A few questions

[JuicePack]

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I'm just finishing highschool and I have a few questions comparing MD to DO. As you can see, I don't really know anything about this stuff, sorry for any stupid questions. I'm too tired right now to put this into paragraph form so here goes...
1. Is there anything an MD can do, but a DO can't?
2. Is there anything a DO can do that an MD can't?
3. Why does it seem to be easier to get into a DO school?
4. Are there schools in canada for this? Where?
5. Are the pre-reqs the same?

That's it for now, thanks.

 

[nebrfan]

1. Is there anything an MD can do, but a DO can't?
In the U.S., no. In other countries it varies - for example, in Great Britian U.S.-trained DOs are limited to manipulation only (British 'osteopaths' are a lot like U.S. chiropractors) Take a look at http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=107627 to get an idea of foreign licensure (if you're interested in that)
2. Is there anything a DO can do that an MD can't?
Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM)
3. Why does it seem to be easier to get into a DO school?
DO schools are often more willing to accept non-traditional students or to 'look beyond the numbers' so to speak - also, a lot of students (not all) with higher stats are simply don't consider DO schools for whatever reason.
4. Are there schools in canada for this? Where?
Not that I'm aware of.

5. Are the pre-reqs the same?
Generally....of course prereqs are going to differ slightly between schools. Check out http://www.aacom.org/om.html for some more info or search the forums some....everything you asked has been discussed ad nauseam

 

[Kevbot]

I'm just finishing highschool and I have a few questions comparing MD to DO. As you can see, I don't really know anything about this stuff, sorry for any stupid questions. I'm too tired right now to put this into paragraph form so here goes...
1. Is there anything an MD can do, but a DO can't?
2. Is there anything a DO can do that an MD can't?
3. Why does it seem to be easier to get into a DO school?
4. Are there schools in canada for this? Where?
5. Are the pre-reqs the same?

That's it for now, thanks.

1. No, However, a DO can enter ANY specialty that an MD can enter. Although I've heard that it might be tough to gain certain surgical residency spots. Also consider that DO schools place a heavy emphasis on becoming general practitioners (pediatrics, internal medicine, etc..) rather than specailists (dermatology, neurology etc..)

2. In Osteopathic medical school, on learns Osteopathic Manipulation along with all of the other course work required of a physician. MD's generally don't have this as an option, although I have read on some threads that a few MD schools are becoming interested in teaching it.

3. It seems easier to get into a DO school because the average GPA and MCAT scores for matriculants is lower than in MD schools. However, those are not the only factors that determine admission. Many DO schools place a heavier emphasis on volunteer work, leadership, clinical experience. The average age of matriculating 1st years is older than that of MD schools and many of the older candidates have gained experience working in the health field or doing research after college.

4. Sorry, I'm not familiar with Canadian schooling. Though I should warn you to be careful when you are talking about osteopathic medicine in different countries because osteopathy is not as recognized (or as mainstreamed) as in the USA.

5. Pre reqs always vary a bit from school to school whether you are talking about MD or DO. But in general, they are the same.

Good luck.

 

[got-it]

I'm just finishing highschool and I have a few questions comparing MD to DO. As you can see, I don't really know anything about this stuff, sorry for any stupid questions. I'm too tired right now to put this into paragraph form so here goes...
1. Is there anything an MD can do, but a DO can't?
2. Is there anything a DO can do that an MD can't?
3. Why does it seem to be easier to get into a DO school?
4. Are there schools in canada for this? Where?
5. Are the pre-reqs the same?

That's it for now, thanks.

1) No.
2)Yes, osteopathic manual medicine.
3)It is not easier. The average GPA, Science GPA, and MCAT scores are slightly lower in print does not make it easier. Frist of all instate med schools allo or osteo will accept lower grades then printed. i.e. Indiana will accept gpa as low as 3.2 and MCAT 25 with great reccomendations and being an in state-er. Also, allo and osteo schools are looing for different types of people. Yes, some schools first look just at scores were some osteo will look at the whole applicant on the initial preview; however, it is just as difficult to get into any med school. Regaurdless of what somone who is only looking at allo schools may say...take for instance: if a school has 5000 applications for 150 seats how is entry any "easier" or less competative if it is an osteo or allo school?
4) I do not know. Check out http://www.aacom.org and http://www.aoa-net.com for more answers on osteo and osteo schools...You can do a web search for this info...
5) The basic pre-reqs for all allo and osteo are 1 yr gen colleg chem, bio, organic chem, gen college physics. Other req's are 1 semester -1 yr behavior sciences, 1 yr english comp, bio statistics, 1 yr calculus, and some others are genetics, biochem, microbiology, molecular bio, physiology, and anatomy. Three could be more, but this is just the basics. You need to explore why you want to be a doctor, what population of folks do you wish to serve, what type of enviroment do you like to physically work in, and are you a do-er or a thinker. Also, as you move through college you will discover how you learn and what type of curricullum suites you: typical lecture based (sitting in a class room), problem based (small group learning), individual study (osu and lecom have these, u basically are given learning objectives and are set on your way to meet them)....

 

[Donvb]

I am applying to Osteopathic schools this year, and we all need to give in to a certain fact! IT IS EASIER TO GET INTO OSTEOPATHIC MED SCHOOLS!! You do need to be a good, "complete" person but most people applying to med schools are this and they definately have a much lower standard for MCAT and GPA. Its fine, it is easier, but I know that as an Osteopath I'll be a better doctor for my patients. Just admit it and move on

 

[got-it]

I am applying to Osteopathic schools this year, and we all need to give in to a certain fact! IT IS EASIER TO GET INTO OSTEOPATHIC MED SCHOOLS!! You do need to be a good, "complete" person but most people applying to med schools are this and they definately have a much lower standard for MCAT and GPA. Its fine, it is easier, but I know that as an Osteopath I'll be a better doctor for my patients. Just admit it and move on

Hmmm.....oh, I see you are just an applicant. I'm an OMS-I student (GPA 3.8, Sci GPA 3.7 MCAT 32) I chose DO for personal reasons...my grades did not make me a shoe in to any medical school DO or MD, it made me competative, that is it.

To the origonal poster, it is not impossible but there are many factors to getting into medical school, which this poster is ignoring. No matter how polished essays are, how glowing letter's of rec's (LOR's) are, if the class is full, you may turn off the interviewer, or current students who appear to just be around to answer questions report somthing that may have been a complete misunderstanding or just being at the wrong place at the right time could cut you out. No score assures your entry. Yes, the better your scores the better your chances, but if you are foolish, abit too imature, and/ or egotistical you can be shot down and shut up at an interview.... Remember, some schools have at least 2000 applicants and other over 5000 for the average of 100 seats give or take some seats...(I did say average)

PS I know folks who have better stats then mine and were rejected from good schools...Also I have friends who were accepted to schools I was not, and I accepted at schools they weren't...Numbers are just one ingredient to the concotion (sp?) call acceptance...
jim

 

[divinity09]

In regards to the first reply to this post, U.S. trained osteopaths can have full practice rights in the U.K., but they must first do a U.K. residency and take the appropriate board exam, much as a foreign doctor wanting to practice in the U.S. would have to. Any graduate of a school recognized by the WHO as a medical degree granting institution can do this. The last time I checked, two of the U.S. D.O. schools were not on that list: Pikeville, and WVSOM. That may have changed since I last checked. The WHO publishes this list anually. It is correct though that British osteopaths are limited to OMM only, and a U.S. trained D.O. would have to consider that when having to explain the difference to British patients and colleagues.

Finally there are five schools in Canada, however they operate and grant degrees based on the British model of osteopathy: five years with the last being a thesis year, and graduates perform manual medicine only.

-Aaron