Need Advice: Should I apply to DO late?

[egull28]

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Well, after getting no love from MD schools this cycle, I thought it might be in my best interest to begin formulating a backup plan. I've thought about it a lot, and decided that I would rather go to medical school this year (any medical school) than be forced to take another year off. The who allopathic vs. osteopathic thing isn't a very big deal for me - I just want to become a physician.

Now, I know it's kind of late in the game to begin sending out applications, so I was wondering if you guys think there's any chance I'm accepted doing things this late.

Here's my info:
MCAT: 33O (11/11/11)
GPA: 3.65
Undergrad. research
Hospital Volunteering
Physician shadowing - including a DO physician who wrote a very nice rec. letter for me.

I'm currently considering the northeast schools: UNECOM, PCOM, NYCOM, and UMDNJ-SOM.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Lewist02]

Well, after getting no love from MD schools this cycle, I thought it might be in my best interest to begin formulating a backup plan. I've thought about it a lot, and decided that I would rather go to medical school this year (any medical school) than be forced to take another year off. The who allopathic vs. osteopathic thing isn't a very big deal for me - I just want to become a physician.

Now, I know it's kind of late in the game to begin sending out applications, so I was wondering if you guys think there's any chance I'm accepted doing things this late.

Here's my info:
MCAT: 33O (11/11/11)
GPA: 3.65
Undergrad. research
Hospital Volunteering
Physician shadowing - including a DO physician who wrote a very nice rec. letter for me.

I'm currently considering the northeast schools: UNECOM, PCOM, NYCOM, and UMDNJ-SOM.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

In my opinion (but i'm no expert!) I think it's a long shot. AACOMAS has been REALLY slow in processing from what i've heard. If you were to submit today...you won't be verified til at least January 1st...but I think it has been taking 8-10 weeks. You could get the secondaries out before February..but I had heard that PCOM fills half their class by the middle of December..and leaves 80 spots for students in their Biomed program. NYCOM is already scheduling interviews out til February. I didn't apply to UNECOM so I'm not sure about them. Are you a NJ resident? I heard that UMDNJ-SOM takes about 15% OOS so if you are OOS that will probably be difficult too.

You have great stats though. I see no reason why you wouldn't hear from an MD school this year! I know it seems like it's been a while...but it is still only November. You could hear something in the next couple months and still get an acceptance. Where did you apply?

Good luck! Hope this helps and wasn't discouraging 🙁 I just don't want to see you possibly waste your money unless you are willing to!

 

[Tinman85225]

Well, after getting no love from MD schools this cycle, I thought it might be in my best interest to begin formulating a backup plan. I've thought about it a lot, and decided that I would rather go to medical school this year (any medical school) than be forced to take another year off. The who allopathic vs. osteopathic thing isn't a very big deal for me - I just want to become a physician.

Now, I know it's kind of late in the game to begin sending out applications, so I was wondering if you guys think there's any chance I'm accepted doing things this late.

Here's my info:
MCAT: 33O (11/11/11)
GPA: 3.65
Undergrad. research
Hospital Volunteering
Physician shadowing - including a DO physician who wrote a very nice rec. letter for me.

I'm currently considering the northeast schools: UNECOM, PCOM, NYCOM, and UMDNJ-SOM.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I have to echo Lewist02's comments. AACOMAS is taking forever right now to process. Plus, interviews are scheduling into March right now, making it a long shot. Sorry. Hopefully the MD schools will come through with something, but they can also be slow in getting back to you. Best of luck!

 

[ShyRem]

Long shot? yes. Impossible? I don't think so. But I would pay particular attention to deadlines for every school. You may miss quite a few at this point.

 

[egull28]

Good to know about UMDNJ - I didn't realize they favored in-state so heavily. I'm from Maine, so... that doesn't bode well.

NY, NE, and Phili primary deadlines are Feb 1. I could probably still make those deadlines even with the humongous wait. Oy, going to be owned by rolling admissions tho...

As for MD schools - 3 rejections and 1 hold so far. Silence from the other 7. See my Mdapps link for more info.

 

[swamprat]

Good to know about UMDNJ - I didn't realize they favored in-state so heavily. I'm from Maine, so... that doesn't bode well.

NY, NE, and Phili primary deadlines are Feb 1. I could probably still make those deadlines even with the humongous wait. Oy, going to be owned by rolling admissions tho...

As for MD schools - 3 rejections and 1 hold so far. Silence from the other 7. See my Mdapps link for more info.

Submit, you have excellent stats and you should be in before deadlines so I don't see you getting an acceptance somewhere. Also, possibly consider adding more MD schools to your AMCAS, it will submit right away.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Good to know about UMDNJ - I didn't realize they favored in-state so heavily. I'm from Maine, so... that doesn't bode well.

UMDNJ doesn't have a preference of IS vs OOS, I think alot of people assume that because it's a state school.

You can confirm this with EMT2ER-DOC, a current student there.

 

[ShyRem]

UMDNJ you can become a state resident with a piece of mail addressed to you at a NJ address. Just go get a NJ driver's license and BAM! You're a resident.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

UMDNJ you can become a state resident with a piece of mail addressed to you at a NJ address. Just go get a NJ driver's license and BAM! You're a resident.

I believe they changed the rules slightly for UMDNJ, you have to pay the OOS tuition for one year before you can get IS tuition. I'm not really sure of the specifics but that's what I heard.

 

[MSUSpartan642]

Sorry but I'm so tired of this. DO is not a back up plan! You wont have a good shot this cycle.

 

[Lewist02]

UMDNJ doesn't have a preference of IS vs OOS, I think alot of people assume that because it's a state school.

You can confirm this with EMT2ER-DOC, a current student there.

You're right now that I think about it. I have heard from students there that they do interview IS students for the most part first, however, I think I remember hearing that the 15% OOS is because of the majority of OOSers claiming residency to get IS tuition.

Sorry for the confusion!

 

[egull28]

Sorry but I'm so tired of this. DO is not a back up plan! You wont have a good shot this cycle.

I didn't mean backup plan in any kind of derogatory fashion. Just another option.

And yesterday I finished the primary app and sent it to the four schools mentioned above. If it doesn't work out than I wasted a few hundred dollars and a few days worth of work. But if it does, I get to go to medical school next year 🙂

 

[MSUSpartan642]

I didn't mean backup plan in any kind of derogatory fashion. Just another option.

And yesterday I finished the primary app and sent it to the four schools mentioned above. If it doesn't work out than I wasted a few hundred dollars and a few days worth of work. But if it does, I get to go to medical school next year 🙂

You have a wonderful application, there is no doubt about that. But make sure you have an answer for:

1.) Why did you apply late (you'll get asked this at DO schools)?
2.) Why DO?

If you would have applied at the beginning of the cycle you would have been nearly a lock at a lot of these schools, but now you'll be competing for far few spots/waitlist positions. Best of luck to ya. Sorry for coming off rude. I really just get tired of people always considering DO after no MD love.

 

[lawyerdoc2b]

I didn't mean backup plan in any kind of derogatory fashion. Just another option.

And yesterday I finished the primary app and sent it to the four schools mentioned above. If it doesn't work out than I wasted a few hundred dollars and a few days worth of work. But if it does, I get to go to medical school next year 🙂

OK, we all agree that you are late but you are not out. See latest posts for PCOM GA for example; the D.O. schools know that AACOMAS is backed up and will likely make some accomodations. Why is AACOMAS backed up? My theory is because it has the same staffing level as last year and many more applications. PCOM GA had 2,600 applications last year. I was told at my interview that the number will exceed 4,000 applications this year for the same 86 seats.

What can you do? I suggest that you cast a wider net. Consider adding WCU in Mississippi. While the school's preference is LA, AR and MS, about 30% of the class will be from elsewhere. WCU didn't start taking applications until late September and the first interviews are on December 1st. You might have a shot.

Call the schools and ask them if you can submit your secondary applications and LORs now while you wait on AACOMAS to verify your primary application. That way, when AACOMAS completes your application you are complete.

Go to the AACOM webiste and look at every D.O. school. Focus on the schools that do not have a huge regional preference and add them to your application.

Good luck.