Is it really this competitive?

[dpk211]

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My cousin got a 36 on his third try and he has a 3.2 in biochem. He has research experience as well.

He only got two interviews and was accepted into the DO program at WVU. He did not receive any allopathic interviews.

Is it that competitive or is he lacking something that he isn't telling me. I can verify the 3.2, the 36, and the research but I don't know too much else about him.

I would think that the 36 would offset the 3.2

 

[slatermd]

yeah.

 

[transfec]

My cousin got a 36 on his third try and he has a 3.2 in biochem. He has research experience as well.

He only got two interviews and was accepted into the DO program at WVU. He did not receive any allopathic interviews.

Is it that competitive or is he lacking something that he isn't telling me. I can verify the 3.2, the 36, and the research but I don't know too much else about him.

I would think that the 36 would offset the 3.2

Low GPA.

 

[WESTSIDE LOC]

Unfortunately, yes.

"It's not that you're bad, it's that everyone else is better."

-One sentence summation of a typical rejection letter

 

[eli20]

The amount a gpa or mcat can make up for the other is pretty limited from what I've seen.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Did he apply broadly? But yah.. it's competitive..

 

[dpk211]

Did he apply broadly? But yah.. it's competitive..

He applied all over the country. The only other school that he got an interview was at Michigan State.

 

[abcabc1]

My cousin got a 36 on his third try and he has a 3.2 in biochem. He has research experience as well.

He only got two interviews and was accepted into the DO program at WVU. He did not receive any allopathic interviews.

Is it that competitive or is he lacking something that he isn't telling me. I can verify the 3.2, the 36, and the research but I don't know too much else about him.

I would think that the 36 would offset the 3.2

I wouldn't expect this, but have heard of it happening in the past. Between the two, my guess is MCAT will carry more weight b/c it can be more closely linked to stronger USMLE scores.

It's better to just go ahead and start an Osteo program than reapply for MD. It seems your cousin is a good test taker, so doing well on the USMLE and COMLEX will help him down the road.

 

[Torr]

He applied all over the country. The only other school that he got an interview was at Michigan State.

Just curious. Are you saying he only applied to 2 DO schools (in addition to the allopathic schools) or that only 2 interviewed him?

 

[skiing]

https://www.aamc.org/download/157450/data/table24-mcatgpagridall2008-10.pdf.pdf

 

[dpk211]

Just curious. Are you saying he only applied to 2 DO schools (in addition to the allopathic schools) or that only 2 interviewed him?

He applied to many MD and DO programs. The only two interviews he received were from those two DO schools.

 

[Wilf]

My cousin got a 36 on his third try and he has a 3.2 in biochem. He has research experience as well.

I would think that the 36 would offset the 3.2

Yeah but the 36 was on his third try. Schools rightfully take that into account when looking at an MCAT score.

I think there should be a limit on the number of times people can take the MCAT. Maybe twice?

 

[Torr]

He applied to many MD and DO programs. The only two interviews he received were from those two DO schools.

I'm not surprised that allopathic schools ignored him with that GPA but I'm slightly shocked he only got 2 DO interviews. His MCAT is well above the average for DO's and his GPA is only slightly below average, but still worthy of an interview assuming the rest of his app looks good.

Maybe he's got some red flags that only those 2 DO schools overlooked.

 

[rHinO1]

My cousin got a 36 on his third try and he has a 3.2 in biochem. He has research experience as well.

He only got two interviews and was accepted into the DO program at WVU. He did not receive any allopathic interviews.

Is it that competitive or is he lacking something that he isn't telling me. I can verify the 3.2, the 36, and the research but I don't know too much else about him.

I would think that the 36 would offset the 3.2

Think again, the 3.2 is pretty low for MD schools. Roughly, 61% of applicants with these numbers are accepted to at least one school. If he had a 3.5+ and a 36, then he would have had many more options.

Also, like someone else pointed out, the 36 on the THIRD try probably factored in too.

 

[skyhyp2009]

Think again, the 3.2 is pretty low for MD schools. Roughly, 61% of applicants with these numbers are accepted to at least one school. If he had a 3.5+ and a 36, then he would have had many more options.

Also, like someone else pointed out, the 36 on the THIRD try probably factored in too.

3.2 is like the kiss of death...no matter what your MCAT score

 

[RFHawks]

I'm going to say something that many don't talk about often. The rest of his application may have been garbage. ECs, personal statement, etc. This will highly factor in the adcoms decisions. I have met 3.2s with lower test scores than your cousin who had multiple interviews. IMHO the personal statement can destroy your app even if your numbers are great. Just something to think about.

 

[slatermd]

^i was gonna say it too. Who knows, right?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

3.2 is like the kiss of death...no matter what your MCAT score

wrong dude

 

[Bacchus]

From Torr:

I'm not surprised that allopathic schools ignored him with that GPA but I'm slightly shocked he only got 2 DO interviews. His MCAT is well above the average for DO's and his GPA is only slightly below average, but still worthy of an interview assuming the rest of his app looks good.

Maybe he's got some red flags that only those 2 DO schools overlooked.

This is my thinking. There's something that he isn't divulging.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm going to say something that many don't talk about often. The rest of his application may have been garbage. ECs, personal statement, etc. This will highly factor in the adcoms decisions. I have met 3.2s with lower test scores than your cousin who had multiple interviews. IMHO the personal statement can destroy your app even if your numbers are great. Just something to think about.

I agree. I've seen exactly what you've described (someone I know IRL who I've been advising outside of my role on the adcom).

 

[wanderer]

Especially considering how few DO invites he got, I'm going to assume had some red flags. His numbers are very competitive for DO.

 

[tabascosauce]

yesh its competitive.

but he got into a med school. that is all that matters. continue growing!

come, let us celebrate this fact.

 

[slatermd]

Cheers TS!

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

you didn't mention any clinical experiences either.

 

[Torr]

Cheers TS!

Lol. I love his contributions as well.

Edit: Didn't realize you'd actually begun celebrating. Thought you were just as happy as I am to see TS comment :|

 

[dpk211]

I'm going to say something that many don't talk about often. The rest of his application may have been garbage. ECs, personal statement, etc. This will highly factor in the adcoms decisions. I have met 3.2s with lower test scores than your cousin who had multiple interviews. IMHO the personal statement can destroy your app even if your numbers are great. Just something to think about.

I will add a few more things. He completed his undergrad in seven semesters. He then did a post bacc masters program. He has the standard shadowing hours, research, and a few mission trips.

He was a Princeton Review instructor. His dad is a doctor.

He did tell me that there was an issue with one of his LOR's and he told me not to tell his parents. I think he said he didn't get one in on time. He did have an LOR from a doctor he shadowed who works with the DO school that he was accepted too.

IMO, he is kinda arrogant because he's rich and his dad is a doctor so I could see this being reflected in the personal statement. Other than that, no criminal record, no F's, no debt, no other bad things I could think of.

He did tell me he regrets being a biochem major and taking 21 credits for two semesters.

I'm trying to apply to medical school myself and if he had a hard time, I don't really see how I could do any better.

 

[rHinO1]

I will add a few more things. He completed his undergrad in seven semesters. He then did a post bacc masters program. He has the standard shadowing hours, research, and a few mission trips.

He was a Princeton Review instructor. His dad is a doctor.

He did tell me that there was an issue with one of his LOR's and he told me not to tell his parents. I think he said he didn't get one in on time. He did have an LOR from a doctor he shadowed who works with the DO school that he was accepted too.

IMO, he is kinda arrogant because he's rich and his dad is a doctor so I could see this being reflected in the personal statement. Other than that, no criminal record, no F's, no debt, no other bad things I could think of.

He did tell me he regrets being a biochem major and taking 21 credits for two semesters.

I'm trying to apply to medical school myself and if he had a hard time, I don't really see how I could do any better.

I wouldn't worry about what his experience was like. Instead, you should focus on doing everything you can do to be a good candidate. Besides, it doesn't sound like he was a "model" applicant, and you shouldn't think "if he can't do it, then nobody can," or whatever such nonsense.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Generally that would grant at least a few MD interviews assuming the applicant applied broadly. A 36 is still top 5% in the country, so even if it took him 3 tries (two is generally the "limit") I would think that it would still warrant an interview at a few places. There must be something lacking in his PS, EC's, or whatever. Also if the 3.2 was a downward trend that would be quite troubling despite a fantastic MCAT. Taking 21 credits is really quite obtuse. Take 15-18 and then do summer school. I don't understand that decision.

 

[slatermd]

I wouldn't worry about what his experience was like. Instead, you should focus on doing everything you can do to be a good candidate. Besides, it doesn't sound like he was a "model" applicant, and you shouldn't think "if he can't do it, then nobody can," or whatever such nonsense.

I agree. Also people (and you may be one of them, OP) start threads on here just like this, deliberately causing many young premeds to start pissing their knickers over the admissions game.

Don't fall victim to these threads, and don't perpetuate them. K thx

 

[HawaiiHereICome]

https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/app...mcat-gpa-grid-by-selected-race-ethnicity.html

 

[Longshanks]

It's better to just go ahead and start an Osteo program than reapply for MD.

No, that is terrible advice, and the vast majority of schools will not poach a student currently enrolled in a DO program. You will also have to release that are you a matriculant of a medical school in the US. Doesn't look well on applications.

 

[RookTookIt]

No, that is terrible advice, and the vast majority of schools will not poach a student currently enrolled in a DO program. You will also have to release that are you a matriculant of a medical school in the US. Doesn't look well on applications.

I thought he meant it's better to start osteo instead of reapplying allo.

 

[dpk211]

I agree. Also people (and you may be one of them) start threads on here just like this, deliberately causing many young premeds to start pissing their knickers over the admissions game.

Don't fall victim to these threads, and don't perpetuate them. K thx

Relax man,

I'm just offering one person's experience with the whole process.

Maybe somebody will find some of the information useful.

I'll add one more thing, as far as upward trends, he told me his first year was not very good but I couldn't get him to tell me more. I believe his grades were steady from thereon and through the post bacc. He was not a straight A student.

 

[slatermd]

i'm super relaxed.

these threads get other people's panties knotted.

i go commando, so i am invincible to this type of thing.

 

[tabascosauce]

dont worry about him BRA

just do you.

hes an adult. he makes a decision he has to live with his decision. HE got into medical school. Does he regret getting into medical school? If so, maybe he wasnt set on medicine in the first place which would be totally disastrous should he matriculate into WVU.

this is YO THANG. YOU KEEP IT YO THANG.

pm me if u want.

i have to feed my dog as he is staring at me eating dinner.

 

[dpk211]

I know what you mean but I'm sure prospective applicants would rather have real information rather than a bunch of platitudes. Personally, if I knew how cutthroat the process really was, I would have worked a little harder when I was younger.

To this day I still don't know if anything guarantees you admission into med school. There are people you expect to get in who don't get in and vice versa.

 

[Torr]

Relax man,

I'm just offering one person's experience with the whole process.

Maybe somebody will find some of the information useful.

I'll add one more thing, as far as upward trends, he told me his first year was not very good but I couldn't get him to tell me more. I believe his grades were steady from thereon and through the post bacc. He was not a straight A student.

It's hard to play the guessing game over what your cousin did wrong. He may just be too average (outside of the MCAT score).

Focus on doing the best you can do. If medicine is really what you want then use less time looking at everyone elses situation and just do it.

There's really no way for you to know exactly why each school rejected him. Many of us never know why certain schools rejected us while others accepted us. It's a crapshoot as they say.

Good luck.

 

[Torr]

i'm super relaxed.

these threads get other people's panties knotted.

i go commando, so i am invincible to this type of thing.

How do you manage to get sexier by the day?

 

[Longshanks]

I thought he meant it's better to start osteo instead of reapplying allo.

Excuse me. Lack of sleep. I read than as then.

 

[rHinO1]

I know what you mean but I'm sure prospective applicants would rather have real information rather than a bunch of platitudes. Personally, if I knew how cutthroat the process really was, I would have worked a little harder when I was younger.

To this day I still don't know if anything guarantees you admission into med school. There are people you expect to get in who don't get in and vice versa.

I'm sorry you were so misinformed before, whoever told you this **** was easy lied to you.

On another note, there are a lot of "maybes" that can be thrown out there, but your second hand account doesn't allow for much else. All in all, I'm really not that perplexed over the whole situation. Usually the people who deserve it are rewarded appropriately, IMO.

 

[dpk211]

It's hard to play the guessing game over what your cousin did wrong. He may just be too average (outside of the MCAT score).

Focus on doing the best you can do. If medicine is really what you want then use less time looking at everyone elses situation and just do it.

There's really no way for you to know exactly why each school rejected him. Many of us never know why certain schools rejected us while others accepted us. It's a crapshoot as they say.

Good luck.

I know what you mean. The process is just so frustrating when you are investing so much of your life to just getting in. If I were to get rejected at a school, I would immediately interpret that as "You would make a poor doctor."

 

[slatermd]

How do you manage to get sexier by the day?

thanks 🙂

 

[abcabc1]

I thought he meant it's better to start osteo instead of reapplying allo.

Thanks!

You're correct. I was saying that, IMO, it's better that the OP's cousin enroll in a DO program in 2011 than reapply (not having enrolled anywhere) and try to enter an MD program starting in 2012. It's not worth the lost time, money and added uncertainty, from my viewpoint.

 

[Frazier]

all are ok programs

 

[rhcarolina]

If I were to get rejected at a school, I would immediately interpret that as "You would make a poor doctor."

I'm going to quote the wise words of the Duke Med pre-interview rejection letter:
"While we recognize that this decision may be disappointing, it is in no way a reflection of your potential as a future physician."

Seriously, don't worry about the rejections (I got 17 of them!), all you need is one acceptance! 👍

 

[wanderer]

I'm going to quote the wise words of the Duke Med pre-interview rejection letter:
"While we recognize that this decision may be disappointing, it is in no way a reflection of your potential as a future physician."

Seriously, don't worry about the rejections (I got 17 of them!), all you need is one acceptance! 👍

Wow, your app experience was pretty unique. No SUNY love but waitlisted at Cornell and accepted to Columbia? I guess that's probably due to some stricter numbers cutoff for the SUNYs. Who really knows though.


Congrats on your Columbia acceptance!

 

[dpk211]

Let the record show that WVU is a MD program. You mean WVSOM [which is the DO program] and completely independent entity apart from WVU.

This is akin to saying "one was accepted to the DO program at SUNY" (while referring to touro).

/Appalachian service announcement. 😉

Yeah, I apologize. I'm not familiar with that part of the country so I just meant the DO school in West Virginia.

 

[rhcarolina]

Wow, your app experience was pretty unique. No SUNY love but waitlisted at Cornell and accepted to Columbia? I guess that's probably due to some stricter numbers cutoff for the SUNYs. Who really knows though.


Congrats on your Columbia acceptance!

Thank you! I'm pretty happy 😀

I was really baffled by the SUNYs myself (and Columbia, for that matter)... I'd been living in New York for a year (at the time of the application)--I don't know what the minimum number of years it takes to establish in-state residency.

 

[aliblack]

I know what you mean. The process is just so frustrating when you are investing so much of your life to just getting in. If I were to get rejected at a school, I would immediately interpret that as "You would make a poor doctor."

You need to realize that you ARE going to get rejected by schools. If you send out applications it's really just a matter of when, not if, you get rejected. I know it sounds harsh, but it's important to come to terms with this so that it doesn't crush your self-confidence when it happens. You don't want to take these things too personally, they will only bring you down. If a school turns you down, think of it as their loss and then rock your next interview.