Advice needed

[Apparition]

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This is my first post in the osteo forum and I have some questions.

I recently received my Aug. MCAT score, which is too low to get into any U.S. allopathic schools I've applied to this year. I am now considering applying to two osteopathic schools (NYCOM & NJMS). To be honest, I would be applying only to MD schools if my MCAT score were higher because I might like to practice in another country in the future, which doesn't recognize DO.

My current plan is to apply to these two DO schools and possibly a Carib now and then retake the MCAT in August. If get into the DO school and do well on the test, then I will either decline or defer the DO acceptance and apply to a lot of MD schools next application cycle. If I don't improve, I will attend the DO school and forget the possibility of practicing internationally.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm using DO schools as a back up. I have a lot of respect for the philosophy of both branches of medicine but MD suits my situation better.

Can anyone who is familiar with osteo admissions comment on my plan to apply to DO schools this year and reapply to MD schools the next, if the the MCAT goes well? Are there any loopholes I'm overlooking?
Thanks a lot for any help/advice!

 

[cooldreams]

This is my first post in the osteo forum and I have some questions.

I recently received my Aug. MCAT score, which is too low to get into any U.S. allopathic schools I've applied to this year. I am now considering applying to two osteopathic schools (NYCOM & NJMS). To be honest, I would be applying only to MD schools if my MCAT score were higher because I might like to practice in another country in the future, which doesn't recognize DO.

My current plan is to apply to these two DO schools and possibly a Carib now and then retake the MCAT in August. If get into the DO school and do well on the test, then I will either decline or defer the DO acceptance and apply to a lot of MD schools next application cycle. If I don't improve, I will attend the DO school and forget the possibility of practicing internationally.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm using DO schools as a back up. I have a lot of respect for the philosophy of both branches of medicine but MD suits my situation better.

Can anyone who is familiar with osteo admissions comment on my plan to apply to DO schools this year and reapply to MD schools the next, if the the MCAT goes well? Are there any loopholes I'm overlooking?
Thanks a lot for any help/advice!

DO admissions are not that much lower than MD, and in some cases is higher. If you are only using osteopathy as a back up, then i would advise you not to do it at all because "it just wouldnt agree with you".

Further on your questions, you have fear of being able to work abroad. I suggest to you to attend medical school at a school in that country so you are garanteed. If you are trying to take security in a MD school for this reason, you may find yourself in err as many countries do not differentiate on wether they let you in or not even if you are an MD or a DO. These two degrees are pretty much only in the usa, they are relatively new degrees with most of the rest of the world giving a mbbs (i think that is right) degree instead. For example there is a country (i forget which, look at the list of conutries in the osteo forum) that only allows a certian number of docs from the usa, and only then if they came from ONE OF FIVE APPROVED med schools, irregardless if they are md or do. And many others will only allow you to practice if you have had your post graduate training in their country anyways.

You have one priority in front, but you need to further review the facts, and "settling for second best" will never make you happy. If you want to be an MD, then be one, if you want to be a DO then be one, remember, this is just a choice effecting the rest of your life.... 🙄

This probablly wont be a popular thread in this forum, so keep that in mind with some responses - similar to going over to the md forum and saying md's are a class below do's. in the eyes of the law in the usa, they are equal. that is really where it should end. I for one very much like the osteopathic route. I plan to go into a primary care area - EM, and the osteopathic route places much higher emphasis in this. I feel as a DO, i will be much better rounded and more prepared to become an EM than as a MD - again that is my opinion.

good luck

 

[docbill]

If you want an MD... redo the MCAT and re-apply to MD program next year.

It sounds like applying to DO school would just be a waste of time.. and money.
Also you would be taking a DO position away from someone who really wants it.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I have a lot of respect for the philosophy of both branches of medicine but MD suits my situation better.

You have answered your own question. Save your money and time. Apply to the Caribbean or just wait and retake (it depends how low your MCAT is). Unless of course you want to be in $200,000 debt, spend 4 years of schooling and the rest of your life on something that you really " didn't suit you best". 😎

 

[buomyta]

I respect your determination to be an international practicing physician. There are a lot of applicants out here that are only applying to osteopathic schools because they want to be osteopathic physicians. If you choose to go ahead and apply and interview with osteopathic schools, you need to be honest with them your plans. If osteopathic school is somewhat of a settling point for you...don't do it. For many, it is what they dream of becoming. If it is your desire to become an allopathic doc so you can practice internationally then go for it. Adcoms will definitely see your passion and your persistence. There are schools (allopathic) that look past the mcat scores. If you are well rounded they will consider your entire package. Your state schools are probably your best bet. Good luck.

 

[sophiejane]

Don't do it. it's sounds like DO is not for you and you will be unhappy unless you have specific reasons for being a DO.

Would you buy a house in a neighborhood you hated just because it was close to work? Same thing here. Don't buy it if you have doubts. "It" costs most people around $100,000. Buyer's remorse at that price is pretty bad.

 

[medic170]

This is my first post in the osteo forum and I have some questions.

I recently received my Aug. MCAT score, which is too low to get into any U.S. allopathic schools I've applied to this year. I am now considering applying to two osteopathic schools (NYCOM & NJMS). To be honest, I would be applying only to MD schools if my MCAT score were higher because I might like to practice in another country in the future, which doesn't recognize DO.

My current plan is to apply to these two DO schools and possibly a Carib now and then retake the MCAT in August. If get into the DO school and do well on the test, then I will either decline or defer the DO acceptance and apply to a lot of MD schools next application cycle. If I don't improve, I will attend the DO school and forget the possibility of practicing internationally.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm using DO schools as a back up. I have a lot of respect for the philosophy of both branches of medicine but MD suits my situation better.

Can anyone who is familiar with osteo admissions comment on my plan to apply to DO schools this year and reapply to MD schools the next, if the the MCAT goes well? Are there any loopholes I'm overlooking?
Thanks a lot for any help/advice!

Go ahead and waste your money, the DO ADCOMS will see right through your false intentions anyway. I am disgusted that you are even considering DO like this, and even if you get in, you said you would defer the acceptance. Keep your B.S. out of the DO profession. It sounds to me like when you say "I have a lot of repect for the philosophy" that you are full of crap judging by your "plans".

 

[Apparition]

Thanks for the posts, all of them. I apologize if my post made it seem like I'm only considering DO schools because I don't think I have a chance at MD schools. My doctor is a DO, I chose her over many others. I have a friend with nearly perfect stats who applied only to DO schools because he wanted only to be a DO and I am sure that there are many people who choose it over MD schools. In truth, I haven't done much research myself about osteopathy because I thought I applied to enough schools this year. In the end, I just want to practice medicine. I can't say that I like DO philosophy over MD philosophy, given my limited knowledge. I like them about the same.
I wasn't really asking if I'll be happy as a DO. I just wanted to know if there's anything in the application process to DO schools that would prevent me from reapplying next year. I guess I shouldn't have posted on the osteo forum. Still, I appreciate the advice and repsonses I got.

 

[docbill]

Go ahead and waste your money, the DO ADCOMS will see right through your false intentions anyway. I am disgusted that you are even considering DO like this, and even if you get in, you said you would defer the acceptance. Keep your B.S. out of the DO profession. It sounds to me like when you say "I have a lot of repect for the philosophy" that you are full of crap judging by your "plans".

Hehehehe.. someone is getting frustrated with all these back upers posts. I guess I was the first.. and then Medic170 you followed me. I respect that you have more patients then I do.

I have to get a life.. I spend way too much time on here.

 

[medic170]

Hehehehe.. someone is getting frustrated with all these back upers posts. I guess I was the first.. and then Medic170 you followed me. I respect that you have more patients then I do.

I have to get a life.. I spend way too much time on here.

WARNING: medic is about to vent off some negativity. I apologize in advance because being negative is against what I ususlly profess, but oh well...


I don't go negative very often. I even respect people who say "I don't really care if I am a DO or MD because I just want to be a doctor". I just have no patience for people who look down on DO's, use DO soley as a backup, or especially those who bomb the MCAT and decide they are going to apply to DO schools because they don't think they are good enough for MD schools.

Now, if they looked at DO schools before they bombed the MCAT maybe, but I just can't stand this "I bombed the MCAT, I guess I will lower myself to looking at DO schools now" mentality. Oh, and for those of you who have this mentality, the MD average MCAT for matriculants is about 28.5-29 and for most DO schools it is 26. Its not that much lower, so don't think you have a cake walk getting into your backup profession either, and the DO adcoms are very good at sniffing out frauds and backup applicants. SOme of the average admissions numbers are lower because there are many non-trad applicants, and DO adcoms tend to consider other aspects of the applicant besides their numbers. Like take me, MCAT was a measly 28, GPA a weak 3.35. I only had a few MD interview invites, but I was invited to interview at EVERY DO school I applied to because of my volunteerism, my vast experience as a Paramedic, and the fact that I worked full time and had a family during undergrad was considered when they assesed my GPA and MCAT scores (yes, it does make it harder). However, DO schools generally get 2500 applications for 150 spots, so those of us who chose DO first and got in made a pretty damn outstanding accomplishment too. I, for one, will not have my accomplishments diminished by an MD wannabe, who considers DO's inferior or second to MD's, applying to a DO program soley as a backup!!!!!

docbill, from what I know about you, I suspect you have the same feelings.


P.S. I love everyone 😍

 

[docbill]

What the man said... I second that!

Can we start pouncing on people now.. especially those who have MCAT issues... without anyone... calling me an interesting character.

 

[medic170]

What the man said... I second that!

Can we start pouncing on people now.. especially those who have MCAT issues... without anyone... calling me an interesting character.

Its always great if DO was your first choice, as it was with me.

IMHO, it is also perfectly acceptable to not have a preference either way because you ultimatly just want to practice medciine in a full scope of practice.

However.....

Its one thing if you consdiered both MD and DO, don't really have a preference, and then choose to apply to more DO schools because you scored a 25 instead of a 30.


It is another thing altogether if you planned on applying MD, disregarded or never considered DO, scored a 25, and then decide, oh well, I guess I can lower myself to applying DO.

 

[Apparition]

Its always great if DO was your first choice, as it was with me.

Then why did you apply to MD schools? Back up?

 

[medic170]

Then why did you apply to MD schools? Back up?

I just wanted to explore every option avaliable and make the choice that was best for me. After I did that, osteopathic medicine reigned as my first choice. It was a better fit for me, which is probably one reason why I was accepted to a lot more DO schools than MD.

Oh, and Apparition, don't take what I say personally, I am just stating my opinions my friend.

 

[Apparition]

I just wanted to explore every option avaliable and make the choice that was best for me.

This is what I want too, to make a choice that's best for me.

 

[cooldreams]

What the man said... I second that!

Can we start pouncing on people now.. especially those who have MCAT issues... without anyone... calling me an interesting character.

doood lol!! i totally did not mean that in a bad way... i seriously wanted to kno where u were coming from!! hahaha... im am much more read up on that subject now!! 🙂

 

[cooldreams]

This is what I want too, to make a choice that's best for me.

see... not a very popular thread... i advise you to look up the laws or contact the country you want to goto later on. im most cases, if the country does not accept DO's, then it wont accept MD's either... i think this is the most important thing for you to find out right now, what the country accepts....

there is a thread around here somewhere...........

ah here it is:

https://www.msecportal.org/portal/editorial/PublicPages/aoia/536895803/Int_Lic_countryReq.htm

check out the country of Aruba: " Per its director, the Aruba Public Health Department can only issue a license to graduates from five U.S. medical schools, none of which are osteopathic medical schools."

so even if you went to a US MD school, it would have to be one of the Five out of what about 120 schools or so??? wow...

 

[docbill]

doood lol!! i totally did not mean that in a bad way... i seriously wanted to kno where u were coming from!! hahaha... im am much more read up on that subject now!! 🙂

I know man.. also since you were online and participating with this forum.. I though I would get back at you and your school which did not send me secondary till way too late... hehehehe

I also applied to MD schools, 3 to be exact. All of them in Canada, no US MD schools. The MAIN reason is because it is a backup for if I don't get into DO schools.. hehehe.. no no no. because there is a difference of 25K (no medical insurance needed here also).

I actually beleive in the DO phil and would rather be a DO. So far all the people I told about this... and I have it on my web site.. have been like wow.. is there one here. One I can send my family to... and I had to disapoint them and say nOOOOOOOOOOooooooooopppp check back in a few years.

Just D.O. IT..
BA

 

[Ypo.]

Right....


Well, has anyone brought up the obvious question "are we sure DO's can't practice internationally?"

😕 Because I thought they could in many countries.

You should take the person's advice who said-look into the countries who are interested in and find out if they accept DOs.


Medic170-no offense-but you should chill a little. I really respect the fact that you are dedicated to the DO profession-and that you have had a lot of experience as a paramedic and have known for a long time you wanted to be a DO.
But understand that not everyone comes across osteopathic medicine the same way-peoples opinions and attitudes change-and if DOs or future DOs are too harsh on them because they are converts (or aren't converting fast enough)-this will do more harm than good for the DO profession. Some people don't learn about it until after being rejected at an MD school-to other people osteopathic medicine is not brought up to them in a favorable light (hence some of their attitudes). Not everyone is fortunate enough to be brought up in Michigan, where DOs are plentiful.

Sometimes the people who are converted end up being the strongest advocates. I happen to be one of them. I didn't learn about DO until I got rejected at an MD school-but I have thrown my heart and soul into learning about osteopathic medicine and seeing if I am a good fit. 🙂
OP said he respects the DO profession, but that MD suits him better because of the international opportunities, but that rather than spend the rest of his life miserable if he couldn't get accepted at an MD program-he would apply to DO. It does sound like he should not probably not choose DO, however,
-when I interviewed at MSUCOM-Kathie said that we could defer our acceptance for several years-no questions asked-she specifically said "if you want to defer so you can continue trying to apply to MD programs-its OK-because ultimately thats going to be the best for everyone, too." So, keep in mind that the school you will be attending has these views.

A person that defers isn't taking a spot that someone else desperately wants-as the adcom will fill that spot for the year, anyway. In some ways, I kind of think its better for an applicant to defer and apply MD again rather than enter DO profession feeling ambivalent about it (if MD is truly the way they want to go).

Similarly, you wouldn't want to get baptized at a certain church before you were ready to accept those beliefs-but there is nothing wrong with hanging around that church and trying to learn about that religion while deciding which religion is best for you. And the decision between MD and DO is very much like a decision between Methodist and Presybterian-many of the same basic beliefs, a few different practices-its no wonder people have a hard time telling the difference between the two.

(sorry for the long post, docbill)

 

[medic170]

Well, has anyone brought up the obvious question "are we sure DO's can't practice internationally?"

cooldreams did 2 posts ago.


As for the rest, you have your opinion and I have mine. I can repect what you are saying, and I agree to a point, like I explained a few posts earlier! kathy never mentioned to us that we are welcome to defer for several years to keep trying to get into MD programs, that seems pretty silly for the Admissions Director of a DO school to say, ...strange. 😕

 

[Ypo.]

cooldreams did 2 posts ago.


As for the rest, you have your opinion and I have mine. I can repect what you are saying, and I agree to a point, like I explained a few posts earlier! kathy never mentioned to us that we are welcome to defer for several years to keep trying to get into MD programs, that seems pretty silly for the Admissions Director of a DO school to say, ...strange. 😕

I suppose it would seem silly to you, in light of your views.

Email Kathy and ask if you don't believe me.

 

[medic170]

I suppose it would seem silly to you, in light of your views.

Email Kathy and ask if you don't believe me.

I never said I did'nt believe you, I just said I thought it was strange, and I still do 😉 sheesh. 😀

 

[Ypo.]

Oh, whoops 😳

BTW-does anyone know if its true that DOs are not recognized in India?

 

[OnMyWayThere]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=107627

 

[Ypo.]

Thanks!!! 👍