Your success depends on the schools you apply to. Let's say you have a 20 MCAT and apply to all IVY league schools because you're too stubborn to apply elsewhere. Now, when I hear of people getting in with 25-26 MCATs, this does not surprise me. At SIU School of Med, the average MCAT IS A 26. Therefore, many have MCATs above and below this mark. Granted, not everyone can apply to SIU or have success getting a secondary out of the school, but I think alot of the problem is that people shoot for the stars when applying with sub-par numbers. Many of the more prestigous institutions, like Hopkins and Harvard, won't look in the direction of a 25 MCAT when they have a pile of 35 MCATs sitting right in front of them. Not that anyone has done this, but it would be stupid to engrain the notion of success at prestigious schools in the minds of people with low MCATs. A much better tactic for them is to apply to schools where their MCATs fall within a decent standard deviation of the mean. In other words, if you have a low MCAT, don't apply to Harvard or Hopkins! Suck up your pride and apply to lesser known, less prestigious schools, and become a doctor. Not everyone can go to Harvard, Yale, or Hopkins, so folks make due. I'm in no means downing smaller schools, because SIU, my #1 school, is a small school with NO prestigious reputation. Indeed, it's known from primary care and that's an important, attractive element. I think that people don't apply to osteopathic schools for the same reason. They feel it's not prestigious enough for them (or daddy), so they don't bother applying. When in fact, they would stand a great chance of getting in if they became interested in the art. It is true that osteopathic schools don't emphasize numbers as much as allopathic schools. Therefore, it seems logical to assume that all people with low MCATs should apply. Well...no. This is not the case. Osteopathy is a whole-nother ballgame in itself. But, assuming one wants to be a "doctor" bad enough, a person with lower scores should admit that their scores are not competitive at MD schools and consider DO schools BEFORE other options. I still don't understand (even though I'm told why on a regular basis) why a bias exists to begin with. I'm applying to mostly DO schools, but that's because 1.) I'm interested in primary care 2.) I've enjoyed spending time with all of the DOs I've met 3.) I know my limits-I know I won't bust out a 36 MCAT anytime soon. 4.) I'm proud to say I'm pre-DO. Nonetheless, I'm applying to MD schools as well. My tip of the day: Know your limits, suck up some pride, and try avenues you once thought were out of the question.
Good luck
