Critique my school list

[younggunner94]

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Hello! I am a current applicant for the 16-17 cycle, and have applications in to 25 allopathic schools since late July/early August. As I have only heard back from 3 schools thus far (rejections at OUWB and UW-Madison, but an II at UCSD!), I have decided to apply to ~5 DO schools to increase my chances at matriculating somewhere next year, and becoming a doctor (I honestly don't care what the letters are behind my name)! I am intrigued by the osteopathic philosophy, and as an exercise physio major, have learned about preventative medicine and the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, and will incorporate this and natural remedies into my practice as a doctor if possible before turning to synthetic medicines.

So a little bit about my stats..
Male, URM, CA resident, 3.55sGPA, 3.6cGPA, 515 MCAT (132/125/130/128)
~300 hrs shadowing a combination of DOs and MDs in an ED setting
~300 hrs volunteering at student run clinic
~400 hrs research in a neurobiology lab
~900 hrs scribing in an ED
~400 hrs employment in an ophthalmology clinic

I do not want to go to a DO school that is going to limit me to family practice, I want to have the option to specialize in something as competitive as ophthalmology if I continue growing interest for it.

I was thinking about applying to:
AZCOM
Western CA
Western OR
TouroCA
RVUCOM

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks
-YG

 

[younggunner94]

I also am waiting on a LOR from my DO physician, which will arrive in early October. So secondaries will most likely be complete and sent off mid October. Is this too late for the DO cycle..?

 

[Marrowist]

Looks good to me.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I want to have the option to specialize in something as competitive as ophthalmology if I continue growing interest for it.

Then don't apply to a DO school, because your chances diminish greatly for these specialties by going to one. You shouldn't have to with your stats.

 

[younggunner94]

Then don't apply to a DO school, because your chances diminish greatly for these specialties by going to one. You shouldn't have to with your stats.

I was under the impression with the new DO/MD merger that if I scored high enough on my exams the sky was the limit for residency opportunities.

 

[ERinspired]

I was under the impression with the new DO/MD merger that if I scored high enough on my exams the sky was the limit for residency opportunities.

Theoretically. What happens in practice may be very different.


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[ERinspired]

Hello! I am a current applicant for the 16-17 cycle, and have applications in to 25 allopathic schools since late July/early August. As I have only heard back from 3 schools thus far (rejections at OUWB and UW-Madison, but an II at UCSD!), I have decided to apply to ~5 DO schools to increase my chances at matriculating somewhere next year, and becoming a doctor (I honestly don't care what the letters are behind my name)! I am intrigued by the osteopathic philosophy, and as an exercise physio major, have learned about preventative medicine and the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, and will incorporate this and natural remedies into my practice as a doctor if possible before turning to synthetic medicines.

So a little bit about my stats..
Male, URM, CA resident, 3.55sGPA, 3.6cGPA, 515 MCAT (132/125/130/128)
~300 hrs shadowing a combination of DOs and MDs in an ED setting
~300 hrs volunteering at student run clinic
~400 hrs research in a neurobiology lab
~900 hrs scribing in an ED
~400 hrs employment in an ophthalmology clinic

I do not want to go to a DO school that is going to limit me to family practice, I want to have the option to specialize in something as competitive as ophthalmology if I continue growing interest for it.

I was thinking about applying to:
AZCOM
Western CA
Western OR
TouroCA
RVUCOM

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks
-YG

Other DO schools less geared toward PC: PCOM, CCOM, KCU


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[Peach Newport]

I was under the impression with the new DO/MD merger that if I scored high enough on my exams the sky was the limit for residency opportunities.

No one knows what the actual effects of the merger will be.

Most likely, IMO, little will change, at least not on our timeframe. No DO school will "limit" you to family practice or primary care. Competitive specialties are harder but not impossible. Check out some match lists. A few DOs match ophthalmology every year, though they had to do more than their MD counterparts to get it.

Edit: EVERY DO school in the country will say they're "geared toward primary care." It's a mission statment thing. That doesn't mean you're limited to it. PCOM loves to talk about emphasizing primary care, and I'm sure they do, but they still consistently send students to competitive specialty residencies.

 

[younggunner94]

Theoretically. What happens in practice may be very different.


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Why do you say that? I would think the stigma against DOs is dying faster than ever nowadays

 

[Marrowist]

Warning: This thread is approaching MD vs DO status. Be ready for high troll activity in the near future.

 

[younggunner94]

Warning: This thread is approaching MD vs DO status. Be ready for high troll activity in the near future.

Oh my. Let's steer clear of that debate. Back to the original question: Is it now 'late' for DO applications?

 

[Marrowist]

You should be fine. Apply as soon as you can, but your stats are great for DO.

 

[lnguyen1412]

Your stats along with URM status is good for MD. No worry.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Why do you say that? I would think the stigma against DOs is dying faster than ever nowadays

It is slowly changing but there is still quite a bit in those super competitive specialties and various residency programs throughout the country. With your stats I would just be patient for MD. If you get nothing this cycle then add some DO schools next cycle.

Warning: This thread is approaching MD vs DO status. Be ready for high troll activity in the near future.

It's not even close...

 

[ATPsynthase123]

Warning: This thread is approaching MD vs DO status. Be ready for high troll activity in the near future.

INB4 "DO degree limits you to family medicine in rural Oklahoma"


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[ERinspired]

Why do you say that? I would think the stigma against DOs is dying faster than ever nowadays

There's a lot of threads out there about this already. Search "merger" on this thread. Many people have articulated concerns far better than I can. But, don't believe the extreme opinions on either side. The truth is we don't know yet so there's no point to panic either way and the actual results are likely to fall somewhere in the middle of both camps.


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[Goro]

Chances are outstanding!

Suggest adding PacNW, TUNCOM, KCU, CCOM

Hello! I am a current applicant for the 16-17 cycle, and have applications in to 25 allopathic schools since late July/early August. As I have only heard back from 3 schools thus far (rejections at OUWB and UW-Madison, but an II at UCSD!), I have decided to apply to ~5 DO schools to increase my chances at matriculating somewhere next year, and becoming a doctor (I honestly don't care what the letters are behind my name)! I am intrigued by the osteopathic philosophy, and as an exercise physio major, have learned about preventative medicine and the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, and will incorporate this and natural remedies into my practice as a doctor if possible before turning to synthetic medicines.

So a little bit about my stats..
Male, URM, CA resident, 3.55sGPA, 3.6cGPA, 515 MCAT (132/125/130/128)
~300 hrs shadowing a combination of DOs and MDs in an ED setting
~300 hrs volunteering at student run clinic
~400 hrs research in a neurobiology lab
~900 hrs scribing in an ED
~400 hrs employment in an ophthalmology clinic

I do not want to go to a DO school that is going to limit me to family practice, I want to have the option to specialize in something as competitive as ophthalmology if I continue growing interest for it.

I was thinking about applying to:
AZCOM
Western CA
Western OR
TouroCA
RVUCOM

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks
-YG

 

[Rekt]

URM with a 515? I wouldn't waste your money.