No II from DOs, freaking out a little...

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Hello,

I was complete mid-September, and I haven't heard anything from schools (applied to 10 DO schools). Should I give them a call, or is it still too early to freak out?
Patience is a virtue, the need for instant gratification is not.

Schools stratify the apps as they come in and don't send out secondaries or IIs merely in chronological order.
 
What are your stats and school list?
 
So in other words you were complete a month ago. There is zero reason to worry yet. Always important to have a plan on how to improve your app in case it doesnt work out though.
 
What are your stats and school list?

MCAT 504, GPA 3.86, tons of research, decent amount of shadowing and volunteering (in the US and overseas). I am also an immigrant and residing in Illinois.
My DO school list is:
ATSU-KCOM
OU-HCOM
Midwestern
Michigan State
Marian
KCU-COM
Idaho
Des Moines
Rowan
PNWC-COM
 
MCAT 504, GPA 3.86, tons of research, decent amount of shadowing and volunteering (in the US and overseas). I am also an immigrant and residing in Illinois.
My DO school list is:
ATSU-KCOM
OU-HCOM
Midwestern
Michigan State
Marian
KCU-COM
Idaho
Des Moines
Rowan
PNWC-COM

Your list isn't very good. MSU, Rowan, and OU-HCOM were all long shots as they are heavily state focused (OU, MSU) or heavily regional (Rowan). You aren't from the PNW so PNWU wasn't a great choice either, and Midwestern loves 507+ MCATs so that was a long shot too. That leaves only 5 schools that would be considered genuine targets. You need to add more school honestly.

I would still be surprised if you didn't get at least 1-2 IIs out of that group though. Be patient and consider adding a few more schools. It's still far too early to panic.
 
Your list isn't very good. MSU, Rowan, and OU-HCOM were all long shots as they are heavily state focused (OU, MSU) or heavily regional (Rowan). You aren't from the PNW so PNWU wasn't a great choice either, and Midwestern loves 507+ MCATs so that was a long shot too. That leaves only 5 schools that would be considered genuine targets. You need to add more school honestly.

I would still be surprised if you didn't get at least 1-2 IIs out of that group though. Be patient and consider adding a few more schools. It's still far too early to panic.

Thank you! Any suggestions on which schools I should add to that list? And what would be the latest date to add schools but still not be too late in the process?
 
I also agree that your school list isn't great. PNWU is definitely like a 1% chance of getting an interview. PM me and I can help you out
 
I bet you get a couple interviews out of your list, but I would add some more as other people have said. Wouldn't worry about the timeline as of yet, you've only been complete a month.
 
Stay strong. Add a few more. I applied back in July and in a similar position. Submit and be patient. You can’t change the fate once you submit. Put your best foot forward with your application and let it run its course.
 
send them a letter on why you think you would be a great fit and how you will make an impact at their school. it could help but def will not hurt you
 
send them a letter on why you think you would be a great fit and how you will make an impact at their school. it could help but def will not hurt you

How would you interpret a nonbinding promise from a desperate applicant?
Read this first, OP:
See the following for classic examples of why most Admissions deans treat these as lies.

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/loi-and-interviews.1252832/#post-18849958

I told a school I'd go if accepted, now not so sure

And if you still don’t believe me, read these:

HomeSkool's Guide to Letters of Intent

Second letter of intent? Help!
 
Your MCAT is avg for DO schools, your GPA is above average. If you applied broadly I foresee IIs and probably an acceptance somewhere. Overall you are a strong DO applicant I think, but I haven't seen your PS or any other ECs, so tough to say. Applying smart is definitely important and like some posters above said its important to not apply to programs that are heavily regionally/state bias even if your profile fits theirs. RowanSOM, MSU, Oklahoma are good examples of this. I go to RowanSOM and like 75%+ of my class is from NJ. Apply to more DO programs if you can. The medical school application process will teach you patience that is for sure. All I did was wait and wait and wait. Your day will come.
 
How about those who have no II (but a few holds) that have completed July/August? Should we be worried??
 
Should def applied more broadly imo, especially to newer schools.

I have 6 II from DOs, none of which are on your list besides ICOM. I know it's commonly not advised on here to target newer schools but sometimes we have to be realistic with our expectations.
 
Your list isn't very good. MSU, Rowan, and OU-HCOM were all long shots as they are heavily state focused (OU, MSU) or heavily regional (Rowan). You aren't from the PNW so PNWU wasn't a great choice either, and Midwestern loves 507+ MCATs so that was a long shot too. That leaves only 5 schools that would be considered genuine targets. You need to add more school honestly.

I would still be surprised if you didn't get at least 1-2 IIs out of that group though. Be patient and consider adding a few more schools. It's still far too early to panic.

Ill second this, and mention that your MCAT isnt going to jump out at DMU or KCU. Maybe later in the cycle they will give you an II.
 
I'd be surprised if you don't get any love from 1-2 of those schools. Add a few more as a backup but look carefully at which schools have strong regional biases.
 
OP I'd add at least 5 more schools as backups. I personally would recommend RVUs, PCOMs, LECOMs, VCOMs, ARCOM, CUSOM.

And when I say add I mean like RIGHT NOW. There's really no more time left to waste.

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I'm in the same vote. Wish you the best.
 
OP I'd add at least 5 more schools as backups. I personally would recommend RVUs, PCOMs, LECOMs, VCOMs, ARCOM, CUSOM.

And when I say add I mean like RIGHT NOW. There's really no more time left to waste.

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Lecom and PCOM get like 10k+ apps so I would say its kind of late to get that in. I was complete at PCOM and LECOM 9/3 and silence.
RVU is a great school, but again that MCAT isn't going to knock anyone's socks off at RVU.
 
Lecom and PCOM get like 10k+ apps so I would say its kind of late to get that in. I was complete at PCOM and LECOM 9/3 and silence.
RVU is a great school, but again that MCAT isn't going to knock anyone's socks off at RVU.
You're right it's probably too late for these schools, but I think OP can still try ARCOM, CUSOM, the VCOMs, and maybe even PCOM Georgia campuses if he's willing to attend them.

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Just to encourage OP a little, I got accepted at KCU/DMU/RVU with a lower MCAT and lower GPA. My IIs for the former two came in November of last year, so there’s still hope.
 
Thanks everyone for your input!

I had an interview at KCU (loved the school, waiting to hear back), and on Friday I scheduled my interview with Idaho COM for January. However, I am open to the idea of adding more DO schools to my list (especially since I have had only one interview with an MD school, and one with a DO school). So, the common decision is adding PCOMs, LECOMs, VCOMs to my list (and adding them RIGHT NOW) would be the best. Am I right?
 
Thanks everyone for your input!

I had an interview at KCU (loved the school, waiting to hear back), and on Friday I scheduled my interview with Idaho COM for January. However, I am open to the idea of adding more DO schools to my list (especially since I have had only one interview with an MD school, and one with a DO school). So, the common decision is adding PCOMs, LECOMs, VCOMs to my list (and adding them RIGHT NOW) would be the best. Am I right?
No, not LECOM. If PCOM only the Georgia campuses, VCOMs, CUSOM and ARCOM. Good luck.

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Hello,

I was complete mid-September, and I haven't heard anything from schools (applied to 10 DO schools). Should I give them a call, or is it still too early to freak out?
The fact that you were complete in mid september is not exactly that early. It's more on the later side but not so not hearing back yet isn't anything to be considerably concerned about. Being complete early is like June or July. Like Goro said you could hear back at any time the med school app process is so unpredictable. Some people I know who were accepted didn't get IIs until January Feb or March (March is late though)
 
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Thanks everyone for your input!

I had an interview at KCU (loved the school, waiting to hear back), and on Friday I scheduled my interview with Idaho COM for January. However, I am open to the idea of adding more DO schools to my list (especially since I have had only one interview with an MD school, and one with a DO school). So, the common decision is adding PCOMs, LECOMs, VCOMs to my list (and adding them RIGHT NOW) would be the best. Am I right?

Just so you know I was told in my interview last week most people interviewing at ICOM in January will be interviewing for waitlist.
 
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