Applying as a DO and MD

[Vido]

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This is the story. i was planning to apply this year only to MD schools. however due to many reasons my MCAT didn't end up as good as i hoped for. my gpa is 3.9 and the MCAT is 25. so i have few questions

- will a letter of recommendation from an MD work for a DO application.
- Do i need to mention anything about wanting to be a DO in my PS.
-are there any parts in the DO application that are totally different from the MD application.
- If i want to apply now, i am a Florida resident. what schools do you think i should apply for.

 

[seabreeze811]

This is the story. i was planning to apply this year only to MD schools. however due to many reasons my MCAT didn't end up as good as i hoped for. my gpa is 3.9 and the MCAT is 25. so i have few questions

- will a letter of recommendation from an MD work for a DO application.
- Do i need to mention anything about wanting to be a DO in my PS.
-are there any parts in the DO application that are totally different from the MD application.
- If i want to apply now, i am a Florida resident. what schools do you think i should apply for.

- Some schools will accept an MD letter, but some will require a DO letter
- Yes, you should mention why you want to go to a DO school. what interests you in osteopathic medicine, etc.
- for the most part, the applications for both MD and DO are the same
- i think that if you can afford it, and as long as the schools u select would be schools you are interested in attending, you should apply broadly to all the DO schools. nova southeastern is in FL, so they might give some preference to in-state applicants....

 

[JaggerPlate]

This is the story. i was planning to apply this year only to MD schools. however due to many reasons my MCAT didn't end up as good as i hoped for. my gpa is 3.9 and the MCAT is 25. so i have few questions

- will a letter of recommendation from an MD work for a DO application.
- Do i need to mention anything about wanting to be a DO in my PS.
-are there any parts in the DO application that are totally different from the MD application.
- If i want to apply now, i am a Florida resident. what schools do you think i should apply for.

Hey Don Vido (wheww, seems funny at 2am - it's probably 'Vito' too ... I digress).

-I think you should apply DO, IFFFFF you could see yourself as a DO. If you absolutely want the MD, you might just want to improve that MCAT and move on, but otherwise DO would definitely be a good route.

-For most schools, a DO letter is recommended but a letter from a physician (MD or DO) is required. So check with the schools, most will accept an MD letter.

-Nope, you don't need to mention osteopathic medicine in your PS unless you really want to.

-Nothing shockingly different about the application process besides the application services. MD schools go through AMCAS whereas DO schools use ACCOMAS.

-There are two DO schools in FL (if that is where you are looking to stay) Nova Southeastern University and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Med-B. Also, from what I know they are opening 2-3 new MD schools in FL soon that are wayyy heavy on instate so those might be worth checking out. However, if you really don't mind leaving FL for med school, some other DO schools worth checking out are:
-Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
-Midwestern University - Chicago
-Kansas City University
-Western University
-etc, etc ...

good luck.

 

[Concubine]

This is the story. i was planning to apply this year only to MD schools. however due to many reasons my MCAT didn't end up as good as i hoped for. my gpa is 3.9 and the MCAT is 25. so i have few questions

- will a letter of recommendation from an MD work for a DO application.
- Do i need to mention anything about wanting to be a DO in my PS.
-are there any parts in the DO application that are totally different from the MD application.
- If i want to apply now, i am a Florida resident. what schools do you think i should apply for.

1. I'm not sure about the letter, but you can always pick schools that don't require it.

2. No. I didn't and I got into all five DO schools I applied to as well as one MD with almost an identical PS.

3. The application is basically the same, with a bit smaller character allowance for the AACOMAS personal statement.

4. I would recommend applying to all your state schools and some of the better DO schools. Believe me, just like MD schools, all DO schools are not equal. Look at things like where you will do your 3rd and 4th years, residency match list, age/reputation of the school, and of course expense.

Also a few tips from someone that just went through the application process and due to my own failures to properly research things out, got blindsided by a few major issues. I don't know what kind of financial situation you are in, but if you are strapped for cash consider the following:

A. Most of my DO interviews and acceptances were before my MD interviews. Of course by playing it safe, I put down some crazy amount of money for deposits to hold my spot(s) at the DO schools only to be accepted in the end by an MD school. If you go both MD and DO, be prepared to lose some money.

B. Apply as early as possible and quickly (but thoroughly) fill out secondaries once you receive them. This will definitely increase your chances.

C. Do a ton of research on the schools before you apply to them, including their secondary fees. Only apply to the ones you are sure you like or if you are on the fence, have cheap secondary fees.

 

[WBDO]

This is the story. i was planning to apply this year only to MD schools. however due to many reasons my MCAT didn't end up as good as i hoped for. my gpa is 3.9 and the MCAT is 25. so i have few questions

- will a letter of recommendation from an MD work for a DO application.
- Do i need to mention anything about wanting to be a DO in my PS.
-are there any parts in the DO application that are totally different from the MD application.
- If i want to apply now, i am a Florida resident. what schools do you think i should apply for.

Apply broadly. MD rec will work for most DO schools, but not for some. But it's not really worth going out of your way to apply to those anyway. Just retake the cats and you'll be golden for md next year and not have to wonder "what if....".