Is this a program that someone in admissions suggested to you? Does being on the wait list pretty much give you a guaranteed acceptance to the CERT/masters program? How did you come about the decision to withdraw from the DO program and wait another year? Sorry for all the questions, but this is the first I heard of the CERT program. I just want to know about any opportunity that could potentially increase my chances for getting into VCU. Thanks!
No prob abt the questions...thats why I'm on here...to ask questions and get any info I can. Any CERT/MS program will increase your chances of getting in anywhere, because you will make yourself a more competitive applicant- you dont have to do it at the specific school you hope to get into. Some programs, like Temple, have guarenteed acceptance into their MD program if you do well enough in their masters program. VCU just guarentees an interview with them if you perform at a certain level. There are programs like this at lots of medical schools (even a couple DO schools have them to).
I applied to DO school after all my allopathic ones were done, just decided to do it for backup, because last year at this time, I thought, I'm going somewhere next year, I dont want to apply again. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, when I was starting to have to make arrangement to go to the DO school in NY, and I was freaking out. I know myself well and I was just so stressed out and anxious, and not excited, I knew things just were not right. So I had to have a serious "talk" with myself. I thought about how I would feel 10 years from now being a DO, and basically, I just couldnt be sure that I would be satisfied, or happy. I have wanted to be a doctor, MD, my whole life, and who I am is very much wrapped up in that, and for me, if I had gone to DO school, I would have been settling. I dont think that DO's are "lesser" than MD's, and in fact, I very much identify with the osteopathic philosophy. I also have always wanted to go into a surgical specialty, and although you can get those residencies as a DO, it's harder, but even if I got one, I know I would never really be satisfied. What the future holds has always helped drive me to work hard, and I am very picky and critical of myself. Basically, I just had to shut out all the chatter and stress and oppinions of others that I had in my head and listen to my GUT, and the choice was clear.
If you are at all hesitant about going to DO school, dont. The 4 years of school, MD or DO, are rediculously hard and a huge investment in so many ways. I'm sure that you thought long and hard about the decision to apply to medical school, and you need to be just as sure about DO or MD, especially if this is your first try. If I applied to allopathic school 3 times and still didnt get in, then I'd probably reconsider DO, or maybe be a PA.
In short...check in with yourself, you know what to do.
And yes, I am aware that I cant spell, lol.
Let's move it in-state waitlist! Let's move!!
