When to apply

[PressPforPi]

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So my goal is apply in the 2013 cycle (obviously that's quite a while from now) BUT, I'm a little confused about how everything will work mainly because it will probably take me five years to get my BS due to not taking a lot of hours my Freshmen year.

In the Spring of 2013, I should be completing the last of my prereqs, O-Chem II. This is where it gets confusing, how would I decide on an MCAT date? Or would it be better to just wait another year? (even though I'd rather not) Would this make me a "late" applicant? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[TriagePreMed]

If you're a 3.7+ applicant that scores a 35+ on the MCAT, you'll be fine applying in August. On the other hand, if you're less than 3.5 and less than 30, it would be best to wait another year when you finally have the MCAT score.

 

[PressPforPi]

Thanks Triage!

 

[jinobi]

You don't need something as high as 3.7/35; this is just DO school still. If your stats are nicely above your DO schools average, say .15 higher GPA and 2 points, you're about 1 standard deviation above other applicants stats-wise.

If you have good extracurriculars, good clinical experience and ready LORs, you can submit your primary if you have a complete MCAT score by September. I've had friends who have been accepted into several DO schools even when they applied in December.

Granted, it's always better to apply early. But who are we to judge when you should apply based your stats? Only a school's Admissions Committee can decide that. You should just apply and see what interviews you get; if your application year doesn't work out, just reapply next year.

 

[TriagePreMed]

You don't need something as high as 3.7/35; this is just DO school still. If your stats are nicely above your DO schools average, say .15 higher GPA and 2 points, you're about 1 standard deviation above other applicants stats-wise.

If you have good extracurriculars, good clinical experience and ready LORs, you can submit your primary if you have a complete MCAT score by September. I've had friends who have been accepted into several DO schools even when they applied in December.

Granted, it's always better to apply early. But who are we to judge when you should apply based your stats? Only a school's Admissions Committee can decide that. You should just apply and see what interviews you get; if your application year doesn't work out, just reapply next year.

Oh, I didn't see this was the DO forum. Anything under 3.3 and 26 and you must apply early.

 

[FutureDoc1988]

You don't need something as high as 3.7/35; this is just DO school still. If your stats are nicely above your DO schools average, say .15 higher GPA and 2 points, you're about 1 standard deviation above other applicants stats-wise.

If you have good extracurriculars, good clinical experience and ready LORs, you can submit your primary if you have a complete MCAT score by September. I've had friends who have been accepted into several DO schools even when they applied in December.

Granted, it's always better to apply early. But who are we to judge when you should apply based your stats? Only a school's Admissions Committee can decide that. You should just apply and see what interviews you get; if your application year doesn't work out, just reapply next year.

The problem with this is not only do you waste a lot of money by applying and filling out all of the secondaries, many schools also want to see what you did to improve your application if you're a reapplicant.

When you should apply depends on your GPA and your extracurriculars. If you have below a 3.4 or MCAT below 28 I would wait until the next year. You can spend the extra year either retaking a few classes to improve GPA, doing some volunteer work, and earning money because the application process is extremely expensive.

 

[PressPforPi]

The problem with this is not only do you waste a lot of money by applying and filling out all of the secondaries, many schools also want to see what you did to improve your application if you're a reapplicant.

When you should apply depends on your GPA and your extracurriculars. If you have below a 3.4 or MCAT below 28 I would wait until the next year. You can spend the extra year either retaking a few classes to improve GPA, doing some volunteer work, and earning money because the application process is extremely expensive.

Well, as of right now, if I make the grades I'm projecting, I'll have a 3.71 cGPA by the end of this Summer semester. Although, that's probably going to fluctuate by the time I apply, just hopefully higher and not lower.

If I applied with both my science and cumulative being around ~3.7 and then took the MCAT around July, how do you all think that would look? (Hypothetically say I manage a 30) Would I be in good shape for a DO acceptance even though it would be kind of late?

 

[TriagePreMed]

Well, as of right now, if I make the grades I'm projecting, I'll have a 3.71 cGPA by the end of this Summer semester. Although, that's probably going to fluctuate by the time I apply, just hopefully higher and not lower.

If I applied with both my science and cumulative being around ~3.7 and then took the MCAT around July, how do you all think that would look? (Hypothetically say I manage a 30) Would I be in good shape for a DO acceptance even though it would be kind of late?

Very good shape, especially if ADCOMS really believe you're not using it as a backup. I think shadowing a DO usually takes care of that.

 

[PressPforPi]

Very good shape, especially if ADCOMS really believe you're not using it as a backup. I think shadowing a DO usually takes care of that.

At this point I, personally, would rather go DO, but I have some physicians (even a DO) say that it doesn't really matter where I go as long as I go somewhere.

I'm a Georgia resident so I'll apply to all my state schools (MD included) and I'm also looking into NSU, DMU, OSU, MSU, LECOM, and a few others (MSU and OSU for DO/PhD). Triage, do you have any advice for DO/PhD acceptances if I'm planning on taking the July MCAT?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

DO/PhD like MD/PhD will require you have over 2 years of research and preferably have some publications. Don't do it unless you want to 100% be a researcher in clinical medicine though.

 

[TriagePreMed]

At this point I, personally, would rather go DO, but I have some physicians (even a DO) say that it doesn't really matter where I go as long as I go somewhere.

I'm a Georgia resident so I'll apply to all my state schools (MD included) and I'm also looking into NSU, DMU, OSU, MSU, LECOM, and a few others (MSU and OSU for DO/PhD). Triage, do you have any advice for DO/PhD acceptances if I'm planning on taking the July MCAT?

I have virtually zero knowledge on how DO/Ph.D works, but I wouldn't apply to that track unless I was truly sure being a researcher is what I want.