DO now or MD in 1-2 years?

[MaximusD]

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Members do not see this ad.

FWIW, PCOM puts out more GRADUATES than most MD schools. Your claim is easy to make when the class sizes are so large.

I am talking in percentages. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

 

[MaximusD]

so you wont agree that uc davis is more likely to accept a student from california into thier residency program? because they do try to train dr's that are more likely to stick around in cali. or a west virginia hospital choosing a student that graduated from wvu over a student from california, to limit the number of dr's moving away back to cali after training? im 25 by the way and finished with school, so dont talk down to me like im some kind of freshman pre-med who knows nothing.btw, pull that stick outta your ***. its not my fault u couldnt get into a better school.

Do you even know what differentiates a "good school" from a "poor school"?

Please explain to the rest of us.

 

[UCDavisdude]

Do you even know what differentiates a "good school" from a "poor school"?

Please explain to the rest of us.

just giving the person a little taste of his/her own snobbyness. plus, i said "better" school. not "poor" school. because we all know that every school is just as good as the other..

 

[Gut Shot]

I'm not sensitive. Watching pre-meds trying to rationalize things they don't know about is like bashing your head into the wall repeatedly. You'll understand 3 years from now.

Condescension is not an effective form of argumentation. You'll understand 3 years from now.

 

[MaximusD]

just giving the person a little taste of his/her own snobbyness. plus, i said "better" school. not "poor" school. because we all know that every school is just as good as the other..

You avoided the question. Answer it.

I challenge anyone here to answer this question. Really.

 

[Ian1223]

you also need to take into account the fact that if you are accepted to LECOM and decline in order to reapply MD next year, when schools ask if you have been accepted to medical school before, you are going to have to admit that you have been and you willingly said no.

Isn't that kind of a red flag for an adcom? If people are hesitant as to whether or not they really want to go DO, they technically shouldn't apply/interview in the first place.

I am not in or have applied to any DO schools this year.

 

[Ian1223]

Do you even know what differentiates a "good school" from a "poor school"?

Please explain to the rest of us.

Its impossible to insult people in a discussion and expect it to have a positive result.

Since you asked...

History of accreditation.
Opportunities once you graduate
Admissions stats.
Opinions of independent experts in the field.
Opinions of students
Residency success rate (in the residency you want)
Location of residencies achieved (New York vs. Idaho)
Prestige
Education
Location
Teachers
Tuition
The experiences of recent graduates.
Most importantly.... Your opinion.


Lets try to keep things positive! OK!

I think that covers it. Please try to keep this a discussion and not a lobbing of insults. I believe that the programs (MDDO) are the same.

I think that the two most important qualities of a doctor are compassion and intelligence. The way doctors prove their compassion is through ECs and prove their intelligence is through scores.

Just because a DO wasnt as academically successful in college as an MD, that doesnt mean that he is cut out to be a lesser doctor.

Once your in the field, its up to you to respect every doctor you meet just the same because that is what leads to the most effective patient care. I dont think there are any MDs who actively question the decisions of their DO colleagues, that would be ridiculous!

Theres just as much potential for a DO as an MD. The opportunities are there even if DOs appear less well suited to take advantage of them.

The writing's on the wall (literally). To choose whether MD or DO is right for you you have to read the information and decide objectively. Its the only way.

 

[Instatewaiter]

For me personally, I don't hope to place my trust in the school to "let me" get a competitive residency. For most things in life, including a competitive residency, if you can work for it, you can get it.

Half of you on this board wont get into medical school. Half of them wont be in the top half of the class. Half of them wont be in the top quartile of their class and probably half of them wont have the board scores.

Unlike College pretty much everyone in med school is smart and works hard. Despite that very few have the stats for competitive residencies. So for most people in med school, they can work for it but they cant get it.

 

[tf2medic]

actually, hampering your career will happen in some areas if you become a DO over an MD. more than once while I was shadowing, the MDs did not consider DOs the same as them. they're just like "oh, he's a DO....not MD" sort of in a arrogant way.

also, i've heard that DOs are only treated more equally in the midwest and on the coast it's much harder to get a job over MDs.

additionally, I heard that OVERSEAS DOs are not really recognized as doctors. so if you ever plan on going overseas and thus transfer your job, you want that MD for that.

but yea, i don't have stats to backup anything I said haha. that's just what i've been told from doctors. can anyone disprove those claims? thanks

so in your case, i'd probably wait, improve your ****, and reapply the next year. i'm applying for the 1st time this upcoming cycle and i know i won't be the strongest candidate. my GPA is pretty low but i still have the MCAT coming up so we'll see if that can balance me out. i was planning on applying to a lot of those 3.5ish med schools in NY like you did. if i don't get in first time, which i have prepared myself as being more likely than not haha, then i'll just wait the next year. i hope you hear back...good luck

 

[AWhitehair]

That "lack of respect" is mainly on SDN and in the rumor mills. Once you're out in the real world you'll be surprised to see DOs and MDs working together without any problems. What matters is how good a physician you are.

Well said. I work in Urology and our chief is actually a DO. He has 3 MD's working in his Dept. He is a wonderful doctor and the patients absolutely love and respect him.

Your patients and collaborators will respect a good bedside manner and work ethic respectively, not which two letters are scribed on your white coat.

 

[Ian1223]

Your patients and collaborators will respect a good bedside manner and work ethic respectively, not which two letters are scribed on your white coat.

I hope so.

 

[AWhitehair]

I hope so.

I wouldn't give up for this cycle quite yet. You still have a good chance. Like others have said above, your stats are good. BTW, are you from the UCF area? I grew up in Kissimmee...all my old friends go to UCF. I was actually thinking about starting post-bacc there this year. Any pointers would be nice.

 

[Ian1223]

I wouldn't give up for this cycle quite yet. You still have a good chance. Like others have said above, your stats are good. BTW, are you from the UCF area? I grew up in Kissimmee...all my old friends go to UCF. I was actually thinking about starting post-bacc there this year. Any pointers would be nice.

We have a very good PhD program in Biomedical Sciences and with the med school coming, its only going to get better as the more respected faculty come with it, which they have been over the past few years.

Is that helpful? I dont really know too much about it

 

[AWhitehair]

We have a very good PhD program in Biomedical Sciences and with the med school coming, its only going to get better as the more respected faculty come with it, which they have been over the past few years.

Is that helpful? I dont really know too much about it

I'm not interested in getting a PhD. I just want to do a year of upper level undergraduate science work.

 

[endocardium]

I think that the two most important qualities of a doctor are compassion and intelligence. The way doctors prove their compassion is through ECs and prove their intelligence is through scores.

Doctors prove both through how they treat their patients, manage their care, and contribute to the outcome.

 

[Bacchus]

also, i've heard that DOs are only treated more equally in the midwest and on the coast it's much harder to get a job over MDs.

Which coast? If you're talking East I'd say you're wrong. NY, NJ, VA, GA, FL all have osteopathic schools.

 

[Sk8er07]

I am not in or have applied to any DO schools this year.

You originally asked if you should apply to LECOM. So I am saying, if you do, are accepted, and chose not to go it won't look good.

my point was, don't apply unless you know for sure that you would go there if accepted, otherwise it will hurt your chances next year.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Which coast? If you're talking East I'd say you're wrong. NY, NJ, VA, GA, FL all have osteopathic schools.

Va may have VCOM but that doesnt mean there is no stigma associated with DOs here. Generally the mid to southern East coast is not too DO friendly.

 

[lacesoutdan]

You originally asked if you should apply to LECOM. So I am saying, if you do, are accepted, and chose not to go it won't look good.

my point was, don't apply unless you know for sure that you would go there if accepted, otherwise it will hurt your chances next year.

No it won't. You shouldn't apply to any schools you wouldn't attend, but if you reapply no one will ask you if you got accepted anywhere and no one will know.

 

[tkim]

No it won't. You shouldn't apply to any schools you wouldn't attend, but if you reapply no one will ask you if you got accepted anywhere and no one will know.

Some applications ask if you've been admitted to medical school before.

 

[Sk8er07]

No it won't. You shouldn't apply to any schools you wouldn't attend, but if you reapply no one will ask you if you got accepted anywhere and no one will know.

a few of mine did, actually...

 

[lacesoutdan]

Some applications ask if you've been admitted to medical school before.

I doubt it. Are you sure? I filled out 30 and a few asked if I had matriculated, but none of them asked if I had been admitted. If you can find and post one, I'll stand corrected.

 

[Ian1223]

I'm not interested in getting a PhD. I just want to do a year of upper level undergraduate science work.

Oh, well UCF will absolutely be able to help you out then.

Take your pick:

BCH 4054 Biochemistry II 3 hrs
MCB 3203, 3203L Pathogenic Microbiology + Lab 4 hrs
PCB 3063 Genetics 3 hrs
MCB 4312 Molecular Biotechnology 3 hrs
MCB 4503C Virology 3 hrs
MCB 4970H Honors Thesis 3 hrs
MCB 4203 Infectious Process 3 hrs
MCB 5225 Molecular Biology of Disease 3 hrs
MCB 3404 Bacterial Genetics and Physiology 3 hrs
MCB 4276 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases 3 hrs
MLS 3305 Hematology 3 hrs
MLS 4334 Hemostasis 3 hrs
MLS 4430C Clinical Parasitology 2 hrs
MLS 4505C Immunodiagnostics 3 hrs


PCB 4026 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology 3 hrs
PCB 4805 Endocrinology 3 hrs
PCB 5238 Immunolobiology 3 hrs
ZOO 3701C Human Gross Anatomy 2 hrs
ZOO 3733C Human Anatomy 4 hrs
ZOO 4603C Vertebrate Embryology 5 hrs
ZOO 4704C Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience 4 hrs
ZOO 3744 Neurobiology 3 hrs
ZOO 4753C Vertebrate Histology 4 hrs
ZOO 4605 Human Clinical Embryology 3 hrs

 

[AWhitehair]

They actually have gross anatomy? With real cadavers and everything? 👍 How many students are in these classes on average? That list was extremely helpful. I copy pasted it into a word file for safe keeping. 🙂

Oh, well UCF will absolutely be able to help you out then.

Take your pick:

BCH 4054 Biochemistry II 3 hrs
MCB 3203, 3203L Pathogenic Microbiology + Lab 4 hrs
PCB 3063 Genetics 3 hrs
MCB 4312 Molecular Biotechnology 3 hrs
MCB 4503C Virology 3 hrs
MCB 4970H Honors Thesis 3 hrs
MCB 4203 Infectious Process 3 hrs
MCB 5225 Molecular Biology of Disease 3 hrs
MCB 3404 Bacterial Genetics and Physiology 3 hrs
MCB 4276 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases 3 hrs
MLS 3305 Hematology 3 hrs
MLS 4334 Hemostasis 3 hrs
MLS 4430C Clinical Parasitology 2 hrs
MLS 4505C Immunodiagnostics 3 hrs


PCB 4026 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology 3 hrs
PCB 4805 Endocrinology 3 hrs
PCB 5238 Immunolobiology 3 hrs
ZOO 3701C Human Gross Anatomy 2 hrs
ZOO 3733C Human Anatomy 4 hrs
ZOO 4603C Vertebrate Embryology 5 hrs
ZOO 4704C Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience 4 hrs
ZOO 3744 Neurobiology 3 hrs
ZOO 4753C Vertebrate Histology 4 hrs
ZOO 4605 Human Clinical Embryology 3 hrs

 

[notdeadyet]

In case there are some pre-meds debating whether or not to apply to DO as well as MD schools for medical schools, please keep in mind that the "stigma" you hear about on SDN consists primarily of two parties: very old doctors and pre-meds. By the time you make it to med school, graduate, finish residency, and begin practice, lots of the Old Guard who weren't crazy about DOs (or black or women doctors either) will largely be retired.

I would rule out DO schools, just as I would rule out MD schools: on a school by school basis. Make a list of requirements you have for a school and if the school doesn't fit it, drop it:

1. Location. Key. The ideal is to got to school in a region you'd like to go to residency and practice, but that's just the ideal. Realistically, make sure it's a place you can live for four years and you'll be fine.

2. Match List. Eh. The fact is, almost all schools match people into competitive residencies. But if you're gunning for neurosurgery and see that a particular school funnels 85% of students into primary, you have to ask graduates/students/faculty why that is. And if it's graduates seem to have had a tough time getting into a particular residency, ask why.

3. Associated Hospital. This one killed my interest in a DO school I was looking at. I would avoid any school that did not have its own hospital, or a hospital in which you were guaranteed your 3rd year rotations and at which you had options for 4th year rotations. The school I ruled out had a policy that they had a "network" of schools you could apply to do rotations at come 3rd year. Students ended up like Ross kids who had to patch together their last two years of medical school onesy-twosey No thanks. Also make sure that the hospital has the kind of traffic you want to see. This is largely where you'll be made into a doctor.

4. Colleagues. This is the biggest, but unfortunately the hardest to judge. You want to be with a good group of people for your four years of medical school as you'll be spending a lot of time with them and they very much help shape what kind of doctor you'll be. If schools look like they're made up of 21 year old bio major automotrons with no life experience, ask if that's where you want to be (there are schools like this). If the school seems primarily made up by stress cases gunning to beat their classmate, ask yourselves if that's what you want (many schools aren't like this). Try to get a feel for what the school is made up of and if that's where you want to learn. You can't get that from a single visit's impression.

So look at MD and DO schools with an open mind. If you find a DO school that doesn't have it's own hospital and you have to string together your last two years and travel around the state, you might kill that choice. If you find an MD school that has a terrible student body suffering under ABCDF and cutthroat competition and that's not your learning environment, kill it.

Whether a school is DO or MD is an issue mainly because it can affect some of the issues above. But all things being equal (which they rarely are)? I wouldn't sweat the letters too much.

 

[tkim]

I doubt it. Are you sure? I filled out 30 and a few asked if I had matriculated, but none of them asked if I had been admitted. If you can find and post one, I'll stand corrected.

You know, it's been 5 years since I applied so perhaps it was matriculation and not admission that was the question. I can't be sure, and I'm not about to do an extensive search.

However, a cursory search brought this post from a confirmed adcom member:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5079586&postcount=48

"Yes, you will raise serious questions if you turn down an offer of admission and then turn around and reapply. You may even find yourself blacklisted (one poster over on the pre-allo forum believes that this is situation this year-he turned down an osteopathic offer in Texas in the previous application cycle."

---

Not exactly iron-clad, but the opinion of an adcom member. Might be specific to her school.

Didn't mean to muddy the waters. 😉

 

[tkim]

actually, hampering your career will happen in some areas if you become a DO over an MD. more than once while I was shadowing, the MDs did not consider DOs the same as them. they're just like "oh, he's a DO....not MD" sort of in a arrogant way.

That's a shame to hear, but there are a lot of arrogant people in medicine. Comes with the territory.

also, i've heard that DOs are only treated more equally in the midwest and on the coast it's much harder to get a job over MDs.

Getting a job, at least in EM, though I suspect it's like this for every specialty, hinges more on where you trained for residency, and what networks you can access through your residency and residency alumni. At my residency which has 12 residents - all have job contracts and 3/12 are DO's. Each one of them has said it's the network of alumni that has opened doors - not where they went to school.

additionally, I heard that OVERSEAS DOs are not really recognized as doctors. so if you ever plan on going overseas and thus transfer your job, you want that MD for that.

This is something I've been curious about for quite some time - where the idea that the US MD is universally accepted. It's not. Certainly it's more widely accepted since it's been in existence longer, but it's nowhere the universal degree that most people suppose it is.

For DO's, here's the current list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Osteopathic_Medicine

I used to post the list of international rights for DO's here, but th wiki list is done much better, and provides cites.

but yea, i don't have stats to backup anything I said haha. that's just what i've been told from doctors. can anyone disprove those claims? thanks

Normally, when someone makes a claim of information, the person making the claim provides the proof, not the other way around.

 

[Ian1223]

They actually have gross anatomy? With real cadavers and everything? 👍 How many students are in these classes on average? That list was extremely helpful. I copy pasted it into a word file for safe keeping. 🙂

Go to www.ucf.edu go to current students, find the undergraduate catalogue and download it.

Search under UCF Degree Programs and go to molecular and microbiology

We all have to complete a certain number of upper division restricted elective classes. That list is all of them I think.

The Human Gross Anatomy has all of the cadavers and everyting you would expect from a medical school class. Admittance is limited and is based on GPA and also first come first serve. It is in the spring.

If I stay at UCF another year Im definately going to sign up. This year I didnt make the cut.

** I thought post-bacc meant post-undergraduate, my bad.

 

[travoltage]

actually, hampering your career will happen in some areas if you become a DO over an MD. more than once while I was shadowing, the MDs did not consider DOs the same as them. they're just like "oh, he's a DO....not MD" sort of in a arrogant way.

also, i've heard that DOs are only treated more equally in the midwest and on the coast it's much harder to get a job over MDs.

additionally, I heard that OVERSEAS DOs are not really recognized as doctors. so if you ever plan on going overseas and thus transfer your job, you want that MD for that.

but yea, i don't have stats to backup anything I said haha. that's just what i've been told from doctors. can anyone disprove those claims? thanks

so in your case, i'd probably wait, improve your ****, and reapply the next year. i'm applying for the 1st time this upcoming cycle and i know i won't be the strongest candidate. my GPA is pretty low but i still have the MCAT coming up so we'll see if that can balance me out. i was planning on applying to a lot of those 3.5ish med schools in NY like you did. if i don't get in first time, which i have prepared myself as being more likely than not haha, then i'll just wait the next year. i hope you hear back...good luck

i think you are ill-informed.

1. Yes, there are limitations on DO's practicing in foregin countries...just as there are limitations on MDs. It is fairly difficult for any American doctor to practice in foregin countries. ----> with that being said, why would you want to practice in a foreign country? the rewards are far less, work load is larger and more stressful, technology and advancements in medicine are far less, i personally think its stupid

now if your talking about limitations as a DO practicing in international medical relief like Docs without borders, red cross, etc., ...there are no limitations for DO's.

2. with your point about DO's only in midwest...that is highly doubtful. the only region of the United States that I could imagine "being treated unequally" is in the south where its much more conservative and far less DO affiliated programs. DO's are littering the midwest, east and west coasts and this is evident by all the progams that are offered exclusively to DO's

3. why the hell would MD's have prejudice over DO's when in practice. unless their in the same field and competeting against each other for patients (assuming they're private practice), who cares what a general surgeon (lets say he/she is an MD) thinks about a neurologist (lets say he/she is a DO). in what way would that bother them?


i think everybody on this thread is kind of loosing it. sure, DO's dont have as many opportunities at PRESTIGOUS HOSPITALS AND ACADEMIC CENTERS in the united states as MDs, but how many of you will ever get that opportunity even if your an MD? hardly any of you will. remember, this SDN network has like some 5000 people registered for it, im sure thats reflective of how the rest of the 20,000 medical students feel about DOs and MDs.... every person on this forum wants to be that big shot in the big shot hospitals but its so unlikely that most of you will...with that being said, i dont see why it would be worst to be a DO now as opposed to an MD in 1-2 yrs.

 

[UCDavisdude]

You avoided the question. Answer it.

I challenge anyone here to answer this question. Really.

the bible. as in...usnews of course..jk
i avoided the question bc i dont understand why'd you ask me that anyways. my post had nothing to do with whats a good or bad school.but to answer your question, its all relative. a good school to me may be one in a location that i like, with affiliated hospitals that i want to rotate at and a class attendance policy. for another person, they may consider it a poor school because of different personal preferences.

 

[Ian1223]

i think you are ill-informed.

1. Yes, there are limitations on DO's practicing in foregin countries...just as there are limitations on MDs. It is fairly difficult for any American doctor to practice in foregin countries. ----> with that being said, why would you want to practice in a foreign country? the rewards are far less, work load is larger and more stressful, technology and advancements in medicine are far less, i personally think its stupid

now if your talking about limitations as a DO practicing in international medical relief like Docs without borders, red cross, etc., ...there are no limitations for DO's.

2. with your point about DO's only in midwest...that is highly doubtful. the only region of the United States that I could imagine "being treated unequally" is in the south where its much more conservative and far less DO affiliated programs. DO's are littering the midwest, east and west coasts and this is evident by all the progams that are offered exclusively to DO's

3. why the hell would MD's have prejudice over DO's when in practice. unless their in the same field and competeting against each other for patients (assuming they're private practice), who cares what a general surgeon (lets say he/she is an MD) thinks about a neurologist (lets say he/she is a DO). in what way would that bother them?


i think everybody on this thread is kind of loosing it. sure, DO's dont have as many opportunities at PRESTIGOUS HOSPITALS AND ACADEMIC CENTERS in the united states as MDs, but how many of you will ever get that opportunity even if your an MD? hardly any of you will. remember, this SDN network has like some 5000 people registered for it, im sure thats reflective of how the rest of the 20,000 medical students feel about DOs and MDs.... every person on this forum wants to be that big shot in the big shot hospitals but its so unlikely that most of you will...with that being said, i dont see why it would be worst to be a DO now as opposed to an MD in 1-2 yrs.

I see London
I see France

and when I see a person with poor communication skills on SDN...

I see their underpants.

Chill out my friend, were all on the same team here. No need to go all caps and bolds on us.

The DOs and pre-DOs are so defensive!

 

[UCDavisdude]

I see London
I see France

and when I see a person with poor communication skills on SDN...

I see their underpants.

Chill out my friend, were all on the same team here. No need to go all caps and bolds on us.

The DOs and pre-DOs are so defensive!

that was immature, but gave me a chuckle.lol👍

 

[AWhitehair]

Post-bacc means after your bachelor's degree. I have looked at the catalog before, but I never saw some of those classes listed on it.

Go to www.ucf.edu go to current students, find the undergraduate catalogue and download it.

Search under UCF Degree Programs and go to molecular and microbiology

We all have to complete a certain number of upper division restricted elective classes. That list is all of them I think.

The Human Gross Anatomy has all of the cadavers and everyting you would expect from a medical school class. Admittance is limited and is based on GPA and also first come first serve. It is in the spring.

If I stay at UCF another year Im definately going to sign up. This year I didnt make the cut.

** I thought post-bacc meant post-undergraduate, my bad.

 

[Ian1223]

that was immature, but gave me a chuckle.lol👍

😀

 

[travoltage]

I see London
I see France

and when I see a person with poor communication skills on SDN...

I see their underpants.

Chill out my friend, were all on the same team here. No need to go all caps and bolds on us.

The DOs and pre-DOs are so defensive!

im not being defensive nor am I a DO...and my communication skills are most likely reflected by this post....hardly

 

[Ian1223]

im not being defensive nor am I a DO...and my communication skills are most likely reflected by this post....hardly

You still are. Having a discussion predicates that you write respectfully to the person you are communicating with.

We all respect you.

I believe that MDs may and probably do have some advantages over DOs.

It doesnt mean DOs are bad and it doesnt mean MDs are bad its just the way things are.

For the med school candidates who believe they may have the potential to reach those prestigious residencies, its better for them to go MD.

 

[Concubine]

I think that the two most important qualities of a doctor are compassion and intelligence. The way doctors prove their compassion is through ECs and prove their intelligence is through scores.

I think the the most important quality of a doctor is the ability to do their job, i.e. heal people (if possible).

 

[bth7]

For those thinking of waiting.

One factor to consider, the number of applicants per year to DO schools is on the upswing. Applicants are increasingly much faster than available seats. With nearly 20% yearly increases in the number of applicants, there may be some increase in the competitiveness of DO admissions over the next few years.

Just something to consider if you're thinking of playing the waiting game.

bth

 

[Gut Shot]

3. Associated Hospital. This one killed my interest in a DO school I was looking at. I would avoid any school that did not have its own hospital, or a hospital in which you were guaranteed your 3rd year rotations and at which you had options for 4th year rotations. The school I ruled out had a policy that they had a "network" of schools you could apply to do rotations at come 3rd year. Students ended up like Ross kids who had to patch together their last two years of medical school onesy-twosey No thanks. Also make sure that the hospital has the kind of traffic you want to see. This is largely where you'll be made into a doctor.

This perhaps the biggest overall deficiency in osteopathic medical education right now. I suspect it's an impediment to DO penetration into competitive allopathic residencies. When I compare my M3/M4 clinical education with that of my DO friends and colleagues, the differences are rather stark. Mine was centered in a tertiary referral center, with a marked tilt towards inpatient medicine. I had easy access to every specialty under the sun.

My counterparts were nomads, traveling from state to state, rotating mainly through community hospitals and smaller teaching hospitals, with greater emphasis on clinic settings and outpatient care. It's not that their training was inherently inferior to mine, but it was certainly less organized and more aimed at primary care environments. Establishing the connections to venture off that path seemed a bit more challenging for them.

Hence, if I were looking at DO schools, I would definitely be taking notdeadyet's advice. Places like PCOM have well established clinical training affiliations, and this is reflected in their match list.

 

[nlax30]

For those thinking of waiting.

One factor to consider, the number of applicants per year to DO schools is on the upswing. Applicants are increasingly much faster than available seats. With nearly 20% yearly increases in the number of applicants, there may be some increase in the competitiveness of DO admissions over the next few years.

Just something to consider if you're thinking of playing the waiting game.

bth

Very true. The admissions "game" can also be so subjective and random it seems that it would be tough to wait a year IF you already had an acceptance in hand. Enrollment is going up, applicants aren't getting any "dumber", etc...

In 2005 there were 8258 applicants for the ~3908 DO seats and
37,373 applicants for the ~17,003 MD seats. So rates are "similiar" either way. Hard to compare these exactly as they're from different organizations and there's some variation in how they include numbers from Texas.... BUT, gives a general idea of the rough numbers.

In the end I haven't seen a single med school where their stats or requirements have gone down.

 

[J1515]

so you wont agree that uc davis is more likely to accept a student from california into thier residency program? because they do try to train dr's that are more likely to stick around in cali. or a west virginia hospital choosing a student that graduated from wvu over a student from california, to limit the number of dr's moving away back to cali after training?

Who cares? If you are at the top of your class you will have options. Now go have fun before school starts.

btw, pull that stick outta your ***. its not my fault u couldnt get into a better school.

Perfect pre-med response 👍

Since you asked, I got into 6 schools (MD and DO) and chose where I am now due to location, amongst other things. Again, in a few more years you will laugh at people who base their life around what everyone else thinks is "better".

 

[UCDavisdude]

Who cares? If you are at the top of your class you will have options. Now go have fun before school starts.


Perfect pre-med response 👍

Since you asked, I got into 6 schools (MD and DO) and chose where I am now due to location, amongst other things. Again, in a few more years you will laugh at people who base their life around what everyone else thinks is "better".

premedical response? ok..and i didnt ask. 🙂

 

[DocLove06]

to the op:

GO BE A DOCTOR

 

[endocardium]

I was reading through some of the posts in this thread and I had myself a nice chuckle. The OP is basically having the premedical version of a wet dream. It's all intellectual masturbation. Currently, he's not in any position to choose. According to him, he hasn't been accepted anywhere, so I don't think there is much to talk about. In my opinion, to have a meaningful conversation about options, the OP would require options. He should be focusing his effort on getting accepted somewhere, or preparing to reapply, which includes improving his application and fixing any problems with his file, or both.

This thread is a lot of needless talk. As the previous poster said, "go be a doctor."

Good luck. 😉

 

[Ian1223]

I was reading through some of the posts in this thread and I had myself a nice chuckle. The OP is basically having the premedical version of a wet dream. It's all intellectual masturbation. Currently, he's not in any position to choose. According to him, he hasn't been accepted anywhere, so I don't think there is much to talk about. In my opinion, to have a meaningful conversation about options, the OP would require options. He should be focusing his effort on getting accepted somewhere, or preparing to reapply, which includes improving his application and fixing any problems with his file, or both.

This thread is a lot of needless talk. As the previous poster said, "go be a doctor."

Good luck. 😉

....->

 

[MaximusD]

Who cares? If you are at the top of your class you will have options. Now go have fun before school starts.


Perfect pre-med response 👍

Since you asked, I got into 6 schools (MD and DO) and chose where I am now due to location, amongst other things. Again, in a few more years you will laugh at people who base their life around what everyone else thinks is "better".

Common fallacy. IF you are at the top of your class and flop the USMLE/COMLEX you won't have many options at all.

Conversely, if you are the middle of your class and rock the first step exam, you'll have many options.

If you're gonna parrot something, at least make it accurate.

Application to residency isn't like application to medical school. The COMLEX/USMLE isn't the MCAT and your class rank isn't your undergrad GPA. In application to med school, they were evenly matched in terms of relevance. By comparison, your med school class rank is significantly less important than your ugrad GPA was, however your COMLEX scores are paramount. In addition, programs HIGHLY base their decision on your audition rotation performance... Matching into a residency is an entirely different beast than applying to med school was...

 

[notdeadyet]

Common fallacy. IF you are at the top of your class and flop the USMLE/COMLEX you won't have many options at all.

Conversely, if you are the middle of your class and rock the first step exam, you'll have many options.

Also, something to keep in mind, is that class rank is becoming less and less important.

Just as years ago schools started moving to Pass/Fail systems in increasing numbers, some schools are now starting to get rid of class rank altogether. Granted, this means that a lot more is riding on your clerkship marks and your USMLE/COMLEX....

 

[bravesfan113]

a few months ago i was shadowing an internist (M.D.), doing rounds at the hospital (in atlanta). on the elevator, he was talking to a cardiologist, and i just happened to notice he was a D.O. (b/c of his coat). when we got off the elevator, i asked the internist what he thought about D.O.s, and it turns out he didn't even know (or care) the cardiologist was a D.O., even though he had been working with him for years. i think this just goes to show that the initials don't matter.

i think it's silly to put your life on hold/do a years worth of work just so you have another CHANCE at getting into a lower tier M.D. school

 

[underpressure]

a few months ago i was shadowing an internist (M.D.), doing rounds at the hospital (in atlanta). on the elevator, he was talking to a cardiologist, and i just happened to notice he was a D.O. (b/c of his coat). when we got off the elevator, i asked the internist what he thought about D.O.s, and it turns out he didn't even know (or care) the cardiologist was a D.O., even though he had been working with him for years. i think this just goes to show that the initials don't matter.

i think it's silly to put your life on hold/do a years worth of work just so you have another CHANCE at getting into a lower tier M.D. school

I completely agree with this. I shadowed a DO and the other doctors he worked with had absolutely no idea he was a DO or that there was any difference at all.