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[NoDice]

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First time poster, long time reader.

I applied early to 15 DO schools and a couple MD as reaches, but wasn't expecting much there.
MCAT is a 28 (9,9,10) and cGPA and sGPA are 3.6 and 3.4 (with some retakes). Have pretty solid EC's (clinical volunteering, non-clinical volunteering, research, DO shadowing and DO LOR).

Did have a red flag though- caught smoking pot in the dorms with my roommates freshman year. Could that have really killed my chances that much?

 

[chizledfrmstone]

What schools did you apply to?

 

[NoDice]

What schools did you apply to?

All 3 Touros, NYITCOM, CCOM, AZCOM, DMU, PCOM, UNECOM, LECOM-B, LECOM-E, PNWU, MUCOM, LMU, NSU

 

[chizledfrmstone]

Did you contact the schools?

Your stats aren't that bad.

The red flag isn't that big of an issue IMHO.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Did you get any interviews? Your stats should have granted you interviews. Did you turn in your secondaries as soon as possible? Something isn't right here...

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

But then again... you applied to some schools that have high MCATs... like 30 and above.

Like most peeps on here.. your school selection screwed you over.

 

[NoDice]

Did you contact the schools?
Your stats aren't that bad.
The red flag isn't that big of an issue IMHO.

Did you get any interviews? Your stats should have granted you interviews. Did you turn in your secondaries as soon as possible? Something isn't right here...

I did contact most of the schools recently. I had an interview at LMU but haven't heard back yet, nothing else. They didn't bring up the IA.

A possible other minor red flag. I started a master's program in biomedical sciences, but withdrew from it to start a DIY postbacc to pursue medical school. I thought I explained it well in my PS, I don't know if schools would consider that a red flag (like lack of commitment or something).

But then again... you applied to some schools that have high MCATs... like 30 and above.

Like most peeps on here.. your school selection screwed you over.

According to stats I've looked at posted by User3, only Touro Ca, Touro Ny, Nyitcom, CCOM, and AZCOM had an MCAT average above 28 (only the two touro's had 30+). So I thought that wasn't a huge issue.

 

[ERK123]

Did you do a good job talking about your interest in osteopathic medicine in your personal statement and secondaries?

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Azcom isn't looking at any apps lower than a 29 I believe. CCOM is notorious for getting apps with big MCAT scores.

U did have one interview so that is good. If I were you, I would begin working on and sending a letter of intent to LMU if you don't think you will be hearing anything soon. Up to you though.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Also, idk why your withdrawal would be a big deal unless you took courses in the master's program and got grades for them. Then you would have to report the grades.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Another thing is WHEN did you apply? When were you complete? We need the details to get the best answer for your situation.

 

[NoDice]

Did you do a good job talking about your interest in osteopathic medicine in your personal statement and secondaries?

Yeah I think so. I got along really well with the family medicine DO I shadowed and really liked her attitude and how she practiced. Also talked about how some of my family members have received OMM for some things and how they've benefited. OMM is something I'm actually quite interested so I tried to express that.

Also, idk why your withdrawal would be a big deal unless you took courses in the master's program and got grades for them. Then you would have to report the grades.

I withdrew before taking any courses. I just did about half a semester of research with a PI.

Another thing is WHEN did you apply? When were you complete? We need the details to get the best answer for your situation.

I was complete by late August early September. It was a little later than I was planning, but I didn't think it was too bad.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

You need to contact the schools whom you haven't heard from. let us know what they say!

 

[GypsyHummus]

All 3 Touros, NYITCOM, CCOM, AZCOM, DMU, PCOM, UNECOM, LECOM-B, LECOM-E, PNWU, MUCOM, LMU, NSU

School selection screwed you over, and the interview with LMU proves that your stats are good enough.

Refocus for next application season and target specific schools.

 

[sameharu1991]

Hmm that is strange... by the looks of it, it sounds like your stats, list of schools, timing, ecs and ps sounds solid enough. I dont think the two possible red flags you mentioned would have been a big deal.

I wonder if it would help to look at your PS again. I see that you mentioned your interest in osteopathic medicine based on your experiences.. I wonder if it wasnt personal/captivating enough? Did you talk about how those experiences impacted your decision to apply to DO programs? Maybe also address some difficulties you might have had but overcome them to come this far.

Just few thoughts. 🙂

 

[IslandStyle808]

I did contact most of the schools recently. I had an interview at LMU but haven't heard back yet, nothing else. They didn't bring up the IA.

LMU is a completely blind interview. So the interviewers have no knowledge of your application whatsoever. Thus would most likely not know about the IA (don't think it is much of an issue).

Your list seems slightly top heavy with the fact that you had an LMU-DCOM interview. I suggest you aim for a more board range of schools. Take off Touro-CA, Touro-NY, CCOM, AZCOM, and UNECOM from your list.

There might be issues with the personal statement and secondaries as well, which might have turned schools off. Try to find someone in your college or even at your local medical school that will take a look at your statement and secondaries. Good luck.

 

[ortnakas]

Azcom isn't looking at any apps lower than a 29 I believe. CCOM is notorious for getting apps with big MCAT scores.

U did have one interview so that is good. If I were you, I would begin working on and sending a letter of intent to LMU if you don't think you will be hearing anything soon. Up to you though.

AZCOM's average is typically about a 29, which means they do invite applicants with scores under 29 (although it could be a pretty narrow margin). That said, I was put on pre-interview hold there with higher GPAs and lower MCAT score than OP last year, and was invited to interview when I brought my score up to a 29.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I believe this year they stated they aren't giving secondaries/interviews to anybody with MCAT scores less than a 29. That was earlier in the application cycle however. They probably started pulling from peeps with MCATs less than 29 as the cycle comes to a close. Congrats on your interview and acceptances though!

 

[67552931811]

I believe this year they stated they aren't giving secondaries/interviews to anybody with MCAT scores less than a 29. That was earlier in the application cycle however. They probably started pulling from peeps with MCATs less than 29 as the cycle comes to a close. Congrats on your interview and acceptances though!

I know of an individual who got an interview early on in the cycle with an mcat below 27.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I know of an individual who got an interview early on in the cycle with an mcat below 27.

I was under the wrong impression then. Congrats to him/her!

 

[Goro]

If that were the case, we lose 1/3rd of my students.


Did have a red flag though- caught smoking pot in the dorms with my roommates freshman year. Could that have really killed my chances that much?

Something is very, very wrong. You're highly competitive for any of the schools on your list.

 

[NoDice]

Hmm that is strange... by the looks of it, it sounds like your stats, list of schools, timing, ecs and ps sounds solid enough. I dont think the two possible red flags you mentioned would have been a big deal.

I wonder if it would help to look at your PS again. I see that you mentioned your interest in osteopathic medicine based on your experiences.. I wonder if it wasnt personal/captivating enough? Did you talk about how those experiences impacted your decision to apply to DO programs? Maybe also address some difficulties you might have had but overcome them to come this far.

Just few thoughts. 🙂

Good advice. Maybe my secondary's were a little weak.

If that were the case, we lose 1/3rd of my students.


Did have a red flag though- caught smoking pot in the dorms with my roommates freshman year. Could that have really killed my chances that much?

Something is very, very wrong. You're highly competitive for any of the schools on your list.

Haha, you must be in Colorado or Washington if 1/3rd of your students have gotten caught smoking pot in undergrad! Good to know it probably isn't a deal breaker though.

Are DO schools more understanding of an IA like this compared to MD schools? I feel like all the thoughts about it in the pre-MD forum are a lot more
negative and that it can really hurt your chances or get you put in a separate IA file that gets looked at way later.

 

[Goro]

I think both MD and Do are equal in being forgiving of youthful indiscretions. After all, we were young and stupid once too. An IA for cheating or violence is a career killer though, no matter who looks at your app.

Are DO schools more understanding of an IA like this compared to MD schools? I feel like all the thoughts about it in the pre-MD forum are a lot more negative and that it can really hurt your chances or get you put in a separate IA file that gets looked at way later.

 

[senzen]

I think both MD and Do are equal in being forgiving of youthful indiscretions. After all, we were young and stupid once too. An IA for cheating or violence is a career killer though, no matter who looks at your app.

Are DO schools more understanding of an IA like this compared to MD schools? I feel like all the thoughts about it in the pre-MD forum are a lot more negative and that it can really hurt your chances or get you put in a separate IA file that gets looked at way later.

I saw someone post that they were accepted with a cheating infraction (plagiarism?) on some low GPA success stories thread. I'm sure that was a very rare case though and does not happen often.

It is understandable that those types of infractions are often hard to look past.

 

[PKA<0]

OP I'm sorry to hear your unfortunate luck. I had identical numbers if you flip sgpa and gpa along with an IA for public intoxication and was complete in October. I applied to 18 schools. Filled out 12 secondaries, and was asked to 4 interviews. Went to2 and accepted both. I think the problem has to be PS content or lack of shown interest in Osteopathic medicine.

Edit: for the record my interviews were to DMU, Lecom-E, ATSU, and Touro neveda

 

[NoDice]

OP I'm sorry to hear your unfortunate luck. I had identical numbers if you flip sgpa and gpa along with an IA for public intoxication and was complete in October. I applied to 18 schools. Filled out 12 secondaries, and was asked to 4 interviews. Went to2 and accepted both. I think the problem has to be PS content or lack of shown interest in Osteopathic medicine.

Edit: for the record my interviews were to DMU, Lecom-E, ATSU, and Touro neveda

Congrats on the acceptances first off. Did they ask about the IA during either of the interviews?

 

[PKA<0]

Congrats on the acceptances first off. Did they ask about the IA during either of the interviews?

Yes, it was a quick question about what happened. I explained the story and what I learned from the experience.