Too late to apply?

[Despina]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi,

I am new to the Osteo forum. I've applied to 38 allo schools, and haven't heard back from 30 (0 interviews). I just started to look into DO schools, because their is a strong possibility that I may be a reapplicant. I am really interested in the management of chronic conditions (will probably end up in Neurology or Endo), and now I am realizing that DO might be a good option because of a lot of the programs seem to have extracurricular courses focusing on the management of chronic conditions (DMU). I figured the DO cycle for primary applications had long gone and passed, and that I would just be adding DO on my application for next year. Did anybody apply this late last year and get in?

I have mostly decent stats and come from a super non-traditional background (I was working toward becoming an opera singer):

-1st MCAT - 28Q (9V 8PS 11Bio)
-2nd MCAT - 29 M (7V 11PS 11Bio)
-3.84 Science GPA; 3.74 Overall
-2.0 years clinical research (volunteer), 1-year phlebotomy experience
-3 months clinical research (paid/ current full-time job)
-A of music extracurricular activities and community service activities that I have been involved with long before I even thought of going to medical school.

 

[fightingirish]

Well, I sent in my primary app to DO schools in about August of 2006, but didn't end up submitting my secondaries to LECOM, LECOM-B, and the PCOMs until about mid-march. So technically my application wasn't complete until about March 15th or so. I think if you were to submit your primary application in the next week, you would probably begin receiving secondaries in a little over a month. That would mean at the earliest, you're probably looking at getting your secondaries in at the first of March or so.

I ended up getting interviews at the LECOMs and getting accepted into LECOM-B, waitlisted at LECOM. My interviews were in mid April. so I guess its not technically too late. I had pretty similar stats to you, 34Q MCAT (11, 11, 12Bio) but only about a 2.9 Science GPA and 3.1 Overall GPA. I volunteered for about a half year or so, but I had a letter of recommendation from a DO that I had shadowed (along with several other recommendations).

38 apps... thats insanity.

 

[Despina]

38 apps... thats insanity.

Yup, I am crazy! But also from California (so a little less crazy). And extremely broke at the moment. Thank goodness my car got totaled and I got the insurance money right around the time of applications (crazy way to be thankful, eh?). Now I drive around my Dad's 15 year old minivan! Crazy soccer Mom Sexy!

I really just don't want to have to do this next year, and lately at work I have been noticing that their are DO docs everywhere - in surgery, the ER, peds...so I think all this DO stigma is a lot of crud...

 

[sherruns]

it's not a stigma, it's an asset!
I can't wait to get in!
DO's are gifted by their schooling.
It's an incredible field.
Good luck to you, and no, it is not too late. I am taking the January MCAT and have been told that I have a very good shot at getting in this year.
We'll see if that's the case, but I know I'm definitely not close to any of the deadlines, even when scores come out in mid-February.
Take care and good luck.

 

[LauraDO]

Yup, I am crazy! But also from California (so a little less crazy). And extremely broke at the moment. Thank goodness my car got totaled and I got the insurance money right around the time of applications (crazy way to be thankful, eh?). Now I drive around my Dad's 15 year old minivan! Crazy soccer Mom Sexy!

Your from california, craziness is sort of a way of life, it is not really your fault

 

[Boner]

We'll see if that's the case, but I know I'm definitely not close to any of the deadlines, even when scores come out in mid-February.
Take care and good luck.

I hope you are aware that 18 schools have completed application deadlines of February 1.

 

[sherruns]

thanks. I'm not applying to any school that didn't guarantee they'd take the January MCAT. i've submitted to 9 schools. thanks for the heads up!

 

[DrMattOglesby]

I hope you are aware that 18 schools have completed application deadlines of February 1.

completed application by feb 1....as in secondary completed?
what if i have letters of recommendation coming in but they dont arrive before that date?
otherwise ill have everything else done....that really worries me!
i hope you were referring to the primary apps only.

 

[DrMidlife]

..that really worries me!...

Dude. Look it up. Here: http://www.aacom.org/people/colleges/Pages/AppsDue.aspx

 

[prionsRbad]

I figured the DO cycle for primary applications had long gone and passed, and that I would just be adding DO on my application for next year. Did anybody apply this late last year and get in?

These are your options for this year (you will probably miss the Feb. 1st deadline for all the other schools). You better get a move on if you decide to apply for 2008.

LECOM (both campuses)
RVUCOM
TOURO's (all 3 campuses)
PNWU

Good Luck

 

[Despina]

I hope you are aware that 18 schools have completed application deadlines of February 1.

Yup, I am taking that into consideration. After a little research and due to money constraints I'd think I would only apply (this cycle) to DMU, PCOM, and Western, which all have primary deadlines of Feb. 1 and secondary deadlines of March 1. I would have like to have included Michigan and Chicago, but they closed months ago. All the info basically just needs to be cut and pasted from AMCAS (and my personal statement needs to have a few sentences got and changed around). Does anybody have any feeling about whether Western is better than Touro- Mare Island? I kind of want to pick one Cali school, but only know a little about Mare Island, since a physio prof also taught at Touro.

 

[mother]

A few weeks ago I spent hours trying to determine when an application is considered complete. AACOMAS must have had numerous telephone calls on this topic and changed their telephone recording to state clearly that the application deadline is met by having the application completed, fees paid, and transcripts postmarked to AACOMAS by the date specified as the deadline. Schools will still consider primary applications that meet these criteria regardless of the date applciation is received at the school.

That noted, the problem is many schools have interviewed and already made admission offers to numerous applicants and may be full prior to the deadline. So, the deadline is not the only issue.

I applied anyways and am hoping for the best. 🙂

 

[Colbert]

In all honesty, I'd save the money, time, and effort and reapply next year. It is very late in the application cycle, and even those schools which you're not too late for will be pretty filled up by the time you're complete and your secondaries are in. On top of that, the admissions committees may feel that they're only a backup because you didn't get into an MD school, so you will have to be really convincing on why you want to go to a DO school.

From what I can tell, it seems that you'd prefer to go to an MD school over a DO school, although you'd matriculate to one if you get in. Try to shadow a few docs and get new LORs, maybe reassess your personal statement, and apply to both MD and DO schools next year.

Let us know how it goes and good luck!

 

[Despina]

In all honesty, I'd save the money, time, and effort and reapply next year. It is very late in the application cycle, and even those schools which you're not too late for will be pretty filled up by the time you're complete and your secondaries are in. On top of that, the admissions committees may feel that they're only a backup because you didn't get into an MD school, so you will have to be really convincing on why you want to go to a DO school.

From what I can tell, it seems that you'd prefer to go to an MD school over a DO school, although you'd matriculate to one if you get in. Try to shadow a few docs and get new LORs, maybe reassess your personal statement, and apply to both MD and DO schools next year.

Let us know how it goes and good luck!

The odd part about this whole thing, is that I have had several doctor friends at church who were former ADCOMs read my personal statement/ look over my application. At the beginning of the application cycle they all said, "Don't worry, your PS is phenomenal, and everything looks good [with the exception of my borderline MCAT]." Yes, allo has been my first choice, but that was mainly because I hadn't really looked into Osteo before. Now that I'm starting to look at it, it looks more in line with my professionals goals. I don't even know any DOs except for the ones that I pass at work...so for next season I'd have to find a DO that I could get to know and whom could write me a letter of rec.

 

[Despina]

I also have no idea where I am going to come up with another $3500 to apply next year.

 

[paramediclizard]

I also have no idea where I am going to come up with another $3500 to apply next year.

With some more focused research, perhaps you won't have to cast your net so wide next application cycle. I paid less than $1000 and landed my top choice school.

I would spend time trying to develop a relationship with a DO in your community who will be able to give you that LOR you will need to make your application pop.

Also, consider visiting the schools in your area that you are interested in attending. Many have open houses, or have ways that you can arrange to come on campus, meet students, faculty and administrators. See in person if you are a fit for the school and its mission.

Your numbers look strong. If DO is really the way you want to go, you shouldn't have a problem if you apply early next cycle! Good luck.

 

[BCLumas]

I agree with the liz.. Although shadowing a DO for one or two days will help your application, showing them 2 years of internship next to 1 day of shadowing will look rather fishy. Not only that, but the strength of the letter you can get from a DO that you KNOW is far greater than one you could get from one you shadowed for a day or so. If you decide to wait until next cycle, try to pick which schools would be the best for you. Using a shotgun to decide your school choice is not the best idea. The ADCOM-man Roger Corbman once said "Do not just go to a school that lets you in.. go to a school that is the best fit for YOU. Only then will you truly succeed in medical school." Those are some of the wisest words I have ever heard. Choose your schools wisely and you can keep your money down. I probably spent a total of $1200, which includes a $250 gambling budget when I was at TUCOM-NV (haha). Good luck in whatever you decide to do!