DO or Carribeans....which should be last resort?

[ashkan33]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Yo,

now that i'm going through the application cycle i've realized that i must have some back-up plans. so far, i think my options go from 1. MD 2. SMP and as a third choice i'm not sure yet which is better: an MD from the carribs or a DO here in the states. basically, what do residency programs view with more contempt?

any ideas that won't contribute to a MD v DO riot would be very appreciated. if you want to start a MD v DO war, i'm sure there are plenty of other threads you can view...

thanks

 

[kito]

the islands

 

[Chode]

Originally posted by ashkan33
Yo,

now that i'm going through the application cycle i've realized that i must have some back-up plans. so far, i think my options go from 1. MD 2. SMP and as a third choice i'm not sure yet which is better: an MD from the carribs or a DO here in the states. basically, what do residency programs view with more contempt?

any ideas that won't contribute to a MD v DO riot would be very appreciated. if you want to start a MD v DO war, i'm sure there are plenty of other threads you can view...

thanks

look at the numbers Jim.
are there more carib grads or DO grads in real residencies ( allopathic ).?
simple as that really

lots of speculation here.
lots of parlour talkers
look at the data. that's all you need. everything else is BS

 

[aquaboy]

I would say that it would be better to graduate from a school in the states thatn to be a foreign medical graduate. It is hard for foreign medical grads to obtain competieve residencies. They usually get the "leftovers" unless they are exceptional. DO's on the other hand can be accepted to any specialty, even though it is a little harder. If you want to be a doctor and stay in the states then you should try 1) U.S. allopathic 2) DO 3) Foreign allopatic

 

[siempre595]

Rather than looking for the "best back-up plan," ask yourself how important it is to be at a really great school that you are thrilled to be at, will give you a great education, and offers experiences that will not make you look back years from now and say, "I settled for my back-up." As practical as the back-up option is, having gone through the whole application thing, I highly suggest taking extra time to strengthen your application so that no back-ups are necessary. If you find yourself facing going to a back up location/school/program, you'll also find yourself forever wondering if you could have gotten your top choice had you just taken an extra year off, done some extra work, etc. Rather than choosing the lesser of the two evils of back-ups, leave off the back-ups and re-apply next year if necessary. That's my opinion which I'm sure tons of people will disagree with.

 

[Tamomo]

An orthopedic surgeon once told me...."An MD is an MD."

 

[WatchingWaiting]

This is a quite tough choice. It's something like, "Would you rather have us remove your pinky or your middle finger?" You'll be stigmatized either way, but the form will be somewhat different. I think osteopaths, being US grads, probably have an easier time getting US residencies. OTOH, the letters after your name will always be D.O. For a Carribean grad, you'll be an MD, but when asked where you studied, you'll be exposed. Of course, you can just talk about your residency instead.

In either case, if you excel in your program, you can place in a decent residency and be a perfectly good physician. It'll more be when talking to colleagues and the occasioanal elitist patient that you'll be a little stigmatized. As one poster pointed out, it might be better to just stick to the US MD route and fix any deficiencies in your preparation.

 

[Ca$h MaNi]

I think the best advice first-off is to ask what is it that YOU really want for a medical education. Are you only interested in allopathy...have you compared the residency stats/board exam stats and education that DO schools offer. It is known that DO schools are strong primary-care schools...but if you check out the match-lists of many DO schools...you'll see more and more DO students are going into competitive specialties(neuro, derm, anesth, Emerg. Medicine...etc.). It is all up to their interest and whether they like that sort of medicine. I have done tons of research and talking with residency directors at some top hospitals around the chicago-land area...and basically they look for board scores, grades in med school and extracurriculars....none of the hospitals I talked to care if you are a DO or MD. I know some friends of mine in the caribbean and one was able to land a general surgery residency but he scored in the 90th precentile on the USMLE's but he told me it is very tough and he wishes he did DO instead...not cuz it was a backup but just cuz he wanted to be in the states and be trained at good hospitals in the states(which many DO schools are affiliated...you have to do some research ofcourse).

Again, its really up to what YOU want from a medical education and not a case of backups. If you really want to do allopathic medicine...you should wait and not look back and regret that you had to settle for your future career. If all you want to be is the best physician possible and be open to any specialty available...then try to remain US trained and do MD or DO. I was accepted to both MD and DO schools and did tons of research and talking and it was easy for me to turn down MD and go DO. I figured I was getting more out of the education for the money I was gonna put in and tons of other reasons. It doesnt matter these days anymore..you just have to perform well on boards and do well in med school and get the most out of your education as possible and many doors will open.

Good luck to you...either way allopathy or osteopathy...you're gonna turn out a great physician as long as you are happy with your initial choice and dont just settle...cuz if you settle, you will most likely not be as happy...and it will in turn affect your outlook as a physician to your patients...

Mani

 

[skypilot]

Originally posted by Ca$h MaNi

Good luck to you...either way allopathy or osteopathy...you're gonna turn out a great physician as long as you are happy with your initial choice and dont just settle...

Mani

Great Post! Plus Mani gets to go to school near the beaches in Florida and one of the best medical schools in the country allopathic or osteopathic. Who do you think will have fonder memories of their education him or the guys freezing their tails off up at Mayo?

Ace your boards at an osteopathic school and you can go anywhere the allopaths do. 😉

 

[Ca$h MaNi]

hahahahahahahahha....

thanks skypilot...where you off to?

its gonna be manipulation nation at the beaches man! 😛





Mani 😎

 

[skypilot]

Originally posted by Ca$h MaNi

thanks skypilot...where you off to?

Not sure yet.... sure wouldn't mind heading down to Florida though. Have fun.

 

[LUBDUBB]

Originally posted by Tamomo
An orthopedic surgeon once told me...."An MD is an MD."

Anecdotes don't make truths.

To the OP- if your goal in life is to be a physician and practice medicine - then it doesn't matter if you do it with an MD or DO. On the other hand, if you're only worried about 'the letters after your name' - then go to the islands. In the end you will only be judged by HOW you practice medicine.


Were I in your situation, I would go DO - easier to get residencies and don't have to spend two years on some island where half the entering class will get weeded out.

 

[Ca$h MaNi]

dont forget the frequent hurricane threats and higher transportation costs to travel to see your family every once in while if you miss them.

my friends say the atmosphere at Ross and St. Georges is very competitive and cutt-throat at many times....ofcourse that is just there opinion...but consider that when choosing...