Worth applying this cycle? (DO)

[z122]

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Hey all,

Debating whether to try to apply late in this cycle to DO schools.

I had a 3.8 in ugrad -public midwest. Non-trad. 3 years of work experience in medical field, year of patient-oriented research in Harvard hospital, 500+ volunteer hours in hospital, 100 hours MD and DO shadowing.

Currently doing post bacc at Harvard Ext and Northeastern which has been pretty rough. 3.4 gpa but with two Ws and C- (W became A, C- retake is an A-, need to retake other W). My GF had cancer throughout my post bacc and this contributed quite a bit to the failures. Obviously something that would be discussed in app.

Anyway, I still need to take physics 1-2, orgo 1-2, and mcat. Could finish prereqs by August 1. Ideally, would take mcat shortly after, but could also wait on orgo 2 and take mcat while in the middle of physics 2 (in July). Realistically, I don't think my app can be complete until August or more likely September whatever I end up doing.

Can anybody speak to the chances of me getting accepted to a DO school applying late with this unusual post bacc situation. Let's say hypothetically I score somewhere in the 25-30 range on the MCAT. I really doubt I will be able to rock the mcat with such little prep, but I figure it may be worth a shot applying if I can get somewhere in that range.

I greatly appreciate any thoughts on this matter. Also, open to feedback on how impossible it would be to do the MCAT prep concurrently with the remaining prereqs.

Thanks

 

[WesternRedCedar]

NO.

You are taking way too much on for the summer, doing 4 pre-req classes and then trying to do the mcat is setting yourself up for failure.

Focus on the pre-reqs and then take the MCAT after in Sept or October ,and maybe throw in your app. The DO cycle is long. You will already be trying to learn physics and ochem fresh, don't try and mess up your marks by also trying to do MCAT.

Condensed physics and ochem at the same time is already alot of work.

You could also spend some proper time on the MCAT and get 30+ and open up to MD schools too.

 

[kinzav]

If you are an amazing student, it would be an interesting test. First off, your GPA and EC's are great. You'd have an awesome shot at MD's with a 30+ and would be nearly automatic with DO's with a 28+ (assuming you'd apply to a wide range of programs, from CUSOM to PCOM). Second, if I were forced into this position, my gameplan would be pretty tough. Assuming you'd be doing nothing but school, I'd grab the Gen Chem, Verbal, and Bio subject books for the MCAT and work on them concurrently with your Ochem and Physics classes. I would take the last MCAT date (September I think?). Once I finished classes, I'd take a full length and see where I'm at, then scramble through whatever subjects I needed help on for the next month. Finish the MCAT and have my app done, the latest, by the end of October. But this is if I were forced to apply this cycle.

Realistically, applying in October is probably the only thing that takes you out of a good shot at MD and top tier DO. You'd probably get in this year to a mid tier DO on the strength of your application offsetting your lateness, but if you could submit your application before your MCAT (like July), it'd probably help a bit too. But this is tough. Condensed summer Ochem and physics together is a tough run, and the MCAT would be rough too. My advice would be to slow it up, take the MCAT in the spring and crush it, then apply to a wide range of MD schools and a few high end DO schools. Unless you can't wait or you're in love with family medicine in the midwest.

 

[petyr_baelish]

I think most people's GPA would drop attempting this schedule. Physics and Ochem are the more difficult pre-reqs because they require a huge time investment due to the practice questions needed to do well. To do them in condensed form and concurrently is just insane. I'm sure there are people that can do it, but I got a 3.85 in those courses at a typical univeristy and I wouldn't attempt this.

 

[z122]

NO.

You are taking way too much on for the summer, doing 4 pre-req classes and then trying to do the mcat is setting yourself up for failure.

Focus on the pre-reqs and then take the MCAT after in Sept or October ,and maybe throw in your app. The DO cycle is long. You will already be trying to learn physics and ochem fresh, don't try and mess up your marks by also trying to do MCAT.

Condensed physics and ochem at the same time is already alot of work.

You could also spend some proper time on the MCAT and get 30+ and open up to MD schools too.

Can you clarify what you mean by the DO cycle is long? When do you think would be the absolute latest date to apply DO assuming I can get a competitive MCAT? and the same for MD?

 

[petyr_baelish]

Some people this year applied in December with good stats (~3.5), got interviews in Jan-March and got accepted to decent schools (not off a waitlist - just straight up accepted). Heck, some people are going to DO interviews in early May!

 

[z122]

I think most people's GPA would drop attempting this schedule. Physics and Ochem are the more difficult pre-reqs because they require a huge time investment due to the practice questions needed to do well. To do them in condensed form and concurrently is just insane. I'm sure there are people that can do it, but I got a 3.85 in those courses at a typical univeristy and I wouldn't attempt this.

I tend to agree. Was thinking I'd be likely to get B's rather than A's. My only thoughts as to this being somewhat more doable is that I am taking them at Northeastern summer school, which is considerably easier than Harvard extension. I also took orgo 1 already before dropping.

 

[z122]

If you are an amazing student, it would be an interesting test. First off, your GPA and EC's are great. You'd have an awesome shot at MD's with a 30+ and would be nearly automatic with DO's with a 28+ (assuming you'd apply to a wide range of programs, from CUSOM to PCOM). Second, if I were forced into this position, my gameplan would be pretty tough. Assuming you'd be doing nothing but school, I'd grab the Gen Chem, Verbal, and Bio subject books for the MCAT and work on them concurrently with your Ochem and Physics classes. I would take the last MCAT date (September I think?). Once I finished classes, I'd take a full length and see where I'm at, then scramble through whatever subjects I needed help on for the next month. Finish the MCAT and have my app done, the latest, by the end of October. But this is if I were forced to apply this cycle.

Realistically, applying in October is probably the only thing that takes you out of a good shot at MD and top tier DO. You'd probably get in this year to a mid tier DO on the strength of your application offsetting your lateness, but if you could submit your application before your MCAT (like July), it'd probably help a bit too. But this is tough. Condensed summer Ochem and physics together is a tough run, and the MCAT would be rough too. My advice would be to slow it up, take the MCAT in the spring and crush it, then apply to a wide range of MD schools and a few high end DO schools. Unless you can't wait or you're in love with family medicine in the midwest.

The advantage to submitting my app before the mcat would be what? Would my app actually be read at some schools or is it more a matter of verification time? Also, what about submitting an app without having taken one of the prereqs? I wouldn't want to take the MCAT without knowing the material, but saving the grade/class for later might ease my burden a bit.

 

[polylux]

I believe as long as you take the prereq prior to matriculation, that's all that's necessary. And I think submitting the app without the MCAT score is just for purposes of AACOMAS verification, as that can take up to 6 weeks depending on when you submit it.

 

[z122]

Thanks!

 

[kinzav]

The advantage to submitting my app before the mcat would be what? Would my app actually be read at some schools or is it more a matter of verification time? Also, what about submitting an app without having taken one of the prereqs? I wouldn't want to take the MCAT without knowing the material, but saving the grade/class for later might ease my burden a bit.

Yeah, just verification time. I don't remember how long it took AACOMAS, but it took a really long time for AMCAS to get through verification. If you time it right, you could be complete and verified around the same time, so you'd sneak into some really early batches of applications (the July-August group instead of the October-November group). And the prereqs just need to be done before matriculation, so if you're a science major it shouldn't matter, but if it's one of a few science classes on your transcript, they might want to see the classes first.

 

[TeamLeafs]

I believe as long as you take the prereq prior to matriculation, that's all that's necessary. And I think submitting the app without the MCAT score is just for purposes of AACOMAS verification, as that can take up to 6 weeks depending on when you submit it.

But they would need phys1/2 and ochem1/2 for the MCAT. They would be learning it all from scratch for the MCAT if they didn't take them during the summer, which would be pointless.

 

[polylux]

Right, but it's not required for application.

 

[TeamLeafs]

Right, but it's not required for matriculation.

You mean application.

Yes, you dont have to have pre-reqs completed by application time, but you shouldn't have 4 of them outstanding... even for DO schools. MD schools I interviewed said no more than 2 in-progress.

 

[polylux]

Yes, application - edited.

I'm not disagreeing with you - obviously taking all the pre-reqs is preferable and better, but the original question in OP's post was "what about submitting an app without having taken one of the prereqs?" And again, like I said, as long as that prereq is taken prior to matriculation, it should be fine. I'm confused as to what you're trying to point out... nothing you say contradicts what I'm saying.

 

[TeamLeafs]

We are in agreeance now 🙂

 

[radkat101]

If I were you, I would take only physics over the summer while studying for the MCAT (you would be studying some PS anyway by taking the classes). Then take some practice tests near the end of the summer and see if you are happy with your score without organic. You could even flip through exam-krackers O-chem or something just to get some basics down. Since it's unlikely you would do well on the mcat by taking all these pre-reqs so quickly with little time to study for it anyway, you really have nothing to lose by trying this. Even if you don't do so well on your practice tests you would have still spent the summer doing some mcat prep and you can spend the school year taking organic like a normal person and brushing up on weak mcat areas you already know you have.

I hope this makes sense.

 

[edgerock24]

@z122 If you are doing Northeastern's formal post bac program then I'm guessing/hope you know that those classes are on the Quarter system, so you'd need to take Orgo 1, 2, and 3, for instance.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Rushing is the best way to failure. I speak from experience.

 

[jjtheairplane]

DO NOT rush your mcat if you want 30+. If you aren't the type of guy to get A's in premed reqs easily, take 6+ months on them so you ensure a 1 hit win.

 

[gyngyn]

Rushing is the best way to failure. I speak from experience.

It's certainly the quickest way!