Requests for secondary apps mean you've beaten the gpa/mcat numbers game?

[mickc]

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Hi everyone,
I'm curious because with my low gpa and low MCAT, I still managed to get 8 of 9 requests for me to fill in secondaries applications for the 2010 cycle. Did that mean I evaded the gpa/mcat numbers game? Go easy, please. I was disappointed by my MCAT school and the amount of time (300+ hours!) I invested in preparations that I decided to postpone applying until the 2011 cycle for a higher score.

Thanks,
Mick

 

[thepoopologist]

It means nothing other than the fact you received secondaries. Getting accepted means you've beat the numbers game.


Edit: Wow, your scores are way low. Go through the cycle if you want. You may even get interviews, but I wouldn't expect anything to come out of it. If you get in, good for you. If you don't, get your MCAT up to 30+.

 

[Biology101]

Hi everyone,
I'm curious because with my low gpa and low MCAT, I still managed to get 8 of 9 requests for me to fill in secondaries applications for the 2010 cycle. Did that mean I evaded the gpa/mcat numbers game? Go easy, please. I was disappointed by my MCAT school and the amount of time (300+ hours!) I invested in preparations that I decided to postpone applying until the 2011 cycle for a higher score.

Thanks,
Mick

HA......NO.......TOURO NY WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT

INTERVIEWED ME AND SAID MY NUMBERS WERE NOT SUFFICIENT, but said I did great at the interview

as you can see that still bothers me

 

[quynhhuong]

Hi everyone,
I'm curious because with my low gpa and low MCAT, I still managed to get 8 of 9 requests for me to fill in secondaries applications for the 2010 cycle. Did that mean I evaded the gpa/mcat numbers game? Go easy, please. I was disappointed by my MCAT school and the amount of time (300+ hours!) I invested in preparations that I decided to postpone applying until the 2011 cycle for a higher score.

Thanks,
Mick

Lots of schools send out secondaries without screening. Even when you got invited for an interview, that doesn't mean that u got thru with the "numbers game". I got invited to RVU, they loved me but then sent me an email saying I'm on an alternate list because of my MCAT score.
If you have the dough, I think you should try and apply and test your luck. Most of the time it's not about numbers, it's about your background, your story, your experience and your personality. WCU is a new school that just starting next year, I think they'd be more forgiving with a well rounded application who had some bad luck with the MCAT.
If not, try to study again for the MCAT and raise your GPA up. I think u'll get in next year. And the key is APPLY EARLY! The earlier you apply, the more seats available for you and the less competitive it is to get in. Apply the first week AACOMAS opens!

Good luck on everything that u do.

 

[Everglide]

Until you have finished your secondaries, I would say you haven't even started "the numbers game".

If you have the money, I say go for it. Getting into med school is more than just numbers. Though numbers certainly help.

Also after you finish secondaries, consider options on how you can strengthen your application for the next cycle because primaries open up again in 7 months. (applying early helps a ton)

 

[Bones DO]

Hi everyone,
I'm curious because with my low gpa and low MCAT, I still managed to get 8 of 9 requests for me to fill in secondaries applications for the 2010 cycle. Did that mean I evaded the gpa/mcat numbers game? Go easy, please. I was disappointed by my MCAT school and the amount of time (300+ hours!) I invested in preparations that I decided to postpone applying until the 2011 cycle for a higher score.

Thanks,
Mick

Getting a secondary at many schools is just their way of making $$ off of you. I'm afraid they're going to want to see some improvement in your MCAT to bring up your other stats... it's too late to bring up the GPA and I have a feeling the fact that you're a nurse is also working against you (something I consider to be bull$h@t but that's the impression I get...

 

[haberdash1]

I think being an RN first is pretty much the best kind of clinical experience you can have. Worst case scenario you will just have to reapply next year, I would go for it!

Hi everyone,
I'm curious because with my low gpa and low MCAT, I still managed to get 8 of 9 requests for me to fill in secondaries applications for the 2010 cycle. Did that mean I evaded the gpa/mcat numbers game? Go easy, please. I was disappointed by my MCAT school and the amount of time (300+ hours!) I invested in preparations that I decided to postpone applying until the 2011 cycle for a higher score.

Thanks,
Mick

 

[123165]

getting a secondary is often an invitation to contribute to the school's scholarship fund.

 

[mickc]

Getting a secondary at many schools is just their way of making $$ off of you. I'm afraid they're going to want to see some improvement in your MCAT to bring up your other stats... it's too late to bring up the GPA and I have a feeling the fact that you're a nurse is also working against you (something I consider to be bull$h@t but that's the impression I get...

Yeah, I've heard that too. Pretty ironic, considering that osteopathic medicine and the holistic approach are synonymous with one another. I see nursing as a stepping stone, more than anything. It's ok, there are plenty of open-minded schools that would agree. I'm sure I'll run into both. Western, for example, has told me that being an RN was "extremely valuable relevant experience." Well, I'll try my best and hope for good things.

I've decided to postpone everything and apply to the 2011 cycle. I need to get that MCAT score up... I have no excuse for doing so poorly. Thank you for all your responses.

 

[JaggerPlate]

osteopathic medicine and the holistic approach are synonymous with one another. Well, I'll try my best and hope for good things.

I disagree.

I've decided to postpone everything and apply to the 2011 cycle. I need to get that MCAT score up... I have no excuse for doing so poorly. Thank you for all your responses.

I think hiking up that MCAT will be a very good thing.

 

[mickc]

I disagree.

Do you want to elaborate on this? It seems to be the general public's consensus.

 

[123165]

Do you want to elaborate on this? It seems to be the general public's consensus.

This is a loaded question, Medicine in general is starting to lean toward holism in the sense that, the entire body is responsible for disease. Mental health can manifest physically, social aspects of your life can cause disease. You cannot just treat the disease. I don't think this is in any way specific to osteopathic medine.

This is not to detract from evidence-based medicine, or even contradict it.

Holism seems to have different connotations to the public at large, and its definition has been misconstrued. People hear holism and think herbs and shaman.

 

[mickc]

This is a loaded questions, Medicine in general is starting to lean toward holism in the sense that, the entire body is responsible for disease. Mental health can manifest physically, social aspects of your life can cause disease. You cannot just treat the disease. I don't think this is in any way specific to osteopathic medine.

This is not to detract from evidence-based medicine, or even contradict it.

Holism seems to have different connotations to the public at large, and its definition has been misconstrued. People hear holism and think herbs and shaman.

No, I agree; you can't treat just the disease. I've had a lot of support from friends and family members treated by DOs, and have admired them for that "extra attention they give you." It's got that type of positive (prejudged) response, and I would like to take that with me when I practice.

Then again, anyone can give that "extra attention..."

 

[thepoopologist]

No, I agree; you can't treat just the disease. I've had a lot of support from friends and family members treated by DOs, and have admired them for that "extra attention they give you." It's got that type of positive (prejudged) response, and I would like to take that with me when I practice.

Then again, anyone can give that "extra attention..."

I won't argue against your experiences, but I think stating the party line (DO treats whole body..holistic...blahblahblah) would be a terrible idea in DO interviews. Every interviewer in the world has heard it in one form or another.

Anyway get your MCAT up first (way up), and come back when you have interviews and we can discuss such matters.

-Poop

 

[demayette]

Hi everyone,
I'm curious because with my low gpa and low MCAT, I still managed to get 8 of 9 requests for me to fill in secondaries applications for the 2010 cycle. Did that mean I evaded the gpa/mcat numbers game? Go easy, please. I was disappointed by my MCAT school and the amount of time (300+ hours!) I invested in preparations that I decided to postpone applying until the 2011 cycle for a higher score.

Thanks,
Mick

What is your mcat score? Everyone is saying that your mcat score is low, but you have not mentioned the score on any of your post.

 

[csmittyB]

What is your mcat score? Everyone is saying that your mcat score is low, but you have not mentioned the score on any of your post.

There is an MDapps profile below his avatar.

 

[DrMcKittrick]

I won't argue against your experiences, but I think stating the party line (DO treats whole body..holistic...blahblahblah) would be a terrible idea in DO interviews. Every interviewer in the world has heard it in one form or another.

Anyway get your MCAT up first (way up), and come back when you have interviews and we can discuss such matters.

-Poop

Yes but you have to remember that it was the D.O. that first broke away from traditional medicine by using OMM procedures to heal the body. They felt the body needed to be treated as a whole rather than the sum of its parts.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Yes but you have to remember that it was the D.O. that first broke away from traditional medicine by using OMM procedures to heal the body. They felt the body needed to be treated as a whole rather than the sum of its parts.

That was a hundred and fifty years ago. Today, DOs are fully licensed physicians, able to perform surgery, distribute drugs, and practice, identically, to their allopathic or MD counterparts. The small, albeit, distinct difference in philosophy has really faded since DOs became complete physicians, and although the ideals of treating the whole patient and structure influences function are ingrained within osteopathic medical education, the reality is that less than 5% of practicing DOs use OMM and that DOs are indistinguishable from MDs in 95% of practices. Now, this does not mean that a slight difference doesn't exist, or that one can't find themselves drawn to these principles, but it's incorrect to state that DOs are holistic or represent something vastly different from the norm of western medicine. Take it as you will, but this seems to be the reality. I personally think that DOs are trained slightly different and they do bring unique aspects and methods to the table, but I really wouldn't call what they do holistic or anything in that vein.

 

[boone95]

That was a hundred and fifty years ago. Today, DOs are fully licensed physicians, able to perform surgery, distribute drugs, and practice, identically, to their allopathic or MD counterparts. The small, albeit, distinct difference in philosophy has really faded since DOs became complete physicians, and although the ideals of treating the whole patient and structure influences function are ingrained within osteopathic medical education, the reality is that less than 5% of practicing DOs use OMM and that DOs are indistinguishable from MDs in 95% of practices. Now, this does not mean that a slight difference doesn't exist, or that one can't find themselves drawn to these principles, but it's incorrect to state that DOs are holistic or represent something vastly different from the norm of western medicine. Take it as you will, but this seems to be the reality. I personally think that DOs are trained slightly different and they do bring unique aspects and methods to the table, but I really wouldn't call what they do holistic or anything in that vein.

I like that you just described a DO's scope of practice to an attending.

Where do you get the stat that only 5% of DOs use OMM? My experience would say that number is low.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I like that you just described a DO's scope of practice to an attending.

Where do you get the stat that only 5% of DOs use OMM? My experience would say that number is low.

Hahaha, McKit is a pre-med. He/she just set the status to attending.

The 5% thing ... I dunno. It's what has been thrown about SDN time and time again. I'm sure there is statistics out there, I'm just not going to look them up. Also, I really hope it is low. I have a great interest in OMM and think it's very cool when docs are able to incorporate it into their practice.

 

[123165]

Hahaha, McKit is a pre-med. He/she just set the status to attending.

The 5% thing ... I dunno. It's what has been thrown about SDN time and time again. I'm sure there is statistics out there, I'm just not going to look them up. Also, I really hope it is low. I have a great interest in OMM and think it's very cool when docs are able to incorporate it into their practice.

5% might be low, I don't know. I am fairly confident that the number is not much, if at all, above 10%.

As for OMM, it was not really mentioned in my interviews. I spoke a little about thinking it was interesting, and got called out. They asked me if I had even seen OMM in action, which I had not. I rebutted by stating that I could not even find one that practiced OMM, and asked for their ideas in why so few use it. It turned into a great discussion.

Result: Accepted

In my experience, talking above your pay-grade and being the beacon of Osteopathic principles are both bad techniques for interviews.

 

[JaggerPlate]

5% might be low, I don't know. I am fairly confident that the number is not much, if at all, above 10%.

As for OMM, it was not really mentioned in my interviews. I spoke a little about thinking it was interesting, and got called out. They asked me if I had even seen OMM in action, which I had not. I rebutted by stating that I could not even find one that practiced OMM, and asked for their ideas in why so few use it. It turned into a great discussion.

Result: Accepted

In my experience, talking above your pay-grade and being the beacon of Osteopathic principles are both bad techniques for interviews.

I hope it's closer to ten!! Five percent is just something I hear on SDN, and though I shouldn't perpetuate these pseudo facts, I simply parroted the number. And yes, you are completely correct about the 'talking above your pay-grade.' I'm sure interviewers are cracking up inside when they hear someone babel rehearsed 'osteopathic philosophy' things they read the night before the interview. KCOM blatantly says on their website that they don't want to hear a brochure recited to them during interviews.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

When I called the BS/DO I am at they played down OMT. It really is minor. Of DO attending I know; 10 do not use it, 0 do. Granted this is a small sample. The rule of thumb is the newer the grad the less likely to do it. Some groups never use it i.e. osteopathic optho, ortho, rads. Holisitic is a buzzword any competent physician cares about the patient not the disease. Osteopathic principles never came up, unless you count why DO and not MD. Ultimately the people who give schpeels about osteopathic philosophy tend not to be in the trenches. For practicing DOs there is a focus on doing whatever is necessary, a few do OMM for lower back pain.