Not at all my point, I simply believe that many people end up in their 3rd year in a position that relegates them to FM or low tier IM. It's simply the truth of the matter, and I would rather want people who truly love FM doing that than people who feel like it's their only option. As such I want to see board scores go up so that people have both the opportunity to train in the field of their choosing and in good programs.
SOME DO schools place emphasis. CCOM & KCUMB for example do not. And even those who do have well over 50% specializing, but again, better board scores also means matching at higher ranked programs as well. SO obviously IM @ X University hospital > IM @ Community Clinc of Y.
Again, a happy well adjusted doctor is better than a grouchy one that doesn't like seeing people.
And again, it's optional but everyone here who wants anything relatively competitively ranked recommends taking the USMLE. Why put yourself at a disadvantage when you may be able to aim high in your field. And personally I think the COMLEX will eventually be phased out for standardized USMLE ( And judging off of the DO students who bemoan it for asking questions like when did ATSTILL throw the banner of osteopathy to the wind and poorly structure questions it may be for the best).
The curriculum is arguably important in training them for the boards. I know my MD friends spend all of second year with the mindset of board prep where as the DO students spend more time in school on OMM and less on board prep. Personally it's kinda one of the reasons I kinda liked the curriculum at MUCOM they have a focus on board prep the second year.
1. Why do you believe that many people end up in their 3rd year in a position that relegates them to FM or low tier IM?
2. Your statement "better board scores also means matching at higher ranked programs as well." I mean true, better board scores mean that students have more options. But keep in mind that location is also an important factor in where students pick their rankings. For example, if a Chicago program is #3 in XYZ and New Jersey it is #15 in ranking, and the student wants to stay in NJ and likes the resources of the NJ program, even though Chicago is ranked higher, chances are the student will end up in NJ where he/she feels its a better fit. Of course, if you look at the match list, you'll see he/she matched in NJ which is a mid-tier program and only look at the fact that its mid-tier, NOT considering WHY that person matched there. So it'll be quick to judge the person (and maybe even the program) as being fostered to be a not-so-great applicant.
3. I do agree that taking the USMLE is highly encouraged but many students either don't want to be bothered, fear the exam, or are only attempting DO residencies. There are many factors why they choose not to take the USMLE, some reasons are poor, but some are logical.
4. Out of all the DO students I've spoken to, not one person has told me that OMM has taken over their board prep time. True, OMM is like what? 3 hours a week not including at-home study time? I do not believe that OMM, a 3 credit course could possibly mean the be-all/end-all for board prep time.
- I'd like to add that there are various types of students in DO school but the ratio tends to favor a higher proportion of mid-to-low competitive students (generally)--of course based on their admissions stats as we all see with most schools. Those who are great students will manage their time effectively and include board prep as necessary without letting OMM overwhelm them. Others will simply take it as it comes and hope for the best. It's just the way things are. But I do not believe most students spend the majority of time on OMM vs board prep. It wouldn't make a lot of sense to dwell on a 3 credit course when they have tons of other basic science to master. (and if they let OMM affect their board score, they shouldn't have been in osteopathic medical schools to begin with).