First, let’s make sure we know what we are talking about. BS/DO programs are the same as BS/MD programs except that the associated medical school grants the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy rather than the Doctor of Medicine. I discussed BS/DO programs in this past post.
BS/DO programs are good for several different types of students. Some students like the holistic approach to medicine that BS/DO programs typically take and therefore prefer applying to them rather than the typical MD programs. The other type of student that is a good match for a BS/DO program is the student that is strong but not quite strong enough for a BS/MD program or that has something unusual in their background.
For the student that is not as strong as the typical BS/MD candidate, I still like to see a 3.5 unweighted or better GPA and test scores in the 2,000 plus range to be competitive for a BS/DO program. These programs are a little more forgiving if a student does not have any research experience and are sometimes willing to consider the student with a more limited volunteering background. However, having some research experience and a strong volunteering background will still help in admissions to the BS/DO programs.
The other type of student that may find a BS/DO program a better option is the student with an unusual background. This might be the student that has skipped one or more grades in school and is young for their grade or the student that has attended multiple high schools.
Like BS/MD programs there is no guarantee of acceptance even with strong grades and test scores, but you will have somewhat better odds for admissions with a BS/DO program.