6 year vs 4 year OMFS Residency

[Cowhorn_10]

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Over time I have heard varying things in regard to which program is more competitive or harder to get into. I have heard that the 6 years are more competitive because of the additional medical education and I have heard that the 4 years are more competitive because not many people want to do those two extra years of med school. Is there any truth to any of this or are they pretty much equally competitive?

 

[AfterEffects]

How competitive a program is has more to do with the individual program, not whether or not it is 4 or 6.
THERE ARE MANY EXCEPTIONS, but very generally, some 6 year programs have more strict CBSE cut offs.

To answer your question: You can not say a program is more competitive simply because it is a 6 year or 4 year program.

 

[_Potassium]

"Competitiveness" likely varies from program to program.

As far as hard numbers, according to Emory's website:

(To clarify, these numbers are for Emory's program only)

-Six-year track applicants must have a NBME score greater than or equal to 67.
-Four-year track applicants must have a NBME score greater than or equal to 60.

In my subjective opinion, gunners tend to congregate around the 6 year programs.

 

[desertrat12]

"Competitiveness" likely varies from program to program.

As far as hard numbers, according to Emory's website:

-Six-year track applicants must have a NBME score greater than or equal to 67.
-Four-year track applicants must have a NBME score greater than or equal to 60.

In my subjective opinion, gunners tend to congregate around the 6 year programs.

Are these just the minimums though? Like dental school gpa has a minimum but now one with the minimum actually gets in?

Is a score in the 60s good enough anymore for 4 yr programs?

 

[_Potassium]

Honestly, I have no idea. I was quoting Emory's website (specific for Emory's program) because it's one of the few programs (if any) which explicitly states a CBSE minimum online.

 

[bruin2013]

.

 

[Rambunctious]

"Competitiveness" likely varies from program to program.

As far as hard numbers, according to Emory's website:

(To clarify, these numbers are for Emory's program only)

-Six-year track applicants must have a NBME score greater than or equal to 67.
-Four-year track applicants must have a NBME score greater than or equal to 60.

In my subjective opinion, gunners tend to congregate around the 6 year programs.

So your score can be lower and its less years to complete for the 4 year program? what would the advantage be for the 6 year program? it seems like you can get out 2 years earlier and start working as omfs in less time would be ideal right?

 

[toothsucker]

So your score can be lower and its less years to complete for the 4 year program? what would the advantage be for the 6 year program? it seems like you can get out 2 years earlier and start working as omfs in less time would be ideal right?

Personal reasons, fellowships, ego, comprehensive education, desire to work in academia... the list goes on

 

[Rambunctious]

Personal reasons, fellowships, ego, comprehensive education, desire to work in academia... the list goes on

It seems financially more reasonable to graduate quicker and start working in my opinion

 

[C.elegans]

It seems financially more reasonable to graduate quicker and start working in my opinion

If finances was the sole motivation for all people's careers, we should all go in to investment banking.
Why waste time going through more schooling and training when you can start making 150K straight out of college?

 

[ab117]

I think a lot of people are interested in getting an MD and feel that’s worth 2 more years just because it’s an achievement that to them
Is personally fulfilling. A career isn’t ONLY a way to make money, it’s literally what you choose to do with the majority of your time and effort for most of your life.

 

[Rambunctious]

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[321931]

My close OMFS dude got his MD/DDS. Said it makes no difference in private practice. He doesn't get more referalls because of it, and he doesn't make more based on insurance.

 

[PhansterZ]

The total of number of first year OMS positions is about 236 a year. About half of those are 4 year spots, while the other half are 6 year spots.
In terms of competitiveness, there are more people applying to 4-year programs than 6-year programs.
If you based competitiveness on the applicants to spots ratio, then the 4 year programs would be more competitive.
But to get into a 6-year program, not only does the program have to like you, you have to meet the requirements and the agenda of the medical school. At times, they require much higher CBSE scores, because med schools do not want to take in someone that will hurt their USMLE Step 1 pass rate. At my UMKC interview, the medical schools have a hard cut off of the CBSE at 68. And schools that require you to pass the USMLE Step 1 prior to starting the program will look at the CBSE even closer.

This is a gross generalization and painted all 4's and 6's with big brushes. Everyone wants different things in life and programs vary in quality.
Just find out what you want to do in life and rank based on where you want to spend the next 4-6 years. Although I ultimately wanted to obtain the MD, I applied to both 4 and 6 year programs when I applied. I loved some 4 years and ranked them higher than some 6 years that were not as impressive.

 

[_Potassium]

The total of number of first year OMS positions is about 236 a year. About half of those are 4 year spots, while the other half are 6 year spots.
In terms of competitiveness, there are more people applying to 4-year programs than 6-year programs.
If you based competitiveness on the applicants to spots ratio, then the 4 year programs would be more competitive.
But to get into a 6-year program, not only does the program have to like you, you have to meet the requirements and the agenda of the medical school.

Is there published data online which states how many applicants apply to which programs, or is it just common knowledge passed along the grapevine?

 

[PhansterZ]

Is there published data online which states how many applicants apply to which programs, or is it just common knowledge passed along the grapevine?

There are no published stats, but every year, the program directors gets a summary of how many applicants ranked 4 years only, 6 years only, or both.

 

[desertrat12]

I've spoken with the local organ surgeons (some 6 yr, others 4), and they all think that the path they took is the best. I've just come to the conclusion that they are both right. People applying for 6 yr programs understand their own personal reasons why and the outcome is satisfactory to them. Same for the 4-year surgeons.

 

[setdoc7]

At our program the Med School admissions committee is considered the decline comittee. Applicants go to them first, then they send us a list of those they deem acceptable, and those are the only ones interviewed.

 

[NaCl is Salt]

I've spoken with the local organ surgeons (some 6 yr, others 4), and they all think that the path they took is the best. I've just come to the conclusion that they are both right. People applying for 6 yr programs understand their own personal reasons why and the outcome is satisfactory to them. Same for the 4-year surgeons.

I don't know why but "Organ surgeon" made me laugh harder than it should have so thank you lol

 

[desertrat12]

I don't know why but "Organ surgeon" made me laugh harder than it should have so thank you lol

lol good catch