What's up with AZCOM?

[SkipJunior]

AZCOM has started a new admissions policy this year of only offering interview invites to applicants with 29+ MCAT scores and medium to high GPAs. All other applicants are waitlisted with a greater than 50% chance of being rejected later on (according to current AZCOM students working with the admissions office).

Furthermore, AZCOM's matchlist is very impressive and boasts of regularly matching its graduates to Yale, Stanford, Case Western, Mayo etc and into competitive specialties.

Finally, if you read the AZCOM threads for the past several cycles, you will constantly hear of applicants talking to students on interview day and finding out that all the students love AZCOM with a passion.

AZCOM is a special school and many argue that it's one of the top DO schools. Although I'm disappointed that I've been waitlisted by this school (no interview invite for me), I'm impressed and awed by this school.

I'm tired of MD school rejects thinking of DO as back-up. AZCOM and schools of its ilk prove these applicants wrong. The admissions standards of DO schools are slowly but steadily rising.

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[DoctorSynthesis]

The average MCAT there is 28 so I doubt it its just 29 and above. The touros are above 30 though.

 

[SkipJunior]

The average MCAT there is 28 so I doubt it its just 29 and above. The touros are above 30 though.

That is their policy this year. Look up their thread for this cycle. AZCOM emailed me and told me I was waitlisted because their most current MCAT average is 29 so they don't want to interview anyone below that. Now I'm sure they will interview people with 26-29 MCAT scores much later in the cycle (March onwards) to fill up seats but the chances of being accepted then are a lot lower.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

That is their policy this year. Look up their thread for this cycle. AZCOM emailed me and told me I was waitlisted because their most current MCAT average is 29 so they don't want to interview anyone below that. Now I'm sure they will interview people with 26-29 MCAT scores much later in the cycle (March onwards) to fill up seats but the chances of being accepted then are a lot lower.

Well it would be interesting to see what happens then

 

[studentp0x]

That is their policy this year. Look up their thread for this cycle. AZCOM emailed me and told me I was waitlisted because their most current MCAT average is 29 so they don't want to interview anyone below that. Now I'm sure they will interview people with 26-29 MCAT scores much later in the cycle (March onwards) to fill up seats but the chances of being accepted then are a lot lower.

what's your gpa/mcat?

 

[SkipJunior]

what's your gpa/mcat?

I'd rather not say right now.

 

[user3]

iirc, AZCOM is rather lenient with GPA as long as you meet the MCAT they are looking for. If you have around a 3.0/29 or better, I would say chances of eventual ii are strong.

 

[optimistic3]

This makes me wonder if CCOM is doing the same/similar since they are both Midwestern branches. Anyone know?

 

[feeling-dizzy]

The average MCAT there is 28 so I doubt it its just 29 and above. The touros are above 30 though.

TOUROS are above 30, that is super high, where u get that info?

 

[Fargofargo]

I don't think touro NV is above 30...?

 

[edgerock24]

AZCOM has started a new admissions policy this year of only offering interview invites to applicants with 29+ MCAT scores and medium to high GPAs. All other applicants are waitlisted with a greater than 50% chance of being rejected later on (according to current AZCOM students working with the admissions office).

Furthermore, AZCOM's matchlist is very impressive and boasts of regularly matching its graduates to Yale, Stanford, Case Western, Mayo etc and into competitive specialties.

Finally, if you read the AZCOM threads for the past several cycles, you will constantly hear of applicants talking to students on interview day and finding out that all the students love AZCOM with a passion.

AZCOM is a special school and many argue that it's one of the top DO schools. Although I'm disappointed that I've been waitlisted by this school (no interview invite for me), I'm impressed and awed by this school.

I'm tired of MD school rejects thinking of DO as back-up. AZCOM and schools of its ilk prove these applicants wrong. The admissions standards of DO schools are slowly but steadily rising.

Aren't you the same person who graduated from a low tier Caribbean school? And now you're applying to DO schools?

 

[orangeman25]

That is their policy this year. Look up their thread for this cycle. AZCOM emailed me and told me I was waitlisted because their most current MCAT average is 29 so they don't want to interview anyone below that. Now I'm sure they will interview people with 26-29 MCAT scores much later in the cycle (March onwards) to fill up seats but the chances of being accepted then are a lot lower.

I call BS. No reputable admissions office is going to say "we don't interview people with an MCAT less than our average".

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

TOUROS are above 30, that is super high, where u get that info?

Touro NY and ca are above 30 @Fargofargo

 

[WalSlave]

AZCOM has started a new admissions policy this year of only offering interview invites to applicants with 29+ MCAT scores and medium to high GPAs. All other applicants are waitlisted with a greater than 50% chance of being rejected later on (according to current AZCOM students working with the admissions office).

Okay, the way you worded this is probably freaking people out. But a couple points:

1) It's super early in the cycle. Most established schools offer their first interview slots to outstanding applicants with very high MCATs. This is nothing new! If you've been on here more than 2 minutes and looked at some old threads, this is literally how it starts out every cycle.

2) You said all other applicants are being placed on hold with 50% of those projected to be rejected. You worded that to sound terrifying, but these numbers are completely normal... Most schools have upward of a couple thousand people applying every year with only a couple hundred spots (if that) to fill.

I'm sorry, but none of this is news nor is it "a new policy". Newsflash: DO schools have never been "easy" to get into and a 50% waitlist rejection rate is absolutely nothing new for any of these schools. The fact that you're even making a thread about this tells me you have a really warped sense of DO school standards and probably haven't wanted to be a DO for very long. Kind of sounds like you thought DO would be easy to get into and are now freaking out after realizing your mistake.

 

[ananasmed]

The letter that AZCOM sent out to applicants on hold states nothing about the average MCAT score. It merely states that it is difficult to predict the competitiveness of the applicant pool, your file will be reviewed regularly throughout the cycle, you may receive an interview invite at some point later, and that being put on "hold" means that your application had enough merit to not be rejected outright and to warrant further review as they get more applications and see how you stack up. (Source: I received a hold letter.)

It DOES NOT state that there is some magic MCAT score below which they won't interview. Keep your chin up and realize that AZCOM is competitive, just like ALL other medical schools, and they can choose how they want to fill their class.

 

[kelminak]

Quality thread @SkipJunior

Please do research before inferring things that aren't said. Hopefully other people can see this and learn to not jump to conclusions.

 

[hallowmann]

Nothing new, move on. They always put people on a pre-ii hold earlier in the cycle.

This makes me wonder if CCOM is doing the same/similar since they are both Midwestern branches. Anyone know?

CCOM is much more competitive overall than AZCOM. That said, they have different admissions systems, so you won't see the same approaches as far to how to deal with applicants.

TOUROS are above 30, that is super high, where u get that info?

Exaggeration. I know that the Touro-NY average is not above 30. That might be the average for newly accepted students, but matriculating students, naw. They take a decent chunk of people (40-50) from their masters program, which has a much lower threshold (like 22) for MCAT. As long as those kids get >3.5 in the masters, they get put into the class. With those kids in the class, there is no way the full matriculant average is >30.

Aren't you the same person who graduated from a low tier Caribbean school? And now you're applying to DO schools?

You're thinking of Skip/SkipIntro who is an attending/practicing physician. EDIT: Oh that's right, SkipJunior did do that too.

l... Most schools have upward of a couple thousand people applying every year with only a couple hundred spots (if that) to fill....

Try multiple thousand. Just last year, the only DO schools to get <3,000 applicants were OSU (regional bias), WCUCOM & LUCOM (both relatively new and not particularly up there in the minds of pre-meds). On average schools received >4500 applicants each last year, and to give you an idea the one with the most applicants was PCOM with >8000. They need some way to weed people out/prioritize them.

AZCOM received ~5000.

 

[SkipJunior]

Aren't you the same person who graduated from a low tier Caribbean school? And now you're applying to DO schools?

Yes that's correct. I do plan on applying for prelim spots in the 2015 NRMP Match but this is one of my back-ups (also applying to pod schools). I contacted a lot of DO schools and precisely 2 got back to me telling me that they will consider my app despite my background in the Caribbean. The two schools are AZCOM and LUCOM.

 

[SkipJunior]

I call BS. No reputable admissions office is going to say "we don't interview people with an MCAT less than our average".

You call BS? I'm not the kind of man who makes claim without solid evidence backing me up. Read the AZCOM 2014-2015 thread.

 

[SkipJunior]

The letter that AZCOM sent out to applicants on hold states nothing about the average MCAT score. It merely states that it is difficult to predict the competitiveness of the applicant pool, your file will be reviewed regularly throughout the cycle, you may receive an interview invite at some point later, and that being put on "hold" means that your application had enough merit to not be rejected outright and to warrant further review as they get more applications and see how you stack up. (Source: I received a hold letter.)

It DOES NOT state that there is some magic MCAT score below which they won't interview. Keep your chin up and realize that AZCOM is competitive, just like ALL other medical schools, and they can choose how they want to fill their class.

I received the hold letter too and the hold letter does not state their MCAT average. However I emailed them after receiving the hold letter and asked why I was placed on hold, they then replied stating that their MCAT average for the previous entering class was 29 and so they are not sending out interview invites to anyone with a score below 29 (for now anyway). In the 2014-2015 AZCOM thread, someone called the admissions office and received the same response as me.

 

[hallowmann]

Yes that's correct. I do plan on applying for prelim spots in the 2015 NRMP Match but this is one of my back-ups (also applying to pod schools). I contacted a lot of DO schools and precisely 2 got back to me telling me that they will consider my app despite my background in the Caribbean. The two schools are AZCOM and LUCOM.

Wait, seriously? You're actually going to go through med school again? What are your stats (for residency)?

 

[SkipJunior]

Quality thread @SkipJunior

Please do research before inferring things that aren't said. Hopefully other people can see this and learn to not jump to conclusions.

Everything I've stated here is backed by posts from other applicants in the 2014-2015 AZCOM thread. Maybe you should "not jump to conclusions" and take some of your own advice.

 

[SkipJunior]

Wait, seriously? You're actually going to go through med school again? What are your stats (for residency)?

If I have to, yes. Above 220 for both Steps.

 

[hallowmann]

If I have to, yes. Above 220 for both Steps.

What school did you come out of? Windsor? Non-big 4/5? Dude, that's rough. Have you considered getting a research position, turning it into connections for a residency/PhD? I know people that have done both (just research to residency and PhD to residency) before. Some people got spots after 1-2 yrs of research, and those that transitioned into a PhD, it was much easier for them to get a residency with a PhD (its a long haul, but at least you won't have to go into debt for it).

 

[SkipJunior]

What school did you come out of? Windsor? Non-big 4/5? Dude, that's rough. Have you considered getting a research position, turning it into connections for a residency/PhD? I know people that have done both (just research to residency and PhD to residency) before. Some people got spots after 1-2 yrs of research, and those that transitioned into a PhD, it was much easier for them to get a residency with a PhD (its a long haul, but at least you won't have to go into debt for it).

yes Windsor. I thought of that but I'm not really into research. Plus I'm hoping I can match into a prelim IM/FM spot in the 2015 match. I'm also looking at applying for a GP license in the future.

 

[hallowmann]

yes Windsor. I thought of that but I'm not really into research. Plus I'm hoping I can match into a prelim IM/FM spot in the 2015 match. I'm also looking at applying for a GP license in the future.

If you land a pre-lim IM/FM spot in 2015, keep an eye out for any people that leave/drop out of any residency in the hospital. Residency attrition is like 20%, so if you do well in your pre-lim year, you might be able to turn it into a categorical. On top of that, apply for any other programs if you can, even though that take people outside the match. Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

[WalSlave]

Try multiple thousand. Just last year, the only DO schools to get <3,000 applicants were OSU (regional bias), WCUCOM & LUCOM (both relatively new and not particularly up there in the minds of pre-meds). On average schools received >4500 applicants each last year, and to give you an idea the one with the most applicants was PCOM with >8000. They need some way to weed people out/prioritize them.

AZCOM received ~5000.

My point exactly. I just didn't want to rope all schools into the same numerical category hence the "upward of a couple thousand".

 

[hallowmann]

My point exactly. I just didn't want to rope all schools into the same numerical category hence the "upward of a couple thousand".

I know, I just wanted to make it even clearer for the people who read it and might just think you meant 2000+, when its really more like 4000+.

 

[Goro]

That would make them more selective than the two U AZ MD schools! I doubt that they can afford to be so choosy.

AZCOM has started a new admissions policy this year of only offering interview invites to applicants with 29+ MCAT scores and medium to high GPAs. All other applicants are waitlisted with a greater than 50% chance of being rejected later on (according to current AZCOM students working with the admissions office).

Furthermore, AZCOM's matchlist is very impressive and boasts of regularly matching its graduates to Yale, Stanford, Case Western, Mayo etc and into competitive specialties.

Finally, if you read the AZCOM threads for the past several cycles, you will constantly hear of applicants talking to students on interview day and finding out that all the students love AZCOM with a passion.

AZCOM is a special school and many argue that it's one of the top DO schools. Although I'm disappointed that I've been waitlisted by this school (no interview invite for me), I'm impressed and awed by this school.

I'm tired of MD school rejects thinking of DO as back-up. AZCOM and schools of its ilk prove these applicants wrong. The admissions standards of DO schools are slowly but steadily rising.

 

[SkipJunior]

That would make them more selective than the two U AZ MD schools! I doubt that they can afford to be so choosy.

I'm as surprised as you are but it their policy for this year, as clear as day. Just check out the 2014-2015 AZCOM thread to confirm. What I think will happen is AZCOM will interview a lot of the applicants they placed on hold later in the cycle in a mad scramble to fill up their seats. I believe this is just an attempt by AZCOM to boost their incoming student statistics and put themselves in the same category as schools like MSUCOM, TCOM, Touro- CA, Touro- NY etc.

 

[Goro]

The AZCOM website says:

Students seeking admission to AZCOM must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Competitive test scores on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
   • Average MCAT score for students entering AZCOM in 2014 was 29.
   • Only MCAT exam scores earned from tests taken no more than 3 years prior to the matriculation date of the planned enrollment year are acceptable.
   • Register for MCAT tests through the MCAT Program Office at 202/828-0690 or visithttp://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat for information.
   • MCAT exams are offered multiple times per year.

Note that no minimum is specified. But to get an avg of 29, a range of 27-33 would be the ballpark. I would suspect that 26 would be the floor. Keep in mind that there is no mention of "best composite score", or "total score" either.

I'm as surprised as you are but it their policy for this year, as clear as day. Just check out the 2014-2015 AZCOM thread to confirm. What I think will happen is AZCOM will interview a lot of the applicants they placed on hold later in the cycle in a mad scramble to fill up their seats. I believe this is just an attempt by AZCOM to boost their incoming student statistics and put themselves in the same category as schools like MSUCOM, TCOM, Touro- CA, Touro- NY etc.

 

[karling]

I'm as surprised as you are but it their policy for this year, as clear as day. Just check out the 2014-2015 AZCOM thread to confirm. What I think will happen is AZCOM will interview a lot of the applicants they placed on hold later in the cycle in a mad scramble to fill up their seats. I believe this is just an attempt by AZCOM to boost their incoming student statistics and put themselves in the same category as schools like MSUCOM, TCOM, Touro- CA, Touro- NY etc.

I don't think you're really paying attention to what people are saying in this thread. For example, I'll quote WalSlave above: "1) It's super early in the cycle. Most established schools offer their first interview slots to outstanding applicants with very high MCATs. This is nothing new! If you've been on here more than 2 minutes and looked at some old threads, this is literally how it starts out every cycle."

Emphasis on "This is nothing new!"

I highly doubt they'll have a mad scramble to fill up their seats. They'll start filling them with people who have high stats, then move on to average-to-good stats (perhaps in a month or two), and then when full they'll waitlist people lower than that who will gladly take any spot that opens up if/when the stronger applicants withdraw their acceptances.

 

[SkipJunior]

I don't think you're really paying attention to what people are saying in this thread. For example, I'll quote WalSlave above: "1) It's super early in the cycle. Most established schools offer their first interview slots to outstanding applicants with very high MCATs. This is nothing new! If you've been on here more than 2 minutes and looked at some old threads, this is literally how it starts out every cycle."

Emphasis on "This is nothing new!"

I highly doubt they'll have a mad scramble to fill up their seats. They'll start filling them with people who have high stats, then move on to average-to-good stats (perhaps in a month or two), and then when full they'll waitlist people lower than that who will gladly take any spot that opens up if/when the stronger applicants withdraw their acceptances.

A lot of people (including yourself) have said stuff in this thread without doing prior research as to whether what I have stated is correct or not. People come in, read my statement, get all wound up, and proceed to knock me down.

Now I never said that offering the first interview slots to outstanding applicants is something new. What I said was that I'm surprised and impressed by AZCOM's brand new policy of only offering interview invites to 29+ MCAT scorers for the entire first half of the cycle (not for the first 1-2 months as you and several others have claimed). If you had read the 2014-2015 AZCOM thread and the thread from the previous cycle from start to finish, you would have known that applicants who were placed on pre-interview hold were told by the admissions office that their application won't be looked at again till 2015, with most II given after March in the previous cycle.

 

[karling]

I read this year's thread already, but I hadn't looked into 2013-14. I decided to browse through it, and at around this time last year, it appears that people with 28 MCATs were getting IIs, but those with a 27 or below were being put on hold. So it appears as though their cut off for pre-interview holds increased by 1 point this year. That's not very significant.

I didn't read on to see when those with lower MCATs began getting interviewed. Regardless, doesn't seem like the policy has changed much.

 

[IslandStyle808]

A lot of people (including yourself) have said stuff in this thread without doing prior research as to whether what I have stated is correct or not. People come in, read my statement, get all wound up, and proceed to knock me down.

Now I never said that offering the first interview slots to outstanding applicants is something new. What I said was that I'm surprised and impressed by AZCOM's brand new policy of only offering interview invites to 29+ MCAT scorers for the entire first half of the cycle (not for the first 1-2 months as you and several others have claimed). If you had read the 2014-2015 AZCOM thread and the thread from the previous cycle from start to finish, you would have known that applicants who were placed on pre-interview hold were told by the admissions office that their application won't be looked at again till 2015, with most II given after March in the previous cycle.

Hey Skip,

Are you considering the DO school over the match if you get accepted?

 

[SkipJunior]

Hey Skip,

Are you considering the DO school over the match if you get accepted?

Not sure really, let me first get accepted lol! However, I'd be happy with either option.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Not sure really, let me first get accepted lol! However, I'd be happy with either option.

Good luck to you!

 

[Soviet Poland]

The AZCOM website says:

Students seeking admission to AZCOM must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Competitive test scores on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
   • Average MCAT score for students entering AZCOM in 2014 was 29.
   • Only MCAT exam scores earned from tests taken no more than 3 years prior to the matriculation date of the planned enrollment year are acceptable.
   • Register for MCAT tests through the MCAT Program Office at 202/828-0690 or visithttp://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat for information.
   • MCAT exams are offered multiple times per year.

Note that no minimum is specified. But to get an avg of 29, a range of 27-33 would be the ballpark. I would suspect that 26 would be the floor. Keep in mind that there is no mention of "best composite score", or "total score" either.

Hmm, I just called their admissions office and I got the same response as the original poster. They are not interviewing anyone below a 29, "because that was our average last year." I tried asking about later in the cycle and I was given an answer with a tone of "likely no, but we don't know." I asked about first-generation college students and economic disadvantages, to which she said decisions are purely academic, but I'm welcome to write a letter about it. I asked about further LORs, they said no. I asked what they would like to see from me as the cycle progressed. They pretty much told me to retake the MCAT or bust. I have a 27 with an 11 in verbal.

I thought with a good GPA and strong scribing background, a 27 would be fine given that average implies some range of a point or two in either direction (like you said), even if the bell curve distribution is steep at the average.

I'm remaining optimistic that they'd have to interview some below a 29 later on, but honestly I feel like I have a better shot at the two U of A's at this time as compared with AZCOM.

In your experiences Goro, is the response "we're not interviewing below a 29" more of a trait of the early cycle like others are mentioning in this thread, or is AZCOM really trying to separate themselves as the cream of the crop this year?

 

[studentp0x]

Hmm, I just called their admissions office and I got the same response as the original poster. They are not interviewing anyone below a 29, "because that was our average last year." I tried asking about later in the cycle and I was given an answer with a tone of "likely no, but we don't know." I asked about first-generation college students and economic disadvantages, to which she said decisions are purely academic, but I'm welcome to write a letter about it. I asked about further LORs, they said no. I asked what they would like to see from me as the cycle progressed. They pretty much told me to retake the MCAT or bust. I have a 27 with an 11 in verbal.

I thought with a good GPA and strong scribing background, a 27 would be fine given that average implies some range of a point or two in either direction (like you said), even if the bell curve distribution is steep at the average.

I'm remaining optimistic that they'd have to interview some below a 29 later on, but honestly I feel like I have a better shot at the two U of A's at this time as compared with AZCOM.

In your experiences Goro, is the response "we're not interviewing below a 29" more of a trait of the early cycle like others are mentioning in this thread, or is AZCOM really trying to separate themselves as the cream of the crop this year?

1) Depending on who you talk to, the info may not be all that accurate. I talked to someone at Nova who was clearly clueless about the whole process so don't take everything you hear to be 100% accurate.

2) They can't limit themselves to 29+ MCATs otherwise they won't fill their class. I've called them too and they said into the new year the number will likely drop (from a 29).

 

[Goro]

Jeeze, elite little 'F'er's aren't they? My Dean likes very high MCAT scores too, but we'll take you.

I suppose that in this economy, and this app cycle, which is proving to be even more competitive than the last, trying to compete head on with MD schools (a 29 and 3.4 is competitive for Penn State, Rosy F and at least 10 other MD schools,; more counting the state schools in the South and Midwest, and yes, the two U AZs) might not be a bad idea, but I have a suspicion that will might also come back and bite them in the ass.

This strategy will boil down to several factors:
How many qualified applicants there are in the state of AZ and nearby?
How many people who would be competitive for schools like Penn State want to go to AZ?
How many people want to be a DO AND go to AZ?

I'd also like to add that my school is less selective at the beginning of the app cycle. As we fill up the class, and know what our pool of applicants is like, we tend to increase our requirements in mid cycle, say, from a 3.0 to a 3.2. Ditto for MCAT scores.

Hmm, I just called their admissions office and I got the same response as the original poster. They are not interviewing anyone below a 29, "because that was our average last year." I tried asking about later in the cycle and I was given an answer with a tone of "likely no, but we don't know." I asked about first-generation college students and economic disadvantages, to which she said decisions are purely academic, but I'm welcome to write a letter about it. I asked about further LORs, they said no. I asked what they would like to see from me as the cycle progressed. They pretty much told me to retake the MCAT or bust. I have a 27 with an 11 in verbal.

I thought with a good GPA and strong scribing background, a 27 would be fine given that average implies some range of a point or two in either direction (like you said), even if the bell curve distribution is steep at the average.

I'm remaining optimistic that they'd have to interview some below a 29 later on, but honestly I feel like I have a better shot at the two U of A's at this time as compared with AZCOM.

In your experiences Goro, is the response "we're not interviewing below a 29" more of a trait of the early cycle like others are mentioning in this thread, or is AZCOM really trying to separate themselves as the cream of the crop this year?

 

[studentp0x]

Jeeze, elite little 'F'er's aren't they? My Dean likes very high MCAT scores too, but we'll take you.

I suppose that in this economy, and this app cycle, which is proving to be even more competitive than the last, trying to compete head on with MD schools (a 29 and 3.4 is competitive for Penn State, Rosy F and at least 10 other MD schools,; more counting the state schools in the South and Midwest, and yes, the two U AZs) might not be a bad idea, but I have a suspicion that will might also come back and bite them in the ass.

This strategy will boil down to several factors:
How many qualified applicants there are in the state of AZ and nearby?
How many people who would be competitive for schools like Penn State want to go to AZ?
How many people want to be a DO AND go to AZ?

Yea I'm guessing by March they'll realize that they need to start hitting up the lower guys to fill their class.

 

[Goro]

Concur, the people with 28s will be going to Western, CCOM, TUCOM, etc.

Yea I'm guessing by March they'll realize that they need to start hitting up the lower guys to fill their class.

 

[Soviet Poland]

I suppose there are a lot of qualified California applicants nearby who have trouble getting into one of their state schools, but if given the choice between Western, Touro, or AZCOM, I'm willing to bet many of them would want to stay in-state. I'll continue on with my original strategy and update them with another DO letter from scribing at the start of next year then. It'll be interesting to see how the cycle pans out. I don't think they will be so strict on this policy the entire cycle either. Their class size is like 250. I was just a bit taken aback by my conversation with them.

 

[jjtheairplane]

I too just called and found out I was pre-interview waitlisted. 28 here, ii at western so if I got into western I wouldn't even attend the azcom interview. CCOM might be even worse if you check it out, they seem to be interviewing only 30+ right now. I haven't even heard word from them.

 

[D4C]

I suppose there are a lot of qualified California applicants nearby who have trouble getting into one of their state schools, but if given the choice between Western, Touro, or AZCOM, I'm willing to bet many of them would want to stay in-state. I'll continue on with my original strategy and update them with another DO letter from scribing at the start of next year then. It'll be interesting to see how the cycle pans out. I don't think they will be so strict on this policy the entire cycle either. Their class size is like 250. I was just a bit taken aback by my conversation with them.

That bothered me too when I started, but then you realize something. Most people...well...don't go to class or bug profs. Biggest hindrance to the large class size I think is the social mixing of the class; there's still people who's names I don't even know.

 

[zegrated]

I'm a first year at AZCOM right now. It's true, there are lots of highly qualified applicants that end up attending AZCOM because of how unbelievably difficult it is to get into an MD/DO school in CA. As someone posted in this thread, this year's class has an average MCAT of 29 which is about a point higher than last year's average, so I wouldn't be surprised if it pushed 30 for this coming year.

I had the choice between AZCOM and Western and I chose this school because it had a much better "feel", despite me being from the SoCal area. So they may be able to get away with their tough interview requirements if enough people feel the same way.

 

[GypsyHummus]

Do you foresee scores every going back down for DO school? What were the numbers acceptable for an applicant back when you started interviewing applicants for DO schools 10 years ago?

Jeeze, elite little 'F'er's aren't they? My Dean likes very high MCAT scores too, but we'll take you.

I suppose that in this economy, and this app cycle, which is proving to be even more competitive than the last, trying to compete head on with MD schools (a 29 and 3.4 is competitive for Penn State, Rosy F and at least 10 other MD schools,; more counting the state schools in the South and Midwest, and yes, the two U AZs) might not be a bad idea, but I have a suspicion that will might also come back and bite them in the ass.

This strategy will boil down to several factors:
How many qualified applicants there are in the state of AZ and nearby?
How many people who would be competitive for schools like Penn State want to go to AZ?
How many people want to be a DO AND go to AZ?

I'd also like to add that my school is less selective at the beginning of the app cycle. As we fill up the class, and know what our pool of applicants is like, we tend to increase our requirements in mid cycle, say, from a 3.0 to a 3.2. Ditto for MCAT scores.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Do you foresee scores every going back down for DO school? What were the numbers acceptable for an applicant back when you started interviewing applicants for DO schools 10 years ago?

With all the increased exposure why would it go down? That makes no sense.

 

[IslandStyle808]

With all the increased exposure why would it go down? That makes no sense.

Mainly from the applicants who see medicine as a stable job. Once more jobs with higher incomes are being offered, then applications to medical school will drop. However, it won't be as drastic as you maybe inferring form GypsyHummus' post.

 

[Abraxas65]

Sorry to hear how this is effecting everyone else but I think my high MCAT and low GPA might actually work in my favor! At least for this school.