<p>I'm a rising senior and I have a 1360 SAT score with a 4.0 weighted GPA. All BS/DO schools (that I have been inquiring about) have already told me that they would love to have me, but I'm wondering if a BS/MD school is even a possibility. I've shadowed 3 doctors, including one rare clinic. All extracurricular aside, do you think that my GPA/SAT would allow me to even be considered?</p>
<p>You are a little bit on the lower side in terms of SAT score for many bs/md programs, but if you have good SAT subject test scores and great ECs, you definitely may have a chance if you apply to a wide range of programs. Its of course hard to tell without knowing what all your other stats and ECs.</p>
<p>As for BS/DO programs, while its up to you in the end whether you want to go to one, why would you want to go the DO route right away if you could go to a much better school for undergrad and have a chance at getting an MD through the regular med school admissions process? Most students resort for med schools in the Caribbean or DO schools only after they know they won’t get in the regular way.</p>
<p>If I DID decide to go to a DO school, it would most probably be a program with a strong undergraduate so I could decide to apply to MD. Most BS/DO programs are not “binding,” so I don’t HAVE to follow up with the osteopathic school if I choose not to. This way, if I do have a strong MCAT score and a relatively high GPA, I could apply to an MD school if I chose to do so. </p>
<p>The only problem is, the undergraduate schools aren’t too amazing and I could definitely get into a better undergraduate if I wasn’t applying for the straight programs. Thanks for your help, though. I’ll definitely think about that.</p>
<p>I’m only replying to the part of the post where you said most BS/DO’s are non-binding. It’s true that while you have the ability to apply out to other schools, most BS/DO’s are 7 year programs. This means by the end of your undergraduate experience, you probably won’t have a degree (Most BS/DO’s, and even other accelerated BS/MD’s don’t award a Bachelor’s until the first or second year of medical school). While traditionally, you don’t HAVE to apply to medical school with a Bachelor’s, it’s like taking a crapshoot otherwise. If you decided to apply out of your program without a Bachelor’s, you’re going to have a hard time trying to get interviews.</p>
<p>However, I do not mean to undermine BS/DO programs or any other DO program like the one’s you’ll be applying too, but it’s just that you should only apply (and matriculate) into these programs only if you are 100% sure that you want to be an Osteopathic Physician/Surgeon/Etc.</p>
<p>So, say I go into a BS/DO program and I get a pretty decent MCAT score, it would be pretty difficult for me to apply to an MD school? Because you’re right, most BS/DO programs ARE 7 year, so the 4th year of undergrad would be combined with the first year of graduate, so I could see how that would make it difficult to apply out.</p>
<p>You would essentially have to drop out of the BS/DO program during your third year and just pursue a regular 4th year of undergrad at the school if you want to apply MD.</p>