Choosing DO Vs. MD based on costs

[bleeker10]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I spent some time this weekend figuring out how much I would be spending on tuition and the maxiumum allowed for living costs at the schools I am applying to. Since I am considered in-state for two different states that have MD schools, the tuition would be much lower than DO schools. I just want to be a doctor and it really doesn't matter much to me whethere I am an MD or DO. I am really interested in osteopathic medicine, but I have a hard time justifying spending 20-30k more a year at DO schools. This is making the assumption that I get acceptances at MD and DO schools, which is nowhere near a guarantee. What would everyone else do? It is a tough decision, at least for me.

 

[GreenShirt]

Unless you're interested in becoming an OMM specialist, I would go to the cheaper MD schools if you get accepted.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I spent some time this weekend figuring out how much I would be spending on tuition and the maxiumum allowed for living costs at the schools I am applying to. Since I am considered in-state for two different states that have MD schools, the tuition would be much lower than DO schools. I just want to be a doctor and it really doesn't matter much to me whethere I am an MD or DO. I am really interested in osteopathic medicine, but I have a hard time justifying spending 20-30k more a year at DO schools. This is making the assumption that I get acceptances at MD and DO schools, which is nowhere near a guarantee. What would everyone else do? It is a tough decision, at least for me.

If money is a big factor ... just go the cheapest route to becoming a doctor.

 

[bleeker10]

yea that's what I think I would do. I was just curious if there were some people that would rather pay more. I'm not trying to start a flame war or an MD vs DO, which one is better thread. With the way things are going, I would just rather have ~$140,000 in debt than ~$240,000 in debt

 

[DrMidlife]

Since I am considered in-state for two different states that have MD schools...

I have serious doubts that this is true. At least for the 45 schools to which I applied, the state you designate at the time of application is the state of which you are a resident, for tuition purposes. You have to pick one home state on AMCAS/TMDSAS/AACOMAS. After the fact, you can demonstrate strong in-state ties to another state in secondary apps for admissions consideration, and then after acceptance you have to go through the paperwork to establish yourself as an actual resident.

In other words, having parents who live in two separate states that have good public med schools (if that's the story) means you have 2 to choose from instead of 1. You don't get both. I'm sure there are exceptions, and you can do your own homework, but Vermont would be one with insufficient in-state applicants where you can get away with more.

Best of luck to you.

 

[bleeker10]

It actually is true. I am a permanent resident of Arkansas, but since I graduated high school in Nebraska, the University of Nebraska Med Center is considering me as in-state also

Edit: On my AMCAS and AACOMAS I did only list one state as my residence. I was notified along with my secondary that I was considered in-state in Nebraska.

 

[scpod]

Go where it's cheaper. I was lucky enough to find a DO school that I really loved, in the climate that I desired, at only about 5 grand more a year than my two instate MD schools would have cost me. Otherwise, I'd have gone MD. If I was a lot younger, I might have made a different decision, though.

 

[DrMidlife]

It actually is true. I am a permanent resident of Arkansas, but since I graduated high school in Nebraska, the University of Nebraska Med Center is considering me as in-state also

Edit: On my AMCAS and AACOMAS I did only list one state as my residence. I was notified along with my secondary that I was considered in-state in Nebraska.

Score! Double-instate URM is a tough hand to beat. Looks like AR is about $5k/yr cheaper than NE, but either way you can't go wrong. Good luck!

 

[ShyRem]

Go the cheaper route. If you're really interested in OMM, you can get training on that later. But let me tell you, that extra $$$$$ adds up... FAST.

 

[MossPoh]

Cheaper.

Our current financial aid things during interviews have all been saying that for every dollar you spend now, expect to pay about 3 dollars back in the long run. So, even if it is only 5,000 cheaper a year, that ends up being about 60k right there.

If you are totally in love with the DO school then go for it but I think it'd be hard to turn down the cheaper MD school.

 

[nlax30]

I agree.... go with the cheaper option.

 

[bleeker10]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. More than likely, I won't have a choice but it's nice to dream.