DO for the right reasons??

[CardiacGuy]

Just wondering, what is the percentage of persons in DO schools who really wanted to get into allopathic school? Are there really people out there who see DO school as a "backup"? I have a great deal of respect for the theory behind osteopathic medicine and the docs who practice it. Any takers?

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[MSN1]

I suspect that allot of people wanted to go to MD schools but could not get in and went to DO schools instead.

 

[John DO]

Of course, then there are those of us who used MD as a backup to DO--yes, I was accepted to both and chose the best program, not the most accepted letters.

 

[DO/MBA]

Then there were those of us who didn't care. ie first acceptance is the school of choice.

 

[Fooman]

I didn't apply to any allopathic schools this year because I didn't think they would accept my low MCAT and low GPA. However, I am taking my MCAT again in April 2002. Hopefully, I can make some significant improvements. And when I do apply, it will just be for my two state schools since the tuition is cheap and one of the schools is ranked in the top 25.

However, I did apply to DO schools instead, but not as backup, but as a means of hoping to become a physician. I have shadowed a DO in family practice and there is no difference that I found between a DO and MD. I think both practice good patient advocacy. Yes, the DO has extra training in muscle manipulation, and one factor that appeals to me, but I also see it seldomly used.
Also for me, one of the drawbacks for DO schools is that they are all expensive compared to my two state MD schools.