Can one apply to an MD school after being a student at a DO school?

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I don't want to offend anyone with this post or cause someone to become angry, it is simply a question that I have and would like an answer to. I am a student at an Osteopathic school, and although I like it, I don't think I love it. I respect Osteopathy, but sometimes I feel it was not the right path for me. So I am wondering if it is possible to apply to an MD school after being a med student at an Osteopathic school, and how one can go about doing that?
Does anyone know?

You can apply, but there's no way they'd accept you. See LizzyM's (allopathic admissions person) post here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...ight=head+spin

You'd probably have better luck transferring. I don't think you have a good enough reason, but I think I heard something about someone managing it when their only reason was not wanting to be a DO. I suspect you'd be denied by your current school and burn bridges with the people responsible for your Dean's letter, but it's a possibility. You'd probably also have to do it after the first two years, at which point you'll be past the bulk of your OPP training, so you wouldn't really be changing the amount of exposure you'd get to it. I'm guessing this has less to do with putting up with 200 or so hours of OPP and more with degree recognition and prestige and increasing your chances of matching into something competitive, am I right?

By the way, it's osteopathic medicine, not osteopathy, and is identical to "allopathic" medicine once you're past OPP. And I assume you applied MD previously and were rejected. How will doing a year of medical school somewhere else make you a more competitive applicant now? You're already going to be a doctor, why should they give a spot to you when it could go to someone who's still trying to get into medical school?

Well put Druggernaut!! Those who really believe in osteopathic medicine should be going to osteopathic schools, and if one doesn't believe they were a good fit, then that individual should not have ever accepted the slot. There are many others who are well qualified who would have jumped at the opportunity to become a physican, MD or DO.

And by the way, if you're already in an osteopathic program, it would be more appropriate if you could dsecribe it accurately, and not by a made-up quick name.

If you don't enjoy manipulation, then fine, many DO's go into specialties where you cannot do the manipulative medicine portion on a regular basis with your patients anyway. So after your two years, then you don't exactly need to worry about your lack of love for doing it, and THAT is the major difference between DO's and MD's in most people's views!

Be happy for the opportunity to become a physician, wherever it is. The love of medicine and the desire to treat/heal others should be the reason for attending a school, not necessarily the curriculum and whether it says MD or DO on your diploma

Please don't begrudge an old lady here:

what is the problem with the term "osteopathy" in the form the OP has used?

The degree is a "Doctor of Osteopathy", osteopathy has long been considered a synonym for osteopathic medicine and while it doesn't reflect the full scope of what an osteopathic program teaches or a DO does in practice, why does it appear that the two above posters are equating the term "osteopathy" with something negative?

I am truly confused by this.

Originally Posted by Winged Scapula

Please don't begrudge an old lady here:

what is the problem with the term "osteopathy" in the form the OP has used?

The degree is a "Doctor of Osteopathy", osteopathy has long been considered a synonym for osteopathic medicine and while it doesn't reflect the full scope of what an osteopathic program teaches or a DO does in practice, why does it appear that the two above posters are equating the term "osteopathy" with something negative?

I am truly confused by this.

It's pretty much what you said. "Osteopathy" is an antiquated term more in line with A.T. Still's initial teachings. In order to reflect the more modernized training in osteopathic medical schools, "osteopathic medicine" has become the preferred term, and I believe the American Osteopathic Association as gone so far as to say that DOs shouldn't be calling themselves "osteopaths" but rather "osteopathic physicians." It also serves to distinguish US DOs from those trained overseas, who don't have an equivalent scope of practice as MDs in their home countries.

It's a subtle slight. A DO is a physician first and foremost, not some back-cracking snake oil salesman (with some embarrassing exceptions), and while it might sound oversensitive or defensive, it's a more accurate descriptor.

I would argue the term allopathy may also be derisive.

Originally Posted by Druggernaut

It's pretty much what you said. "Osteopathy" is an antiquated term more in line with A.T. Still's initial teachings. In order to reflect the more modernized training in osteopathic medical schools, "osteopathic medicine" has become the preferred term, and I believe the American Osteopathic Association as gone so far as to say that DOs shouldn't be calling themselves "osteopaths" but rather "osteopathic physicians." It also serves to distinguish US DOs from those trained overseas, who don't have an equivalent scope of practice as MDs in their home countries.

It's a subtle slight. A DO is a physician first and foremost, not some back-cracking snake oil salesman (with some embarrassing exceptions), and while it might sound oversensitive or defensive, it's a more accurate descriptor.

Thank you for the clarification.

To my understanding, the main difference between MD and DO schools is that DO schools include OMM in the curriculum and MD schools don't. I think you need to take a closer look at why you're unhappy at your school. It's true that not every school is an ideal fit for everyone, but that shouldn't be framed as a DO vs. MD issue. First of all, it really isn't, and second of all, it won't play well if you do decide to transfer.

Originally Posted by sistergldenhair

Well put Druggernaut!! Those who really believe in osteopathic medicine should be going to osteopathic schools

I disagree. If it works, shouldn't the skeptical students minds be changed by the evidence, even if if it's only in the patients that they see and treat?

The system ends up producing plenty of great D.O. docs but I'd much rather see a pragmatic D.O. (the majority) as a patient than a "true believer". Some things should only be written by George Lucas and taken seriously in that context. Today let's palpate the immovable skull and feeleth the force moveth throughout the meridians. Oh, you didn't feel it? Then you're not believing hard enough.

I guess that's what yoda meant when he said "There is no try, only D.O..." (I kid)

Someone a year ahead of me applied to MD schools while in their first year of DO school. They did not tell the MD schools they were in DO school and eventually got accepted into an MD school. He ended up dropping out of DO school for "personal reasons" and that was the end of that.

Maybe try that out.
1) MD schools will not know. Its not like when they get an applicant they check every DO school
2) The DO school wont know, unless you have to get a deans letter by telling the MD schools that you are in med school

Originally Posted by docnotsopc

Someone a year ahead of me applied to MD schools while in their first year of DO school. They did not tell the MD schools they were in DO school and eventually got accepted into an MD school. He ended up dropping out of DO school for "personal reasons" and that was the end of that.

Maybe try that out.
1) MD schools will not know. Its not like when they get an applicant they check every DO school
2) The DO school wont know, unless you have to get a deans letter by telling the MD schools that you are in med school

I believe something similar happened with a Caribbean medical student who applied to my medical school this year. He was accepted as a first year who took a year off after college but in fact had already gone through first year at Ross or SGU or something. The only reason people know is because a friend of one of the M1's, who still attends the Caribbean school, was visiting one weekend and recognized him, lol.

"Success" stories like this aside, though. It seems like a bad idea to lie about where you've been.

Originally Posted by viper930

I believe something similar happened with a Caribbean medical student who applied to my medical school this year. He was accepted as a first year who took a year off after college but in fact had already gone through first year at Ross or SGU or something. The only reason people know is because a friend of one of the M1's, who still attends the Caribbean school, was visiting one weekend and recognized him, lol.

"Success" stories like this aside, though. It seems like a bad idea to lie about where you've been.

heh u gotta be kidding me... Sounds like that person could be in huge trouble if found out.

On a different note does anyone know how one can go about transferring from a DO school to an MD school? I know there's a process to do it after the second year and after having taken boards. I know a number of schools do allow transfers especially Drexel and George Washington. I remember reading somewhere that one person had successfully transferred to George Washington after having done very well in his DO school and publishing top-notch research. I specifically remember that this person did not have any other extenuating circumstances and just really wanted the MD.

What I'm wondering is how would I hypothetically go and ask my dean to submit a letter approving the transfer as well as obtain letters of recommendation from basic science professors that would also vouch for my transfer? Both of these letters and recommendations are requirements for transferring to George Washington or Drexel. If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!

Originally Posted by Winged Scapula

The degree is a "Doctor of Osteopathy"

Also, for future reference, nowadays the degree is actually "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine". The diplomas no longer say Doctor of Osteopathy, for the reasons Druggernaut stated, among others.

To the OP, in the end it doesn't matter, you'll be a "doctor" either way. Also, the AOA and the ACGME are working together to unify the graduate medical education systems of both DO and MD training. By the time you graduate, it's likely irrelevant whether you're a DO or MD, your training will be ACGME-certified, and in the end, your medical school is worth little compared to your GME training.

Delete

Originally Posted by Druggernaut

It's pretty much what you said. "Osteopathy" is an antiquated term more in line with A.T. Still's initial teachings. In order to reflect the more modernized training in osteopathic medical schools, "osteopathic medicine" has become the preferred term, and I believe the American Osteopathic Association as gone so far as to say that DOs shouldn't be calling themselves "osteopaths" but rather "osteopathic physicians." It also serves to distinguish US DOs from those trained overseas, who don't have an equivalent scope of practice as MDs in their home countries.

It's a subtle slight. A DO is a physician first and foremost, not some back-cracking snake oil salesman (with some embarrassing exceptions), and while it might sound oversensitive or defensive, it's a more accurate descriptor.

lol

Originally Posted by Albicans

On a different note does anyone know how one can go about transferring from a DO school to an MD school? I know there's a process to do it after the second year and after having taken boards. I know a number of schools do allow transfers especially Drexel and George Washington. I remember reading somewhere that one person had successfully transferred to George Washington after having done very well in his DO school and publishing top-notch research. I specifically remember that this person did not have any other extenuating circumstances and just really wanted the MD.

What I'm wondering is how would I hypothetically go and ask my dean to submit a letter approving the transfer as well as obtain letters of recommendation from basic science professors that would also vouch for my transfer? Both of these letters and recommendations are requirements for transferring to George Washington or Drexel. If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!

While Drexel does have transfer students, I have not heard of any of them being previously DO students. The ones that have transferred here have done so (or at least I've been told) to be closer to their significant other. How true that is, I don't know, but I've only met 2 transfers (at least in my year) There may be more however, because there were exams in 2nd year I went into that had people I did not recognize.