OK, so here is the deal...

[Suzanna]

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...I need your help SDN friends, but you already know that right? 🙂

Currently I am sitting on 3 wait lists: one in old DO, one in somewhat old DO and one very new DO (no names, sorry). Also, due to my pretty low MCAT (26) I do not think I will get any more interviews at this point. It is already very late in the season and I am somewhat stuck, without a solid plan really. Thus, this is what I have been thinking:
For the next month, let's say, if I am taken of the wait list at any of these schools, I am going. But what if I am not? I decided to start studying for the new MCAT and take it in July and probably reapply this coming summer (hopefully with much better score this time!). I mean, if I do not get it this year (which is very possible) at least I can improve my MCAT which I guess will give me more choices next year.
However, there is also some wait list movement in summer, which adds more complications to my decisions. If I am taken off the wait list from the old DO during summer, I will go, but should I do the same with the very new school? After studying again for the MCAT for 3-4 months?? I was thinking that if I do pretty good with my MCAT prep, I might take it and apply next year, and get to another school, that is not just a safe choice so to speak.

OK, so I guess what I am asking is, what do you guys think? Does this seem reasonable or not? It is really hard to still be in the grey area after so many months...I am sure many of you know what I mean.
If you guys have any other propositions/alternatives, please feel free to tell me.
Thanks in advance and congrats to all those accepted! 🙂

 

[xBODOMx]

You have to look at it as having no acceptances at this time. It is true that movement will occur closer to summer, but it's also a gamble. I understand your situation, but I would just study for the new MCAT. If you can take it by June, you'll find out about score in July and that's when most DO schools start. If your score is good enough, then I would defer if you got accepted to the new school.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Do you know your respective position on the waitlists?

Can you tell us which schools?


General it's unlikely that out of 3 waitlists you will fail to get off one. But preparing for the worst may be an adequate measure for the time being and no one can deny that.

 

[trs88]

Not to mention, they need to start searching for an mcat to register for, like yesterday. A ton of test dates are completely booked. People are having to travel cross country just to take the exam. There is always the fact that people drop the exam as their date comes up, but it's a gamble to get those spots as other people are trying to snag them too.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Not to mention, they need to start searching for an mcat to register for, like yesterday. A ton of test dates are completely booked. People are having to travel cross country just to take the exam. There is always the fact that people drop the exam as their date comes up, but it's a gamble to get those spots as other people are trying to snag them too.

They can easy book a May or June date and be fine. They can apply and have schooled update with the Mcat.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

There is something wrong here. What are your GPAs and when did you apply? A 26 MCAT should have got u in somewhere. You got interviews but did you perform well during them? Did you have a DO letter? Any red flags in your app?

 

[deleted610572]

I would even take the new school. I don't see waiting an entire year just at hopes of another school (something about 1 in the hand equals 2 in the bush yada yada yada) also no DO will make or break you as a dr (maybe 1 but I digress). How did you feel about the new school when you interviewed? If you enjoyed it and felt like they had solid curriculum and rotations then I would go for it. But definitely look for a backup plan. Register for the mcat and start studying for that puppy. Always better to prepare and not need it rather than it be too late. I do foresee you getting in somewhere most likely the new school but with 3 waitlists it's a good possibility.

 

[Suzanna]

Do you know your respective position on the waitlists?

Can you tell us which schools?


General it's unlikely that out of 3 waitlists you will fail to get off one. But preparing for the worst may be an adequate measure for the time being and no one can deny that.

School one is one of the original 5, the other is LECOM and the last one is very new med school. Sorry but I would prefer not to give more names of schools because some people here know me and I would like to remain anonymous. Also, there is no wait list ranking in any of the schools.

 

[Suzanna]

Not to mention, they need to start searching for an mcat to register for, like yesterday. A ton of test dates are completely booked. People are having to travel cross country just to take the exam. There is always the fact that people drop the exam as their date comes up, but it's a gamble to get those spots as other people are trying to snag them too.

I am hoping there will be some seat or will open up because there is still some time...but yes, it is a little late nonetheless. What can I say...hope to get in never dies 🙂

 

[Suzanna]

There is something wrong here. What are your GPAs and when did you apply? A 26 MCAT should have got u in somewhere. You got interviews but did you perform well during them? Did you have a DO letter? Any red flags in your app?

GPA 3.7 GPAs ~3.5, DO letter yes. I guess the interviews did not go so well since they did not take me :/
Otherwise, no red flags as far as I can tell.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

What was the list Of schools you applied to and what was your MCAT breakdown? If you have below an 8 in any subsection, it could be why because some schools do want you to have at least a certain subscore in a section. Other than that, how did you feel you did at your interviews? Did you get stumped at all?

 

[Suzanna]

I would even take the new school. I don't see waiting an entire year just at hopes of another school (something about 1 in the hand equals 2 in the bush yada yada yada) also no DO will make or break you as a dr (maybe 1 but I digress). How did you feel about the new school when you interviewed? If you enjoyed it and felt like they had solid curriculum and rotations then I would go for it. But definitely look for a backup plan. Register for the mcat and start studying for that puppy. Always better to prepare and not need it rather than it be too late. I do foresee you getting in somewhere most likely the new school but with 3 waitlists it's a good possibility.

I definitively see what you are saying, but let's say they will take me off the wait list in June, which will be after 3 months of studying for the MCAT. If I were doing well (let's say) with MCAT and having a chance to possible go to a school I really want to go...should I still go to the new school which was my safe school and the last out of the 3 I interview in? I am not sure. Generally, the school is OK, nice and new...but rotations...I do not know if they are good or bad yet.

 

[Suzanna]

What was the list Of schools you applied to and what was your MCAT breakdown? If you have below an 8 in any subsection, it could be why because some schools do want you to have at least a certain subscore in a section. Other than that, how did you feel you did at your interviews? Did you get stumped at all?

10/8/8
I am not sure about interview, really. Perhaps after some time I just became 'too comfortable' and forgot that I am talking to a professor and not a friend.

P.S. I applied broadly, so I do not think that was an issue.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

School one is one of the original 5, the other is LECOM and the last one is very new med school. Sorry but I would prefer not to give more names of schools because some people here know me and I would like to remain anonymous. Also, there is no wait list ranking in any of the schools.

If it's kcumb then you've got a good chance. DMU is great.

Lecom has tons of movement.

And new schools save for MUCOM have great movement.

 

[LChristmas]

The reason you apply to safety schools is so you have a last resort/backup plan. If you never intended to matriculate, then you should have never applied there. My advice is to go to the best school that accepts you. If only one school accepts you, then it is a pretty easy decision on where to go. Whatever you do, do not throw away an acceptance. If you really don't want to go there, then withdraw yourself from the waitlist.

Keep in mind that you cannot defer an acceptance and apply to other schools in the following cycle.

 

[deleted610572]

I definitively see what you are saying, but let's say they will take me off the wait list in June, which will be after 3 months of studying for the MCAT. If I were doing well (let's say) with MCAT and having a chance to possible go to a school I really want to go...should I still go to the new school which was my safe school and the last out of the 3 I interview in? I am not sure. Generally, the school is OK, nice and new...but rotations...I do not know if they are good or bad yet.

Starting out by this is all speculation based off what I've read on SDN:

You become a reapplicant at this point where everyone said it is harder to gain admission and you'll need to improve your application. If you only score marginally better on the mcat that may not be enough. Also, If you turn down an acceptance this year to become a reapplicant idk how that'll look next cycle. The school you turn down definitely Wont accept you again but idk if other schools will even be aware of it. If they are aware (may not happen, but if they ask you "why do you feel that you didn't get into a school last year and what have you done to fix your application" you run the risk of lying to them saying oh I didn't get in and this is why when in fact you did but just not the place you want) it could be perceived that you were holding out for an MD acceptance and when you didn't get it you wanted another go and just applied DO again for safety. This is all speculation

 

[evooo8]

I would take any acceptance even if it is at the new school. Next year is not a guaranteed acceptance since you will be a reapplicant. I think you should see waitlist movement though! Good luck!

 

[leslieknope2015]

.

 

[Suzanna]

The reason you apply to safety schools is so you have a last resort/backup plan. If you never intended to matriculate, then you should have never applied there. My advice is to go to the best school that accepts you. If only one school accepts you, then it is a pretty easy decision on where to go. Whatever you do, do not throw away an acceptance. If you really don't want to go there, then withdraw yourself from the waitlist.

Keep in mind that you cannot defer an acceptance and apply to other schools in the following cycle.

It is not that I never intended to matriculate there, if they accept me right now, I am going. All I am saying is that by summer I will already take the MCAT and hopefully do better. Therefore next year, I might not have to settle for my safety school but go where I really want to.

You really cannot defer an acceptance??

 

[Suzanna]

Starting out by this is all speculation based off what I've read on SDN:

You become a reapplicant at this point where everyone said it is harder to gain admission and you'll need to improve your application. If you only score marginally better on the mcat that may not be enough. Also, If you turn down an acceptance this year to become a reapplicant idk how that'll look next cycle. The school you turn down definitely Wont accept you again but idk if other schools will even be aware of it. If they are aware (may not happen, but if they ask you "why do you feel that you didn't get into a school last year and what have you done to fix your application" you run the risk of lying to them saying oh I didn't get in and this is why when in fact you did but just not the place you want) it could be perceived that you were holding out for an MD acceptance and when you didn't get it you wanted another go and just applied DO again for safety. This is all speculation

I know it looks bad, but this really isn't at all about MD vs. DO. The older DO school that has me on their wait list I love and I would love to go there. My only point is that studying for the MCAT is already challenging, as you know, so after going through that again and doing better and not using it in the end, seems like a waste.

 

[Suzanna]

I would take any acceptance even if it is at the new school. Next year is not a guaranteed acceptance since you will be a reapplicant. I think you should see waitlist movement though! Good luck!

I hope there will be some wait list movement. Thank you!

 

[Suzanna]

yea, i would just take what i get.
my friend didn't get off the waitlist at MUCOM until june, so there is definitely hope.

just wondering, when exactly did you apply in the cycle? your stats seem to be perfectly fine for DO.

I applied in September. Got my 3 invites at the beginning (October-November) and that's it.

 

[LChristmas]

It is not that I never intended to matriculate there, if they accept me right now, I am going. All I am saying is that by summer I will already take the MCAT and hopefully do better. Therefore next year, I might not have to settle for my safety school but go where I really want to.

You really cannot defer an acceptance??

Okay, gotcha. As long as you don't turn down an acceptance this year. I think a retake is your best course of action if an acceptance doesn't come this cycle.

You can defer an acceptance. It is usually on a case-by-case basis, and it has to be for a legitimate reason. What you can't do is defer an acceptance for the purpose of using that year to apply to other schools.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I'm having some real trouble seeing as to how you weren't accepted with those stats. September for apps isn't too late but I'm still surprised. There has to be something wrong either with your interview or maybe you seemed to lack enthusiasm whilst being interviewed or in your secondaries? Have you contacted the schools and asked why you were waitlisted? May wanna do that and share!

 

[Goro]

First thing to do would be to contact Admissions deans to find out if they can offer any feedback on your rejection. The fix those deficits.

But what if I am not? I decided to start studying for the new MCAT and take it in July and probably reapply this coming summer (hopefully with much better score this time!). I mean, if I do not get it this year (which is very possible) at least I can improve my MCAT which I guess will give me more choices next year.


However, there is also some wait list movement in summer, which adds more complications to my decisions. If I am taken off the wait list from the old DO during summer, I will go, but should I do the same with the very new school? After studying again for the MCAT for 3-4 months?? I was thinking that if I do pretty good with my MCAT prep, I might take it and apply next year, and get to another school, that is not just a safe choice so to speak.

OK, so I guess what I am asking is, what do you guys think? Does this seem reasonable or not? It is really hard to still be in the grey area after so many months...I am sure many of you know what I mean.
If you guys have any other propositions/alternatives, please feel free to tell me.
Thanks in advance and congrats to all those accepted! 🙂[/QUOTE]

 

[Suzanna]

First thing to do would be to contact Admissions deans to find out if they can offer any feedback on your rejection. The fix those deficits.

But what if I am not? I decided to start studying for the new MCAT and take it in July and probably reapply this coming summer (hopefully with much better score this time!). I mean, if I do not get it this year (which is very possible) at least I can improve my MCAT which I guess will give me more choices next year.


However, there is also some wait list movement in summer, which adds more complications to my decisions. If I am taken off the wait list from the old DO during summer, I will go, but should I do the same with the very new school? After studying again for the MCAT for 3-4 months?? I was thinking that if I do pretty good with my MCAT prep, I might take it and apply next year, and get to another school, that is not just a safe choice so to speak.

OK, so I guess what I am asking is, what do you guys think? Does this seem reasonable or not? It is really hard to still be in the grey area after so many months...I am sure many of you know what I mean.
If you guys have any other propositions/alternatives, please feel free to tell me.
Thanks in advance and congrats to all those accepted! 🙂

[/QUOTE]

I did contact them but they said "we do not release this information." :/

 

[Suzanna]

I'm having some real trouble seeing as to how you weren't accepted with those stats. September for apps isn't too late but I'm still surprised. There has to be something wrong either with your interview or maybe you seemed to lack enthusiasm whilst being interviewed or in your secondaries? Have you contacted the schools and asked why you were waitlisted? May wanna do that and share!

As I said before, I did not get any luck with getting feedback. Regarding the interview, it is hard to say what was wrong but definitively not my enthusiasm....

 

[Suzanna]

Okay, gotcha. As long as you don't turn down an acceptance this year. I think a retake is your best course of action if an acceptance doesn't come this cycle.

You can defer an acceptance. It is usually on a case-by-case basis, and it has to be for a legitimate reason. What you can't do is defer an acceptance for the purpose of using that year to apply to other schools.

So are you saying that if I receive an acceptance, I have to go, unless I have a good reason that does not involve applying again with better MCAT scores and possibility of getting into a better school? I cannot defer just because?

 

[LChristmas]

So are you saying that if I receive an acceptance, I have to go, unless I have a good reason that does not involve applying again with better MCAT scores and possibility of getting into a better school? I cannot defer just because?

Yes, I'm saying that if you get an acceptance this cycle, take it and don't look back. If you decline an acceptance and reapply you are putting your future in serious jeopardy. It is definitely a risk not worth taking. There is no guarantee that you will do better on your MCAT this summer, so keep that in mind too, especially with how much of a beast the new test is.

 

[Goro]

What I meant was contact them if you get rejected. No one will tell you why you were wait listed.


I did contact them but they said "we do not release this information." :/[/QUOTE]


This is a really good way of never being a doctor. If you didn't want to go to a school, you shouldn't have applied there.
So are you saying that if I receive an acceptance, I have to go, unless I have a good reason that does not involve applying again with better MCAT scores and possibility of getting into a better school? I cannot defer just because?

 

[Suzanna]

What I meant was contact them if you get rejected. No one will tell you why you were wait listed.



I did contact them but they said "we do not release this information." :/

This is a really good way of never being a doctor. If you didn't want to go to a school, you shouldn't have applied there.
So are you saying that if I receive an acceptance, I have to go, unless I have a good reason that does not involve applying again with better MCAT scores and possibility of getting into a better school? I cannot defer just because?[/QUOTE]

go it. Thank you Goro!

 

[Suzanna]

P.S. One more question...since I do not have any acceptances right now, does anyone know if I should fill out FAFSA right now?

 

[samac]

P.S. One more question...since I do not have any acceptances right now, does anyone know if I should fill out FAFSA right now?

I'd go on and do it, it won't hurt you.
And also, if you get an acceptance in June, but you went up on your MCAT I'd still go. Unless you hit 90th %tile, then maybe you can gamble.

 

[Suzanna]

I'd go on and do it, it won't hurt you.
And also, if you get an acceptance in June, but you went up on your MCAT I'd still go. Unless you hit 90th %tile, then maybe you can gamble.

Thank you!

 

[moonwake]

MD vs. DO vs. Caribbean is a bigger question than which DO school. If you want to go DO I wouldn't say going to the new school would put you in an awful situation (even though people say LUCOM is hell on earth). At the end of the day most of the DO schools give you a similar chance at your future career. It mostly has to do with how well you do in each program that predicts what you do after med school- not which DO school you went to (correct me if I'm wrong).

AKA- Take an acceptance at the new school

 

[UBC2014]

There is something wrong here. What are your GPAs and when did you apply? A 26 MCAT should have got u in somewhere. You got interviews but did you perform well during them? Did you have a DO letter? Any red flags in your app?

A 26 mcat "should have gotten you in somewhere" is not necessarily true at all. They clearly got 3 interviews, so they did well, but nothing is absolute.

Even at the interview stage, it is not just up to your interview performance to get you in - schools still look at your stats and overall package.

 

[UBC2014]

I definitively see what you are saying, but let's say they will take me off the wait list in June, which will be after 3 months of studying for the MCAT. If I were doing well (let's say) with MCAT and having a chance to possible go to a school I really want to go...should I still go to the new school which was my safe school and the last out of the 3 I interview in? I am not sure. Generally, the school is OK, nice and new...but rotations...I do not know if they are good or bad yet.

What is the new school?

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

A 26 mcat "should have gotten you in somewhere" is not necessarily true at all. They clearly got 3 interviews, so they did well, but nothing is absolute.

Even at the interview stage, it is not just up to your interview performance to get you in - schools still look at your stats and overall package.

Well not the MCAT alone but the fact that he/she had an alright MCAT score coupled with the 3.7 and 3.5 gpas.... I'm pretty sure those are competitive numbers for DO. The schools he/she probably applied to may have super stats or something or maybe he/she didn't impress them enough during the interview.

 

[UBC2014]

Well not the MCAT alone but the fact that he/she had an alright MCAT score coupled with the 3.7 and 3.5 gpas.... I'm pretty sure those are competitive numbers for DO. The schools he/she probably applied to may have super stats or something or maybe he/she didn't impress them enough during the interview.

Fair enough, it will come down to school selection yes- but nothing is a gauranteee in the medical school process. There are many other people with much higher GPAs and MCATs applying - and other things on their applications that make them stand out.

I think getting 3 interviews is a pretty good showing, depending on how many schools they applied to etc.

As for 3 waitlists, 1 of them is bound to pull through. Send them an update letter or any new grades etc. Make it known you want to be there.

I applied to 6 schools this cycle, and had 4 interviews. My first 3 interviews(From Sept-October) all resulted in Waitlists. My 4th interview in November resulted in an acceptance. I was pulled from 2/3 waitlists in late Dec/ early January. It's a lot about timing of interviews - an otherwise competitive application just might feel more average at certain points of the cycle and net a waitlist - while schools take more "desirable" students first (based on whatever metric) and then pull waitlisters slightly later.

Remember, you only need 1 acceptance. Make 1 of those 3 schools "see" you.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Fair enough, it will come down to school selection yes- but nothing is a gauranteee in the medical school process. There are many other people with much higher GPAs and MCATs applying - and other things on their applications that make them stand out.

I think getting 3 interviews is a pretty good showing, depending on how many schools they applied to etc.

As for 3 waitlists, 1 of them is bound to pull through. Send them an update letter or any new grades etc. Make it known you want to be there.

I applied to 6 schools this cycle, and had 4 interviews. My first 3 interviews(From Sept-October) all resulted in Waitlists. My 4th interview in November resulted in an acceptance. I was pulled from 2/3 waitlists in late Dec/ early January. It's a lot about timing of interviews - an otherwise competitive application just might feel more average at certain points of the cycle and net a waitlist - while schools take more "desirable" students first (based on whatever metric) and then pull waitlisters slightly later.

Remember, you only need 1 acceptance. Make 1 of those 3 schools "see" you.

Did you feel schools are much more strict with folks from Canada in terms of stats?

 

[UBC2014]

Did you feel schools are much more strict with folks from Canada in terms of stats?

Depends on the school, but after going through the cycle - it is still really hard to tell. Some schools invited a fair amount of Canadians, while others not so much.

I would say that Canadians should generally have above average stats - simply because the schools that take Canadians, tend to be the private schools and those with higher average stats in the first place.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Depends on the school, but after going through the cycle - it is still really hard to tell. Some schools invited a fair amount of Canadians, while others not so much.

I would say that Canadians should generally have above average stats - simply because the schools that take Canadians, tend to be the private schools and those with higher average stats in the first place.

Definitely agree. I've been reading about your guys' situations on here for a while and this is the general consensus. The few schools that do pick from our neighbors up north are definitely picky. Nevertheless you've been accepted so congrats on that! Good luck in your future endeavors!