Lecom academic index

[trumpet12345]

I saw a thread here in August that didn't seem to provide all the answers.

Anyone know of this academic index score? Perhaps if so, give a bit more detail than provided? Seems self explanatory to a degree, but leaves one with still questions.

http://lecom.edu/admissions/entranc...f-osteopathic-medicine-entrance-requirements/

" In lieu of MCAT Scores, LECOM may use an Academic Index Score that uses undergraduate and graduate GPAs in a formula calculation with ACT and/or SAT Critical Reading and Math scores. Use the form below to calculate your Academic Index Score."

Below that paragraph at the link is a calculator that either determines one is eligible or not based on the inputs.

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[trumpet12345]

Just to give some perspective on the numbers:

Playing around with the calculator, if one had roughly a GPA of 3.2 (recommended on their page to be at or above)
one would need to average nearly being in the top 75-80% of SAT takers for Critical reading and Math.

This puts one right above the cut off of 110. A 3.1 with the above would not be "eligible"

The highest score in theory appears to be 142; if you had a perfect SAT and 4.0. Stats prove there are not many that have such SAT scores.

I have no idea what is considered a strong score.

 

[mathnerd88]

Just to give some perspective on the numbers:

Playing around with the calculator, if one had roughly a GPA of 3.2 (recommended on their page to be at or above)
one would need to average nearly being in the top 75-80% of SAT takers for Critical reading and Math.

This puts one right above the cut off of 110. A 3.1 with the above would not be "eligible"

The highest score in theory appears to be 142; if you had a perfect SAT and 4.0. Stats prove there are not many that have such SAT scores.

I have no idea what is considered a strong score.

Why won't you just take the MCAT like 99.99% of pre-meds who want to go to medical school?

 

[trickydick]

I guess all I needed was a 2.7 in undergrad and my SAT scores to get into medschool. Gosh darn it, I tried in college and wasted all this time studying for the MCAT for nothing.

 

[trumpet12345]

There is very little information regarding this index other than the PA->DO bridge; or different circumstances from the associated colleges that partner with LECOM.

I'm just trying to gather information as multiple attempt have been tried on SDN to get a bit of insight, but have turned into a massive mess. Since then, their website has more information.

It isn't a bad thing to attempt such a thing, is it not?

 

[mathnerd88]

There is very little information regarding this index other than the PA->DO bridge; or different circumstances from the associated colleges that partner with LECOM.

I'm just trying to gather information as multiple attempt have been tried on SDN to get a bit of insight, but have turned into a massive mess. Since then, their website has more information.

It isn't a bad thing to attempt such a thing, is it not?

Yes it is bad to attempt such a thing. Take the MCAT like everyone else. If you really want to know, contact LECOM admissions. Know that you'll be at a severe disadvantage for not taking MCAT.

 

[TallPreMed]

Sooooo my 3.1 GPA and score of a 30 on the ACT (90th percentile) plus my 1600 clinical hours in hospice will get me in? Ok!

But seriously... I'm retaking classes this year and will have all my prereqs done by summer 2017... I actually planned on applying to schools in 2017 and LECOM was on my list. Do I apply to LECOM this year just for kicks and giggles and see if I get in? Or will that affect me if I get denied and then reapply next year?

 

[Z-Qualizer]

Sooooo my 3.1 GPA and score of a 30 on the ACT (90th percentile) plus my 1600 clinical hours in hospice will get me in? Ok!

But seriously... I'm retaking classes this year and will have all my prereqs done by summer 2017... I actually planned on applying to schools in 2017 and LECOM was on my list. Do I apply to LECOM this year just for kicks and giggles and see if I get in? Or will that affect me if I get denied and then reapply next year?

Not sure how re-applicants are viewed, but... IIRC, isn't LECOM your #1 choice? Rather than waiting til 2017 to apply for 2018 matriculation, have you considered applying in 2016 for their 1 year post-bacc program?

 

[mathnerd88]

Not sure how re-applicants are viewed, but... IIRC, isn't LECOM your #1 choice? Rather than waiting til 2017 to apply for 2018 matriculation, have you considered applying in 2016 for their 1 year post-bacc program?

I believe you need to take the MCAT if you're in that program.

 

[Z-Qualizer]

I believe you need to take the MCAT if you're in that program.

Yes, I think you're right... my post was directed at TallPreMed, who I believe was being sarcastic and does plan to take the MCAT at some point. I wasn't trying to derail the OP's thread - sorry for the confusion.

 

[TallPreMed]

Yes, I think you're right... my post was directed at TallPreMed, who I believe was being sarcastic and does plan to take the MCAT at some point. I wasn't trying to derail the OP's thread - sorry for the confusion.

I mean it's slight sarcasm- pit is my #1 choice but that'll never happen, LECOM is #2. A post bacc isn't really feasible for me at this point because I work full time and will do so up until I go to med school.
I do plan on taking the MCAT in 2017 but if I could get into LECOM a year early and not take it, I wouldn't be mad about it 😀🙄

 

[ortnakas]

If I understand correctly, the AIS is being used for three reasons:
1) the APAP program, as those applicants may not have taken the MCAT
2) high school students applying to a bridge program
3) as the new MCAT comes out since nobody was quite sure how to interpret the new scores, but they have years of data on the ACT/SAT (when I applied a few years ago you could opt to provide it).

I don't think it represents a major drop in standards. I do think students with a good MCAT will be viewed most favorably. I wouldn't recommend putting all your eggs in one basket and ditching the MCAT to apply this route.

 

[dokmark]

The Academic Index Score (AIS) is a common tool utilized for college admissions in Colorado, Iowa and California. It has also been used for years at the University of Colorado Denver Medical School as admission criteria for their BS/MD program. Students are admitted directly from high school and obviously haven’t had the courses to take the MCAT.

The MCAT was introduced in 1928 as a response to high attrition rates to insure that those who were admitted to medical school would be successful in completing it. It recently underwent major revision, partly based on asking if it was valid in predicting who would make good physicians. It takes more to be a good physician than an MCAT score.

Precedence exists for consideration of alternatives to medical school programs. This can be seen in schools which admit students directly into six year, 3+4 year, and other programs which do not require MCAT scores. These programs utilize high school grade point averages (hsGPA) or class rank, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) scores, in other words, the same criteria as the AIS.

When LECOM designed its Physician Assistant to Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine bridge, a three year program for PAs to earn DO degrees, the PA applicants had an average of about 5 years of clinical experience but as PA curriculum typically does not require physics and often organic chemistry they wanted to look at other criteria. LECOM used the AIS standards in a pilot study with the PAs as an alternative to the MCAT. LECOM followed the outcomes of the PAs who did exceptionally well, so much so that they opened the option of using the AIS as an alternative to the MCAT to everyone.

LECOM now has both options of using the MCAT or the AIS. The accrediting body for osteopathic schools does not dictate what admission criteria is used, it looks at the outcomes like attrition rates. LECOM’s is less than 2%.

Someone posted earlier that not taking the MCAT could put you at a disadvantage in applying to other medical school…absolutely. If you don’t take the MCAT there are only a handful of medical schools you can apply to.

Also, the AIS and MCAT minimums are to qualify for an interview. They don't guarantee admission.

 

[dokmark]

Sooooo my 3.1 GPA and score of a 30 on the ACT (90th percentile) plus my 1600 clinical hours in hospice will get me in? Ok!

But seriously... I'm retaking classes this year and will have all my prereqs done by summer 2017... I actually planned on applying to schools in 2017 and LECOM was on my list. Do I apply to LECOM this year just for kicks and giggles and see if I get in? Or will that affect me if I get denied and then reapply next year?

If you have a GPA of around 3.5 (LECOM's average) I would say yes, but you would have to have all your prereqs done by the start of their classes so if you're not done with those until 2017 you couldn't apply to start in 2016.

 

[dokmark]

Yes, I think you're right... my post was directed at TallPreMed, who I believe was being sarcastic and does plan to take the MCAT at some point. I wasn't trying to derail the OP's thread - sorry for the confusion.

I believe you need to take the MCAT if you're in that program.

Actually, no, they changed the Post Bac program too so that applicants can use the AIS as well.

 

[TallPreMed]

If you have a GPA of around 3.5 (LECOM's average) I would say yes, but you would have to have all your prereqs done by the start of their classes so if you're not done with those until 2017 you couldn't apply to start in 2016.

If I take 2-3 classes a semester I will have all my prereqs done by the time classes would start... And with grade replacement I should end up around a 3.4-3.5

 

[habanero305]

I applied kind of late this cycle using the AIS (secondary processed 11.17). My SAT scores were 95+% and science GPA 3.89 cum 3.86. Just got a message saying that they will re-review my application in 60 days. So it isn't really looking that great for me.

Has anyone been given an II or acceptance this cycle that has used AIS? I will probably be taking the MCAT sometime in the spring which will be too late for this cycle.

 

[trumpet12345]

Dokmark; thank you! You may have provided the most comprehensive view on the subject easily found the web to date!

I applied kind of late this cycle using the AIS (secondary processed 11.17). My SAT scores were 95+% and science GPA 3.89 cum 3.86. Just got a message saying that they will re-review my application in 60 days. So it isn't really looking that great for me.

Has anyone been given an II or acceptance this cycle that has used AIS? I will probably be taking the MCAT sometime in the spring which will be too late for this cycle.

Best of luck! I don't have information, but I wish you well in this regard. I assume your AIS was above 130 by a good bit then?

 

[habanero305]

I assume your AIS was above 130 by a good bit then?

According to their website my AIS would be 134.

it's best that you apply with it day 1 as there really is no excuse for anything later than that.

I submitted the AACOMAS application in late September because I didn't even realize AIS was an option until then (it took a while to get verified, to receive a secondary, have the secondary processed etc).

I had thought AIS was only for PA-->DO until they changed their website, which happened well after the cycle opened. I still have yet to hear of anyone getting an interview invite with AIS, so I'm not sure if it really would have mattered if I applied earlier.

 

[trumpet12345]

According to their website my AIS would be 134.



I submitted the AACOMAS application in late September because I didn't even realize AIS was an option until then (it took a while to get verified, to receive a secondary, have the secondary processed etc).

I had thought AIS was only for PA-->DO until they changed their website, which happened well after the cycle opened. I still have yet to hear of anyone getting an interview invite with AIS, so I'm not sure if it really would have mattered if I applied earlier.

It is hard to tell. I did notice the same thing in terms of the various web site modifications.

One impression of the AIS was for the non-trad that LECOM sometimes gathers that are those in the private sector that despite having incredible (yet miserable) jobs desire to switch to something more meaningful except the MCAT stands in the way.

I have no real clue though.