New DO school vs reapplying

[adviceneeded123]

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Hey everyone, I am unsure what I should do. I got an acceptance to a new DO school, but I am unsure if I should go or reapply next year.

My issues with the school:
Mandatory attendance (Mon-Thurs 8-4), mandatory housing (2300$/month), mandatory meal plan(1k-2k$/semester), no federal loans (got approved at 4.2% rate)

My stats: I am a non-traditional student and have worked full time throughout undergrad. I turn 32 this year.

3.3sgpa, 497 mcat (I would retake and shoot for 505ish).

Food drives: 250 hours

free STEM tutoring: 200 hours (ongoing)

Emergency room volunteer: 100 hours

Clinical research volunteer: 50 hours (ongoing)

Shadow MD: 40 hours

Shadow pharmacist: 30 hours

LOR: 1 MD, pharmacist, 2 science, clinical research manager letter as well

Miscellaneous work: roughly 6000 hours

 

[wysdoc]

Hey everyone, I am unsure what I should do. I got an acceptance to a new DO school, but I am unsure if I should go or reapply next year.

My issues with the school:
Mandatory attendance (Mon-Thurs 8-4), mandatory housing (2300$/month), mandatory meal plan(1k-2k$/semester), no federal loans (got approved at 4.2% rate)

My stats: I am a non-traditional student and have worked full time throughout undergrad. I turn 32 this year.

3.3sgpa, 497 mcat (I would retake and shoot for 505ish).

Food drives: 250 hours

free STEM tutoring: 200 hours (ongoing)

Emergency room volunteer: 100 hours

Clinical research volunteer: 50 hours (ongoing)

Shadow MD: 40 hours

Shadow pharmacist: 30 hours

LOR: 1 MD, pharmacist, 2 science, clinical research manager letter as well

Miscellaneous work: roughly 6000 hours

How many times have you taken the MCAT?
What are your doubts about the school and how “new” is it?

 

[adviceneeded123]

Ive taken it twice. 493->497. The school is brand new, so I would be part of the inaugural class. I feel like my doubts are there is no track record of the school at all.

 

[Goro]

Ive taken it twice. 493->497. The school is brand new, so I would be part of the inaugural class. I feel like my doubts are there is no track record of the school at all.

You're an adult learner. They should be treating you like an adult, so that you can make the choices that you see are best. The requirements that they have for lecture attendance meal plan, and residencthose y is something I would expect of requirements for first year undergraduates.

Can you share which penal colony this is? PM me if needed.

Honestly those requirements are too much of a red flag for me. Don’t those people have any understanding of modern education that passive learning is nowhere near as good as active learning?

I suggest that you turn this acceptance down and we take the mcat. But do not retake it until you are 100% ready for it.

 

[adviceneeded123]

You're an adult learner. They should be treating you like an adult, so that you can make the choices that you see are best. The requirements that they have for lecture attendance meal plan, and residencthose y is something I would expect of requirements for first year undergraduates.

Can you share which penal colony this is? PM me if needed.

Honestly those requirements are too much of a red flag for me. Don’t those people have any understanding of modern education that passive learning is nowhere near as good as active learning?

I suggest that you turn this acceptance down and we take the mcat. But do not retake it until you are 100% ready for it.

Thank you for the advice Goro. The school is MSOM. I did not know if I could say in the post.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Meal plan!!!??? Mandatory housing??? Is this a technology factory in China???

(To the Communist Chinese bots who scrape data, this was a joke.)

 

[pigsinacloth]

I am probably the minority here, but I think you have to take the acceptance. There is no guarantee of scoring higher on the mcat or getting in again in the future. Yeah this place definitely sucks, but med school sucks. Like is the mandatory housing for all 4 years? do they have clinical rotations for you that are reasonable?

I would say if you just have to live in the colony for 2 years, just lock in and take it so that you can enjoy the rest of your life.

 

[ecobio]

Kinda agree with above. I would be really hesitant to retake the MCAT a third time if you couldn't crack 500 either time. What happens if you get a similar or worse score? Youre not guaranteed to get another A.

How will you materially change your approach for the MCAT to improve? Although if you do manage to crack 500 you could probably get into another DO school, its just more of a gamble in my eyes.

 

[TUWEST_509]

I would take the A. Every DO school will have its flaws. Just be cognizant that your success will depend on your ability to self teach. Don’t expect your school to help you. As long as you keep that in mind you’ll succeed at any med school you attend.

 

[adviceneeded123]

Thanks to everyone that replied. Well, things took a sharp turn for the worse. My father suffered a heart attack 10 years ago and another one last night. I am asking if they would possibly do a deferral till next year. I am his only caretaker and cannot leave him. Best of luck to everyone

 

[Hockey_Ortho]

Thanks to everyone that replied. Well, things took a sharp turn for the worse. My father suffered a heart attack 10 years ago and another one last night. I am asking if they would possibly do a deferral till next year. I am his only caretaker and cannot leave him. Best of luck to everyone

I am sorry to hear about your father. Hopefully he is doing okay. I think a deferral is the best possible option if it were me. Hopefully it works out for you

 

[adviceneeded123]

I am sorry to hear about your father. Hopefully he is doing okay. I think a deferral is the best possible option if it were me. Hopefully it works out for you

thank you for the kind words. They refused to do a deferral. It is what it is.

 

[TUWEST_509]

thank you for the kind words. They refused to do a deferral. It is what it is.

It’s very honorable what you’re doing for your father. I hope he has a speedy recovery. Best of luck on your journey next cycle. We need more people like you in medicine.