-
The 2026-2027 DO School Specific Threads are now available in the School Specific Discussions forum. The 2025-2026 discussions are now available in the prior year discussions forum. -
Bring your 2026 application questions to our open office hours with Emil Chuck, PhD, Director of Advising Services for HPSA, and get them answered live. Personal statements, secondaries, interview prep, school list strategy: all fair game. Sunday, May 17 at 9 p.m. Eastern.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
worried mom
Started by mdoclau
Hi
I'm brandy new long time reader first time writer.
Question?
If you don't get into DO school what will you do?
I'm afraid I don't like the answer my son gave, by the way I'm Mom my son is in florida just had interview in nova, he really liked it
I am not really sure what your question is, but I am going to do my best to answer it. If I had not gotten into medical school this time, I would have strengthened my application and reapplied at a later date. I feel that being a doctor is truly my calling in life and I don't think I would be happy doing anything else. I know not everyone who gets rejected reapplies, but I know a lot of people who try several times before getting in. You just can't get discouraged. I hope your son gets into school and you don't have to worry about what ever it is you are concerned about. 🙂

Hi
I'm brandy new long time reader first time writer.
Question?
If you don't get into DO school what will you do?
I'm afraid I don't like the answer my son gave, by the way I'm Mom my son is in florida just had interview in nova, he really liked it
I'm assuming that his answer is that he would go Carribbean or somewhere overseas? I would suggest that he strengthen his application and apply again next year IF things don't work out for him. US MD and US DO will offer him more convenient opportunities than attending a foreign medical school.
I guess I did not explain myself, He told me one of the questions were-If you did not get into med school what would you do, and his response was probably do research and I thought that answer was not what they were looking for. I would think they wanted to hear that maybe check out peace corp(like he wanted to) or just finish his emt training(like he is doing) and also reapply next year, That to me sounds like you really want this, not just do research, I guess he was alittle nervous.
I guess I did not explain myself, He told me one of the questions were-If you did not get into med school what would you do, and his response was probably do research and I thought that answer was not what they were looking for. I would think they wanted to hear that maybe check out peace corp(like he wanted to) or just finish his emt training(like he is doing) and also reapply next year, That to me sounds like you really want this, not just do research, I guess he was alittle nervous.
You hit the nail on the nail on the head. If I were an interviewer and the answer to that question were "I'll do research," my answer would be "OK, then you want to do research." I think that there is a point where reapplying is futile, but on what I can imagine is his first time around, his answer sounds like he has given up before he even started. I hope that things work for him in whatever he decides to do.
I guess I did not explain myself, He told me one of the questions were-If you did not get into med school what would you do, and his response was probably do research and I thought that answer was not what they were looking for. I would think they wanted to hear that maybe check out peace corp(like he wanted to) or just finish his emt training(like he is doing) and also reapply next year, That to me sounds like you really want this, not just do research, I guess he was alittle nervous.
Oh ok. I wouldn't worry about that then. I don't think there is anything wrong with that answer. They want you to be honest. Besides, I don't think the answer to that one question will make or break his application.

The best part is I dont think he meant to say that because his dream is to become a doctor and he can not stand to do reseach, do you think that answer is going to hurt him, he said he thinks the interview went well, I cant stand just waiting game anymore, I don't know how you guys do it
Thanks that makes me feel alittle better as a mom all you want is to see that your kids get what they want.
Yea, I understand that. Hopefully it works out though. No point in stressing out now. Just wait and see what happens and then take it from there.😀

I don't think that's a horrible answer. Osteopathic institutions are always looking for more students who are interested in the research aspect of medicine. In fact, Nova has just started a new research fellowship for medical students. No matter what they thought of his answer, I don't think this one answer to one question will make or break his application, but rather they will take the overall interview, GPA and MCAT into consideration.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hi
I'm brandy new long time reader first time writer.
Question?
If you don't get into DO school what will you do?
I'm afraid I don't like the answer my son gave, by the way I'm Mom my son is in florida just had interview in nova, he really liked it
I told them that I would do whatever it takes to strenghten my application. I told them first I would find out reasons why I wasnt accepted to this school (the one which I was interviewing). Next, I will try to improve them.
If it's my interview skills, well I will try to teach and gain confidence in my ability as a speaker
I only gave an example of interview skills because my application was pretty solid otherwise 😀
sonyvaio i'm so jealous u got into UVM!? Congrats buddy... not sure when I missed that tidbit haha.
Anyway, that wasn't the best answer he could ahve given but keep in mind that the interview is just one component of their decision. They expect you to be nervous, but as long as he didn't make a complete ass out of himself, I'm willing to bet it won't break his application...
Let him know that SDN is a great place to gripe about this whole process
Anyway, that wasn't the best answer he could ahve given but keep in mind that the interview is just one component of their decision. They expect you to be nervous, but as long as he didn't make a complete ass out of himself, I'm willing to bet it won't break his application...
Let him know that SDN is a great place to gripe about this whole process

i wouldn't worry about it too much. at nova, they made it clear that this wasn't the end of the world and to just relax. even though he didn't answer the question exactly like he wanted to, that's alright. it's obvious he wants to be a doctor because he was sitting in that chair interviewing! it also depends on how the question was worded and how his first interpretation of it was. during one of my interviews (not at nova), i was asked what i'd do if i didn't get in this year AND what i would do if i never got into med school. he might have interpreted his question like my latter question - and there's nothing wrong with that. if he feels like the rest of his interview went well, then there's no point in worrying. we're all going to have moments during our interviews where we wish we didn't say that one little thing.
I guess I did not explain myself, He told me one of the questions were-If you did not get into med school what would you do, and his response was probably do research and I thought that answer was not what they were looking for. I would think they wanted to hear that maybe check out peace corp(like he wanted to) or just finish his emt training(like he is doing) and also reapply next year, That to me sounds like you really want this, not just do research, I guess he was alittle nervous.
There's no need to be concerned. For that question, it seems there isn't really a right/wrong answer. It is asked in an attempt to understand your character. I was reading some posts in the pre-allo forum about a similar interview question, and it seems that interviewers want you to assume a hypothetical stance where you were somehow completely unable to become a physician. They want to know what profession you would choose then. It seems that research shows that students who are most interested in primary care would choose teaching and students most interested in surgery would choose research. So, again, it's just something to figure more about who you are.
Similar threads
- Replies
- 6
- Views
- 2K
- Replies
- 0
- Views
- 582