Why do DO schools have such low MCAT averages?

[mmcnam]

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Just curious - I've been thinking about applying to a few, but I don't know why their scores are so low. Any thoughts?

 

[spicedmanna]

Just curious - I've been thinking about applying to a few, but I don't know why their scores are so low. Any thoughts?

This question has been addressed a number of times, most recently in these threads and posts:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=408398

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5250255&postcount=64

Sift through the bs and you will have some good thoughts and opinions to work with.

 

[JasonUD]

supply and demand...I never heard of a DO 3 years ago.

 

[Ki45toryu]

As the number of medical school admins rises, I believe DO scores will as well....although the ones with "lesser" reps and the new schools may still have lower scores for longer periods of time.

 

[MaximusD]

Just curious - I've been thinking about applying to a few, but I don't know why their scores are so low. Any thoughts?

??

Be careful there, new guy. I was rejected by two DO schools with a 32 MCAT. During the April '06 MCAT administration that was >80th percentile of everyone taking the exam...

So the broad generalization, while supported by averages, isn't always the best indicator...

I will say that DO schools typically have a smaller applicant pool and because of that they are often able to be more forgiving. For instance, I had a 3.24 GPA in undergrad, but with all of my other ducks in a row (great LORs, essays, MCAT, etc) PCOM, CCOM, and WVSOM decided to give me a shot.

For that, I and other pre-DOs should be really thankful.

 

[sexyman]

Funny it seems like everyone wants to be accepted but want the MCAT requirements and GPA to be higher than what they scored themselves.

 

[Critical Mass]

If given the choice between a DO school and an MD school, students will choose the MD school more frequently than the DO school. I leave it to everybody else to explain why.

 

[Old_Mil]

Just curious - I've been thinking about applying to a few, but I don't know why their scores are so low. Any thoughts?

Supply and demand. Most people who go to medical school want to practice evidence based medicine which includes prescribing, admitting, and operating. Going to a DO school means that you get saddled with 2 years and ~ 200 hours in what amounts to Chiropractic instruction.

If (due to age, less competitive academics, bad standardized test scores) you are having trouble getting into an MD school, DO is a perfectly respectable vehicle to get you into the practice of medicine. It's just not the first choice of the majority of people.

 

[Shodddy18]

They need a smiley getting a tub of popcorn and watching the impending brawl!

 

[DrBowtie]

The applicant pool with 30+ isn't deep enough to fill ~155 medical schools. Plain and simple.

 

[sexyman]

Contrary to the SDN myth