Direct Program - Worth It?

[ovobohn]

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I'm currently a freshmen in undergrad, and I'm a part of a direct program that allows me to go straight into a DO school after I graduate, so long as I maintain a very feasible GPA. Is it worth keeping this in my back pocket? I'd much rather go MD, and currently I intend on building my application so that I can apply when the time comes. By doing so, I would be forfeiting my seat to the DO school. Is this alright? Or would it be looked down upon when/if I apply?

 

[deleted947265]

It really depends on how that agreement works. It's a good deal and you should consider it.

If you maintain a high GPA, do well on the MCAT, spend all of the money to study for the MCAT, apply, write all of those essays.... your odds of getting into an MD or DO school are very high but it will be a lot more work for at best marginal benefit. Do you really want to subject yourself to all of that? The choice is yours, but if it were me I'd take the DO spot and bite my tongue during OMM lab especially if it was a nice school like KCU.

 

[DocOrBust2019]

I wouldn't limit myself to DO school so early on. MD should be your first choice until you mess up either your GPA or MCAT to make DO the realistic option.

As a DO, you will be closing some specialties (outside of being a truly phenomenal DO student and an exception to the rule) due to inherent biases in residency selection. You will receive training every bit as good as at a MD school, but it doesn't make sense to limit yourself early on.

 

[Rachapkis]

Do you need to accept the DO offer before you would apply to medical school? Not knowing more, I would keep all options open. If you do well in undergrad, you will be setting yourself up for the automatic DO option as well as for MD schools. Take the MCAT and see what happens. If you do well, pursue MD; if not, you would still have the automatic DO option open to you.