Should I apply now?

[Kron]

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Hi all,

Is it worth applying to DO school right now? Most deadlines are Feb/March, and I do plan on calling each school's admissions office and finding out for sure. I thought I was pretty solid for allopathic...until I received one interview out of 30 schools I applied to. Scrambling late, deciding on DO application.

I'd like to survey the DO students who have gotten in. Any of y'all apply this late in the cycle and get in?

Non-trad student, 34 MCAT, 3.75 science GPA, 3.21 non-science, 3.34 cumulative. 2 years clinical research experience with 8 publications, 4 abstracts presented at conferences, great clinical experience working w/ patients.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CUNYguy]

By the time that you get an interview, it'll be close to the end of the cycle. You'll probably be verified after Christmas, and then with your secondaries and everything, it'll probably lead you into Feb/March.

I'd advise that you save your money, and if MD doesn't work, apply to the 2015-16 cycle early June/July. You can still apply, if you want, and if you have the money.

 

[medickdb]

Learn more about osteopathic medicine over the next few months. Shadow an osteopathic physician. Apply as soon as possible in the next cycle once you have your ducks in a row.

Could you still get in this cycle? Maybe.
Would you stand a better chance of getting in period if you do the aforementioned things? Oh yes.

 

[baxt1412]

Take the year off and u will rock it day 1 next year

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Hi all,

Is it worth applying to DO school right now? Most deadlines are Feb/March, and I do plan on calling each school's admissions office and finding out for sure. I thought I was pretty solid for allopathic...until I received one interview out of 30 schools I applied to. Scrambling late, deciding on DO application.

I'd like to survey the DO students who have gotten in. Any of y'all apply this late in the cycle and get in?

Non-trad student, 34 MCAT, 3.75 science GPA, 3.21 non-science, 3.34 cumulative. 2 years clinical research experience with 8 publications, 4 abstracts presented at conferences, great clinical experience working w/ patients.

Thanks in advance!

You might be able to get in if you apply now but you're late. You will have a lot more options if you apply early next you will have a lot more options. Do what you think is right.

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

A lot of schools will ask if you applied to MD schools as well, and if so, why did you apply to DO schools. I sort of feel as if it will be pretty tough to persuade schools that you aren't solely applying there because MD schools said no, with the dates you applied to MD schools vs the dates you applied to DO schools. That may never come up, I have no idea, you may be able to kinda hide that aspect of your application, but I do know that schools will ask if you applied MD, and if so, why DO. I think you'll be better off just taking a year off and applying next cycle, this time apply to both MD and DO schools when the application systems open up, and you're nearly guaranteed a spot somewhere with your resume. Also, have someone read over your personal statement, maybe it sounds too arrogant, maybe there are grammatical errors, make sure you aren't rushing your secondary essays, etc etc. Honestly taking a year off feels great, I did it myself voluntarily and could not be happier I did.

 

[AM508]

I would apply early next cycle as its getting a bit late for this time around. It would be better to hold off and be an original applicant next year, rather than being a reapplicant because you applied late this cycle.

 

[keels99]

Hi all,

Is it worth applying to DO school right now? Most deadlines are Feb/March, and I do plan on calling each school's admissions office and finding out for sure. I thought I was pretty solid for allopathic...until I received one interview out of 30 schools I applied to. Scrambling late, deciding on DO application.

I'd like to survey the DO students who have gotten in. Any of y'all apply this late in the cycle and get in?

Non-trad student, 34 MCAT, 3.75 science GPA, 3.21 non-science, 3.34 cumulative. 2 years clinical research experience with 8 publications, 4 abstracts presented at conferences, great clinical experience working w/ patients.

Thanks in advance!

Hey, I sent my secondaries in February last cycle and got accepted. Message me if you have any questions. It's possible to still get accepted late in the game.

 

[Kron]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

What I have ascertained is that the costs of applying late are:

(a) Money down the drain if not accepted anywhere
(b) Status as a re-applicant may be difficult to overcome, especially if they are looking for improvement between application cycles and if the time period in between is so slim (6-7 months) there may not be much significant progress (I am not sold on re-applicant status as a downside but it was mentioned so I'll include it here)
(c) Convincing the interviewers/ADCOMs that I really want to be a DO, and not that I just chose it b/c I didn't get into an MD program.

The benefits seem to be:

(a) Saves one year of my life. That's pretty much it.

I didn't mention this in the first post but it's my 2nd time applying to MD schools...waiting yet another year would be a beating but I may have to suck it up.

I just wonder at the realities of the perceived "costs". Money is not going to be an issue. Re-applicant status - I'm not totally sold on this being a legit cost. And I think I can convince ADCOMs that I truly want to be a DO.

I'm going to call up some admissions officers and get their POV. I'll post what they say shortly.

Thoughts?

 

[keels99]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

What I have ascertained is that the costs of applying late are:

(a) Money down the drain if not accepted anywhere
(b) Status as a re-applicant may be difficult to overcome, especially if they are looking for improvement between application cycles and if the time period in between is so slim (6-7 months) there may not be much significant progress (I am not sold on re-applicant status as a downside but it was mentioned so I'll include it here)
(c) Convincing the interviewers/ADCOMs that I really want to be a DO, and not that I just chose it b/c I didn't get into an MD program.

The benefits seem to be:

(a) Saves one year of my life. That's pretty much it.

I didn't mention this in the first post but it's my 2nd time applying to MD schools...waiting yet another year would be a beating but I may have to suck it up.

I just wonder at the realities of the perceived "costs". Money is not going to be an issue. Re-applicant status - I'm not totally sold on this being a legit cost. And I think I can convince ADCOMs that I truly want to be a DO.

I'm going to call up some admissions officers and get their POV. I'll post what they say shortly.

Thoughts?

I have several friends who have reapplied without any issues. I am not convinced of the "reapplicant status" being something that will hinder you.

As far as the DO thing goes, I would make the ADCOMs aware of your passion to study medicine in general. I wasn't asked any "why DO" questions at my interview, really just "why our school?"

Also, I wouldn't apply to 30-some DO schools. There are some who may have already filled their seats. I would call and make sure.

 

[user3]

Hi all,

Is it worth applying to DO school right now? Most deadlines are Feb/March, and I do plan on calling each school's admissions office and finding out for sure. I thought I was pretty solid for allopathic...until I received one interview out of 30 schools I applied to. Scrambling late, deciding on DO application.

I'd like to survey the DO students who have gotten in. Any of y'all apply this late in the cycle and get in?

Non-trad student, 34 MCAT, 3.75 science GPA, 3.21 non-science, 3.34 cumulative. 2 years clinical research experience with 8 publications, 4 abstracts presented at conferences, great clinical experience working w/ patients.

Thanks in advance!

there are many schools you will still have a shot at. The Touro's, Midwestern's, and newer schools (LMU, ACOM, Marian, Campbell) would be a good start.

 

[keels99]

Also ATSU-SOMA has a late deadline

 

[CUNYguy]

For me, I'm going to be applying to a paramedic program just in case I don't get in. It takes 1 year to get the certificate (don't go for the Associate's one), and if I have to take a gap year, then at least I'm utilizing my time efficiently.

Maybe apply to a 15-30 credit program so you have more on your CV and AMCAS/AACOMAS app?

 

[Kron]

I think what I will end up doing is selectively apply to the programs that still have spots available/provide II during the March/April months of 2015. I will find out this info by calling their admissions office directly.

In the meantime, I will take 9 credits of upper-division science courses at a local university (University of Texas Dallas). The majority of my post-bacc work came from Fall 2011 through Summer 2012, with a UTD class in Summer 2013 and an online UNE class in Spring 2014. I'll have a shot at improving sGPA and getting an updated, better LOR from science faculty.

During the whole time I will continue part-time at my clinical research gig. Sprinkle in some volunteer work, DO shadowing, and other ECs.

If I hear back from my one MD II from Texas Tech Lubbock or get II from DO schools in Spring 2015, that would be great.

If not, I'll re-apply to all DO schools (and select MD) in June 2015, by this time I'll have significant progress within my application that would not make re-applicant status a deterrent.

Thoughts on this plan?

@CUNYguy I don't want to retake the MCAT again, seeing as I had a 34 on my first try and there will be a whole new MCAT structure coming up. Taking a year off would push my Jan 2013 MCAT out the window I believe.

 

[GameTheory29]

If you already have the primary verified, would you consider getting secondaries in now be 'too late'? I know it kind of borders on that time of being almost too late, but what are the general thoughts on that

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

Sending secondaries to DO schools in November is still okay. Starting the verification process of your primaries is definitely cutting it around now. Also, OP, your January 2013 MCAT will definitely still hold for next cycle, it's 3 years at most schools until it expires.

 

[GameTheory29]

Sending secondaries to DO schools in November is still okay. Starting the verification process of your primaries is definitely cutting it around now. Also, OP, your January 2013 MCAT will definitely still hold for next cycle, it's 3 years at most schools until it expires.

Thank you for the quick response, I figured that was the case but every now and then you get anxious