transferring from Caribbean MD?

[mauve]

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hi!

i was wondering about the chances of transferring into DO from a caribbean MD school like SGU. I'm not sure what my chances are for DO at this stage because I keep hearing that 'it's too late'. Aside from that, the other odd thing is that I sent my transcript to AACOMAS in sept and it STILL hasn't been received. I had started filling my AACOMAS application out in the summer, then left it for a while and when I returned to it a few days ago, it's BLANK. I don't know how both of these things happened and I'm just too dead freaked out about next year since I'm in 5th year already. I was thinking of applying to the caribbean instead of taking a 6th year off and then transferring into DO; I didn't find any threads in the search fxn where students have successfully accomplished this and I was hoping I could get some info.

If it helps, my cgpa at UofToronto is 3.62 and my attempt 2 on mcat is a miserable 23N (it went down from 27Q and I can't rectify why/how). SIGH. :cry:

 

[antapolar]

hi!

i was wondering about the chances of transferring into DO from a caribbean MD school like SGU. I'm not sure what my chances are for DO at this stage because I keep hearing that 'it's too late'. Aside from that, the other odd thing is that I sent my transcript to AACOMAS in sept and it STILL hasn't been received. I had started filling my AACOMAS application out in the summer, then left it for a while and when I returned to it a few days ago, it's BLANK. I don't know how both of these things happened and I'm just too dead freaked out about next year since I'm in 5th year already. I was thinking of applying to the caribbean instead of taking a 6th year off and then transferring into DO; I didn't find any threads in the search fxn where students have successfully accomplished this and I was hoping I could get some info.

If it helps, my cgpa at UofToronto is 3.62 and my attempt 2 on mcat is a miserable 23N (it went down from 27Q and I can't rectify why/how). SIGH. :cry:

Hello, fellow uofter, no its not too late. I'm from UofToronto as well, with worse cgpa but a slightly higher MCAT score. I applied last year (primary approved by End of Nov., and secondary mailed out by march). I still manage to net 5 interviews and got into 3. Don't give up.

Msg AACOMAS server and ask, if you've mailed transcript and not received, then mail again asap. I wouldn't recommend transferring. Transferring is very hard, you have to go through a lot of admin explaining why, and DO schools will wonder about your commitment too. Think about it carefully, is it really that urgent you must get into med next year?

I also did a 5th year in UofT, then taken 2 years off just working in a lab while applying. I'm going to school next year. Its no big deal, think about it before you head off to carib. I'm still in TO, if want to discuss anything else, just PM me.

 

[jkmph]

I know at UNECOM they do not let you transfer into their program from the Caribbean. Do not make the mistake of incorporating that into your gameplan without calling a few schools first. I don't know if that is UNECOM or AOA policy but I'd be willing to bet most, if not all, schools have that policy.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

hi!

i was wondering about the chances of transferring into DO from a caribbean MD school like SGU. I'm not sure what my chances are for DO at this stage because I keep hearing that 'it's too late'. Aside from that, the other odd thing is that I sent my transcript to AACOMAS in sept and it STILL hasn't been received. I had started filling my AACOMAS application out in the summer, then left it for a while and when I returned to it a few days ago, it's BLANK. I don't know how both of these things happened and I'm just too dead freaked out about next year since I'm in 5th year already. I was thinking of applying to the caribbean instead of taking a 6th year off and then transferring into DO; I didn't find any threads in the search fxn where students have successfully accomplished this and I was hoping I could get some info.

If it helps, my cgpa at UofToronto is 3.62 and my attempt 2 on mcat is a miserable 23N (it went down from 27Q and I can't rectify why/how). SIGH. :cry:

It is almost impossible to transfer even from a US LCME approved school to a COM. The reason is OMT. You need to have knowledge of this. My advice is not to go to the Caribbean. Grads from SGU, Ross, AUC and Saba have been matching more poorly recently. It only looks to get tougher from here. My advice is to retake the MCAT and apply to US MD and DO schools.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

I would definitely call all of the DO schools you are planning to apply to and see if they would accept you.

 

[rddoms]

Get that AACOMAS primary in as fast as you can, and you may be surprised by what happens.

If you transfer from an allopathic school to DO school, you would be wasting AT LEAST 1 year to catch up with OTM. DO schools usually don't allow this anyway, so there is no point. Also, transfers are usually only done between basic sciences and clinical sciences because the curriculum at each school is different. That would mean 2 years of otm to make up. Your best bet is to get your AACOMAS primary application in as fast as you can, and apply to as many schools as you can afford.

 

[salazaar]

I hate to say it, but I think you might have greatly impaired your ability to matriculate because of your MCAT. The 27Q is respectable, but I have heard many admissions offices say that a significant downward trend in MCAT scores is a huge red flag. If you are already on the road to being an MD I think that you should stick to it. I wouldn't count on an acceptance.

 

[dudechiefboss]

If you REALLY do not want to take a "6th year" off, then fill out AACOMAS. If you have already written a PS, the application will take a GOOD 1.5 days to finish. AACOMAS is moving at a greater pace for processing applications: so, if you finished the application by the end of the week (very doable) your application would be verified by (the latest) the end of Dec. (maybe earlier). You're late, but you are still in the game. Apply broadly (10 - 15 schools)

During the time you are waiting for your application to verify, you should work on secondaries for the schools you are applying to. For deadlines and specifics about individual DO schools visit:

http://www.aacom.org/people/colleges/Pages/default.aspx

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7121833&postcount=528
(secondary prompts/thread)

Your MCAT can be explained, but will most likely hurt you with SOME (not all) schools. The beauty about DO schools is they look at the WHOLE application. I know an individual who, last year, applied to a DO school (one of the top 5) and had a MCAT of 20 (!!!) and got in!!! However, their application had great ECs and their gpa was above yours. Now, this is a story that is outside the normal experience of those who are accepted to DO schools, but does lend some support to students who are applying w/sub-par scores.

One note about SGU: FMGs have a bad rep., but my school's pre-med adviser encourages FMGs - he promotes them due to only being in the Caribbean for 1.5 years, the rest of the time is spent in-state. Residencies may be an issue, but depending on specialty (i.e. FM or IM) you should not have any problem matching.

The questions are: do you think earning an MD degree via the FMG route is problematic (the specialty you want to go into is competitive)? Do you mind spending a few hundred dollars? Do you care what initials are after your name (DO/MD)? Will a gap year kill you?

A gap year can be used to strengthen your application through shadowing, volunteering, research and boosting gpa. You could take the MCAT again if you want. A gap year is only looked down upon by medical schools if you do nothing.

If you truly want to go be attending some medical school next year, then apply to SGU (are you already accepted?) and DO schools. However, transferring from MD to DO is highly unlikely and should not be apart of your plan in attending an "in-state" medical school.

To attend a medical school you have to apply to one. If you never apply to a medical school, you will never get the chance to be accepted. Apply broadly, and good luck.

ps sorry for the rant