Low GPA

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JoeyPikachoo

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Hello everyone, I would love to get some advice. My current undergrad cGPA = 3.43 with a sGPA of ~3.3 depending on how AMCAS calculates it. Currently doing an MPH at Columbia with a GPA of 3.78. I know I can write a good personal statement and have 6 superb LORs. Any advice on how I should be applying? My MCAT is a 512.

I also have over 500+ hours of physician shadowing and about 100 hours of volunteer work at a hospital.
 
Hello everyone, I would love to get some advice. My current undergrad cGPA = 3.43 with a sGPA of ~3.3 depending on how AMCAS calculates it. Currently doing an MPH at Columbia with a GPA of 3.78. I know I can write a good personal statement and have 6 superb LORs. Any advice on how I should be applying? My MCAT is a 512.

Target schools with a median MCAT of 31-32. What was your undergrad grade trend like? That's important here as a MPH won't really help as mentioned in the other thread.
 
Target schools with a median MCAT of 31-32. What was your undergrad grade trend like? That's important here as a MPH won't really help as mentioned in the other thread.

Thanks for replying. GPA trend:
1st year: 3.0-3.1
2nd year: ~3.5
3rd year: 3.2 (Family and personal problems. Had to travel back and forth between states to go home every other weekend)
4th year: 3.9
 
Thanks for replying. GPA trend:
1st year: 3.0-3.1
2nd year: ~3.5
3rd year: 3.2 (Family and personal problems. Had to travel back and forth between states to go home every other weekend)
4th year: 3.9

The 3.9 from senior year will definitely help so as I said I think you should target schools with a median MCAT around 31-32. Apply early and broadly and I think you'll be ok. If you add 6-8 DO schools I'm certain you'll get in somewhere.
 
The 3.9 from senior year will definitely help so as I said I think you should target schools with a median MCAT around 31-32. Apply early and broadly and I think you'll be ok. If you add 6-8 DO schools I'm certain you'll get in somewhere.
I see. I don't think I will apply to DO schools because I'm all for MD. I know this sounds dumb but that's just me. I have the MSAR and what I plan to do is apply to about 5-6 reach/super reach schools (Pritzker is my dream...), 10-12 in range schools, and a few safety schools. Although I really don't think any schools are really safety given my stats.

Any additional advice you can give? Will LOR, strong PS, and the fact that I graduated from a top 20 undergrad school majoring in biochem help? I know I'm kinda being hopeful here..
 
I see. I don't think I will apply to DO schools because I'm all for MD. I know this sounds dumb but that's just me. I have the MSAR and what I plan to do is apply to about 5-6 reach/super reach schools (Pritzker is my dream...), 10-12 in range schools, and a few safety schools. Although I really don't think any schools are really safety given my stats.

Any additional advice you can give? Will LOR, strong PS, and the fact that I graduated from a top 20 undergrad school majoring in biochem help? I know I'm kinda being hopeful here..

May I ask why you're against DO? Many people with stats higher that yours get rejected from MD schools each year, so are you willing to risk it this year and apply again?
 
May I ask why you're against DO? Many people with stats higher that yours get rejected from MD schools each year, so are you willing to risk it this year and apply again?
I'm not against them at all actually. It's more just a personal preference. And I know that many people with perfect stats get rejected from MD schools each year.
 
To be honest EVERYONE on here seems to be graduating from a Top 20 undergrad institution. If thats the case then its not special anymore and to be honest I don't think adcoms look at it so much as they do the grades associated with the classes. To go fully MD is going to hurt in many ways but it's doable. You need to ask yourself if being a doctor is worth compromising the initials at the end of your name and going DO if necessary. If not then you need to think hard if you don't get in this cycle.

Good Luck
 
I personally don't like pushing ppl to look at DO when they don't want to. If it doesn't fit their ideology and they want to go after a specific group of schools, that should be all on them. Nowadays there is far more exposure and information on DO programs than there was in prior years, so no excuse to really put the idea out there. Rather have someone with true interest in that line.
 
I'm not against them at all actually. It's more just a personal preference. And I know that many people with perfect stats get rejected from MD schools each year.

The reason I asked was that if you don't get in as an MD (not saying that will happen, just a possibility), you can still be a doctor as a DO. Not forcing you to look at DO, just wanted to share my point of view.
 
I personally don't like pushing ppl to look at DO when they don't want to. If it doesn't fit their ideology and they want to go after a specific group of schools, that should be all on them. Nowadays there is far more exposure and information on DO programs than there was in prior years, so no excuse to really put the idea out there. Rather have someone with true interest in that line.

Isn't the main difference between MD and DO when it comes to interest is OMM? I don't know many DO students that specifically chose DO because of OMM. They're proud and happy to be DO, but they don't think it's a specific interest in DO.
 
Do you have any other ECs? If not, your ECs are very weak! 500 hours of shadowing really overkill.


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Isn't the main difference between MD and DO when it comes to interest is OMM? I don't know many DO students that specifically chose DO because of OMM. They're proud and happy to be DO, but they don't think it's a specific interest in DO.
true but I don't think OP would be proud or happy with a DO acceptance.
 
OP needs a wakeful call and the only way he will get it is to apply to MD schools and see what happens. He wouldn't be a good candidate for DO since he thinks he is so much better but with below average GPAs, an average MCAT and very weak ECs he may find out differently very quickly . OP I'd save my money on Pritzker and schools like that for sure.


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OP needs a wakeful call and the only way he will get it is to apply to MD schools and see what happens. He wouldn't be a good candidate for DO since he thinks he is so much better but with below average GPAs, an average MCAT and very weak ECs he may find out differently very quickly . OP I'd save my money on Pritzker and schools like that for sure.


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Thank you for your input.
 
OP needs a wakeful call and the only way he will get it is to apply to MD schools and see what happens. He wouldn't be a good candidate for DO since he thinks he is so much better but with below average GPAs, an average MCAT and very weak ECs he may find out differently very quickly . OP I'd save my money on Pritzker and schools like that for sure.


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This guy is very respectfully asking for advice. No need to attack him. He is allowed to have a preference. It's his risk to take and your judgement and hostility is not helpful.
 
Rule 1: Take a Breath

Lets take an example of how an adcom might evaluate you.

1) Academic: GPA is inconsistent. Even with family issues, there is no clear trend that I can say if your are a 3.5 student or a 3.9 student? Either one could be a function of course load, luck, or a sprint in academic work. Being a from a Top 20 will be at best a minor boost. Major doesnt matter directly, but in your case it may hurt your indirectly by the courses you have taken. The adcom will see a series of less than impressive grades in the many science courses you have taken, particularly those in many ways, are most related to medical school.

2) Graduate: Most graduate GPAs do not help overcome a weak undergrad GPA, especially an MPH. While completing an MPH can be considered an accomplishment, in your case in may actually work against you. Before the growth Postbacc and SMPs, MPH was used by many applicants as an attempt to overcome a weak GPA. The trend was noticed by many adcoms and thus weakened the overall impact of MPH programs. So while completing an MPH will be seen as an accomplishment, unless it is accompanied by other evidence showing motivation and commitment in public health, it may be seen as nothing more than an attempt to mask a weak uGPA (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/graduate-gpa-and-med-school.1202050/#post-17783513)

3) Your MCAT is average or below at many places. Consider it a pass

4) Healthcare Experience: You have 500+ hours shadowing (which is doing something for yourself) and 100 hours hospital volunteering (which is doing something for others). These ratios are backwards. Maybe 50, 100 perhaps 200 hours shadowing (as in physician observation) is more than enough to have exposure. More than that appears to many adcoms as simply ego for the applicant's own gratification, especially when compared to no mention of community/volunteer service, experience with underserved populations, or leadership experience.

5) Your PS will not have much noticeable impact from the weight of all the above

6) I would speculate here that some of your "superb" LORs are from the doctors you have shadowed . Since so many applicants get shadowing experience letters, of which the vast majority highly recommending the applicant with little weight or evidence behind the recommendations, many adcoms view these letters as much less importance than other academic evaluations. The theory of LOR/LOE is evaluate a student's academic abilities and characteristics; not what they did as much as what is behind how they did so, what characteristics. While some schools do require them, shadowing letters tend to come in behind academic LOR, PI/Research, Volunteer/Service/Leadership and Character.

Most schools evaluate and prioritize application in broad tranche or "piles" along the lines "Superior" "Outstanding" "Excellent" "Above Average" "Average" "Below Average" "Mediocre " "Reject" (depends on the school but 5 to 7 piles). Most schools wont ever get into the average or below average tranches without some other important factors such as URM, Peace Corps, Military Vet, Outstanding ECs, and noteworthy research publication

At a moderate school you are below average to mediocre at best. At reach schools you might make mediocre, but I doubt it. Since schools trim several thousand applications to a several hundred interview slots to a 100 or so matriculants, your chances at MD with the current record are quite low.

What to do? You need GPA repair pure and simple. A year of advance work in a DIY postbacc or an SMP would be in order.

Thank you for taking your time to reply. I will take all of this into consideration and apply broadly. I honestly do have a keen interest and commitment to public health and that was a reason I went to get an MPH. There is more to an applicant than the GPA and MCAT, although many would probably argue otherwise. I guess the way I phrased my original post was misleading. I was asking how I should distribute the schools I want to apply to (i.e. X number of safety, Y number of target, Z number of reach schools) or if anyone had been in my position and had a successful cycle to give some advice on what I can do.
 
Rule 1: Take a Breath

Lets take an example of how an adcom might evaluate you.

1) Academic: GPA is inconsistent. Even with family issues, there is no clear trend that I can say if your are a 3.5 student or a 3.9 student? Either one could be a function of course load, luck, or a sprint in academic work. Being a from a Top 20 will be at best a minor boost. Major doesnt matter directly, but in your case it may hurt your indirectly by the courses you have taken. The adcom will see a series of less than impressive grades in the many science courses you have taken, particularly those in many ways, are most related to medical school.

2) Graduate: Most graduate GPAs do not help overcome a weak undergrad GPA, especially an MPH. While completing an MPH can be considered an accomplishment, in your case in may actually work against you. Before the growth Postbacc and SMPs, MPH was used by many applicants as an attempt to overcome a weak GPA. The trend was noticed by many adcoms and thus weakened the overall impact of MPH programs. So while completing an MPH will be seen as an accomplishment, unless it is accompanied by other evidence showing motivation and commitment in public health, it may be seen as nothing more than an attempt to mask a weak uGPA (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/graduate-gpa-and-med-school.1202050/#post-17783513)

3) Your MCAT is average or below at many places. Consider it a pass

4) Healthcare Experience: You have 500+ hours shadowing (which is doing something for yourself) and 100 hours hospital volunteering (which is doing something for others). These ratios are backwards. Maybe 50, 100 perhaps 200 hours shadowing (as in physician observation) is more than enough to have exposure. More than that appears to many adcoms as simply ego for the applicant's own gratification, especially when compared to no mention of community/volunteer service, experience with underserved populations, or leadership experience.

5) Your PS will not have much noticeable impact from the weight of all the above

6) I would speculate here that some of your "superb" LORs are from the doctors you have shadowed . Since so many applicants get shadowing experience letters, of which the vast majority highly recommending the applicant with little weight or evidence behind the recommendations, many adcoms view these letters as much less importance than other academic evaluations. The theory of LOR/LOE is evaluate a student's academic abilities and characteristics; not what they did as much as what is behind how they did so, what characteristics. While some schools do require them, shadowing letters tend to come in behind academic LOR, PI/Research, Volunteer/Service/Leadership and Character.

Most schools evaluate and prioritize application in broad tranche or "piles" along the lines "Superior" "Outstanding" "Excellent" "Above Average" "Average" "Below Average" "Mediocre " "Reject" (depends on the school but 5 to 7 piles). Most schools wont ever get into the average or below average tranches without some other important factors such as URM, Peace Corps, Military Vet, Outstanding ECs, and noteworthy research publication

At a moderate school you are below average to mediocre at best. At reach schools you might make mediocre, but I doubt it. Since schools trim several thousand applications to a several hundred interview slots to a 100 or so matriculants, your chances at MD with the current record are quite low.

What to do? You need GPA repair pure and simple. A year of advance work in a DIY postbacc or an SMP would be in order.

On what planet is a 512, or 33-34 low? Things like this confuse me so much, since at about 90% of the MD schools i'm applying to, the average MCAT is between 510-512.
 
Hello everyone, I would love to get some advice. My current undergrad cGPA = 3.43 with a sGPA of ~3.3 depending on how AMCAS calculates it. Currently doing an MPH at Columbia with a GPA of 3.78. I know I can write a good personal statement and have 6 superb LORs. Any advice on how I should be applying? My MCAT is a 512.

I also have over 500+ hours of physician shadowing and about 100 hours of volunteer work at a hospital.

Assuming you are white, 48% of applicants with your stats are accepted. Your MPH GPA isn't going to be a factor at all in MD admissions. The problems I see with your app is a lack of community service and research. Without those, your chances drop from 48% to close to 0.

Since you are unwilling to apply to DO schools, I can only recommend a SMP or a Postbacc. You'll need to be improving your extracurriculars while you take classes.

If you were willing to go DO, I'd say just do some volunteering, find a related job and apply MD and DO next year.
 
On what planet is a 512, or 33-34 low? Things like this confuse me so much, since at about 90% of the MD schools i'm applying to, the average MCAT is between 510-512.

A 512 is a 32. I believe the median accepted MCAT is a 33. The mean is skewed lower by applicants with special considerations (URM, military, connections ect.) A lot of people who get a 33 don't get accepted into medical school. Keep in mind the average MCAT of a rejected applicant is around a 30 as well.
 
Couple things

1) What state you are in matters. This app is going to have all kinds of problems in a state like CA or MD. In a state like LA or KY, maybe you generate some traction at a state school. Or maybe not. Not exactly convincing. Even in a best case scenario in a lucky state, you still dont face particularly great odds. These GPA's are 1 SD below MD matriculants. The MCAT is slightly above average for MD matriculants which is a 31/509-510. That part is a non issue.
2) The MPH like others have said isnt going to hold alot of weight in terms of re-mediating academics.
3) One year of strong grades, particularly when it was preceded by a 3.2 for a year isnt a convincing enough trend.
4) When the academics are below average you need something to compensate for it to really have a chance. An MPH and shadowing arent going to get that done. Those who have EC's that truly are difference makers to overcome low academics are exceptions not the norm. It's likely not you. Just assume that much.

If you were to do well in an SMP that would be the single biggest boost you could give your app. You'd be a solid candidate for the most reputable SMP programs. Your GPA in and of itself isnt low enough to the point an SMP has to be the only course of action. Calculate what your sGPA would be like if you did 25-30 or so credits of DIY PB work over the next year. If you do well and can get the sGPA >3.45 this can be a solid avenue to pursue. If you do this now youll have 2 years worth of strong grades in UG courses. 2 years is an actual trend. That will carry more weight and speak much more to the idea you have to a reasonable extent remediated your previous academic record

If a year from now you come back here saying you have a 3.5 cGPA 3.4-3.45 sGPA with 2 years worth of strong grades and a solid MCAT youll be in a definitively better position and now are in a spot where your can potentially consider yourself a solid candidate. Your MCAT isnt expiring any time soon take the time to do this right and give yourself a real chance
 
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A 512 is a 32. I believe the median accepted MCAT is a 33. The mean is skewed lower by applicants with special considerations (URM, military, connections ect.) A lot of people who get a 33 don't get accepted into medical school. Keep in mind the average MCAT of a rejected applicant is around a 30 as well.

I believe if you look at any conversion chart, a 510 is a 32, with a 508 being a 30.
I looked up the median for most of my schools on the MSAR (mostly state schools) and they were all around 510.
 
Assuming you are white, 48% of applicants with your stats are accepted. Your MPH GPA isn't going to be a factor at all in MD admissions. The problems I see with your app is a lack of community service and research. Without those, your chances drop from 48% to close to 0.

Since you are unwilling to apply to DO schools, I can only recommend a SMP or a Postbacc. You'll need to be improving your extracurriculars while you take classes.

If you were willing to go DO, I'd say just do some volunteering, find a related job and apply MD and DO next year.

Thank you. I am Asian actually. I do have research experience. I've done 2 years of research as an undergrad in a chemical biology lab (no publications though unfortunately) and I have a LOR from my PI. I'm also doing research now over the summer in my MPH program right now. As for community service, the shadow experience I mention was more of a volunteer at the clinic. I've translated for non-English speaking patients as well as other tasks at the clinic (enter blood test requests, calling in patients to their rooms, etc.) all at the same time while following the doc around.
 
Thank you. I am Asian actually. I do have research experience. I've done 2 years of research as an undergrad in a chemical biology lab (no publications though unfortunately) and I have a LOR from my PI. I'm also doing research now over the summer in my MPH program right now. As for community service, the shadow experience I mention was more of a volunteer at the clinic. I've translated for non-English speaking patients as well as other tasks at the clinic (enter blood test requests, calling in patients to their rooms, etc.) all at the same time while following the doc around.

Quite honestly, doing an MPH is great if you want the education, but does nothing in terms of your GPA.
 
Thank you. I am Asian actually. I do have research experience. I've done 2 years of research as an undergrad in a chemical biology lab (no publications though unfortunately) and I have a LOR from my PI. I'm also doing research now over the summer in my MPH program right now. As for community service, the shadow experience I mention was more of a volunteer at the clinic. I've translated for non-English speaking patients as well as other tasks at the clinic (enter blood test requests, calling in patients to their rooms, etc.) all at the same time while following the doc around.

So being Asian would give you about a 40% chance. https://www.aamc.org/download/321516/data/factstablea24-3.pdf It also greatly depends on what state you're from.
 
Disagree. The uneven grade performance suggests a lack of coping skills, poor judgement, and depending upon what the OP took, an inability to handle med school level coursework.

OP needs to target shools whose 10th %iles in GPA are below his GPAs.


The 3.9 from senior year will definitely help so as I said I think you should target schools with a median MCAT around 31-32. Apply early and broadly and I think you'll be ok. If you add 6-8 DO schools I'm certain you'll get in somewhere.
 
Beggars can't be choosy. Applying to U Chicago????

They don't need the donation. Take your dad out for Father's Day to dinner instead.

I see. I don't think I will apply to DO schools because I'm all for MD. I know this sounds dumb but that's just me. I have the MSAR and what I plan to do is apply to about 5-6 reach/super reach schools (Pritzker is my dream...), 10-12 in range schools, and a few safety schools. Although I really don't think any schools are really safety given my stats.

Any additional advice you can give? Will LOR, strong PS, and the fact that I graduated from a top 20 undergrad school majoring in biochem help? I know I'm kinda being hopeful here..
 
Disagree. The uneven grade performance suggests a lack of coping skills, poor judgement, and depending upon what the OP took, an inability to handle med school level coursework.

OP needs to target shools whose 10th %iles in GPA are below his GPAs.

I have seen others get in with a strong senior year with GPAs similar to OP :shrug:

Two years of strong grades would obviously be better. I think you should consider that, OP. It would also give you a chance to beef up your ECs which seem a bit weak at the moment.
 
Anecdotes don't make solid Admission advice.

I have seen others get in with a strong senior year with GPAs similar to OP :shrug:

Two years of strong grades would obviously be better. I think you should consider that, OP. It would also give you a chance to beef up your ECs which seem a bit weak at the moment.
 
Anecdotes don't make solid Admission advice.

Well... @gyngyn has posted in several threads that many times one year is enough to redeem oneself so obviously it is ok for several schools. It is an upward trend after all. I don't disagree that adding an additional year would help strengthen his application even more. There are many other factors at play but a year is still good enough for many schools. OPs GPAs aren't even that bad.
 
I take a more conservative view in this business.

Re-read the wise gonnif's last two posts.

Well... @gyngyn has posted in several threads that many times one year is enough to redeem oneself so obviously it is ok for several schools. It is an upward trend after all. I don't disagree that adding an additional year would help strengthen his application even more. There are many other factors at play but a year is still good enough for many schools. OPs GPAs aren't even that bad.
 
Isn't the main difference between MD and DO when it comes to interest is OMM? I don't know many DO students that specifically chose DO because of OMM. They're proud and happy to be DO, but they don't think it's a specific interest in DO.
agree and I wouldn't be surprised if over the years some MD schools amalgamate that practice in their work. One interesting but wild prediction I can see is perhaps having DO programs (established one at the least) changing their identity to allopathic and allowing certification recognition for OMM instead. This seems naive from my end but I really don't see why DO programs would continue to identify with OMM as a shear distinction after the recent merging of DO and MD residencies. It is clear that the selection process is no longer unique in a way due to this. However, I am pretty interested in OMM but can't realistically see myself practicing it in residency or beyond without continued practice sessions allotted by a DO-specific residency. It's like drawing blood. You get taught it for a couple of days or weeks but in hindsight you don't actually get the chance to practice the skill until you have forgotten it.
 
OP needs a wakeful call and the only way he will get it is to apply to MD schools and see what happens. He wouldn't be a good candidate for DO since he thinks he is so much better but with below average GPAs, an average MCAT and very weak ECs he may find out differently very quickly . OP I'd save my money on Pritzker and schools like that for sure.


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Thanks for your disbelief and negative outlook. Guess what? I got into a very well respected MD school in the US.
 
Judging by the fact that you replied so late in the cycle (basically at the end) I am assuming you got off a waitlist.....good luck though
 
Either way, they got in. That should be applauded.
It's nice to see people prove their haters wrong, but I worry about this bump encouraging people to follow in OP's footsteps. A good chunk of ORMs with a 3.3-3.4 GPA and 512 MCAT snag an admit, but the majority don't, and erring on the side of caution is the way to go.
 
May I ask why you're against DO? Many people with stats higher that yours get rejected from MD schools each year, so are you willing to risk it this year and apply again?

I'm not against them at all actually. It's more just a personal preference. And I know that many people with perfect stats get rejected from MD schools each year.

OP needs a wakeful call and the only way he will get it is to apply to MD schools and see what happens. He wouldn't be a good candidate for DO since he thinks he is so much better but with below average GPAs, an average MCAT and very weak ECs he may find out differently very quickly . OP I'd save my money on Pritzker and schools like that for sure.


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Wait hold on. What's with the negativity here? OP simply said it's personal preference. I mean yeah academics would suggest that applying DO might be a good idea but no one is compelled to apply there. It's critical to note that DO is a separate medical education pathway altogether (with separate application cycle, separate training, OMM/COMLEX/DO shelf studying etc.). If OP thinks DO is not for him, he is not obligated to apply.

Thanks for your disbelief and negative outlook. Guess what? I got into a very well respected MD school in the US.

Congrats on the success man! Good luck with your future endeavors.
 
It's nice to see people prove their haters wrong, but I worry about this bump encouraging people to follow in OP's footsteps. A good chunk of ORMs with a 3.3-3.4 GPA and 512 MCAT snag an admit, but the majority don't, and erring on the side of caution is the way to go.

Of course! I absolutely agree. However, in this case the OP probably had some incredible quality that adcoms thought was redeemable. That in and of itself is fairly rare, but it really goes to show that stats aren't everything and that they do look at the whole picture. For instance, a person with a 3.3 GPA and a 512 MCAT who won some big award for taking part in some medical advancement or if they have an incredible life story is going to be looked at more favorably than someone with the same stats (or slightly better) with average or below average EC's and no incredible life story. OP didn't tell us everything about their app, just the GPA.
 
Thanks for your disbelief and negative outlook. Guess what? I got into a very well respected MD school in the US.

What school was it, if you're comfortable sharing ( I love borderline stats stories).
Also, OP had an UW trend and a year of a 3.9+ GPA, I'd say that makes it so they aren't the typical 3.3-3.4 crowd.


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Wait hold on. What's with the negativity here? OP simply said it's personal preference. I mean yeah academics would suggest that applying DO might be a good idea but no one is compelled to apply there. It's critical to note that DO is a separate medical education pathway altogether (with separate application cycle, separate training, OMM/COMLEX/DO shelf studying etc.). If OP thinks DO is not for him, he is not obligated to apply.



Congrats on the success man! Good luck with your future endeavors.

I completely agree with this. I know the general consensus on SDN says otherwise, but unless you know you want to apply DO, then I wouldn't bother. People shouldn't be shamed for not applying DO. What if OP wants to do international medical work? DO doesn't translate to many other countries, so if that's what the OP wants, they really have no choice but to go MD (exception is Doctors w/out Borders and a few countries). It all depends on their personal goals because DO can be very limiting unless all you want to do is practice certain fields of medicine in the states. Not to mention that some residencies and public health programs require that you have an MD. Also, a lot of DO schools require that you shadow DO physicians, so there would be no point in applying unless they did that. You can also get an emphasis on primary care and treating the "whole person" at an MD school, depending on the school's mission. There are too many variables to consider. It's just a personal preference.
 
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To be honest EVERYONE on here seems to be graduating from a Top 20 undergrad institution. If thats the case then its not special anymore and to be honest I don't think adcoms look at it so much as they do the grades associated with the classes. To go fully MD is going to hurt in many ways but it's doable. You need to ask yourself if being a doctor is worth compromising the initials at the end of your name and going DO if necessary. If not then you need to think hard if you don't get in this cycle.

Good Luck
What ranking list are people referring to? I'm beginning to question my own claim, lol.
 
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