anyone make it to both DO & MD?

[markboonya]

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just curious if anyone has made it to both MD and DO (or for us class of 2006 applicants, if u did make it to both MD and DO) would u choose to go to a DO school over an MD school? i am trying to shadow a DO to see just how different it is, but from what i've been reading, in practice, a DO treats patients pretty much the same way as an MD. has anyone had experiences that would push them to go to DO instead of MD? not trying to start a MD vs DO thread, just want to know any personal experiences and reasonings since i know this will pop up in the interview and secondaries.

 

[crys20]

Maybe location would be one factor..if there are only DO schools in a certain city where a SO or family are, for instance. Also, if you want to do something like peds or FP which are definately 'easy' to get into as a DO you could choose entirely based on school/facilities/tuition/whatever...From experience, I love AZCOM's location, facilities, curric, etc and if I get into some MD schools for the Class of '10 I may very well choose AZCOM over them.

 

[Fenrezz]

just curious if anyone has made it to both MD and DO (or for us class of 2006 applicants, if u did make it to both MD and DO) would u choose to go to a DO school over an MD school? i am trying to shadow a DO to see just how different it is, but from what i've been reading, in practice, a DO treats patients pretty much the same way as an MD. has anyone had experiences that would push them to go to DO instead of MD? not trying to start a MD vs DO thread, just want to know any personal experiences and reasonings since i know this will pop up in the interview and secondaries.

There are several reasons people choose DO over MD, although it doesn't happen often.

1. DO school is a state school and is less expensive or they don't want to leave home
2. Their family doctor has been a DO for a long time
3. They really believe in/been helped by OMT
4. They're crazy

 

[CoverMe]

Seriously, I think it breaks down to what you want to do with your career post-med school, and if you think OMT is applicable or if being a D.O. will help or hinder your residency plans. I'm in at a D.O. school and waiting on an M.D. school. The D.O. school is closer to family/friends, better over-all location, and has a great reputation.

The MD school is also a great school, in a neat location, far-far-away from family and friends, and has great hospitals for 3rd and 4th year clinical rotations (a weakness at the DO school). The bitter fact is, no matter how much I prefer the D.O. philosophy, and no matter how much OMT interests me, the specialties i'm interested in are easier if coming from an MD school than coming from a DO school.

I couldn't care less about the initials that eventually follow my name, I want to be the best I can be... whatever it takes, and wherever I have to go... so if accepted by the MD school, I'll probably go there. Meanwhile, either way, in 4 years I'm GOING TO BE A DOCTOR, which is the whole point! 😀 😀

 

[Future DOctor]

I made both MD and DO, but chose DO

 

[nebrfan]

I got in at both DO and MD schools - decided to go with my instate MD school for financial reasons.

 

[sga814]

Also got into both. Decided on MD because 1) I'll admit- I'm a ***** and didn't have the balls to go with DO (I liked the DO schools MUCH more), and 2) financial reasons--- about 80K worth

 

[Truce57]

Made it into 3 of each (see my mdapplicants profile below), and chose predominantly based on AZCOM's ability to allow me to have a clinical education where I want to (which is facilities that serve the urban underserved). From my profile, you can see that I am still considering ONE MD school where I am waitlisted, but this is only because the whole point of the Drew/UCLA program is to train docs to work in urban L.A. County (which is where I hope to do most of my AZCOM rotations at this point).

It was easy to choose AZCOM over the 3 MD programs I got in because the students tehre were so happy and I firmly believe in the DO philosophy and know that I"ll bring a lot to my patients' care as an osteopathic physician. Only way I could care for them better is if I go to med school and do all my rotations in the area where I want to practice (in my opinion at least).

 

[markboonya]

oh and another question. were ur PS specific for MD and DO schools? will it hurt my chances at a DO school if i dont mention anything about osteopathic medicine in my PS? as of now i have no exposure to osteopathic medicine (ie shadowing) but hopefully that will be remedied before secondaries. i want my aacomas application out nice and early, so should i mention superficial stuff i learned about osteopathy in my PS? ( by superficial i mean just stuff i've read here on sdn and other books)

 

[crys20]

I loved my AMCAS PS and wanted to use it for both...However the limit is much shorter for the AACOMAS PS so I was going to have to cut it down anyway...Then I thought I better talk about 'why a DO'...Maybe I'm wrong on this but I thought it'd be a good idea.

 

[1hotaartichoke]

i got into md and do, and i chose the do b/c i really really liked the school. i felt much more comfortable, and i felt that it was the best place for me, regardless of the letters...

 

[NomadGL]

There are several reasons people choose DO over MD, although it doesn't happen often.

1. DO school is a state school and is less expensive or they don't want to leave home
2. Their family doctor has been a DO for a long time
3. They really believe in/been helped by OMT
4. They're crazy

I agree with Fenrezz except that reason #4 should really be reason #1 and bold in large font

 

[DrMom]

Keep in mind that Fenrezz is a DO student. 😉


In Oklahoma, there are a bunch of people every year who get accepted to both of our state med schools (OSU is DO and OU is MD). Some of them choose to go DO and others choose to go MD. There are quite a few in my class who chose OSU over OU.

 

[Fenrezz]

Keep in mind that Fenrezz is a DO student.

Do I know you? 😉

 

[DrMom]

Do I know you? 😉

I am your worst nightmare!








oh, wait...you're my worst nightmare
😛

 

[DrFeelgoodDO]

Keep in mind that Fenrezz is a DO student. 😉


In Oklahoma, there are a bunch of people every year who get accepted to both of our state med schools (OSU is DO and OU is MD). Some of them choose to go DO and others choose to go MD. There are quite a few in my class who chose OSU over OU.

Why would you? Regardless of what degree you get.

 

[DrMom]

Different atmosphere at the two schools.
If you're into rankings, only OSU has been ranked recently.

Both of the schools are good schools, btw. I know that personally (as in...for my situation & background), however, that I didn't like OU.

 

[TRAUMEDDR]

Both right here.... So random the process is...some schools i thought would def accept me flat out rejected me.... Oh I chose MD at the end for its the location I want to be (Big Apple! Yay!), state tuition (Dam expensive Med school is), and better access to hospitals (at least at schools I was accepted to).