Difference in difficulty

[Sloth]

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Just a quick question for you D.O. / Soon to be's

All my life I have known I'll be a PT. Now that I'm about to complete my undergrad, I find myself saying "why not go to med school? now that DPT is the requirment for PT"

That being said, I'm an average student. I have to work till my eyes fall out and fingers are raw to keep my 3.5gpa

Would it be worth my time to apply to D.O. programs? Many of the schools I'd have applied to PT programs, also house D.O. programs.

I've always viewed being a Doctor some mythilogical dream, unatainable by just anyone who wants it enough, that if you aren't just naturally gifted you don't have much of a chance.

So, would someone that aspired to be a PT, and willing to put forth the work to get through a DPT program, be able to attend med school? If you had to base the difficulty on a % scale, how much harder is med school in your opinion?

 

[ksmajmudar]

All my life I have known I'll be a PT. Now that I'm about to complete my undergrad, I find myself saying "why not go to med school?"

That in and of itself tells me no. In my opinion, this means that your passion lies in physical therapy, NOT osteopathic medicine. Becoming a doctor should not (and will not) be "oh why not become a doctor?" If you have always wanted to be a PT, fulfill your dream and be a PT!

Also, PT school and med school are very different. The difficulty level will be amped up tremendously, in part because of the volume of knowledge you will need to retain. If you

have to work till [your] eyes fall out and fingers are raw to keep [your] 3.5gpa

then it sounds like med school might be too difficult.

Have you taken the MCAT yet? Were you thinking of applying this cycle?

 

[Sloth]

Thank you for your quick reply.

One problem is, that I admittedly did not address, is that I have lost the passion I once had for the PT profession. They continue to be under recognized as a critical part of care by patients, there pay lacks severely, I don't want to be seen as a glorified CPT (I don't view it this way, but I feel the public does), just the whole field is starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

And, I havn't just decided "ope, I feel like being a Dr today" It's something I've always viewed as an amazing thing I wish I could be part of, everything about it consumes my dreams of PT, and more.

But if your suggestion is that since I struggle to maintain my 3.5gpa that medschool would be that much harder than PT school, I'll forget it.

 

[IDFsoldierboy]

Thank you for your quick reply.

One problem is, that I admittedly did not address, is that I have lost the passion I once had for the PT profession. They continue to be under recognized as a critical part of care by patients, there pay lacks severely, I don't want to be seen as a glorified CPT (I don't view it this way, but I feel the public does), just the whole field is starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

And, I havn't just decided "ope, I feel like being a Dr today" It's something I've always viewed as an amazing thing I wish I could be part of, everything about it consumes my dreams of PT, and more.

But if your suggestion is that since I struggle to maintain my 3.5gpa that medschool would be that much harder than PT school, I'll forget it.

look if becoming a doctor is a dream then GO FOR IT dont let what other people say get in the way...if you struggle maintaining a 3.5 then that means ull just have to study your a** off in med school not that you cant do it...many people get accepted into DO programs with below 3.5 GPAs...and frankly if they aren't trying that just shows different problems...these classes aren't a walk through the park but if you set your mind to it and study hard you can accomplish anything you truly want.

 

[Mbeas]

But if your suggestion is that since I struggle to maintain my 3.5gpa that medschool would be that much harder than PT school, I'll forget it.

Well, I can't speak from experience, but from what I hear med school is exponentially harder than PT school. But, I wouldn't say to forget about it because you struggle to maintain a 3.5 GPA. There are definitely people who go to med school with sub-3.5 GPA and do just fine.

You need to do some shadowing to see if this is right for you, or get a job in a health care setting to get some experience. If you want to be a doctor for the respect and money, then you'll be in for a rough ride. I also wonder how versed you are in applying to med school. You know about the MCAT and letters of rec (from a physician, btw), right? I'm not trying to be condescending, but these are all things you need to consider before you just apply to DO schools.

If this is your real dream, then by all means, do it! But, you may need to do a little more thinking before you bite off more than you can chew.

 

[Sloth]

Well, I can't speak from experience, but from what I hear med school is exponentially harder than PT school. But, I wouldn't say to forget about it because you struggle to maintain a 3.5 GPA. There are definitely people who go to med school with sub-3.5 GPA and do just fine.

You need to do some shadowing to see if this is right for you, or get a job in a health care setting to get some experience. If you want to be a doctor for the respect and money, then you'll be in for a rough ride. I also wonder how versed you are in applying to med school. You know about the MCAT and letters of rec (from a physician, btw), right? I'm not trying to be condescending, but these are all things you need to consider before you just apply to DO schools.

If this is your real dream, then by all means, do it! But, you may need to do a little more thinking before you bite off more than you can chew.

I currently work for a Home Health company as a staffing coordinator. We hire PTs and RNs and I'm around them all day. Though, no doctors. It would be easy to get LOR from the PT's and nurses, but that doesn't count as a doctor's LOR...

Also, I have no idea how to apply to med school. Honestly I assumed it wouldn't be much different than PT school.

That being said I don't know the world of med school / applying / any hidden world, etc.

And exponentially harder? Are we underestimating the similie "like drinking from a fire hose" PT students like to use?

 

[DrWily]

I currently work for a Home Health company as a staffing coordinator. We hire PTs and RNs and I'm around them all day. Though, no doctors. It would be easy to get LOR from the PT's and nurses, but that doesn't count as a doctor's LOR...

Also, I have no idea how to apply to med school. Honestly I assumed it wouldn't be much different than PT school.

That being said I don't know the world of med school / applying / any hidden world, etc.

And exponentially harder? Are we underestimating the similie "like drinking from a fire hose" PT students like to use?

No one can really answer this for you. Can you go through life as a PT happy with your job and lifestyle, or will you always be asking yourself "What if?" in regards to medical school. Don't worry about the curriculum being too hard. It sounds like you can put in the effort to maintain a 3.5 gpa so you should be fine in DO schools as long as you work hard. PA, PT, MD, DO.. its all like drinking from a fire hose because none of us are prepared to handle such a dramatic increase in course load and sheer amount of knowledge.

Things needed for Med School Application:
1) Have you taken the pre-reqs? (majority of them have to be done before applying, but its ok to be missing a few during your application cycle)
2 )Taken the MCAT?
3 )Letter of Recommendation from 2 Science Professors OR School Committee Letter
4 ) Shadow an MD or a DO (DO would be better if u plan on applying to DO schools) + LOR from them
5) Extracurricular Activities volunteering in clinical setting and NON-clinical setting

Are both your science GPA and cumulative GPA around 3.5?

 

[Mbeas]

Also, I have no idea how to apply to med school. Honestly I assumed it wouldn't be much different than PT school.

That being said I don't know the world of med school / applying / any hidden world, etc.

Here ya go, something to get you started: http://www.aacom.org/INFOFOR/APPLICANTS/BECOMING/Pages/AdmissionReq.aspx

And exponentially harder? Are we underestimating the similie "like drinking from a fire hose" PT students like to use?

Yes, same similie. I will digress on arguing which is harder.

 

[Sloth]

3.3 sci 3.5 cum but I still have 2 semesters to go before undergrad completion.

 

[Sloth]

Here ya go, something to get you started: http://www.aacom.org/INFOFOR/APPLICANTS/BECOMING/Pages/AdmissionReq.aspx



Yes, same similie. I will digress on arguing which is harder.

Thank you very much for your assistance

 

[Mbeas]

Thank you very much for your assistance

👍 anytime!

 

[thepoopologist]

Thank you for your quick reply.

One problem is, that I admittedly did not address, is that I have lost the passion I once had for the PT profession. They continue to be under recognized as a critical part of care by patients, there pay lacks severely, I don't want to be seen as a glorified CPT (I don't view it this way, but I feel the public does), just the whole field is starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

And, I havn't just decided "ope, I feel like being a Dr today" It's something I've always viewed as an amazing thing I wish I could be part of, everything about it consumes my dreams of PT, and more.

But if your suggestion is that since I struggle to maintain my 3.5gpa that medschool would be that much harder than PT school, I'll forget it.

If your work ethic can get you a 3.5 gpa, chances are you'll do fine in medical school.

Med school's about work ethic and willpower more than anything else.

If you're on the fence I'd prep for the MCAT, and start shadowing physicians. Don't apply to just DO schools, unless you're into OMM.

My own personal opinion is that the job satisfaction you're looking for by entering medical school comes at a higher cost. If those extra years of abuse are worth it to you, then by all means, apply.

 

[IDFsoldierboy]

Thank you very much for your assistance

definitely research both MD and DO...personally I love the DO philosophy...research the application process...start your MCAT prep...start writing a personal statement...shadow some docs especially of areas you might be interested in....make sure you have all or most of your pre-reqs done and especially if you are graduating soon id sit down with your pre-med advisor and make a schedule...I don't know about the CC close to your place but at my local CCs its next to impossible to get any class so thankfully I dont have any more pre-reqs to take
and most importantly make sure you get your letters of rec...I remember running around like 2-3 months before graduation calling and e-mailing every single professor i knew trying to get a letter of rec..its not fun so give yourself plenty of time to get rly nice letters!

 

[ksmajmudar]

I want to thank my peers for being a lot more helpful and considerate than I was. Sorry!

Just to clarify what I intended to say, I didn't mean that you shouldn't apply to med schools with a 3.5 GPA (because I applied with a far lower GPA). I meant to say that if you feel that you are struggling to keep pace right now, you may want to make sure you can handle the workload as a med student. That's not to say that you can't - like Dr. Wily said, only you can know whether you can handle it or not.

Also, please keep in mind your course requirements! I imagine PT school will have the same pre-reqs, but just make sure you'll meet them if you choose to apply.

Lastly, I agree with Mbeas - I think you should learn more about medicine by shadowing to make sure it's what you want to do! Good luck if you choose to apply, be sure to let us know if/when you do!

 

[costales]

The difficulty is getting in. Med school coursework is not difficult per se i.e. hard to understand. The problem is the sheer volume of information that you have to digest and process under time pressure to pass an exam. And it goes on day after day, for years.

 

[GlimmerGlass]

I think a 3.5 GPA is very good! That means you are getting mostly A's and B's in your classes. Of course if you are obtaining a more difficult degree then that 3.5 looks even better. So don't discount yourself because of your GPA. I think you should study for and take the MCAT and see how you do and also shadow some physicians to see if you like what they do. Try to pick several different types of physicians. I myself shadowed a family practice physician who uses OMM, a surgeon, and an anesthesiologist. Applying to med schools is a challenging and sometimes long road so if being a physician is something you really want to do, you will figure this out during this process because you will either want to work hard for it or you won't. So it doesn't hurt to look into this further and see if it is a good fit for you. You have done well in undergraduate and if you do well on your MCAT then I think you can handle the material in med school if you also have the drive and passion to pursue it.

 

[Goro]

I'd say it's like the equivalent of getting a master's degree every semester. Figure 30-35 contact hours a week.

Just a quick question for you D.O. / Soon to be's

All my life I have known I'll be a PT. Now that I'm about to complete my undergrad, I find myself saying "why not go to med school? now that DPT is the requirment for PT"

That being said, I'm an average student. I have to work till my eyes fall out and fingers are raw to keep my 3.5gpa

Would it be worth my time to apply to D.O. programs? Many of the schools I'd have applied to PT programs, also house D.O. programs.

I've always viewed being a Doctor some mythilogical dream, unatainable by just anyone who wants it enough, that if you aren't just naturally gifted you don't have much of a chance.

So, would someone that aspired to be a PT, and willing to put forth the work to get through a DPT program, be able to attend med school? If you had to base the difficulty on a % scale, how much harder is med school in your opinion?

 

[Sloth]

I'd say it's like the equivalent of getting a master's degree every semester. Figure 30-35 contact hours a week.

Holy crap lol. I doubt your learning 6 years of stuff in 5 months. I know it's fast but come on. MAYBE a BA every semester?

Anyways, I will look into what it takes and judge myself against it, and against DPT, thanks folks.

 

[DrWily]

Holy crap lol. I doubt your learning 6 years of stuff in 5 months. I know it's fast but come on. MAYBE a BA every semester?

Anyways, I will look into what it takes and judge myself against it, and against DPT, thanks folks.

Not the full BA + MS every semester.. but 2 years of info (BA->MS) in a semester is what he meant.

 

[Sloth]

Not the full BA + MS every semester.. but 2 years of info (BA->MS) in a semester is what he meant.

Okay, I understand, thanks wily!

 

[deleted245139]

if it makes you feel better, I haven't had a GPA this high since HS. no joke. Med>HS>Grad>UG. its doable if you want it. promise!

 

[CopToEM]

That in and of itself tells me no. In my opinion, this means that your passion lies in physical therapy, NOT osteopathic medicine. Becoming a doctor should not (and will not) be "oh why not become a doctor?" If you have always wanted to be a PT, fulfill your dream and be a PT!

I disagree wholeheartedly with this. College is as much about discovering yourself as it is pursuing education and a career. If you've discovered along the way that you have a passion for greater interests then college has done its part.

Some of the best physicians I know are those who entered the healthcare field as different professionals and ended up going back to medical school. Two that I'm proud to call mentors were a Med Tech and a Pharmacist, respectively.

With that said, the only way to truly answer this question is through very extensive shadowing. You need to shadow a PT in multiple settings and you need to shadow as many specialties of Medicine as possible. If not, you will be answering this question based on your assumptions of what the fields are like.

No one popped out at 9 months gestation wanting to be a doctor. We developed that desire and destination throughout our lives; some earlier than others. There's no shame or harm in developing your desire to pursue it in undergrad.

Step out on a leap of faith. ANYONE can be a doctor and I truly mean that.

Signed,

Former < 2.0 GPA high school student
Former Cop
Former Business Owner
Current Pre-Med Senior

 

[Wolverines83]

When I saw the title of this thread I figured I had to jump in here.

I was in the same boat. Worked as a PT aide, applied DPT, got in, changed my mind. Applied DO and haven't looked back. I did that because I wanted to work more with a "diseased" population (how horrible does that sound?) and wanted to be able to have a life or death impact on people (so to speak). There were other reasons, but that's the gist.

The only reason I said that about my motivating factors was that DO will give me something that I find valuable that I can't find in PT. Not saying it's better than DPT, just that my personal goals would be more fulfilled by a career as a DO. So many people are saying "with DPT being a doctorate, I might as well become a physician." That's scary man. If you didn't get paid for either, which would you rather wake up and do?

If you're going to make the switch, make sure it's for the right reason for you. If you're truly interested in and invested in your program, you'll find a way to do well. That will take care of the % difficulty difference. If you're not truly interested in medicine, medical school is about the worst choice you can make.

 

[Wolverines83]

And for what it's worth, if the perceived difficulty seems intimidating:

Med school isn't about being ridiculously smart. For 90% of us it's about working hard and, probably more importantly, working efficiently.

The other 10%...well, I hate them.

Good luck in whatever you decide!