DO for psychiatry?

[Brain Whisperer]

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Hey guys

So I'm a Canadian and right now I'm looking at psychiatry. Before, it used to be an easy specialty to get into, so I just thought I could go DO and get in no issues.

But seeing the SOAP thread, I don't know how that will change especially with ~1000 more DO students every year. AOA match is also going away.

My stats are 3.87 GPA and 504 MCAT that I'm retaking in a couple of weeks. ECs are 50 hours of clinical, 80 non-clinical (150 projected), 130 hours research (200 projected) and likely 35 hours shadowing.

Should I beef up my stats for another year (already in 5th year) to apply for MD or should I just go DO this year? Thanks in advance

 

[Isoval]

I can’t speak for other DO schools, but the one I am privy to information about matched a lot of people into ACGME psychiatry programs.

 

[Brain Whisperer]

I can’t speak for other DO schools, but the one I am privy to information about matched a lot of people into ACGME psychiatry programs.

Well as a Canadian it's basically MSUCOM or LECOM or maybe even touro if I'm lucky and I doubt any of those got any decent amount of ACGME spots

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Well as a Canadian it's basically MSUCOM or LECOM or maybe even touro if I'm lucky and I doubt any of those got any decent amount of ACGME spots

Lol you would doubt wrong.

You’re a Canadian, your chances at MD in the US or Canada is very minimal, borderline nonexistent, with your MCAT. It will probably come down to you being a USDO or not being a doctor.

 

[Goro]

I can’t speak for other DO schools, but the one I am privy to information about matched a lot of people into ACGME psychiatry programs.

My kids went into some very good ACGME Psych programs.

 

[Magus5454]

Well as a Canadian it's basically MSUCOM or LECOM or maybe even touro if I'm lucky and I doubt any of those got any decent amount of ACGME spots

I know for a fact KCU took several Canadians

 

[rg2o3]

Well as a Canadian it's basically MSUCOM or LECOM or maybe even touro if I'm lucky and I doubt any of those got any decent amount of ACGME spots

Lol bold statement.

 

[MADD!!!]

Lol you would doubt wrong.

You’re a Canadian, your chances at MD in the US or Canada is very minimal, borderline nonexistent, with your MCAT. It will probably come down to you being a USDO or not being a doctor.

Do you think they have a shot with a 504 MCAT as a Canadian for DO? And to @ForgottenPro, focus on getting into ANY medical schools first, given your circumstances I think you underestimate the difficulty of getting into DO schools.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Do you think they have a shot with a 504 MCAT as a Canadian for DO? And to @ForgottenPro, focus on getting into ANY medical schools first, given your circumstances I think you underestimate the difficulty of getting into DO schools.

From what I've seen happen to other posters I would say so. The best chance is at MSU.

 

[Brain Whisperer]

Lol you would doubt wrong.

You’re a Canadian, your chances at MD in the US or Canada is very minimal, borderline nonexistent, with your MCAT. It will probably come down to you being a USDO or not being a doctor.

Oh I know, that's why I'm retaking the MCAT and I was perfectly fine with DO, but if I don't match psych I just can't see myself being too happy with something like family or internal medicine so I'd rather just go into engineering.

My kids went into some very good ACGME Psych programs.

I have no doubt they did, but times are changing and residencies are getting harder and harder to get into, especially for DOs. Having an adcom parent probably also helped I'd assume.

I know for a fact KCU took several Canadians

You're right, just took a look at their thread.

Lol bold statement.

How so?

Do you think they have a shot with a 504 MCAT as a Canadian for DO? And to @ForgottenPro, focus on getting into ANY medical schools first, given your circumstances I think you underestimate the difficulty of getting into DO schools.

That was my plan, I know full well the bull**** of getting into any med school, but the SOAP thread got me real worried that I might spend 4 years and not even match into my preferred (formerly) easy to get into specialty.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Oh I know, that's why I'm retaking the MCAT and I was perfectly fine with DO, but if I don't match psych I just can't see myself being too happy with something like family or internal medicine so I'd rather just go into engineering.

Remember that US schools see all of your MCAT retakes so honestly unless you kill it (like 516+) you probably still won’t have much of a chance at USMD schools. Even then it’s iffy.

Having an adcom parent probably also helped I'd assume.

Lol no. First, he’s talking about his students and not his actual kids. Second, having a parent that is an adcom member give exactly 0% leg up when applying to residency.

Psych really isn’t competitive. Yes there were a lot of people applying this year and manny of them probably didn’t apply to enough programs due to psych’s history. Psych will always be a field that values fit and passion for the field very highly and no matter how many people apply it’s never going to be a field where you need a 250 to get a spot.

Also pretty much everyone changes their mind at least once so to avoid becoming a doctor because of one field is dumb. Unless you really don’t want to be a doctor.

 

[Brain Whisperer]

Remember that US schools see all of your MCAT retakes so honestly unless you kill it (like 516+) you probably still won’t have much of a chance at USMD schools. Even then it’s iffy.

Damn, so apart from a great MCAT, what else can I do?

Psych will always be a field that values fit and passion for the field very highly and no matter how many people apply it’s never going to be a field where you need a 250 to get a spot

I see, that's reassuring to know.

 

[cliquesh]

Hey guys

So I'm a Canadian and right now I'm looking at psychiatry. Before, it used to be an easy specialty to get into, so I just thought I could go DO and get in no issues.

But seeing the SOAP thread, I don't know how that will change especially with ~1000 more DO students every year. AOA match is also going away.

My stats are 3.87 GPA and 504 MCAT that I'm retaking in a couple of weeks. ECs are 50 hours of clinical, 80 non-clinical (150 projected), 130 hours research (200 projected) and likely 35 hours shadowing.

Should I beef up my stats for another year (already in 5th year) to apply for MD or should I just go DO this year? Thanks in advance

In 2017, 216 DOs matched ACGME psych (about 14% of the available positions). I wouldn't worry about it too much. I have a friend who failed their comlex level 1, but matched at a university program for psych. This was in 2013, however.

 

[NontradCA]

Just matched psych. I think Psych will still be fine for DOs in 5 years. It will get more competitive, but so will everything else.

 

[UTsksk]

Dude I matched psych this year as a DO. Yeah it got more difficult this year where people that would've matched before didnt. All you can do is go into med school and try your best to get awesome board scores and show interest in the field.

I was middle of my class, had leadership but nothing psych related, no research, below avg comlex 1 and average comlex 2. Interviewed at 11 places and matched very low on my list. I'm grateful I can still be a psychiatrist.

If I could do it again....show interest in psych with clubs/research(my interest was late 3rd year), study for boards sooner and take step 1. I think I interviewed well just like everyone else since psych interviews are very chill. This makes me under the impression that when it came time to rank I gave them too many opportunities like poor scores, no step, and late interest to rank me middle to low.

You can pm me if you have any questions.