Made a mistake applying the first time, is it worth trying again

[jaxstrw]

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Hi all,

So shortly prior to beginning applications I became very interested in Osteopathic schools mainly because I'm a believer in manual medicine (my brother is a chiropractor and has made minor physical ailments go away on multiple occasions). Additionally, around this same time, I got my MCAT scores back which are

VR:8
BIO:11
PHYS:12
Total: 31

So I was very discouraged by my verbal score and decided to apply to a few Osteo schools and one MD school. I got into UNECOM but rejected by Vermont. In retrospect, I wish I had filled out Penn State and WVUs secondaries, but I was burned out and fairly certain I wanted to attend Osteo school. I realize I may never use OMM and while I'm mostly interested in Primary Care fields at this point, I really don't know for certain what I'd like to go into. This being the case, I don't want to put limits on myself.

I graduated this past December with cGPA of 3.95 and sGPA of 3.87 and am a Pennsylvania resident. I'm considering applying to PSU early decision. I may add that after graduating from undergrad, being burned out from school and wanting to do some something exciting and different, I got a job at a ski resort out west (which may or may not hurt me). In the event that I don't accept UNECOMs acceptance and apply to PSU, I will move back to Pennsylvania and either do americorps or work and volunteer a bit. I emailed PSU admissions asking if I would be considered a competitive applicant for early decisions but they have yet to respond.

I just feel like my stats are fairly competitive for allo schools, and had I been more refreshed while applying the first time, I would have applied to more schools. Would it be foolish of me to not attend UNECOM and try to get into Penn State through early decision?

Thanks everyone.

 

[Mako555]

why are you so focused on these two MD schools? most applicants send out 20+ applications and just take what they get. Applying to one school is a horrible idea, to be frank. The process is way too random for that.

Your numbers should get you an MD acceptance or three, provided your EC's and everything is up to par. Your MCAT is not great because of the vr score but obviously your GPA is stellar.

 

[jaxstrw]

why are you so focused on these two MD schools? most applicants send out 20+ applications and just take what they get. Applying to one school is a horrible idea, to be frank. The process is way too random for that.

Your numbers should get you an MD acceptance or three, provided your EC's and everything is up to par. Your MCAT is not great because of the vr score but obviously your GPA is stellar.

Because I am an unhappy person in urban areas, and these schools happen to be in smaller towns. Plus I'm inclined towards rural medicine and these schools would provide such clinical experience.

 

[WillburCobb]

Because I am an unhappy person in urban areas, and these schools happen to be in smaller towns. Plus I'm inclined towards rural medicine and these schools would provide such clinical experience.

I'm confused by this. You're unhappy in urban areas but PSU is located in a town twice the size of where UNECOM is located, and WVU is also in a considerably larger town. Also, primary and rural care are a priority of UNECOM, so I don't follow how attending there would limit clinical experience in those areas.

My opinion, and the opinion of the vast majority of those on SDN, is to take the UNECOM acceptance. If you really don't want to attend a particular school don't apply there. On the other hand, your concern of being burned-out with school and wanting to essentially take a gap year and doing something else is completely valid. However in that case I would recommend looking into defering your acceptance.

 

[jaxstrw]

I'm confused by this. You're unhappy in urban areas but PSU is located in a town twice the size of where UNECOM is located, and WVU is also in a considerably larger town. Also, primary and rural care are a priority of UNECOM, so I don't follow how attending there would limit clinical experience in those areas.

My opinion, and the opinion of the vast majority of those on SDN, is to take the UNECOM acceptance. If you really don't want to attend a particular school don't apply there. On the other hand, your concern of being burned-out with school and wanting to essentially take a gap year and doing something else is completely valid. However in that case I would recommend looking into defering your acceptance.

True, however Hershey and Morgantown are both on the small side and both have places to do things outdoors very nearby. It's not that I don't want to go to UNECOM, it's that I'm not as gung-ho about osteopathy as I was (and the 2015 AOA ACGME merger is kind of sketching me out), and I feel like, "****, I can probably get accepted into some MD schools if I apply early. This past cycle I applied REALLY late. I interviewed at both UNECOM and Vermont during the first week of March.

 

[survivordo]

Sounds like a terrible idea to go to UNECOM which focuses on rural med/primary care, is located on the beach 20 mins from one of the Top 10 small cities in America and 2 hours from Ski country... Aren't these exactly what you are looking for?

I would take the acceptance. However, the cost of attendance would likely be significantly higher than the PA schools. This is something to consider.

Survivor DO

 

[Mako555]

there are lots of medical schools that are not right in the center of huge cities. Location was a big concern for me, I hate large cities too. I interviewed at Wake Forest and let me tell you, Winston-Salem is beautiful. Absolutely wonderful.

 

[jaxstrw]

Sounds like a terrible idea to go to UNECOM which focuses on rural med/primary care, is located on the beach 20 mins from one of the Top 10 small cities in America and 2 hours from Ski country... Aren't these exactly what you are looking for?

I would take the acceptance. However, the cost of attendance would likely be significantly higher than the PA schools. This is something to consider.

Survivor DO

Very true, I just dont want to get funneled into primary care, even tho that is an interest of mine at the moment. Finding out that the ortho surg in the small town of Idaho that I live in works 30 hours a week makes specializing sound pretty darn appealing.

PSU is 41somethingK in state while UNECOM is nearly 49K, so yea, but PA schools are still darn expensive for in staters.

 

[jaxstrw]

there are lots of medical schools that are not right in the center of huge cities. Location was a big concern for me, I hate large cities too. I interviewed at Wake Forest and let me tell you, Winston-Salem is beautiful. Absolutely wonderful.

Glad you liked it man, but looks too big for me.

 

[QofQuimica]

Would it be foolish of me to not attend UNECOM and try to get into Penn State through early decision?

Yes. It's a medical school, not a marriage. Dance with the one who brung you, especially when you showed up so late to the party.

 

[The kitchen sink]

I would reapply to a larger pool of MD/DO schools. With those stats, I would think you would have multiple options.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Yes. It's a medical school, not a marriage. Dance with the one who brung you, especially when you showed up so late to the party.

That's assuming you have no qualms with being DO when you could be an MD. Many people seem to care. Not that it matters much at the end.

 

[jaxstrw]

That's assuming you have no qualms with being DO when you could be an MD. Many people seem to care. Not that it matters much at the end.

I kind of care b/c of a stupid thing called ego that I need to let go of, but I am interested in and a believer in manual medicine so I think that answers the question for me. But f.u.c.k., my ego...I almost feel like I should not have worked so hard in college and had more fun.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I kind of care b/c of a stupid thing called ego that I need to let go of, but I am interested in and a believer in manual medicine so I think that answers the question for me. But f.u.c.k., my ego...I almost feel like I should not have worked so hard in college and had more fun.

I feel you. Shouldn't have applied to DO then and waited. You have an acceptance, take it or leave it. You'll get in somewhere again if you don't go right now, MD or DO.

 

[jaxstrw]

I feel you. Shouldn't have applied to DO then and waited. You have an acceptance, take it or leave it. You'll get in somewhere again if you don't go right now, MD or DO.

Thanks brotha. Not to knock on your status, but how can you be sure of this when you are pre-med?

If I were to reapply, I assume I'd be ostracized from the DO world since I didn't take an acceptance (can anyone confirm this?) and, really, the only allo schools I'm interested in are Penn State and WVU because of their locations (relatively small towns and close to home). Additionally, I received secondaries from both PSU and WVU and didn't fill them out (because at the time I was gung-ho about osteopathic schools), so would this hurt me? Combine that with the fact that my application will stay relatively the same, although I will not be a ski bum next year and do something more serious and service oriented.

Thanks to the rest of you for your replies as well.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Thanks brotha. Not to knock on your status, but how can you be sure of this when you are pre-med?

If I were to reapply, I assume I'd be ostracized from the DO world since I didn't take an acceptance (can anyone confirm this?) and, really, the only allo schools I'm interested in are Penn State and WVU because of their locations (relatively small towns and close to home). Additionally, I received secondaries from both PSU and WVU and didn't fill them out (because at the time I was gung-ho about osteopathic schools), so would this hurt me? Combine that with the fact that my application will stay relatively the same, although I will not be a ski bum next year and do something more serious and service oriented.

Thanks to the rest of you for your replies as well.

I have been accepted already. Your stats are high enough to give you good opportunities. Why not WVSOM for DO too? I highly doubt DO schools have time to check with other DO schools. There could be many factors for you not picking a certain school.

 

[jaxstrw]

I have been accepted already. Your stats are high enough to give you good opportunities. Why not WVSOM for DO too? I highly doubt DO schools have time to check with other DO schools. There could be many factors for you not picking a certain school.

Because it costs a whole lotta money for OOS.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Because it costs a whole lotta money for OOS.

49k...not too diff than your other choices.

 

[jaxstrw]

Because it costs a whole lotta money for OOS.

Actually I am mistaken, it's comparable to UNECOM, hmmm...

 

[QofQuimica]

That's assuming you have no qualms with being DO when you could be an MD. Many people seem to care. Not that it matters much at the end.

I'm an MD, but I wouldn't have any "qualms with being DO." The main people who do have qualms with being DO are premeds.

OP, no, you won't be "ostracized from the DO world." You're one out of tens of thousands of applicants. Along the lines of letting go of your ego, try to also let go of the idea that you matter so much to that med school that they'd go to the bother of blackballing you from every other DO school in the country just because you turned down an acceptance. The real foolishness of turning down the acceptance is that you are putting off going to medical school with no real plan for what you will do with this year off except for resubmitting applications. If you're ready to start down the path to becoming a doctor, you have your chance, so take it. Unless you're having second thoughts about med school, in which case it does make sense to put off matriculation for a year.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I'm an MD, but I wouldn't have any "qualms with being DO." The main people who do have qualms with being DO are premeds.

OP, no, you won't be "ostracized from the DO world." You're one out of tens of thousands of applicants. Along the lines of letting go of your ego, try to also let go of the idea that you matter so much to that med school that they'd go to the bother of blackballing you from every other DO school in the country just because you turned down an acceptance. The real foolishness of turning down the acceptance is that you are putting off going to medical school with no real plan for what you will do with this year off except for resubmitting applications. If you're ready to start down the path to becoming a doctor, you have your chance, so take it. Unless you're having second thoughts about med school, in which case it does make sense to put off matriculation for a year.

Depends on your career plans. If you want to go into academics or hyper competitive specialities, MD is your best bet. DO should be fine for most everyone else though.

 

[type12]

If you're not ready to "settle" (for lack of a better word) for DO, you really shouldn't have applied to DO schools. Don't expect the same school to give you an acceptance if you decline it this time around.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

Hi all,

So shortly prior to beginning applications I became very interested in Osteopathic schools mainly because I'm a believer in manual medicine (my brother is a chiropractor and has made minor physical ailments go away on multiple occasions). Additionally, around this same time, I got my MCAT scores back which are

VR:8
BIO:11
PHYS:12
Total: 31

So I was very discouraged by my verbal score and decided to apply to a few Osteo schools and one MD school. I got into UNECOM but rejected by Vermont. In retrospect, I wish I had filled out Penn State and WVUs secondaries, but I was burned out and fairly certain I wanted to attend Osteo school. I realize I may never use OMM and while I'm mostly interested in Primary Care fields at this point, I really don't know for certain what I'd like to go into. This being the case, I don't want to put limits on myself.

I graduated this past December with cGPA of 3.95 and sGPA of 3.87 and am a Pennsylvania resident. I'm considering applying to PSU early decision. I may add that after graduating from undergrad, being burned out from school and wanting to do some something exciting and different, I got a job at a ski resort out west (which may or may not hurt me). In the event that I don't accept UNECOMs acceptance and apply to PSU, I will move back to Pennsylvania and either do americorps or work and volunteer a bit. I emailed PSU admissions asking if I would be considered a competitive applicant for early decisions but they have yet to respond.

I just feel like my stats are fairly competitive for allo schools, and had I been more refreshed while applying the first time, I would have applied to more schools. Would it be foolish of me to not attend UNECOM and try to get into Penn State through early decision?

Thanks everyone.

UNECOM is a great school! Go there unless you really want to go to MD... what do you want to do? If you just want to do primary care do DO.

 

[Goro]

Most all schools like the "triple double" (10/10/10 minimum). So, I just say "bird in the hand is worth.....?"



I just feel like my stats are fairly competitive for allo schools, and had I been more refreshed while applying the first time, I would have applied to more schools. Would it be foolish of me to not attend UNECOM and try to get into Penn State through early decision?

Thanks everyone.[/QUOTE]

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Most all schools like the "triple double" (10/10/10 minimum). So, I just say "bird in the hand is worth.....?"



I just feel like my stats are fairly competitive for allo schools, and had I been more refreshed while applying the first time, I would have applied to more schools. Would it be foolish of me to not attend UNECOM and try to get into Penn State through early decision?

Thanks everyone.

[/QUOTE]

There is the cost of another year wait, and a potential retake for a shot at MD.

 

[Goro]

OP is young and a year of trying another app cycle isn't going to hurt, considering she'll likely be practicing medicine for the next 40-50 years (doctors tend to be long-lived).

In the mean-time she can work and save some money.

The risk in any retake is scores going down or staying the same, not going up. Many people plateau in their capabilities.

There is the cost of another year wait, and a potential retake for a shot at MD.[/QUOTE]

 

[Dr Dazzle]

OP is young and a year of trying another app cycle isn't going to hurt, considering she'll likely be practicing medicine for the next 40-50 years (doctors tend to be long-lived).

In the mean-time she can work and save some money.

The risk in any retake is scores going down or staying the same, not going up. Many people plateau in their capabilities.

There is the cost of another year wait, and a potential retake for a shot at MD.

[/QUOTE]

Even as it stands OP could get in MD with their stats if they applied early. So the cost is 1 year delay.