which programs should I apply to?

[soxman]

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Hi,
I'm a newbie to this forum. I noticed that there were like 20 (or more ) osteopathic medical schools in the US and if I want to apply to some (in hopes of getting accepted to at least one of em). I have a GPA of 3.5, with a MCAT of 26 and a BS in Clinical Lab Science. Could u guys tell me to which colleges would I stand as a competitive applicant?

Thanks a lot


Sox

 

[Nate]

My advise is to apply to any school you would be interested in going to MINUS: OUCOM if you are not from Ohio, TCOM if you are not from Texas, MSU if you are not from Michigan, OSU if you are not from Oklahoma, and WV if you are not from west virginia. UMDNJ take half their class from out of state so feel free to apply there if you like the school.
If I had to do it all over I would apply to UMDNJ, DMU, PCOM, UNE, CCOM, and NSU.
Good luck

 

[Kuba]

No NYCOM?

 

[Packamylase]

My advise is to apply to any school you would be interested in going to MINUS: OUCOM if you are not from Ohio, TCOM if you are not from Texas, MSU if you are not from Michigan, OSU if you are not from Oklahoma, and WV if you are not from west virginia. UMDNJ take half their class from out of state so feel free to apply there if you like the school.
If I had to do it all over I would apply to UMDNJ, DMU, PCOM, UNE, CCOM, and NSU.
Good luck

Nate, Would you say it's pretty difficult to get into a state-supported school if you're not from that or an adjacent state? Or do you suggest against those public schools because of the outrageous tuition? Both?

I'm from NC with higher GPA (3.73) and MCAT (28) than the OP. Where do you or anyone else suggest that I apply?

Thanks.

 

[Packamylase]

No NYCOM?

Is it true that NYCOM accepts only NY students?

 

[soxman]

Thanks for the replies people! I'll keep those colleges in mind. Since I'm in Texas, I guess I'll apply to TCOM also. But i heard that getting accepted to TCOM is like getting accepted to an MD offering school.
What about LECOM and AZCOM?

Thanks
Sox

 

[Taus]

NYCOM accepts out of state students...but does seem to show a preference for in-state....however that preference is not nearly as much of as that of MSU, Texas and the others that Nate mentioned.

 

[OSUdoc08]

My advise is to apply to any school you would be interested in going to MINUS: OUCOM if you are not from Ohio, TCOM if you are not from Texas, MSU if you are not from Michigan, OSU if you are not from Oklahoma, and WV if you are not from west virginia. UMDNJ take half their class from out of state so feel free to apply there if you like the school.
If I had to do it all over I would apply to UMDNJ, DMU, PCOM, UNE, CCOM, and NSU.
Good luck

You'll find that OSU-COM is much more forgiving to out of state students than TCOM (especially if you live in a surrounding state.)

 

[OSUdoc08]

Thanks for the replies people! I'll keep those colleges in mind. Since I'm in Texas, I guess I'll apply to TCOM also. But i heard that getting accepted to TCOM is like getting accepted to an MD offering school.
What about LECOM and AZCOM?

Thanks
Sox

Bring from Texas, I would highly recommend applying to OSU-COM.

I am a Texan myself, and the 3 DO schools I looked at were TCOM, OSU-COM, and AZCOM. I was accepted to OSU-COM and AZCOM.

 

[Nate]

You'll find that OSU-COM is much more forgiving to out of state students than TCOM (especially if you live in a surrounding state.)

OSU's website lists 89% of class is from Oklahoma, and that is a class size of 88 so the chances are slim if you have average numbers it would appear. If you can get in it seems like a great school. Of course appearances are deceptive because UMDNJ claims 100% in-state attendance but in reality 50% changed residence upon admission.

OP:
I did not list NYCOM in my list because I wouldn't go there. It is a great school I am sure but commuting throughout NYC for rotations (especially from LI), living expenses, and a 300 student class size all make me say no way. But that is just my personal perspective.

The school's I recommended you do not apply to unless you are from there are either because there is a small chance for out-of-staters, the tuition is miserable for out-of-staters, or they require a 5 year contract (OU) on top of higher tuition.

Any schools I did not mention just aren't schools that interest me personally but you should make your own judgment, I am just giving you my opinion. I could never go to a school with a formal dress code or mandatory attendance. Even though I went to all my classes in undergrad I have found my time much better used by triaging what classes to go to in medical school. I enjoy a laid back atmosphere were the students are listened to by the administration. Like I said, in my experience and preference the 6 schools I would apply to if I were to do it all over are UMDNJ, DMU, PCOM, UNE, CCOM, and NSU (even though they have mandatory attendance), and I would choose UMDNJ over all others again as well.

 

[Kuba]

Of course appearances are deceptive because UMDNJ claims 100% in-state attendance but in reality 50% changed residence upon admission.

Nate, you attend UMDNJSOM so I am a little confused. I thought UMNJD shows no preference toward in-staters. I am a highly interested applicant from CT (UMDNJSOM is my first choice). I got this reply from the admissions office:

DRKUBA,

You are at no disadvantage because you are not a New Jersey resident.
UMDNJ-SOM does not take preference over in-state residents. In fact, if
you are an out-of-state resident who is offered a seat in an entering
class, you are immediately given the opportunity to become an in-state
resident and receive the in-state tuition.

Best wishes,

Jenn Shevlin
UMDNJ-SOM
Office of Admissions

Could you clarify for me?

 

[Nate]

DRKUBA that is correct. What I meant was that everyone changes their residence to NJ upon entering to get in-state tuition so it appears that the whole class is from NJ when in reality atleast half are from out of state.

 

[scpod]

DRKUBA that is correct. What I meant was that everyone changes their residence to NJ upon entering to get in-state tuition so it appears that the whole class is from NJ when in reality atleast half are from out of state.

As I understand it, about all it takes to become a NJ resident is a lease on an apartment in your name. Getting residency in many states is much, much harder.

 

[Kuba]

DRKUBA that is correct. What I meant was that everyone changes their residence to NJ upon entering to get in-state tuition so it appears that the whole class is from NJ when in reality atleast half are from out of state.

Do you have to pay out-of-state tuition the first year, or is it automatic?

 

[Nate]

No, you pay in-state tuition from day 1, all you have to do is supply a copy of your lease in NJ, drivers license, and car registration if you have one.

 

[scpod]

Hi,
I'm a newbie to this forum. I noticed that there were like 20 (or more ) osteopathic medical schools in the US and if I want to apply to some (in hopes of getting accepted to at least one of em)...Could u guys tell me to which colleges would I stand as a competitive applicant?

Getting back to the original question...You could be competitive at quite a few of them. I think that you have to sit down and think about all of the things that make you happy. Why? Because I believe that you perform better in an environment where you are happy. Personally, I can stand the cold weather or snow. That eliminates a lot of good schools right there. Still, there are plenty in warm weather places. DMU, for instance, is a great school, but I would be absolutely miserable there.

You have to take into account things like your learning style in order to determine if a lecture-based or PBL approach would be better. Do you want to be spoon fed, or do you want to have a lot of freedom in planning you education? What are the expenses going to be? Would you rather spend $70,000 a year at a place you absolutely love or $40,000 a year at your second or third choice.

You have to develop a hierarchy of what is important to you as an indivuidual. One word of caution, though-- everything you hear on SDN is not gospel. Take the time to carefully consider any advice. Personally, I believe that you really can't get a feel for any particular school until you visit it yourself. Good Luck!!!

 

[OSUdoc08]

OSU's website lists 89% of class is from Oklahoma, and that is a class size of 88 so the chances are slim if you have average numbers it would appear. If you can get in it seems like a great school. Of course appearances are deceptive because UMDNJ claims 100% in-state attendance but in reality 50% changed residence upon admission.

OP:
I did not list NYCOM in my list because I wouldn't go there. It is a great school I am sure but commuting throughout NYC for rotations (especially from LI), living expenses, and a 300 student class size all make me say no way. But that is just my personal perspective.

The school's I recommended you do not apply to unless you are from there are either because there is a small chance for out-of-staters, the tuition is miserable for out-of-staters, or they require a 5 year contract (OU) on top of higher tuition.

Any schools I did not mention just aren't schools that interest me personally but you should make your own judgment, I am just giving you my opinion. I could never go to a school with a formal dress code or mandatory attendance. Even though I went to all my classes in undergrad I have found my time much better used by triaging what classes to go to in medical school. I enjoy a laid back atmosphere were the students are listened to by the administration. Like I said, in my experience and preference the 6 schools I would apply to if I were to do it all over are UMDNJ, DMU, PCOM, UNE, CCOM, and NSU (even though they have mandatory attendance), and I would choose UMDNJ over all others again as well.

OSU has taken anywhere from 8-14 out-of-state students in past years. A majority of the out-of-staters come from Texas.

On a side note, most out-of-staters never obtain residence. You must work full time in Oklahoma for a year OR marry an in-state residence to qualify for the in-state tuition.

 

[Twitch]

OSU has taken anywhere from 8-14 out-of-state students in past years. A majority of the out-of-staters come from Texas.

On a side note, most out-of-staters never obtain residence. You must work full time in Oklahoma for a year OR marry an in-state residence to qualify for the in-state tuition.

The Texans they take in - do they have to show strong ties to OK?

 

[OSUdoc08]

The Texans they take in - do they have to show strong ties to OK?

I have absolutely no ties to Oklahoma, and never actually entered the state until the day of my interview.

I was accepted within a week.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Great advice. what may be the highest priority to you may be something unimportant to the people here offering suggestions. Sit down and make a list of what is important. Adjust it if necessary. This also makes decisions of where to go a little easier if you get multiple acceptances.

If I listened to the advice on SDN I would be going to the wrong school in my opinion because most of the posters here do not share the same obligations that I have.

Your original question of where you will be competitive? Practically all of the DO schools except the ones with very strong in-state preferences. Of course you could still apply to those schools as well.

Getting back to the original question...You could be competitive at quite a few of them. I think that you have to sit down and think about all of the things that make you happy. Why? Because I believe that you perform better in an environment where you are happy. Personally, I can stand the cold weather or snow. That eliminates a lot of good schools right there. Still, there are plenty in warm weather places. DMU, for instance, is a great school, but I would be absolutely miserable there.

You have to take into account things like your learning style in order to determine if a lecture-based or PBL approach would be better. Do you want to be spoon fed, or do you want to have a lot of freedom in planning you education? What are the expenses going to be? Would you rather spend $70,000 a year at a place you absolutely love or $40,000 a year at your second or third choice.

You have to develop a hierarchy of what is important to you as an indivuidual. One word of caution, though-- everything you hear on SDN is not gospel. Take the time to carefully consider any advice. Personally, I believe that you really can't get a feel for any particular school until you visit it yourself. Good Luck!!!