Am I trapped?

[Ta2865]

So currently on 3 waitlists (MD)but getting less and less hopeful. I have one DO acceptance which I'm grateful for but this past year I've found that I really enjoy several specialities based on my experiences from my gap year job. The DO hasn't had matches in these residencies so I'm hesitant of going there (also there aren't many research opportunities there and I've dedicated a lot towards research and would like to continue it). I've also been to the school twice and faculty is nice but feels lackluster. For context I applied not because I was originally interested but because my premed adviser told me to (dumb I know). Now, if I don't get off a waitlist I would be left with two choices: take the A at a school I'm not excited about and have an extreme uphill battle to get into the field I'm interested in or decline an A and reapply though risk being immediately rejected since I declined an acceptance. Am I essentially trapped here?

PS I'm a high stat applicant, with decent ECs though applied later in the cycle due to family matters.

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[mmchick]

Reading any number of posts on this topic should give you more insight:

Take the DO acceptance or reapply MD?

Hi, I have been accepted to DMU and am very grateful for that! I am currently on University of Colorado and Creighton’s waitlist and was wondering if I don’t come off those waitlist if it is better for my future career to reapply MD or run with the DO.

forums.studentdoctor.net

Accept DO or reapply?

Hello all, So I have been accepted to a DO school and I was happy to go to a DO school, but as the school year gets closer, I am having my doubts about osteopathic medicine, mainly OMM. The more I think about it, the more I think I might be miserable in OMM class and the dread of others asking...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Take DO school or reapply next cycle MD?

I have been accepted to DO schools in the east coast, I have nothing against DO's but I want to get into more competitive specialties (Anestehsia, PM&R, Rads) so its gonna be harder and just more hoops to jump through as a DO. My weak spot was my MCAT (502). I have a 3.5 GPA and I am a URM...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Accept DO or Reapply...?

Hi Guys, I have a major dilemma. I'm currently a 3rd year student at a state school (gpa 3.8, avg extracurricular) with 2 DO Acceptances (RowanSOM and NYITCOM) and 1 Wait list at Downstate. I was originally only applying for DO schools, but once I got my MCAT score (517, after scoring in the...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[zNoodlez]

So currently on 3 waitlists (MD)but getting less and less hopeful. I have one DO acceptance which I'm grateful for but this past year I've found that I really enjoy several specialities based on my experiences from my gap year job. The DO hasn't had matches in these residencies so I'm hesitant of going there (also there aren't many research opportunities there and I've dedicated a lot towards research and would like to continue it). I've also been to the school twice and faculty is nice but feels lackluster. For context I applied not because I was originally interested but because my premed adviser told me to (dumb I know). Now, if I don't get off a waitlist I would be left with two choices: take the A at a school I'm not excited about and have an extreme uphill battle to get into the field I'm interested in or decline an A and reapply though risk being immediately rejected since I declined an acceptance. Am I essentially trapped here?

PS I'm a high stat applicant, with decent ECs though applied later in the cycle due to family matters.

What are your stats? It also does not matter what your reasonings are for applying to DO schools in the first place, you applied and that's that.

 

[GreenDuck12]

Would you be willing to take a gap year?

 

[Ta2865]

What are your stats? It also does not matter what your reasonings are for applying to DO schools in the first place, you applied and that's that.

520 MCAT,
3.98 GPA

 

[zNoodlez]

520 MCAT,
3.98 GPA

With those stats and no other red flags, I would reapply MDs.

 

[Ta2865]

Would you be willing to take a gap year?

Yeah I'm in one rn working in research at a T20 school. My lab offered to let me work another year if I need but I think if I take another gap year I'll do some scribing instead, something more clinical

 

[GreenDuck12]

Are you confident you didn’t have something else impacting your application this cycle beyond the late submission? With that GPA and MCAT you should’ve had more than two MD waitlists unless your school list was either very small or targeted the wrong programs. I would be curious what feedback you can get from schools.

 

[chaim123]

So currently on 3 waitlists (MD)but getting less and less hopeful. I have one DO acceptance which I'm grateful for but this past year I've found that I really enjoy several specialities based on my experiences from my gap year job. The DO hasn't had matches in these residencies so I'm hesitant of going there (also there aren't many research opportunities there and I've dedicated a lot towards research and would like to continue it). I've also been to the school twice and faculty is nice but feels lackluster. For context I applied not because I was originally interested but because my premed adviser told me to (dumb I know). Now, if I don't get off a waitlist I would be left with two choices: take the A at a school I'm not excited about and have an extreme uphill battle to get into the field I'm interested in or decline an A and reapply though risk being immediately rejected since I declined an acceptance. Am I essentially trapped here?

PS I'm a high stat applicant, with decent ECs though applied later in the cycle due to family matters.

You'll hear lots of people say the same thing. I think, for me at least, I was so excited to start medical school that where I was going didn't matter. Once you get there you will fill much more fulfilled than any other gap year job. I say take it and get excited about medical school.

 

[enchantments]

520 MCAT,
3.98 GPA

Reapply MD. If you had borderline MD stats the advice might be different, but your stats are anything but borderline. How many schools did you apply to, and did you apply to a good mix of schools reflecting a combination of your stats/EC's?

 

[Ta2865]

Are you confident you didn’t have something else impacting your application this cycle beyond the late submission? With that GPA and MCAT you should’ve had more than two MD waitlists unless your school list was either very small or targeted the wrong programs. I would be curious what feedback you can get from schools.

Just to clarify I got 3 MD waitlists, though that not really much more than 2. I spoke with one of the dean's from the school I was waitlisted. He told me there were no red flags and was impressed by application. He told me to just keep doing the same thing and send on more updates.

Something that may have hurt is rushing secondaries. I spent a lot of time on PS, having many people edit it but not so much on secondaries. Will change that for reapplication.

 

[Goro]

So currently on 3 waitlists (MD)but getting less and less hopeful. I have one DO acceptance which I'm grateful for but this past year I've found that I really enjoy several specialities based on my experiences from my gap year job. The DO hasn't had matches in these residencies so I'm hesitant of going there (also there aren't many research opportunities there and I've dedicated a lot towards research and would like to continue it). I've also been to the school twice and faculty is nice but feels lackluster. For context I applied not because I was originally interested but because my premed adviser told me to (dumb I know). Now, if I don't get off a waitlist I would be left with two choices: take the A at a school I'm not excited about and have an extreme uphill battle to get into the field I'm interested in or decline an A and reapply though risk being immediately rejected since I declined an acceptance. Am I essentially trapped here?

PS I'm a high stat applicant, with decent ECs though applied later in the cycle due to family matters.

Do you want to be a doctor or not?????

If you're not willing to be a DO who is not the specialist you wish to be, then dump the accept and improve your app. I'd rather see your seat go to someone who wants to be a doctor now.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Is the DO school close to home and family and thus can help with said family issues? If so then I would consider attending. If you're also really terrible at interviewing then I likewise would take the acceptance. Otherwise I would 100% recommend you reapply to MD programs.

Your residency match options will be stronger coming from an MD program. There's nothing wrong with waiting to get a better offer that will set you up for a stronger longitudinal experience.

I'm a DO resident right now. And a lot of my classmates who destroyed boards matched at best at mid tier programs. Comparable we had MD classmates who did worse and matched top tier.

 

[golfman7]

Reapply MD. If you had borderline MD stats the advice might be different, but your stats are anything but borderline. How many schools did you apply to, and did you apply to a good mix of schools reflecting a combination of your stats/EC's?

Lol why would he apply to DO programs? He has near 4.0 GPA and really high MCAT. I honestly think DO schools should reject him. He does not have legit interest he’s just applying DO for backup.

 

[enchantments]

Lol why would he apply to DO programs? He has near 4.0 GPA and really high MCAT. I honestly think DO schools should reject him. He does not have legit interest he’s just applying DO for backup.

Did you quote the wrong post? I certainly do not think OP should be applying DO.

 

[deleted859689]

Did you quote the wrong post? I certainly do not think OP should be applying DO.

Some people do it for a back up. I just don’t understand why he would if he is in the fence about going to a DO school.

 

[golfman7]

Did you quote the wrong post? I certainly do not think OP should be applying DO.

I think so. Hell I had average GPA and 28 mcat and got 2 interviews still. I think these boards make getting in more competitive than it really is. I never would have applied to MD but decided to anyways and made WL at great OOS. I may have gotten in with another round. I really think he’s mistaken for filling DO ones out.

 

[risus_sardonicus]

OP if those are truly your stats, reapply MD and don’t look back. I’m a 4th yr D.O matched DR trust me when I say this: even if it’s low tier or mid tier MD next cycle it will still be worth the extra year. The bias 100% exists in every field apart from maybe primary care. Plus you won’t even have a step 1 score, going D.O with those stats is basically shooting yourself in the foot and then trying to run a marathon for 4 yrs in which you are always behind no matter what you do.


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[golfman7]

OP if those are truly your stats, reapply MD and don’t look back. I’m a 4th yr D.O matched DR trust me when I say this: even if it’s low tier or mid tier MD next cycle it will still be worth the extra year. The bias 100% exists in every field apart from maybe primary care. Plus you won’t even have a step 1 score, going D.O with those stats is basically shooting yourself in the foot and then trying to run a marathon for 4 yrs in which you are always behind no matter what you do.


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Honestly with debt and other issues in medicine today DO is not worth it unless you love it and are not doing it to be rich... I think too many kids go into it for wrong reason.

 

[golfman7]

OP if those are truly your stats, reapply MD and don’t look back. I’m a 4th yr D.O matched DR trust me when I say this: even if it’s low tier or mid tier MD next cycle it will still be worth the extra year. The bias 100% exists in every field apart from maybe primary care. Plus you won’t even have a step 1 score, going D.O with those stats is basically shooting yourself in the foot and then trying to run a marathon for 4 yrs in which you are always behind no matter what you do.


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Primary care is not competitive right now... if OP wants to be neurosurgeon etc then reapply.

 

[Small Cell Carcinoma]

You can match into competitive specialties from DO schools too. If it's meant to be and you have the capabilities of doing so, you will succeed.

That being said, please do not base your decision on the specialty you think you want to go into before even starting medical school.

Surveys have shown that only a small minority of medical students want to still apply for the same specialty in their M4 year that they thought they wanted to do on day 1. I myself probably changed my mind 3 or 4 times.

This is especially true for the surgical specialities (which are probably the ones you are interested in right now). These fields are romanticized in popular culture and get good reactions from friends/family when you tell them that is what you are going to do. Then M3 year hits and by the second week of waking up at 4:30am and dealing with the arrogant, self-centered brutes who control these professions, suddenly the desire to pursue a 5-7 year residency in it magically goes away.