Which DO schools should I apply to?

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nesta89

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Hi, I need some advice in selecting DO schools. I am a California resident, graduated from UC school my overall GPA is 3.74 and science GPA is 3.77. I got 25 on my MCAT. For EC they are regular: clinical volunteering, research internships, fundraising officer in a club and some church volunteering.
So my question is what schools can I apply to with my stats and state residence to be a competitive applicant. What are my chances overall? Thank you guys in advance.
 
nesta89 said:
Hi, I need some advice in selecting DO schools. I am a California resident, graduated from UC school my overall GPA is 3.74 and science GPA is 3.77. I got 25 on my MCAT. For EC they are regular: clinical volunteering, research internships, fundraising officer in a club and some church volunteering.
So my question is what schools can I apply to with my stats and state residence to be a competitive applicant. What are my chances overall? Thank you guys in advance.
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If you've taken biochem and have a DO LOR, you can apply to any that you want. If you haven't taken biochem and/or don't have a DO LOR, you'll have to do some research to find out which ones require them.
 
Thanks for the information. I have taken biochem, but I don't have a DO LOR. So I'll do some research to find out which require a DO LOR. Do you know of any that absolutely require DO LOR? My goal school is Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Thank you...
 
nesta89 said:
Thanks for the information. I have taken biochem, but I don't have a DO LOR. So I'll do some research to find out which require a DO LOR. Do you know of any that absolutely require DO LOR? My goal school is Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Thank you...
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Search this forum I know there was a thread specifically about which schools require what. There is even a spreadsheet floating around here.
 
nesta89 said:
Thanks for the information. I have taken biochem, but I don't have a DO LOR. So I'll do some research to find out which require a DO LOR. Do you know of any that absolutely require DO LOR? My goal school is Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Thank you...
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Honestly, I feel that it would be a waste of time and money for you to apply to PCOM. They strongly prefer students from Pennsylvania and the Northeast. I had friends that applied with similar gpas and MCATs to yours and they all hail from CA and were ultimately rejected post-secondary. I was rejected as well this past application cycle. Then again you never know and just maybe you might be able to land an interview but it's up to you as this is my opinion.
 
Hi everyone!🙂

I am a reapplicant this cycle. I need some advice on what schools to apply to based on my mediocre stats.Last September, I submitted my primary apps to 13 schools (about half MD, half DO). Also took me a month to fill out secondaries once I got them...I realized it was going to require a lot of luck to get accepted based on the circumstances. I received only 1 interview where I got the waitlist.

  • Major: Biology
  • Minor: Chemistry
  • Involved in honors science club for 2 years
  • Graduated in 3 years
  • 3.48 science GPA
  • 3.55 cumulative GPA
  • 23O MCAT (retook and waiting for new score which is most likely higher)
  • So far 10 months of volunteering for the hospital (~100 hours)
  • Taught two classes at the hospital as a volunteer. (~5 hours)
  • Been working in an ER for 4 years (registration clerk)
  • Have worked in an assisted living facility for 6 years
  • Shadowed a lot at work and outside of work. Outside of work have shadowed 71 hours so far. Still shadowing.
I submitted my primary apps two weeks ago and am waiting for them to get verified as well as waiting for the new MCAT score to release (Sept 5th). Which schools do you think I stand a chance? So far I designated: DMU, KCUMB, Midwestern , A.T. Still, Creighton, University of Iowa, Rosalind Franklin, Loyola University, and St. Louis University.

Also to mention, I am not born in the U.S. I lived for awhile in Germany (but was born in the Balkans) so I speak at least 3 languages fluently. I think this won't hurt my chances. Let me know what you guys think!!

Thanks guys!! 😀
 
LOVEDMU said:
I am a reapplicant this cycle. 3.48 science GPA
  • 3.55 cumulative GPA
  • 23O MCAT (retook and waiting for new score which is most likely higher)
I submitted my primary apps two weeks ago and am waiting for them to get verified as well as waiting for the new MCAT score to release (Sept 5th). Which schools do you think I stand a chance? So far I designated: DMU, KCUMB, Midwestern , A.T. Still, Creighton, University of Iowa, Rosalind Franklin, Loyola University, and St. Louis University.
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Based on the info provided I'm going to assume you are not a URM. Unless your MCAT ends up 30+, you should apply to more schools. More DO schools. Anything less than a 30 pretty much closes the door on MD.

MCAT <=26
DMU: No
KCUMB: No
ATSU SOMA: Maybe?
ATSU KCOM: No
Creighton: No
Iowa: No
RFU: No
Stritch: No
SLU: No


MCAT 27-29
DMU: Yes
KCUMB: Yes
ATSU KCOM & SOMA: Yes
Creighton: No
Iowa: No
RFU: No
Stritch: No
SLU: No

MCAT 30+
DMU: Yes
KCUMB: Yes
ATSU KCOM & SOMA: Yes
Creighton: Yes
Iowa: No unless you have ties to Iowa
RFU: Yes
Stritch: Yes
SLU: Yes
 
I don't know if I am considered a minority since I am a U.S. citizen and am caucasian.

I am loving the list you made!!! Will need to wait for my new MCAT score to come out to know where I should submit the secondaries!

Do most schools take the most recent MCAT score or?

Thank you so much 🙂
 
LOVEDMU said:
I don't know if I am considered a minority since I am a U.S. citizen and am caucasian.

I am loving the list you made!!! Will need to wait for my new MCAT score to come out to know where I should submit the secondaries!

Do most schools take the most recent MCAT score or?

Thank you so much 🙂
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If you're caucasian you aren't a URM. Also, just as a disclaimer to my above list, people do get into DO with a 3.48/3.55/<26, but the DO schools you applied to are among the most competitive so it's less likely.

Every school you apply to will see all of your MCAT scores. Some schools average them, some schools only look at your most recent score, some schools take the highest composite of all your tests combined. I'm sure there are other methods, but those are the three I've heard of. I retook the MCAT as well, and like you I'm hoping the schools I applied to put more weight on my newest score than my previous attempt.
 
MedPR said:
Based on the info provided I'm going to assume you are not a URM. Unless your MCAT ends up 30+, you should apply to more schools. More DO schools. Anything less than a 30 pretty much closes the door on MD.

MCAT <=26
DMU: No
ATSU SOMA: Maybe?
Click to expand...

I would probably change this to <=25. I've got interviews at both of these with a 26. Its all subjective though and depends on so many factors. who knows....
 
Oh bummer!

Looks like I will have to contact each school to find out what they do with multiple MCAT scores. Thank you so much for all of your help. I wish you the best with your applications 🙂
 
hopefulMD9 said:
I would probably change this to <=25. I've got interviews at both of these with a 26. Its all subjective though and depends on so many factors. who knows....
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I heard DMU is not so much about the MCAT as some other places but their average MCAT is still rather high for a DO school (27) You never know what they are looking for. I know of people who got accepted last year with an MCAT score lower than mine and I was waitlisted after my interview.
 
LOVEDMU said:
Oh bummer!

Looks like I will have to contact each school to find out what they do with multiple MCAT scores. Thank you so much for all of your help. I wish you the best with your applications 🙂
Click to expand...

Thanks. Good luck to you too! Hope to see you out on the interview trail. 👍
 
LOVEDMU said:
I heard DMU is not so much about the MCAT as some other places but their average MCAT is still rather high for a DO school (27) You never know what they are looking for. I know of people who got accepted last year with an MCAT score lower than mine and I was waitlisted after my interview.
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To me it seems like they are all about GPA.
 
LOVEDMU said:
I heard DMU is not so much about the MCAT as some other places but their average MCAT is still rather high for a DO school (27) You never know what they are looking for. I know of people who got accepted last year with an MCAT score lower than mine and I was waitlisted after my interview.
Click to expand...

hopefulMD9 said:
To me it seems like they are all about GPA.
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For me it was MCAT. At the time of II, I had a 3.25/3.22/33Q. According to this http://studentdoctor.net/schools/school/dmu-com DMU's class of 2013 had cGPA of 3.70 and sGPA of 3.66. I'm sure those numbers haven't gone down since then.
 
hopefulMD9 said:
To me it seems like they are all about GPA.
Click to expand...

Yes, GPA, EC and personality!! But if you have a low MCAT then even a high GPA won't help. It's all about balance. Both my MCAT and GPA are below their average, but they are right in there. Hopefully I score much higher on my new MCAT.That should do the trick. But then again you never know. ha ha
 
MedPR said:
For me it was MCAT. At the time of II, I had a 3.25/3.22/33Q. According to this http://studentdoctor.net/schools/school/dmu-com DMU's class of 2013 had cGPA of 3.70 and sGPA of 3.66. I'm sure those numbers haven't gone down since then.
Click to expand...


Your MCAT score definitely pulls a lot of weight. I think every applicant is unique and their combination of stats, ECs, personal statement, letters of recomm, all contribute to the decision whether to accept a candidate. All I know my stats, science and cum. GPA and MCAT, are both below their average which is why I hope to get a higher MCAT score to counter the lower GPA. Good luck!
 
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