When and Where Should I Apply?

[Cogitate]

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Hello Y'all,

(1) Is it too late to apply to DO schools? I just recently decided to apply this year, and would like to know if my chances are seriously decreased by applying this late.

(2) Where should I apply? I have a 3.6 GPA and a 27 MCAT (B10,P10,V7). I'm a URM. I have research experience and 1 undergraduate poster presentation. Some hospital volunteering. That's about it. :/

Any help would be awesome, thanks!

 

[Stephanopolous]

The cycle is long (goes into next May) so apply now and you will be within the normal time range for applying. What is your c/s gpa breakdown? How much volunteering? What nationality?

 

[Jeffrety]

No its not too late to apply. I recommend starting a thread on WAMC to see what schools to apply to.

 

[Cogitate]

I don't know my cGPA vs sGPA exactly, but I'm assuming they are similar because all the Bs I've gotten are about equally distributed between science and non-science classes. I'm Alaskan Native, although only a small fraction. About 80 hours of volunteering, plus a few non-medical volunteering for about 50 hours.

 

[mathnerd88]

You are totally fine this cycle. Many schools haven't even offered secondaries yet, so you're good if you submit soon.

 

[ClassicJandT]

I don't know my cGPA vs sGPA exactly, but I'm assuming they are similar because all the Bs I've gotten are about equally distributed between science and non-science classes. I'm Alaskan Native, although only a small fraction. About 80 hours of volunteering, plus a few non-medical volunteering for about 50 hours.

You're fine on the DO side as far as time line is concerned. Just get your stuff in soon as there have been some hiccups with the new AACOMAS primary verification system.

 

[Cogitate]

Would a week be too long to wait? I haven't even started my personal statement yet.

 

[ClassicJandT]

Would a week be too long to wait? I haven't even started my personal statement yet.

Yeah, that's fine. You won't be early, but you are definitely not even close to being late. This would be considered the regular submission time. As another poster mentioned, many DO schools haven't even sent out their secondaries yet. I would say though that you should try to get your primary submitted before August 1. I would also definitely prewrite some secondaries after you submit. You can use the individual school discussion threads and/or this site to work on secondaries while you are waiting to be verified: http://passportadmissions.com/myblog/blog/medical-schools-by-state/
Anyways, overall there is a lot more leeway on the DO side as the cycle is longer than on the MD side. Good luck!

 

[Gandyy]

Actually... cant OP apply to MD schools with those stats and URM status?

 

[Cogitate]

I have very little extracurriculars/volunteering. I might apply to a few MDs for fun. I don't know.

 

[ClassicJandT]

I have very little extracurriculars/volunteering. I might apply to a few MDs for fun. I don't know.

I would definitely also apply MD if I were you. Your stats + the fact that there are very few Alaskan Natives who apply to medical school make you an intriguing candidate at a good amount of places. Your ECs aren't great, but they aren't nonexistent/ bad either. I would throw some apps out and see who bites. Are you involved in any way with the Alaskan Native communities?

 

[Cogitate]

That's the problem - I am not a "real" Alaskan native. I'm 1/16! So no, I don't have any involvement or anything. Should I still check that box on the AMCAS/AACOMAS? Would it still help me?

 

[Stephanopolous]

Here's the important question- do you look Alaskan native?

 

[Cogitate]

Actually yes I do!

 

[ClassicJandT]

That's the problem - I am not a "real" Alaskan native. I'm 1/16! So no, I don't have any involvement or anything. Should I still check that box on the AMCAS/AACOMAS? Would it still help me?

Well you ARE alaskan native even if 1/16 or whatever, so you definitely should "check the box". However, I'm not sure how much it will help you given the minimal involvement within that community. With that being said, it's still absolutely worth a shot at throwing out MD apps along with DO.

 

[allantois]

Well you ARE alaskan native even if 1/16 or whatever, so you definitely should "check the box". However, I'm not sure how much it will help you given the minimal involvement within that community. With that being said, it's still absolutely worth a shot at throwing out MD apps along with DO.

Being 1/16 of anything is going back to your great-great grandparent or great-great-great granparents, that is 5 generations ago 😱

 

[allantois]

Also I would recalculate your GPA because they can only be the same if you took the same number of science and non-science classes. Keep in mind that math counts as science for AACOMAS but not AMCAS.

And how about shadowing and a DO letter for the schools that require it?

 

[FutureDrB]

Here's the important question- do you look Alaskan native?

Actually yes I do!

I don't know why this conversation struck me as funny. Hopefully I'm not offending anyone, but I just found the "do you look Alaskan native" to be kinda relative.

Native Alaskan

Also Native Alaskan

 

[Cogitate]

How does the DO letter work? Do I just shadow the doctor for an hour and have him write a letter? Or should I do some type of long term volunteering in his/her office?

 

[dermacat]

How does the DO letter work? Do I just shadow the doctor for an hour and have him write a letter? Or should I do some type of long term volunteering in his/her office?

Your letters should be from people who've known you for much longer than an hour. I recommend shadowing or doing volunteer work at their office on a weekly basis, over the span of a few months at least. Your letter writer should be able to describe your relationship and how you've shown commitment and growth during the time they've known you. Shadowing for 1 hour and demanding a letter is going to come off quite presumptuous, not to mention pretty rude. And even if you do miraculously get a letter out of an hour's work, the likelihood that letter says anything that admissions committees would consider meaningful are slim to none. Physicians are often happy to invite you to shadow or volunteer on a schedule though, so good luck!

 

[67552931811]

Would a week be too long to wait? I haven't even started my personal statement yet.

Id suggest you spend more than 7 days writing your PS. For example, I wrote and re-wrote mine over a 15 month period

 

[67552931811]

How does the DO letter work? Do I just shadow the doctor for an hour and have him write a letter? Or should I do some type of long term volunteering in his/her office?

? I'm starting to question your legitimacy.

It's the same exact thing as shadowing any physician...

 

[67552931811]

 

[Cogitate]

God damn this is annoying. Do I absolutely need this ridiculous letter? I heard LECOM does want one now?

 

[mathnerd88]

God damn this is annoying. Do I absolutely need this ridiculous letter? I heard LECOM does want one now?

No LECOM got rid of the DO letter requirement.

 

[Goro]

Nope.

(1) Is it too late to apply to DO schools? I just recently decided to apply this year, and would like to know if my chances are seriously decreased by applying this late.

Any DO school, starting with PacNW and Western-OR.

(2) Where should I apply? I have a 3.6 GPA and a 27 MCAT (B10,P10,V7). I'm a URM. I have research experience and 1 undergraduate poster presentation. Some hospital volunteering. That's about it. :/

 

[Cogitate]

Thanks again @Goro for your perspicacious wisdom. Oh, and here's a new avatar for you:

 

[kenjixshadow]

@Goro avatar is classic. Don't you, @Cogitate, dare!

 

[Cogitate]

@kenjixshadow No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. NOOO.
goro's avatar looks like a scrawny, senile, Satanic stray cat. He deserves an avatar that reflects his principles, honor, and success. Hence, I shall once again attach Goro's new avatar. @Goro, change it now.

 

[hyperDO]

I think that is his actual family cat lol X(

 

[OrdinaryDO]

Also I would recalculate your GPA because they can only be the same if you took the same number of science and non-science classes. Keep in mind that math counts as science for AACOMAS but not AMCAS.

And how about shadowing and a DO letter for the schools that require it?

You have this backwards. The AACOMAS looks at BCP and the AAMCAS includes BCMP in science GPA.