Accepted to md and choosing do?

[Scorcher31]

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First I am in no way trying to say that I feel MD is better than DO. This is actually an honest question. How many of you were accepted to both MD and DO schools and chose a DO school instead of the MD school? To me a DO and an MD are essentially equal, but I have been told repeatedly that if I have the choice it would simply be easier to go MD. Right now I’m trying to decide between Temple, PCOM, and UMDNJ-som. Location means nothing to me. I've been trying to make this decision for months now with no success and I really just need some honest opinions. One thing that caught my eye though is that UMDNJ-som is in the upper quartile of board scores and about 10,000 cheaper a year than the other two schools. I've also been told to ignore matchlists as it was more about the student's preference than what the school had available. I'm only interested in like gen surgery and ER so nothing is too competitive.

 

[medhacker]

Right now I’m trying to decide between Temple, PCOM, and UMDNJ-som. Location means nothing to me. I've been trying to make this decision for months now with no success and I really just need some honest opinions.

One thing that caught my eye though is that UMDNJ-som is in the upper quartile of board scores

Where did you read/hear/etc this?

keep in mind that schools every year re-asess the board prep programs they use for their students. UMDNJ-SOM some time ago changed its prep program and some students did not seem to happy about it. At the end board scores are indeed more of an individual acomplishment. You do not score high on your boards simply by attending one school or the other.

and about 10,000 cheaper a year than the other two schools.

Money should not be the main deciding factor

I've also been told to ignore matchlists as it was more about the student's preference than what the school had available.

hmmm not too sure about this, look at all the residency programs PCOM has, it only makes sense their students match well since they have quite a number of decent programs to start with.

I'm only interested in like gen surgery and ER so nothing is too competitive.

I would decide based on whether I like the school's general surgery/ER program and the probability to match in my home program based on how many students from that institution have matched in it.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

First I am in no way trying to say that I feel MD is better than DO. This is actually an honest question. How many of you were accepted to both MD and DO schools and chose a DO school instead of the MD school? To me a DO and an MD are essentially equal, but I have been told repeatedly that if I have the choice it would simply be easier to go MD. Right now I’m trying to decide between Temple, PCOM, and UMDNJ-som. Location means nothing to me. I've been trying to make this decision for months now with no success and I really just need some honest opinions. One thing that caught my eye though is that UMDNJ-som is in the upper quartile of board scores and about 10,000 cheaper a year than the other two schools. I've also been told to ignore matchlists as it was more about the student's preference than what the school had available. I'm only interested in like gen surgery and ER so nothing is too competitive.

You seem to be looking at this the right way. All three of those medical schools are excellent. There are advantages and disadvantages to going MD and DO. I would say a good thing to do would be decide where you ultimately would like to practice (both in geography and setting) and do some research as to which degree would make that more possible. For me personally, the holistic approach and learning OMM definately puts getting a DO higher on my list due to my person beliefs. Next, I am pretty certain that I would like to ultimately do either family practice, psychiatry, or EM. These are fields that have endless opportunities and placements for DOs. So, I know DO is the way to go for me.

If you want primary care, I would say DO is the way to go in your situation. Surgery will be a bit more difficult with a DO, but it is certainly doable and there are lots of DO surgeons. I would check out the area you want to ultimately practice in and talk to some DOs/MDs in the area about this.

As I final word of wisdom, I would warn that you should never make a decision based on money when it comes to med school. You can most always get enough loans and you shouldn't worry about paying them back. Your medical school experience will craft the kind of doctor you are for the rest of your life, it's not the time to be cheap.

Good luck!

 

[USArmyDoc]

I am accepted to 5 DO schools and on an acceptance range for a MD school. If accepted to the MD school (I have a good feeling I will be), I do not know which one to go to for the same reasons you state. However, I am going to trust my instincts and see where I feel most comfortable.

 

[Scorcher31]

The upper quartile thing is one of the things they advertise at UMDNJ-som. I assumed that such high scores may have meant that they cater their teaching style to help prepare you for the boards, but I guess that could be false. Its such a close call for me that money is playing a part, but on the other hand umndj-som is another good 30 minutes away making it about a 3 hour drive home and a 5 hour drive to my girlfriend of 4 years. Thats one thing that caught my eye about Temple was their matchlists. I guess I should be more wary of UMDNJ-som saying I could pretty much match into what I wanted to. I'll still def take everyones input on my original statements it all really helps. I'm just majorly stuck at the moment. UMDNJ-som, pcom, and temple all seem to have about equal advantages and disadvantages. I'm still curious about question whether anyone is accepted to both md schools and chooses a do school over it.

 

[medhacker]

I assumed that such high scores may have meant that they cater their teaching style to help prepare you for the boards,

don't believe the hype.... 🙂

 

[Dr Trek 1]

I'm still curious about question whether anyone is accepted to both md schools and chooses a do school over it.

I wasn't because I didn't apply to any MD schools. However, I have read posts on SDN from people who got accepted to both and chose DO. Do a post search and you may be able to find them.

 

[Scorcher31]

US army doc let me know what you decide. It’s a really tough decision because personally I don't feel there is a difference between DO and a MD. However, a successful DO told my parents that if I had the option it’s much less of a hassle to be a MD. I wish I knew why he said that, and I don’t know him personally. I think it was something stupid about being harder to change states or get a job where you want it. This doesn’t seem to make sense though. I would think that they would go through the same procedure as an MD. It’s not that I want to take the easy way out, but if I have the option and it is significantly easier, than it would be silly for me to go the harder route to get to the same place. Are there any real disadvantages DO's face? I'd think they would have more residencies than MDs because they get both do and md residencies. I just feel that everyone I'm in contact with is like there’s nothing wrong with a do, but if you get the md you should go with it. I def want to hear from any other students who had an md option but went do. I need advise.

 

[USArmyDoc]

US army doc let me know what you decide. It’s a really tough decision because personally I don't feel there is a difference between DO and a MD. However, a successful DO told my parents that if I had the option it’s much less of a hassle to be a MD. I wish I knew why he said that, and I don’t know him personally. I think it was something stupid about being harder to change states or get a job where you want it. This doesn’t seem to make sense though. I would think that they would go through the same procedure as an MD. It’s not that I want to take the easy way out, but if I have the option and it is significantly easier, than it would be silly for me to go the harder route to get to the same place. Are there any real disadvantages DO's face? I'd think they would have more residencies than MDs because they get both do and md residencies. I just feel that everyone I'm in contact with is like there’s nothing wrong with a do, but if you get the md you should go with it. I def want to hear from any other students who had an md option but went do. I need advise.

The attitude you explained above exemplifies what is wrong with our society. If everyone said, "If you like DO, do it. Stay true to yourself and your beliefs," then we might not be as much of a silent minority. Like I said above, go with your instincts. If PCOM jumps out at you as a place you would be happy at and feel you would learn medicine better there than go. Don't go for two letters.

Right now, I am choosing to attend PCOM.

 

[Jayrod14]

I applied to two schools got accepted to both.......Marshall University and OU-COM. I chose OU-COM. I fell in love with that place and felt better about their curricula than I did about Marshall.

 

[newyorkcougar]

There is a guy in my class who turned down an MD school to go to PCOM, and I know another guy who did the same thing a couple of years ago.

My MCAT was a 33R, I had great grades, and I really wanted to go to PCOM. When I realized that I would turn down any MD acceptances to go to PCOM, I figured it would just be a wast of time and money to apply to allopathic schools. So I only applied osteo. With my scores I would certainly have been accepted to most MD schools, but I just really wanted to go to PCOM.

It all just comes down to how you feel about each school individually. I really wanted to go to PCOM and now I do. I am really happy with my decision. Hopefully you will be as happy with your school. Good luck!

 

[USArmyDoc]

US army doc let me know what you decide. It’s a really tough decision because personally I don't feel there is a difference between DO and a MD. However, a successful DO told my parents that if I had the option it’s much less of a hassle to be a MD. I wish I knew why he said that, and I don’t know him personally. I think it was something stupid about being harder to change states or get a job where you want it. This doesn’t seem to make sense though. I would think that they would go through the same procedure as an MD. It’s not that I want to take the easy way out, but if I have the option and it is significantly easier, than it would be silly for me to go the harder route to get to the same place. Are there any real disadvantages DO's face? I'd think they would have more residencies than MDs because they get both do and md residencies. I just feel that everyone I'm in contact with is like there’s nothing wrong with a do, but if you get the md you should go with it. I def want to hear from any other students who had an md option but went do. I need advise.

I can only make suggestions that might explain his reasoning:

1. You don't face the possibility of taking two boards
2. Some (minority) of MD's would feel superior
3. Make it easier to match into competitive residencies


*Keep in mind, while there is some truth to the above you can still match into every residency. It will just be harder.

 

[nvshelat]

All else equal, I would go to Temple. You'll get more exposure with their inner city hospital, and I hear that at their ED, their EM physicians get to do a ton of trauma (as opposed to other places where trauma surgeons run it). If you don't have a strong passion for OMM, I don't see a reason to go DO in your case, particularly if you like all the schools. You won't have to take 2 board exams (if you want an allo match) or bother with the extra class and all the "whats a do" stuff.
This assumes, of course, that you'd be equally comfortable at all schools. I would sit in on some classes and talk to students to see how they like it if you haven't done so already.
I would NOT discount match lists - yes, students have preferences on WHAT they want to match into, but look carefully at WHERE, bc this is where you'll get your training. Where you match is in part determined by where you rotate, so look closely @ the 3rd and 4th yrs.
Don't make your decision based on money. You'll make a lot of it in the future. Also, remember that you can invest some of your private loans - a simple savings acct at ING is returning 4% right now, meaning if you get a pvt loan at 7, you're only paying 3% interest - about the same or less than your Staffords.

 

[NRAI2001]

Go where ever you would feel happier.........in the end that will greatly contribute to how well you do in school. 👍

Congrats on the acceptances 😀

 

[Scorcher31]

Thanks for your help I never expected so many posts this quick. I really appreciate getting a wide array of opinions

 

[nvshelat]

I guess then this leads to a match list question. I was told by UMDNJ-SOM that there matchlists changes greatly depending on what students are interested in and that I could match into whatever I wanted, provided I had acceptable Comlex scores of course. In other words if I wanted ER there not going to run out of ER resedencies long as I did ok. I know they have there own hospital, but am I just getting a line here. I think maybe I have misunderstood resedencies. I always thoguht they were pretty fixed like ok we have 5 ER slots so only 5 of you get in.

My apologies, I was under the impression that you were equally impressed with all of the schools - but if you didn't feel comfortable at Temple, then you have your answer. Gotta follow your heart.
I had a similar 'evasive' experience with UMDNJ and their match list - I spent 3 months contacting various ppl in the administration trying to get a match list. I could never get one, despite being promised several times that it was in the mail. I finally got it here on SDN.
If you care alot about the match list, look at where you will do your rotations - students tend to match where they rotate.

 

[USArmyDoc]

delete this post

😕 I am guessing now you are back with all three?

 

[Scorcher31]

yeah back to all 3. I really do kind of see them as equal.

 

[USArmyDoc]

Well then, we can't help it. The decision will only rest with you. It would be different if you felt that PCOM offered more than Temple or vice versa. However, since you feel they are equal it will come down to personal preference.

 

[buzzieboo]

i'm not sure if this will help, but this was my experience choosing between a MD and DO school. although my reasons were purely based on location, i've chosen to stay in my home state and attend a D.O. school. i was accepted at an allopathic school in ny, but decided that in the long run staying in california would be better for me (i.e. family, support, stress relief). i've always had my mind set on primary health care, so it wouldn't make a drastic difference if i attended either institution. ultimately, the environment and my goals as a physician solidified my decision to go D.O. the match lists weren't too shabby either.

 

[gottalovemilk]

go MD and forget the headache you need to deal with as a DO. are you really interested in OMM, i.e., giving massages to ppl.

 

[NRAI2001]

i'm not sure if this will help, but this was my experience choosing between a MD and DO school. although my reasons were purely based on location, i've chosen to stay in my home state and attend a D.O. school. i was accepted at an allopathic school in ny, but decided that in the long run staying in california would be better for me (i.e. family, support, stress relief). i've always had my mind set on primary health care, so it wouldn't make a drastic difference if i attended either institution. ultimately, the environment and my goals as a physician solidified my decision to go D.O. the match lists weren't too shabby either.

Western or Touro?

 

[NRAI2001]

go MD and forget the headache you need to deal with as a DO. are you really interested in OMM, i.e., giving massages to ppl.

Dam....i think there will be some flamming soon to come.

 

[USArmyDoc]

go MD and forget the headache you need to deal with as a DO. are you really interested in OMM, i.e., giving massages to ppl.

Just ignore the tool everyone. 🙂

 

[medhacker]

<tool ignore on>


To the OP, is there anything that makes you interested in one more than the other? maybe that would help

 

[buzzieboo]

Western or Touro?

Touro

 

[CatsandCradles]

Temple, sometime ago, had some sort of government investigation into the school. I wasn't too sure what it was about, but it was serious enough so that whenever I went to pre-medical conferences, the students representing Temple had to talk about it and reassure the students at the conference.

I don't remember what it was, but it seemed fairly serious.

But this was like 2 years ago so I assume they've fixed the problems. Nevertheless you might want to check it out. You don't want to be like those students who went to MCP Hahneman in Philadelphia (Use to be Allegeny Hospital I think) - now they merged with Drexel and I heard it was a chaos for the students. Those dumb hospital administration people and their politics! 😡

 

[Nate]

I will give you the opposite advice and tell you to consider money as a major factor, I know all of us will be super rich doctors and not care about money *sarcastic tone* but 60,000 dollars more for an education that is probably the same if not less is definitely something to consider. Multiply that money by interest and ask yourself what can these other schools offer you that are worth that much money? I don't think they, alone, will put you at any better position to go wherever you desire as long as you work hard for it. UMDNJ has a huge amount of resources and I can tell you first hand the board pass rate is no hype. We have great professors who know us, students, by name and care; more importantly, we have a great set of hospitals to rotate through, not to mention the huge residency program. Temple is the only one that may help you get certain allopathic residencies that are affiliated with Temple, so if that is your desire then there you have it. And as for distance, all three of these schools are within 30 minutes of each other.

Also, OMM is not massage, I have a feeling that poster was trolling but I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say OMM has great diagnostic value if nothing else. Learn to put your hands on the patient.

 

[Nate]

Temple was on accreditation probation mainly for not providing enough study areas for the number of students it had. The new Dean cleaned it up and Temple is a great school. I would have seriously considered going there if I hadn’t been accepted at UMDNJ.

 

[CatsandCradles]

Temple was on accreditation probation mainly for not providing enough study areas for the number of students it had. The new Dean cleaned it up and Temple is a great school. I would have seriously considered going there if I hadn’t been accepted at UMDNJ.

Glad to hear that all is better. For a while, it was something we Philly students were concerned about. 👍

 

[gotgame83]

Nate do you know of any official/unofficial numbers regarding comlex or usmle pass rates at SOM?

 

[nvshelat]

Nate do you know of any official/unofficial numbers regarding comlex or usmle pass rates at SOM?

Paula told me in person that comlex pass rates were 99% last yr.

 

[Raven Feather]

If all things are equal, I'd go to the cheapest school.

 

[medhacker]

Haha this is cute, this turned into a recruiting contest, I hope PCOM FA is looking this and make me eligible for an extra scholarship at least. Ok here it goes. Since you said you were interested in doing surgery or ER:


PCOM surgery programs

UPMC Horizon Surgery-General Farrell PA 374 beds
Pinnacle Health Community General Osteopathic Hospital Surgery-General Harrisburg PA 460 beds
Mercy Suburban Hospital Surgery-General Norristown PA 131 beds
Philadelphia College Osteopathic Medicine Surgery-General Philadelphia PA 1000 beds
Western Pennsylvania Hospital Surgery-General Pittsburgh PA 524
Memorial Hospital Surgery-General York PA 120 beds


UMDNJ surgery programs

UMDNJ/SOM/Kennedy Mem Hsp/Our Lady of Lourdes Surgery-General Stratford NJ 968 beds


PCOM ER Programs

St Lukes Hospital Emergency Medicine Allentown PA 129 beds
Lehigh Valley Hosp/Muhlenberg Emergency Medicine Bethlehem PA 188 beds
St Vincent Health Center Emergency Medicine Erie PA 427 beds
Hamot Medical Center Emergency Medicine Erie PA 360 beds
Albert Einstein Med Ctr Emergency Medicine Philadelphia PA 664 beds
Frankford Hospitals Emergency Medicine Philadelphia PA 532 beds
Memorial Hospital Emergency Medicine York PA 120 beds 120 beds


UMDNJ ER Programs

UMDNJ/SOM/Kennedy Mem Hsp/Our Lady of Lourdes Emergency Medicine 968 beds


PCOM rotating hospitals

Abington Memorial Hospital
Altoona Hospital
Chestnut Hill Hospital
Christiana Care Health Services
Clarion Osteopathic Hospital
Columbia Hospital
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
Crozer-Chester Medical Center
Crozer - Keystone Health System
Deborah Heart & Lung Center
Doylestown Hospital
Easton Hospital
Einstein Hospital
Frankford Hospital System
Franklin Square Hospital Center
Geisinger Medical Center
Germantown Community Health
Graduate Hospital
Heart of Lancaster Hospital
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Kent General Hospital
Lankenau Hospital
Latrobe Area Hospital
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Lewistown Hospital
Lower Bucks Hospital
McKeesport Hospital
Meadville Medical Center
Mercy Catholic Health System
Mercy Hospital-Wilkes Barre
Mercy Suburban Hospital
Muhlenberg Hospital
Northeastern Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Pinnacle Health System
Reading Hospital
Roxborough Memorial Hospital
Sacred Heart Hospital
Saint Barnabas Hospital
Saint Francis Hospital
Saint John´s Episcopal Hospital
Saint Joseph's Hospital/North Philadelphia Health System
Saint Joseph Medical Center
Saint Luke Hospital-Allentown
Saint Luke Hospital - Bethlehem
Saint Luke Hospital - Quakertown
Scranton-Temple Hospital
Shadyside Hospital
Sheppard-Pratt Hospital
Soldiers & Sailors Hospital
The Medical Center of Beaver
Trenton Psychiatric Hospital
Trinitas Hospital
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey/School of Osteopathic Medicine
UPMC - Horizon System
Virtua Memorial Hospital
Warren Center
Williamsport Hospital
Wyoming Valley Family Practice/Wilkes Barre Hospital

PCOM gen-surgery rotating hospitals

Abington Memorial Hospital
Chestnut Hill Hospital
Christiana Health System
Clarion Osteopathic Hospital
Columbia Hospital
Community General Osteopathic Hospital
Conemaugh Memorial Hospital
Crozer-Chester Medical Center
Crozer Keystone Health System
Deborah Heart & Lung Center
Doylestown Hospital
Frankford Health System
Franklin Square Hospital Center
Geisinger Medical Center
Graduate Hospital
Heart of Lancaster Hospital
Lankenau Hospital
Latrobe Are Hospital
Lewistown Hospital
Lehigh Valley Hospital
McKeesport Hospital
Meadville Medical Center
Mercy Catholic Health System
Mercy Hospital-Wilkes Barre
Mercy Suburban Hospital
Muhlenberg Hospital
Northeastern Hospital
Osteopathic Institute of the South
Roxborough Memorial Hospital
Sacred Heart Hospital
Saint John´s Episcopal Hospital
Saint Joseph's Hospital/North Philadelphia Health System
Saint Joseph Medical Center
Saint Luke Hospital - Allentown
Saint Luke Hospital - Bethlehem
Soldiers & Sailors Hospital
UPMC - Horizon System
Warren Center


PCOM ER rotating hospitals

Clarion Osteopathic Hospital
Community General Osteopathic Hospital
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
Einstein Medical Center
Frankford Health System
Germantown Community Health
Lankenau Hospital
Lehigh Valley Hospital
McKeesport Hospital
Mercy Suburban Hospital
Northeastern Hospital
Osteopathic Institute of the South
Saint Barnabas Hospital
Saint John´s Episcopal Hospital
Saint Joseph's Hospital/North Philadelphia Health System
Saint Luke Hospital - Allentown
UPMC - Horizon System


UMDNJ rotating hospitals

Barnert Hospital
Christ Hospital
Kennedy Health System
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center


**Not sure which is for surgery and/or ER**





PCOM 2004 residency match list summary

Anesthesiology 9
ER 15
Family practice 32
General surgery 8
Internal medicine 22
Neurology 1
Neurosurgery 1
OBGYN 9
Orthopedic surgery 6
Pathology 1
Pediatrics 16
P&R 12
Psychiatry 5
Radiology 3
Internship 85
Unreported 13

(most osteopathic subspecialties do not participate in the match therefore would not be reported)


I do not have any UMDNJ-SOM residency match lists but there should be some in this very forum if you do a search.

I do not have any Temple residency match lists or hospital affiliations. Nonetheless, I hope this helps you figure out what is the best place to seek your professional dream.

There were a good number of PCOMers matching into allopathic ER and surgery. You may see that here:

 

[Nate]

I am not going to play the "my school is better than your school" game with you, sorry. I will tell you to ask the residents in the PCOM program and the UMDNJ general surgery program about how happy they are, then you can evaluate the situation better.
I was just giving a contrasting opinion to the OP about the value of tuition and what you get for it. I know PCOM is a great school and will get you to where you want to go also. I chose my school over PCOM for the reasons I have given many times over and I am confident I made the right decision. You make yours and never look back, good luck

 

[Jamers]

I am not going to play the "my school is better than your school" game with you, sorry. I will tell you to ask the residents in the PCOM program and the UMDNJ general surgery program about how happy they are, then you can evaluate the situation better.
I was just giving a contrasting opinion to the OP about the value of tuition and what you get for it. I know PCOM is a great school and will get you to where you want to go also. I chose my school over PCOM for the reasons I have given many times over and I am confident I made the right decision. You make yours and never look back, good luck

If Ross University counts, I was accepted to a allopathic school haha. I was also overlooked for an interview twice at Jefferson (what do you expect with a 22 mcat aha). However, I have been set on Osteopathic medicine since I shadowed a D.O. for the first time. In the end, I agree with Nate: it comes down to a feeling, you need to pick the school for yourself. Ignore the hype, tools and idiots and just go with what you feel is right. In the end, you will be a doctor who followed his or her path; what more can you ask for?

 

[Rael]

If you are interested in OMM, go to an osteopathic school. If you are not interested in OMM, you will spend much of your time learning something that you don't care for...which may get frustrating when you have plenty of other things to be studying. Also, you never know what you may end up going into...what if you want to do radiology, optho, derm, ent, rad onc, urology, hplastics, etc someday...hard enough to get into as a US MD, even more difficult to get into as a DO. While DOs are widely regarded and accepted much the same as MDs at many places, there are still some places out there where you will face difficulties in securing residencies...give yourself the BEST possible opportunity to succeed in your chosen field, whatever that may be when the time comes.
Also, in general, MD schools are better established, have better funding, and far greater resources than any DO school. Tons of research at MD schools vs. NONE at DO schools. That JAOA is a joke.
So, go to DO school if you are interested in learning OMM and plan on applying it. In order to apply it, you really have to do FP or PM&R...most other fields won't give you much opportunity to use it.
If you don't plan on using OMM, why makes things harder for yourself. Stick with the standard.
Now, before anyone flames me, I am not saying, nor do I believe, DOs are inferior in any way at all to MDs. BUT, I'm not sure that the general public or even some health care professionals out there believe that.