2015-2016 Rosalind Franklin University Application Thread

[SMag06]

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Did anyone else in here interview January 8th? Should we expect to hear back more along the 6 week mark rather than the 4 week mark?

I don't know what to expect but I still haven't heard anything; I've heard back from other schools I interviewed at weeks after this one.

 

[tantacles]

Just want to respond and corroborate some of this as a current fourth year student who feels you deserve the real skinny on our school.

-I'm not a current student anymore but graduated last year and went through residency apps.
-I typed up something on a previous page but I can answer your questions again. Also note that alot of things you may not appreciate until you apply for residency/ on residency interviews (you will compare/contrast with alot of other med students


-Culture of the class:
-every class is different but my class was great in terms of camraderie. I personally didn't meet any "hardcore gunner jerks". Obviously there were tons of competitive people because its med school. You really get to know your classmates through orientation and anatomy lab. You waste hours (while most schools use prosections, etc.) in the lab and really get to bond with your classmates. You will also get to know your classmates through clinical skills lab, etc.
-the library has great facilities for group and individual learning - there are also alot of large spacious areas to study - I noticed that after they started to expand enrollment (i.e. pharmacy, etc.) spaces came at a premium.

Agree. Except I'm not sure how many schools use prosections - I've seen a lot of schools that still do gross anatomy lab very similar to ours. No hardcore gunner jerks, but I'd say in every class, there are about 20% of people who will really help you out in any way possible and about 80% of people who will never offer help, no matter how much help they've received. From what I understand, this is pretty typical in all parts of training all around the country, though.

-culture of faculty:
-majority of faculty were not doing any ground breaking research (when I was there). So most focus on teaching. FOr the most part lots of office hours and nice. Visited the physio profs maybe once or twice but that was it.
-teaching IMO was over the top especially for the basic sciences - my understanding is that it has changed and is not as voluminous as the past - but honestly all my basic sciences learning was from studying First Aid STep 1 and doing UWORLD
-teaching during clerkships (most important for your career and beyond) is highly variable depending on who your resident or attending is - this is the same at every medical school.
-one thing of note - there are alot of things you learn on the fly in medical school t i.e. how to write prescriptions - this is not formally tuaught and you have to learn on the fly.

I learned a lot from my classes. I didn't go to any of them. About halfway through the second year I started studying for Step 1 exclusively and still passed everything. Actually, my grades went up. Several professors you will not be able to understand at all due to accents getting in the way, but again, I think this is par for the course at other places. Haven't studied medicine at those other places, though.

-culture of administration:
-honestly never talked to the dean - ever. May have e-mailed our student dean's office a half-dozen times (since they organize your clerkship schedule, residency match stuff). The administration impacts our schools in mysterious ways and because I hardly ever interact with them can't relaly comment on their culture

Here is the culture of administration at our school. The class officers (class president, etc.) are constantly asked to pluck students out of vacuum for just about every opportunity, so you see the same 10-15 students doing everything while other students wonder how they got involved in so many activities that seem desirable. When this doesn't happen, the administration tends to pluck students out of vacuum without any sort of application process for things like interviewing future students, etc. It will be incredibly frustrating, and students seem to have very little impact on shaping the school and have very little influence on its administration.

-Scholarships
-When I was at CMS no scholarships. I think in my last year they had some franklin fellowships or something. One person in our grade was on a full-ride. They kept on featuring her in the videos that they play in the main lobby like some 1984 stuff. Can't comment on this either.

Scholarships do exist, but they are few and far between. Agree. There is also now the Franklin Fellowship, a one-time $15,000 award given to 12 students (though not all from CMS! Many from other health professions schools!) yearly in exchange for a service project.

-Bottom line :

I had no choice this was the only school that accepted me; but if I got to choose probably leaning towards the other medical schools in Illinois over RFUMS ( main reasons - prestige, research, curriculum, electives availability, high tuition/student housing costs - everything across the board to prepare you for the residency match of your choice is done better at the other Illinois schools)

I was accepted here and at one other school in the South. I am happy I chose this school over that one, but had I gotten into just about any other school, I would not have attended CMS knowing what I know now.

I will say that this school prepared me for intern year. I felt UIC students I rotated with in the beginning were more knowledgable/prepared for the first few clerkships. But later on by November-December I never felt inferior to other Illinois medical schools and other US students I rotated with on clerkship or electives. In the end I'm sure this school will help you get into the reesidency of your choice.

I'd say if you want the residency of your choice, you'd better be willing to fight for it because no one at this school knows where you should be applying and the one person who has any knowledge of the residency application process is completely overworked. She is amazing, but she is overworked and needs a second copy of herself.

-Further explanation:

After going through the residency/match process the most important things to MATCH are your USMLE scores, grades, MSPE, LORs, and red flags (failures, unprofessionalism). Research is a huge plus, as well as school reputation. When you apply to the more presitgious schools unless you have done an audition rotation or have very high USMLE scores I felt the interviewers looked down on our school. i.e. asked alot about the school history, etc. Research (actual first author publications not just listing "research assitant) is a huge plus to your application esp. in certain residency programs. In fact almost all the interviews I got at prestigious schools because I did extensive clinical research in my field of interest.

Agree. No one knows anything about our school, and that will hurt you. On many prestigious interviews, I was asked, essentially, "Is your school new?" despite the fact that it's existed for over 100 years.

Also there is a lack of research opportunities where you actually publish something as a first author (may have changed since I grad.) and lack of clinical electives (since school has no hospital - not sure about their surgical electives but definitely a lack of primary care electives).

Correct. If you want research, go outside the school to find it. We do not have a culture of research as other schools do.

There was close to zero guidance for USMLE step 1, 2CK, 2CS, and residency applications. KNOWLEDGABLE mentors (I didn't have a lack of mentors) but people who know what they are talking about (i.e. where to apply for residency, people with clout or actively involved in the admissions process) are hard to come by.

Agree 100%. No one had any idea where I should apply. I did it all on my own. For my specialty, I was even told that it was a waste of time and that I would end up doing one or the other; we don't have med-peds at our school, which is part of the reason.

Your educational experience at RFUMS will vary highly depending on which hospital you end up rotating in - i.e. downtown hospitals tend to give you more autonomy, diversity, pathology compared to a suburban hospital site.

Agree. Just rotate at county if you can.

You will appreciate this when you start residency but the 4 basic things that you pay hundreds of thousands of $$ is to learn are the following (and a decent school should prepare you for these 4 things):
(1) Basics: History, Physical, Management (how to treat a patient and followup care), prescription writing
(2) read/interpret EKG, CXR
(3) read/interpet labs
(4) confidence and awareness when dealing with patients and their families
+/- other things you may need for your residency of choice (i.e. suturing skills for surgery, etc.)

Honestly, number 5 on this list is mentoring, and our school does not do that well.

Hope this makes sense - this was just a diarrhea of random thoughts

Bottom line for me is that our school is a US MD school and should be chosen over DO schools, but most MD schools do a better job of training and, more importantly, supporting their students.

 

[drcon]

Just want to respond and corroborate some of this as a current fourth year student who feels you deserve the real skinny on our school.



Agree. Except I'm not sure how many schools use prosections - I've seen a lot of schools that still do gross anatomy lab very similar to ours. No hardcore gunner jerks, but I'd say in every class, there are about 20% of people who will really help you out in any way possible and about 80% of people who will never offer help, no matter how much help they've received. From what I understand, this is pretty typical in all parts of training all around the country, though.



I learned a lot from my classes. I didn't go to any of them. About halfway through the second year I started studying for Step 1 exclusively and still passed everything. Actually, my grades went up. Several professors you will not be able to understand at all due to accents getting in the way, but again, I think this is par for the course at other places. Haven't studied medicine at those other places, though.




Here is the culture of administration at our school. The class officers (class president, etc.) are constantly asked to pluck students out of vacuum for just about every opportunity, so you see the same 10-15 students doing everything while other students wonder how they got involved in so many activities that seem desirable. When this doesn't happen, the administration tends to pluck students out of vacuum without any sort of application process for things like interviewing future students, etc. It will be incredibly frustrating, and students seem to have very little impact on shaping the school and have very little influence on its administration.



Scholarships do exist, but they are few and far between. Agree. There is also now the Franklin Fellowship, a one-time $15,000 award given to 12 students (though not all from CMS! Many from other health professions schools!) yearly in exchange for a service project.



I was accepted here and at one other school in the South. I am happy I chose this school over that one, but had I gotten into just about any other school, I would not have attended CMS knowing what I know now.



I'd say if you want the residency of your choice, you'd better be willing to fight for it because no one at this school knows where you should be applying and the one person who has any knowledge of the residency application process is completely overworked. She is amazing, but she is overworked and needs a second copy of herself.



Agree. No one knows anything about our school, and that will hurt you. On many prestigious interviews, I was asked, essentially, "Is your school new?" despite the fact that it's existed for over 100 years.



Correct. If you want research, go outside the school to find it. We do not have a culture of research as other schools do.



Agree 100%. No one had any idea where I should apply. I did it all on my own. For my specialty, I was even told that it was a waste of time and that I would end up doing one or the other; we don't have med-peds at our school, which is part of the reason.



Agree. Just rotate at county if you can.



Honestly, number 5 on this list is mentoring, and our school does not do that well.



Bottom line for me is that our school is a US MD school and should be chosen over DO schools, but most MD schools do a better job of training and, more importantly, supporting their students.

this worries me a bit.

 

[Nextasy]

Just want to respond and corroborate some of this as a current fourth year student who feels you deserve the real skinny on our school.



Agree. Except I'm not sure how many schools use prosections - I've seen a lot of schools that still do gross anatomy lab very similar to ours. No hardcore gunner jerks, but I'd say in every class, there are about 20% of people who will really help you out in any way possible and about 80% of people who will never offer help, no matter how much help they've received. From what I understand, this is pretty typical in all parts of training all around the country, though.



I learned a lot from my classes. I didn't go to any of them. About halfway through the second year I started studying for Step 1 exclusively and still passed everything. Actually, my grades went up. Several professors you will not be able to understand at all due to accents getting in the way, but again, I think this is par for the course at other places. Haven't studied medicine at those other places, though.




Here is the culture of administration at our school. The class officers (class president, etc.) are constantly asked to pluck students out of vacuum for just about every opportunity, so you see the same 10-15 students doing everything while other students wonder how they got involved in so many activities that seem desirable. When this doesn't happen, the administration tends to pluck students out of vacuum without any sort of application process for things like interviewing future students, etc. It will be incredibly frustrating, and students seem to have very little impact on shaping the school and have very little influence on its administration.



Scholarships do exist, but they are few and far between. Agree. There is also now the Franklin Fellowship, a one-time $15,000 award given to 12 students (though not all from CMS! Many from other health professions schools!) yearly in exchange for a service project.



I was accepted here and at one other school in the South. I am happy I chose this school over that one, but had I gotten into just about any other school, I would not have attended CMS knowing what I know now.



I'd say if you want the residency of your choice, you'd better be willing to fight for it because no one at this school knows where you should be applying and the one person who has any knowledge of the residency application process is completely overworked. She is amazing, but she is overworked and needs a second copy of herself.



Agree. No one knows anything about our school, and that will hurt you. On many prestigious interviews, I was asked, essentially, "Is your school new?" despite the fact that it's existed for over 100 years.



Correct. If you want research, go outside the school to find it. We do not have a culture of research as other schools do.



Agree 100%. No one had any idea where I should apply. I did it all on my own. For my specialty, I was even told that it was a waste of time and that I would end up doing one or the other; we don't have med-peds at our school, which is part of the reason.



Agree. Just rotate at county if you can.



Honestly, number 5 on this list is mentoring, and our school does not do that well.



Bottom line for me is that our school is a US MD school and should be chosen over DO schools, but most MD schools do a better job of training and, more importantly, supporting their students.

I appreciate the candid feedback. This information will help us applicants greatly when weighing whether to accept/decline an acceptance invitation.

 

[tantacles]

I appreciate the candid feedback. This information will help us applicants greatly when weighing whether to accept/decline an acceptance invitation.

I hope it also helps you recognize when someone is being disingenuous. Many med schools have people who will try to sweep their med school's crazy under the rug. Our school is one of them. You have to dig deep at every school to find the honest people, and I suggest you do it at every interview you attend.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

Bottom line for me is that our school is a US MD school and should be chosen over DO schools, but most MD schools do a better job of training and, more importantly, supporting their students.

After everything you say, how is this still better than DO? You clearly say that you have little to no support for USMLE, poor residency match services, OK clinical rotations (if at county), no input with administration, poor mentoring, and marginal name-brand recognition. I think I'd rather go to notable DO like PCOM or Nova.

But that said, thanks for the feedback. I'm interview waitlisted, but will def. not be accepting a II if I get it.

 

[tantacles]

After everything you say, how is this still better than DO? You clearly say that you have little to no support for USMLE, poor residency match services, OK clinical rotations (if at county), no input with administration, poor mentoring, and marginal name-brand recognition. I think I'd rather go to notable DO like PCOM or Nova.

But that said, thanks for the feedback. I'm interview waitlisted, but will def. not be accepting a II if I get it.

Because being a DO locks you out of myriad LCME residency slots. I had the opportunity to interview at case western, unc, uPenn and others, and none of those would have been available if I were at a DO school.

Also, I would say we have excellent clinical rotations. County just happens to be the best place to rotate.

Also, DO schools have even less access to people who have done MD residencies because they're all DO, so I would argue they won't be able to match as well.

Despite having poor match services, we match very well every year with many students who have done well matching into top programs and competitive specialties (derm, ortho, etc.). That is why our school is better than a DO school.

Also, do you really think DO schools have better name brand recognition? They aren't on normal people's radars. At least CMS can say it's a school that grants US MD degrees.

 

[drcon]

Because being a DO locks you out of myriad LCME residency slots. I had the opportunity to interview at case western, unc, uPenn and others, and none of those would have been available if I were at a DO school.

Also, I would say we have excellent clinical rotations. County just happens to be the best place to rotate.

this makes me a lot less worried. i plan to attend CMS and am aware that i will have to work much harder to get as far as kids at top 20 med schools.

 

[tantacles]

this makes me a lot less worried. i plan to attend CMS and am aware that i will have to work much harder to get as far as kids at top 20 med schools.

Correct. However, you will not have any trouble matching as long as you apply appropriately. Tons of schools in the Midwest know us well; it just becomes harder to escape that market.

Also, unless you end up being absolutely perfect with a stellar step 1 score, give up your dreams of UCLA. Tons of people at our school want to go there, but very few, if any, receive interviews.

 

[ProperPurplePeopleEater]

Also, unless you end up being absolutely perfect with a stellar step 1 score, give up your dreams of UCLA. Tons of people at our school want to go there, but very few, if any, receive interviews.

Do you think this is the case at all UC schools or exclusively for UCLA?

 

[tantacles]

Do you think this is the case at all UC schools or exclusively for UCLA?

Many of my friends have gotten UC Irvine and Davis interviews. Matching in California is not hard.

I should also mention this is for internal medicine. Peds and neuro? No problem. Interviews up and down the coast at every program for the top students.

 

[2015istheYear]

Ohhhhh this is all so good to know yet hard to process. I got accepted to CMS but I also got accepted at MCW... I have reasons for wanting to stay in Chicago (i.e. Spouse and a mortgage there). But my instinct and knowledge tells me MCW is better as far as career potential. Owned teaching hospital system, loads of clinical research, mentors etc... It is truly not an easy choice for me. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I really do thank the current MSs for sharing their experiences.

 

[altrock3]

Ohhhhh this is all so good to know yet hard to process. I got accepted to CMS but I also got accepted at MCW... I have reasons for wanting to stay in Chicago (i.e. Spouse and a mortgage there). But my instinct and knowledge tells me MCW is better as far as career potential. Owned teaching hospital system, loads of clinical research, mentors etc... It is truly not an easy choice for me. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I really do thank the current MSs for sharing their experiences.

How soon after your interview did you hear back from CMS?

 

[Allfreeclear14]

Any II waitlist around 12/25 still waiting for an II?
It feels like I've been lost in the pile of waitlist or something

 

[hach13]

Any II waitlist around 12/25 still waiting for an II?
It feels like I've been lost in the pile of waitlist or something

+1, I've been waiting since then too!

 

[Tantalum]

Ohhhhh this is all so good to know yet hard to process. I got accepted to CMS but I also got accepted at MCW... I have reasons for wanting to stay in Chicago (i.e. Spouse and a mortgage there). But my instinct and knowledge tells me MCW is better as far as career potential. Owned teaching hospital system, loads of clinical research, mentors etc... It is truly not an easy choice for me. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I really do thank the current MSs for sharing their experiences.

Likewise, I am in a similar situation.
I am currently waitlisted (post interview) at RFUMS and have been accepted to MCW.
I am highly considering withdrawing my application at RFUMS, but part of me wants to cling on.
Any thoughts or opinions on my options? I am leaning towards MCW, would anyone disagree with me, if so, why?

 

[tantacles]

Ohhhhh this is all so good to know yet hard to process. I got accepted to CMS but I also got accepted at MCW... I have reasons for wanting to stay in Chicago (i.e. Spouse and a mortgage there). But my instinct and knowledge tells me MCW is better as far as career potential. Owned teaching hospital system, loads of clinical research, mentors etc... It is truly not an easy choice for me. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I really do thank the current MSs for sharing their experiences.

I honestly have to tell you that MCW is the better school, and the main reason for that is the two stellar teaching hospitals, including a freestanding children's hospital, attached to it along with myriad research and clinical opportunities. And if you have any interest in going into med-peds, the program director of med-peds there is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met.

You are also likely to get fantastic mentoring there in any field you wish to enter.

 

[tantacles]

Likewise, I am in a similar situation.
I am currently waitlisted (post interview) at RFUMS and have been accepted to MCW.
I am highly considering withdrawing my application at RFUMS, but part of me wants to cling on.
Any thoughts or opinions on my options? I am leaning towards MCW, would anyone disagree with me, if so, why?

As I mentioned before, as a student at CMS, I think MCW is by far the superior school. Superb research, mentoring, and clinical opportunity starting from day 1. Interviewing there for med-peds, I met some amazing faculty that I would have killed to work with during medical school.

 

[williameb23]

Any II waitlist around 12/25 still waiting for an II?
It feels like I've been lost in the pile of waitlist or something

+2, 12/22

 

[mowgliii]

As I mentioned before, as a student at CMS, I think MCW is by far the superior school. Superb research, mentoring, and clinical opportunity starting from day 1. Interviewing there for med-peds, I met some amazing faculty that I would have killed to work with during medical school.

Any thoughts on CMS vs NYMC?

 

[tantacles]

Any thoughts on CMS vs NYMC?

That's a tough one. I interviewed at both. They both have similar infrastructure issues, from what I can gather, but I only know CMS. The feel of the two schools was the same, and the location situation (two years in one place, two years in another) was very similar. I think the decision should probably depend on the region you ultimately hope to practice in.

I must also say that NYMC has one of the most beautiful anatomy labs in the entire country. Seriously.

If I had gotten in to NYMC and CMS, I probably would have chosen NYMC just because I'm from the Northeast and it's closer to my parents, but things worked out very well for me at CMS because I worked my butt off. I also was able to meet my partner here.

 

[mowgliii]

That's a tough one. I interviewed at both. They both have similar infrastructure issues, from what I can gather, but I only know CMS. The feel of the two schools was the same, and the location situation (two years in one place, two years in another) was very similar. I think the decision should probably depend on the region you ultimately hope to practice in.

I must also say that NYMC has one of the most beautiful anatomy labs in the entire country. Seriously.

If I had gotten in to NYMC and CMS, I probably would have chosen NYMC just because I'm from the Northeast and it's closer to my parents, but things worked out very well for me at CMS because I worked my butt off. I also was able to meet my partner here.

Thanks for your input!

 

[holidayprincess]

Withdrew from the post-II alternate list... a little sad after the fun I had with the MMI, but I just can't see myself committing to north Chicago. Best of luck to everyone else!

 

[2015istheYear]

As I mentioned before, as a student at CMS, I think MCW is by far the superior school. Superb research, mentoring, and clinical opportunity starting from day 1. Interviewing there for med-peds, I met some amazing faculty that I would have killed to work with during medical school.

Thank you again for your genuine opinions. I really do appreciate it bc we would have few other ways to make a fully informed decision.

Well, I should just feel grateful and fortunate for the choices I've been given. I do get until April/May to decide, and still holding on to hope for other Chicago schools. And hey maybe one will make the decision a little easier with some financial aid?

 

[tantacles]

Thank you again for your genuine opinions. I really do appreciate it bc we would have few other ways to make a fully informed decision.

Well, I should just feel grateful and fortunate for the choices I've been given. I do get until April/May to decide, and still holding on to hope for other Chicago schools. And hey maybe one will make the decision a little easier with some financial aid?

I would make your decision sooner rather than later. Unless you are completely destitute and your parents make no money, you are unlikely to get more aid from RFU than any other school.

 

[2015istheYear]

Shouldn't those holding multiple acceptances still wait to see if one school offers some percentage off tuition? It could make a huge difference. I am an EO1 FAP recipient with little income and one living parent on social security.. so aid could possibly happen?

I would make your decision sooner rather than later. Unless you are completely destitute and your parents make no money, you are unlikely to get more aid from RFU than any other school.

 

[tantacles]

Shouldn't those holding multiple acceptances still wait to see if one school offers some percentage off tuition? It could make a huge difference. I am an EO1 FAP recipient with little income and one living parent on social security.. so aid could possibly happen?

You are honestly unlikely to receive any aid offer from rfu until after the deadline to drop acceptances occurs. They are notoriously slow with aid offers. I don't know about other schools; they may have different policies.

Actually, even better idea: Call and ask when aid offers will come out! You're accepted, right? So you have nothing to lose.

 

[sunset57]

Thanks tentacles and drake19 for your reviews.

What's striking is the consistent strength of the RF match despite the problems noted re name recognition, school reputation, lack of mentoring and absent Step 1 prep.

The discordance seems more than at other private allopathic schools.

What are your thoughts re this?

Does it reflect the resilience and self-preparation of RF students (probably) or has the school improved during the last 2-3 years?

Thanks.

 

[VegasPreMed]

Thanks tentacles and drake19 for your reviews.

What's striking is the consistent strength of the RF match despite the problems noted re name recognition, school reputation, lack of mentoring and absent Step 1 prep.

The discordance seems more than at other private allopathic schools.

What are your thoughts re this?

Does it reflect the resilience and self-preparation of RF students (probably) or has the school improved during the last 2-3 years?

Thanks.

From speaking with other interviewees: RFU gets a ton of apps. Many are from "reinvention" students who are incredibly motivated, but limited in school options. Maybe this accounts for the highish performance? Determination after finally getting into med school may account for some of it.

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[SSJimmer7]

-

 

[tantacles]

Awesome advice so far! Would you mind sharing your thoughts on choosing between Tulane and CMS, if you have any?

I can't! I know nothing about tulane's medical school. I will say, though, that I hate the south because I'm pretty sure they throw rocks at gay people there still.

 

[teatime4449]

Awesome advice so far! Would you mind sharing your thoughts on choosing between Tulane and CMS, if you have any?

Tulane, better research and overall program- better rankings.

 

[2015istheYear]

I contacted financial aid, and they replied saying that CMS scholarships will be emailed within the next week!!! The financial aid "package", which just means loans, will be emailed in May. Good luck, this will be a big week for a few people on here.

 

[ReadyforMed]

I can't! I know nothing about tulane's medical school. I will say, though, that I hate the south because I'm pretty sure they throw rocks at gay people there still.

Growing up in New Orleans, I can say they are pretty accepting down there. They don't normally throw rocks at gay people...unless they are tourists. Tourists ruin everything.

I got rejected from Tulane. However, I can tell you that the new hospital they share with LSU is fantastic. The floor literally sparkles. I also am quite partial to New Orleans so there is that. You got to do you though.

 

[altrock3]

Yes....yeees....choose other schools and leave a spot at RFUMS for me *maniacal laughs*. 😛

 

[first_time_poster]

Growing up in New Orleans, I can say they are pretty accepting down there. They don't normally throw rocks at gay people...unless they are tourists. Tourists ruin everything.

I got rejected from Tulane. However, I can tell you that the new hospital they share with LSU is fantastic. The floor literally sparkles. I also am quite partial to New Orleans so there is that. You got to do you though.

I agree that New Orleans is pretty accepting of everybody, gay or straight. It's a fantastic city that doesn't get its due.

Re: Tulane or CMS, you can't go wrong with either. It comes down to whether you want to do your rotations in New Orleans or Chicago. I'm personally biased towards Chicago.

 

[DrDoxie]

Because being a DO locks you out of myriad LCME residency slots. I had the opportunity to interview at case western, unc, uPenn and others, and none of those would have been available if I were at a DO school.

Also, I would say we have excellent clinical rotations. County just happens to be the best place to rotate.

Also, DO schools have even less access to people who have done MD residencies because they're all DO, so I would argue they won't be able to match as well.

Despite having poor match services, we match very well every year with many students who have done well matching into top programs and competitive specialties (derm, ortho, etc.). That is why our school is better than a DO school.

Also, do you really think DO schools have better name brand recognition? They aren't on normal people's radars. At least CMS can say it's a school that grants US MD degrees.

Respectfully, I think this type of attitude perpetuates the stereotype that DOs are "less than" when compared to MDs. I have personally interviewed and been accepted to several strong osteopathic schools and my decision might come down to choosing a weak MD program versus a strong DO one.

But overall, thanks for your transparency about some of the benefits and drawbacks of attending RFUMS.

 

[alfie94]

Respectfully, I think this type of attitude perpetuates the stereotype that DOs are "less than" when compared to MDs. I have personally interviewed and been accepted to several strong osteopathic schools and my decision might come down to choosing a weak MD program versus a strong DO one.

But overall, thanks for your transparency about some of the benefits and drawbacks of attending RFUMS.

I agree with you. And, aren't DO and MD residencies supposed to be combined in the next few years? I don't know much about it, but doesn't that knock out the residency argument?

 

[first_time_poster]

Respectfully, I think this type of attitude perpetuates the stereotype that DOs are "less than" when compared to MDs. I have personally interviewed and been accepted to several strong osteopathic schools and my decision might come down to choosing a weak MD program versus a strong DO one.

But overall, thanks for your transparency about some of the benefits and drawbacks of attending RFUMS.

I wouldn't consider any US MD school a weak program. That's the same sort of bias of when someone says that DOs are 'less than' MDs.

CCOM, DMU, PCOM etc are all great schools. But so is Chicago Med. I would pick the school where you think you'll best succeed.

 

[tantacles]

Respectfully, I think this type of attitude perpetuates the stereotype that DOs are "less than" when compared to MDs. I have personally interviewed and been accepted to several strong osteopathic schools and my decision might come down to choosing a weak MD program versus a strong DO one.

But overall, thanks for your transparency about some of the benefits and drawbacks of attending RFUMS.

I think you shouldn't try to read between the lines of what I said here. The very literal point I was making was that DO's are categorically locked out of myriad programs by virtue of being DO's rather than US MD's. Ultimately, if that does not bother you, then I encourage you to go to whatever school provides the best fit. DO's and MD's are equal degrees with extremely minor differences.

However, if being locked out of top academic programs and MD residencies in competitive specialties bothers you, then there is no comparison.

 

[tantacles]

I agree with you. And, aren't DO and MD residencies supposed to be combined in the next few years? I don't know much about it, but doesn't that knock out the residency argument?

Maybe. But who will be reviewing applications for those residency spots? Will MD's who would not consider DO applications in the past suddenly see the light and start inviting DO's they previously would not consider to interview? That would be fantastic.

But it's not realistic.

And let's be 100% honest with each other: there are some DO matriculants who were absolutely just as qualified as their US MD counterparts - fantastic GPA's, fantastic MCAT scores, and stellar everything else. These applicants, though, are not the norm. The average DO applicant (and notice again that I'm emphasizing the average here. There are exceptions) had a lower gpa and/or MCAT score than her counterpart accepted to a US MD school. This technically, given a great performance in medical school with stellar board scores, should not make them less qualified. However, that has not historically (and when I say historically, I include THIS YEAR) stopped US MD residency programs from screening out these applicants.

TL;DR: The US MD and DO degrees are approximately equal in terms of the quality of training. However, the DO degree, no matter the quality of the specific school, results in diminished opportunity to be accepted into selective US MD residency programs.

 

[Jobikenobi]

The greatest predictor of success in matching in any field is your success in medical school. If your gut is telling you that the D.O. school you interviewed at offers the best environment to maximize that success then that is where you should go. MD vs. DO is irrelevant if you don't have the board scores, research, extracurriculars, etc to put yourself in the running.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[songl4a]

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[SSJimmer7]

So I got my II in December, and the actual date is in March. I applied through AMCAS in the summer so my grades are up till Junior year. Since last semester, my GPA has dropped slightly.

In the MSAR, do the stats include only the grades up until the applicant applies, or do they include the entire undergraduate transcript? Will Rosalind request a transcript upgrade after my interview, or will they only look at what's on my AMCAS academic wise?

You'll have to provide a transcript if you are accepted. Your acceptance is conditional on maintaining a standard of performance that is in line with your past performance...that being said, I'm sure a minor fluctuation won't be a huge issue.

 

[2015istheYear]

In the MSAR, do the stats include only the grades up until the applicant applies, or do they include the entire undergraduate transcript? Will Rosalind request a transcript upgrade after my interview, or will they only look at what's on my AMCAS academic wise?

The MSAR reflects what was on the AMCAS of interviewees and matriculants. You were given the interview based on what you've already done, and will be accepted based on that record. As long as you pass the rest you'll be ok. But still try to get at least Bs

 

[Beyoncelover4013]

Placed on the "Alternate" list today after interviewing on 1/15. Same thing happened to me last year so I'm not too hopeful. Good luck to the rest of you!

 

[altrock3]

Put on the alternate list today as well after interviewing 1/8. Guess I'll just focus on next cycle

 

[2015istheYear]

Most matriculants come off the alternate list at this school. Keep the hope up guys!!

Edit: I was one of them, and they just awarded me a scholarship to entice me! Hope is alive and well, trust that!

 

[altrock3]

Most matriculants come off the alternate list at this school. Keep the hope up guys!!

Edit: I was one of them, and they just awarded me a scholarship to entice me! Hope is alive and well, trust that!

what was the timeframe of you getting put on the alternate list and then accepted?