So this is my third and last post today (sorry for over doing it). I've been looking everywhere, just out of pure curiosity (I know that any formula isn't entirely accurate). Is there an acceptance DO formula out there that accounts for Science and non science gpa as well as the mcat. Thank you!!
Yes, there is a more comprehensive formula I came up with a couple years ago to help quantify more factors for competitiveness and ease my neurosis
😛
I have updated it for the new DO matriculant stats, however the adjustment factors at the bottom may still need some tweeking
General applicant formula:
cGPA * 10 + sGPA *10 + MCAT = applicant score
3.43 * 10 + 3.32 * 10 + 25.73 = 93.2 average applicant
3.51 * 10 + 3.42 * 10 + 26.85 = 96.2 average matriculant
This is based on the observation that osteopathic schools seem be more holistic when evaluating applicants and a little less concerned with numbers, specifically MCAT scores, than their allopathic counterparts. This is shown by the larger percentile difference in MCAT scores (26.8 vs. 31.1) than GPA (3.51 vs. 3.67) It places equal weighting between science GPA, cumulative GPA and MCAT score.
The following modification will be made to account for students who have a graduate degree in the natural sciences or have done a postbacc with 24 or more credit hours completed (one year full time) to account for the weighting of recent coursework in returning students.
(cGPA + grad cGPA) * 5 + (sGPA + grad sGPA)*5 + MCAT = graduate student applicant score
(cGPA + postbacc cGPA) * 5 + (sGPA + postbacc sGPA)*5 + MCAT = post bacc student applicant score
To determine the criteria for an underdog we can utilize the 10th / 90th percentile rule from the MSAR and apply it as +/- 1 std deviation, or the 16th / 84th percentile to keep the calculations simple. So the true underdog would have at least one of the three academic categories below the 16th percentile with the other two average or below as well. By using the cGPA as the statistical outlier, and probably the most common one for successful underdogs, we come up with the following score for an underdog:
(3.51 - .28) * 10 + 3.42 * 10 + 26.85 = 93.4 underdog threshold (or ~ the average applicant is a slight underdog)
(3.51 - .28) * 10 + (3.42 - .33) * 10 + (26.85 - 3.19) = 86.9 long shot
However, outliers cause issues. A 3.7 cGPA, 3.5 sGPA with an 22 on the MCAT will be a underdog, but according to a simple formula it will compute as a competitive score. To combat this we will add several modifiers to compensate for people with unbalanced stats.
-1 point MCAT overall 24
-2 points MCAT overall 23
-3 points MCAT overall 22
-1.5 points Every section on the MCAT that scores a 7
-3 points Every section on the MCAT that scores a 6
-1 point cGPA 3.00 - 3.19
-3 points cGPA 2.85 - 2.99
-5 points cGPA 2.75 - 2.84
-1 point sGPA 3.00 - 3.09
-3 points sGPA 2.85 - 2.99
-5 points sGPA 2.75 - 2.84
Additional factors:
MCAT overall scores < 22 will be screened out by nearly every school and will not be rated
MCAT sectional scores < 6 will be screened out by nearly every school and will not be rated
cGPA or sGPA < 2.75 will be screened out by nearly every school and will not be rated
Finally, there is a large difference in the admission statistics between osteopathic schools, DMU has an average matriculant score over 100 while Pikeville is around 91. So a 3.2/3.1 with a 24 MCAT may be a big problem at one school but halfway decent at another.
