPAs are not accurate in saying the CC student is smarter than the other student. Its just ridiculous, Especially with how important GPA is with admissions.

Thus, there is the MCAT which is a fair standardized exam. Unlike the MCAT, most of these smaller US school are a joke, scale grades, and thus it wouldnt be hard to achieve a high GPA

Thats my opinion

 

[NurWollen]

If anything, it is the opposite of what the OP suggested. Allopathic schools definitely put more emphasis on MCATs than DO schools do. Proof? Generally allopathic schools have higher MCAT and GPA than DO schools, but there are a few DO schools that have a higher average GPA than a few allopathic schools. You (probably... I clearly didnt check every state) won't find any osteopathic school with a higher average MCAT than an allopathic school.

For every one person like me, who has a 3.2 GPA but a 34 MCAT you get 3 people with a mediocre MCAT (27) or lower but a 3.85 or better GPA. There is no formula for osteopathic school acceptances, but if you look at the trends, it does tend to be people who either 1) scored mediocre in one category but aced the other (tends to be GPA > MCAT) or 2) had a long career in another field before returning to a dream of medicine.

The latter can't really be factored in as their life experience often counts just as much as their grades. But the former is who I'm sure we're mostly referring to anyway. School stats suggest the high GPA/low MCAT far outnumbers the high MCAT/low GPA guys.

I'm pretty sure the four schools in Puerto Rico are the only ones, and that might just be because their students are mostly non-native English speakers.