Should I apply for DO schools this late in the cycle?

[hyperDO]

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Hello,

I am currently debating whether I should apply this late in the cycle. I received my current MCAT score this October and because I am barely competitive for MD school I decided to wait until next cycle to apply.

I found out through a friend last week that many DO schools are still accepting applications until febuary and because I believe my stats to be fairly high for DO school it may be plausible for me to apply this late yet still get in.

I prefer to get in this cycle as a DO rather than waiting another year to apply to MD schools. I am a CA resident and would primarily aim to be accepted to Western University in Pomona.

My stats are:

3.74 cgpa and 3.73 sgpa (3.65 cgpa from UCSD/3.8 from community college)
29Q Mcat (PS:10 V:8 BS: 11)

One year work as a lab tech for neurobiology lab
10 months working in a lab doing drug discovery research (Doing a BS/MS joint program for a Masters in biology in one year)
TA for 1 quarter
High school tutoring/counseling for one quarter
Part of club in community college involved in community service (1 semester)
240+ hours of hospital volunteer (ER/Giftshop)
Shadowed 3 doctors about 30 hours (1 DO and 1 MD ortho surg and 1 MD anesthesiologist)
1 year involved in small christian fellowship leading music service

Few more things that are probably no longer worth mentioning

A big issue is that I have yet to get a letter of rec from a doctor. I was mainly focused on admission to MD schools and did not pursue a letter of rec from a doctor. I am going to attempt to contact previous doctors i've shadowed and try to cold email other DO doctors that may be interested in letting me shadow, yet doing this I would only have about a month to acquire a letter of rec.

Please give me advice as to if this is a plausible option or not.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Nah. By the time you get everything, your verification wouldn't be until after the new year anyway which would likely give you an interview in April if you were to get one at all. Too late.

 

[wksun88]

Man, with a GPA like that I'd definitely retake the MCAT and apply to allopathic schools next year. Fellow triton here 🙂

 

[DrWily]

A big issue is that I have yet to get a letter of rec from a doctor. I was mainly focused on admission to MD schools and did not pursue a letter of rec from a doctor. I am going to attempt to contact previous doctors i've shadowed and try to cold email other DO doctors that may be interested in letting me shadow, yet doing this I would only have about a month to acquire a letter of rec.

Wat. I'm pretty sure that MD schools like to see an LOR from an MD....

Choose: Apply hella broadly and take *any* DO school that accepts you (Western may be out of the question this late in the game) OR prepare for next year and have multiple choices on where to matriculate. Your call.

 

[Ravizzle]

Well you can apply now if you can afford it, and if you don't get in, reapply next cycle at same time that you apply MD.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

 

[DC1987]

It's all about if you have the money. I didn't apply till February last cycle and still got an interview and my GPA was much worse than yours but my MCAT was slightly better. If you don't mind spending the money and wouldn't mind going to a DO school then apply.

 

[MedPR]

No. Apply next year.

 

[GopherMD]

No. Apply next year.

+1. This isn't something you want to rush and end up regretting later.

 

[user3]

Apply broadly, but realize you won't exactly have you pick at this point.

 

[cliquesh]

Don't apply. Study for the mcat now. Apply to MD and DO schools the first day they are open next cycle.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Nah. By the time you get everything, your verification wouldn't be until after the new year anyway which would likely give you an interview in April if you were to get one at all. Too late.

Just wait. A few months won't kill you.

 

[m3gaman]

I would save my money and maybe rekate the mcat to give you better chances at MDs

 

[drshark]

A friend of mine had the same stats, a little higher gpa and she went to a top UC, applied in january to DO and got in for the cycle with a few interviews, it's doable because by the end of the cycle, they just pick high stats to interview to fill in spots when people start dropping for other schools or MD schools because they take longer to get back to applicants... If i were you I would apply to AZCOM and Western and see where that goes! Goodluck 🙂

 

[Mountaineer12]

Wat. I'm pretty sure that MD schools like to see an LOR from an MD....

Not really, most MD schools would rather have stronger letters from people that know you well than an MD letter.

 

[mother]

Had comparable stats and Interviewed and accepted by Western COMP in Feb. or March. Accepted at and declined 2 east coast MD programs. Chose Western U. Never regretted decision. Graduated 2012. Matched non primary care allopathic residency. Wouldn't change anything. And my intern class has allopathic interns from the programs I declined. So. It is what you make it. Try and see. You'll probably get late allopathic offers and the decision will be all yours. I have very little time to stop on SDN any more but wanted to give you my experience.

 

[MedPR]

Had comparable stats and Interviewed and accepted by Western COMP in Feb. or March. Accepted at and declined 2 east coast MD programs. Chose Western U. Never regretted decision. Graduated 2012. Matched non primary care allopathic residency. Wouldn't change anything. And my intern class has allopathic interns from the programs I declined. So. It is what you make it. Try and see. You'll probably get late allopathic offers and the decision will be all yours. I have very little time to stop on SDN any more but wanted to give you my experience.

I'd imagine things are a tad more competitive than they were in January 2008.

 

[Dr.TurkandJD]

The guy has a 3.7/29 and you are telling him to retake his MCAT? IMO you should be fine for either of the schools next year.

 

[icevermin]

I have almost the exact same stats (my sGPA is lower (3.5)) and I just submitted my primary for DO schools. Quite frankly I want to do Orthopedic surgery and I'm not willing to put my life off for another year. I know a guy who applied DO in January, got in and was going to DO school until he got an MD acceptance in May.

Do it if you have the money, otherwise just hold off.

 

[Mehd School]

The guy has a 3.7/29 and you are telling him to retake his MCAT? IMO you should be fine for either of the schools next year.

Normally, I would agree with you, but he's in California and it sounds like he wants to stay. That necessitates a higher mcat IMO. A 29 is a good score outside of this site.

 

[Dr.TurkandJD]

Another reason why Cali is evil.