Is it stupid to apply for DO schools at this point?

[airblaster]

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The answer seems obvious, the deadlines are in a few days for the last schools still available: LECOM and Touro COM-NY. But, I would rather take my chances then wait another year. The allopathic application route did not work out for me this year. I am graduating from a Master's program and would prefer to start in 2011 than get older and take a year off.

Is it even possible to get the application materials in and be considered? I am a graduate student and my test scores are average.

 

[lftbndlbrnchblk]

Definitely too late. Just apply in May and get an early start for the next cycle. That's the only way you'll get into a medical school in the US with "average test scores." I hope your graduate GPA is good...

 

[airblaster]

What is considered a good graduate GPA? I know they expect you to do well, really well.

 

[lftbndlbrnchblk]

I honestly have no idea. I just meant that if your MCAT is average, let's hope your GPA is stronger, that's all. You haven't provided any numbers, so I can't really help all that much. I just wish you luck and I think your best bet is to apply early in the next cycle.

 

[andrewmalanga]

I'm in the process myself, so my advice won't hold too much weight in the eyes of many, but I think you should hold off. Apply on June 1st (that is, be sure that everything is finished by June 1st so you can send them out). As for secondaries, you can find what their personal statement questions are and get a head start on those too! From what I have read, it looks like even the schools you have mentioned have filled most of their seats.

In the mean time, maybe you can beef up your application with some good ECs. Volunteer in the community, maybe shadow a doc, or something. Either way, good luck to you and stay strong. The process can beat you up a bit!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I concur. Wait. There are threads going right now about how important it is to apply early. Even the schools themselves will tell you that

 

[Guek]

i'll echo the wait response. even if the deadline has yet to pass, it'll be very highly unlikely that you'll get a chance to interview anywhere.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I forgot to say this before:
My coworker's stats: 4.0 sGPA, 3.98 cGPA, 39 MCAT, applied late, had 1 - ONE!!! Interview this cycle...

 

[callipygian]

I know it sucks to waste a year, but even by the time you get verified by aacomas application, everything in do cycle will have wrapped up and the many you spent on do applications will be in vain, spend that money elsewhere, go on a vacation

 

[oar2386]

At this point, all you would be doing is giving the schools money. I know it sucks having to wait until next august, but you dont have a choice now. Remember that if you apply to these schools now and get rejected, then next year you are also considered a reapplicant. Good luck

 

[Torr]

At this point, all you would be doing is giving the schools money. I know it sucks having to wait until next august, but you dont have a choice now. Remember that if you apply to these schools now and get rejected, then next year you are also considered a reapplicant. Good luck

+1 to this and pretty much everyone else that has responded. Wait and apply EARLY. A year seems like a long time right now but believe me it isn't.

 

[rhcarolina]

I forgot to say this before:
My coworker's stats: 4.0 sGPA, 3.98 cGPA, 39 MCAT, applied late, had 1 - ONE!!! Interview this cycle...

Did he apply broadly?

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Did he apply broadly?

Depends on what you mean. He applied to more than 2 schools. He applied to I think at least 15 places, but they were probably all top tier. The only place that interviewed him was in-state

 

[guidedwaves]

Don't apply now, I know some schools are pretty much done interviewing.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Definitely too late. Just apply in May and get an early start for the next cycle. That's the only way you'll get into a medical school in the US with "average test scores." I hope your graduate GPA is good...

Apps are able to be turned in starting May? If so, I need to get that PS done asap.

 

[jphwki82]

Unless you are looking to make a charitable donation to the AOA and some osteopathic medical schools, I would wait till May and apply for the next cycle. It was a larger applicant pool this year, and a lot of schools have filled a majority of their seats by now. MSUCOM just told us they wrapped up their application cycle, and are only accepting off the high priority wait list now.

 

[SFO-IST]

spend the money on lottery tickets IMO.

 

[vega07]

yes I agree. there is seriously a greater chance of winning the lottery right now then getting accepted this late in the cycle.

 

[Sinfest]

Apps are able to be turned in starting May? If so, I need to get that PS done asap.

You can fill out the application and send in transcripts in May, but cannot submit until June.

 

[Lewist02]

Touro at least guarantees an interview if your stats are above their cut off. It's a $200 dollar application fee. You probably won't see an interview from LECOM this late after everything is processed. It's up to you if you want to try for Touro and are willing to lose that money knowing that it's a longshot. It's still a shot though!

IMO - wait. It's obvious that DO is your last resort to medical school. Take some time to revamp your app and reapply to both MD and DO next cycle. That way you have the best possible picks for schools.

 

[willen101383]

Touro at least guarantees an interview if your stats are above their cut off. It's a $200 dollar application fee. You probably won't see an interview from LECOM this late after everything is processed. It's up to you if you want to try for Touro and are willing to lose that money knowing that it's a longshot. It's still a shot though!

IMO - wait. It's obvious that DO is your last resort to medical school. Take some time to revamp your app and reapply to both MD and DO next cycle. That way you have the best possible picks for schools.

👍 Solid. Shouldnt you be learning like 75 drugs and not be on SDN? 😀

 

[Helen Wheels]

Yes, the app opens up in May and you can start typing things in and plan to submit in early June on the first day of submissions. It is a just a few more months to wait until you can submit for 2012 admission and you have much better chances.

 

[thomprya]

Just my two cents but I know someone who applied on the last day of the cycle and got accepted into the class. It was probably one in a million but eh, if you have the money you could give it a go. Assuming all your other ducks are in a row, e.g app done, letters already done, etc

 

[lftbndlbrnchblk]

Just my two cents but I know someone who applied on the last day of the cycle and got accepted into the class. It was probably one in a million but eh, if you have the money you could give it a go. Assuming all your other ducks are in a row, e.g app done, letters already done, etc

He or she needs to get their AACOMAS verified. Transcripts from every school sent, this takes FOREVER. Letters sent from Interfolio/VirtualEvals/His or Her grad school, which takes days sometimes. Secondaries need to be done, which should take at least a day. His or her personal statement needs to be cut down to size since AMCAS allows more space, better not screw up there. Checks for fees need to clear. He or she will need to probably send letters of intent to get anyone's attention at the admissions office, etc etc etc etc...

No way he or she is getting in this year. Not when his or her "test scores are average" and they didn't get an MD interview. What makes you think they can get a DO one? The person you knew probably had the numbers to pull that off. I don't think that's the case here.

 

[thomprya]

He or she needs to get their AACOMAS verified. Transcripts from every school sent, this takes FOREVER. Letters sent from Interfolio/VirtualEvals/His or Her grad school, which takes days sometimes. Secondaries need to be done, which should take at least a day. His or her personal statement needs to be cut down to size since AMCAS allows more space, better not screw up there. Checks for fees need to clear. He or she will need to probably send letters of intent to get anyone's attention at the admissions office, etc etc etc etc...

No way he or she is getting in this year. Not when his or her "test scores are average" and they didn't get an MD interview. What makes you think they can get a DO one? The person you knew probably had the numbers to pull that off. I don't think that's the case here.

The person I knew had very average stats for the DO school he was acepted to. All the verification, i assume, won't take nearly as long as it took us since it is so late in the cycle practically no one is turning apps in. Dont get me wrong though, it is at best a long shot. I'm just saying if the schools are still interviewing they may be able to get in, and if money is not too much of an issue I know of worse ways to spend ~300$.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

It is obvious the OP is using the DO route as a backup and is really not interested in Osteopathic medicine. Keep the seat open for someone who DOES want to be a DO and wait a few months for the cycle to start and try the allopathic route again.