Accepted to both an MD and DO school. Completely lost

BU Medical Sciences
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Choсolate

Choсolate

Full Member
2+ Year Member
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
48
Reaction score
11
Members don't see this ad.
I feel so lost on what decision to make. I first was accepted to a DO school back in October, but not before I wrote to them that they were my first choice, partially because I personally had very little belief that I would be accepted to my state MD school. But alas, this past weekend I was accepted to my local MD program after a long period on a waitlist lol. Completely unexpected. I know most people would be thrilled about this acceptance, but I honestly feel dread about it. I have been looking to finally gain independence by moving to a completely different state away from my family as I have lived with my parents my entire life.

However, the tuition is cheaper at my local MD school. With my napkin calculations, I would be paying around $182,000 in tuition and rent at my local school over four years, and roughly $237,000 in tuition+rent at the DO school. That's a difference of $53,000 over four years. I would also not be required to spend extensive periods of my time learning osteopathic manipulation medicine and the administration appears much more supportive of students here, while the DO has a notoriously annoying administration from what I have heard. My friends live here and I would have some material support (as in not having to constantly meal prep if I stayed here, too). These things are definitely a plus.

However, the local MD school emphasizes wanting applicants who want to practice in the home state, and I feel like I have not been completely honest with myself or with admissions because I feel I have very little intention of being a practicing doctor in my state. Maybe that's unfair to applicants who intend to stay locally? Just cannot stand the cold weather here. I am constantly wavering back and forth between these two decisions. I have no intention of trying to get into a competitive residency

Anyone have any helpful information or hindsight that would help me finalize my decision? I apologize for the rambling.
 
Last edited:
MD is the obvious choice! Unless there’s an actual contract, it does not matter whether they want you to practice in the state or not. They cannot force you. Just look at their actual match lists and see where their students end up. I’m sorry you’re going to have to put up 4 more years with your parents.
 
Choсolate said:
I feel so lost on what decision to make. I first was accepted to a DO school back in October, but not before I wrote to them that they were my first choice, partially because I personally had very little belief that I would be accepted to my state MD school. But alas, this past weekend I was accepted to my local MD program after a long period on a waitlist lol. Completely unexpected. I know most people would be thrilled about this acceptance, but I honestly feel dread about it. I have been looking to finally gain independence by moving to a completely different state away from my family as I have lived with my parents my entire life.

However, the tuition is cheaper at my local MD school. With my napkin calculations, I would be paying around $182,000 in tuition and rent at my local school over four years, and roughly $237,000 in tuition+rent at the DO school. That's a difference of $53,000 over four years. I would also not be required to spend extensive periods of my time learning osteopathic manipulation medicine and the administration appears much more supportive of students here, while the DO has a notoriously annoying administration from what I have heard. My friends live here and I would have some material support (as in not having to constantly meal prep if I stayed here, too). These things are definitely a plus.

However, the local MD school emphasizes wanting applicants who want to practice in the home state, and I feel like I have not been completely honest with myself or with admissions because I feel I have very little intention of being a practicing doctor in my state. Maybe that's unfair to applicants who intend to stay locally? Just cannot stand the cold weather here. I am constantly wavering back and forth between these two decisions. I have no intention of trying to get into a competitive residency

Anyone have any helpful information or hindsight that would help me finalize my decision? I apologize for the rambling.
Click to expand...
@Chocolate, move to a small apartment near your MD school and make your first step towards living independently from your parents. When you are making your own decisions you may feel less fearful of the reaction from your family.
Student loans will be available to you and they will be smaller than if you attended the OOS DO school.
 
Choсolate said:
I feel so lost on what decision to make. I first was accepted to a DO school back in October, but not before I wrote to them that they were my first choice, partially because I personally had very little belief that I would be accepted to my state MD school. But alas, this past weekend I was accepted to my local MD program after a long period on a waitlist lol. Completely unexpected. I know most people would be thrilled about this acceptance, but I honestly feel dread about it. I have been looking to finally gain independence by moving to a completely different state away from my family as I have lived with my parents my entire life.

However, the tuition is cheaper at my local MD school. With my napkin calculations, I would be paying around $182,000 in tuition and rent at my local school over four years, and roughly $237,000 in tuition+rent at the DO school. That's a difference of $53,000 over four years. I would also not be required to spend extensive periods of my time learning osteopathic manipulation medicine and the administration appears much more supportive of students here, while the DO has a notoriously annoying administration from what I have heard. My friends live here and I would have some material support (as in not having to constantly meal prep if I stayed here, too). These things are definitely a plus.

However, the local MD school emphasizes wanting applicants who want to practice in the home state, and I feel like I have not been completely honest with myself or with admissions because I feel I have very little intention of being a practicing doctor in my state. Maybe that's unfair to applicants who intend to stay locally? Just cannot stand the cold weather here. I am constantly wavering back and forth between these two decisions. I have no intention of trying to get into a competitive residency

Anyone have any helpful information or hindsight that would help me finalize my decision? I apologize for the rambling.
Click to expand...
More doors are open to you as an md. And the for the cheaper tuition, your 50-year-old self will thank you.
 
Brosephus, MD please. Cold weather & being in the same state are the only real cons. The MD school encouraging practicing in the same state doesn't make a difference. Life gonna be easier for financial & stress-related reasons w MD
 
Anyone part of admissions who would be wiling to give their thoughts on a student who initially says that the school is their first choice, and then they drop out several months after an acceptance to the school? Just curious.
 
Choсolate said:
Anyone part of admissions who would be wiling to give their thoughts on a student who initially says that the school is their first choice, and then they drop out several months after an acceptance to the school? Just curious.
Click to expand...
It happens all the time.
That's why it's considered pillow talk.
 
gyngyn said:
It happens all the time.
That's why it's considered pillow talk.
Click to expand...
Well, my first acceptance was certainly my first choice, and still is. However, with the completely unexpected turn of events, I might have to now go where my head is and not my heart.
 
Choсolate said:
Anyone part of admissions who would be wiling to give their thoughts on a student who initially says that the school is their first choice, and then they drop out several months after an acceptance to the school? Just curious.
Click to expand...
It happens. Like in the movies. (There's not a better GIF in the library here.)

just what i figured fox tv GIF by Lethal Weapon
 
Choсolate said:
Anyone part of admissions who would be wiling to give their thoughts on a student who initially says that the school is their first choice, and then they drop out several months after an acceptance to the school? Just curious.
Click to expand...
We're used to it.

We tend to take people who drop the First choice" phrase as seriously as a hot girl in a bar will take seriously the guy who says "But I'll still respect you in the morning!"
 
I was going to say that there may be a consideration if the DO school was significantly cheaper because of scholarships or some such, or if the MD school was some dumpster-tier school and the DO was not.

But after reading the post, I think you would be actually crazy to not attend the state MD school. Not only will you have an easier time with licensing examinations and residency applications, you also are getting it for cheaper and (presumably) closer to home and your support circles.

It would be an absolutely boneheaded decision not to take the MD acceptance here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
  • Question Question
Keeping an MD and DO acceptance after April 30
Replies
3
Views
728
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
robertjnixon
Reapplicant feeling lost - school list help
Replies
9
Views
539
candbgirl
C
I
Accepted to MD After Academic Dishonesty – There’s Still Hope
Replies
10
Views
2K
infinitestars
I
dodoo123
Matching into California from an MD school out of state
Replies
7
Views
899
Dral
Dral
Matt22
MD & DO School list and chances to MD/DO
Replies
2
Views
804
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
Top