DO or reapply

[Dude5255]

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I know this is a controversial topic, but it has been on my mind a lot lately. I recently got accepted to a good DO school, but this was before I completed my SMP. I feel I have a good chance at the school I did my SMP at and another instate school. I emailed both schools and was told I have a reasonable chance for an interview. I know most people say run with the acceptance and I gladly would, but with step going pass/fail, distance from my family, and wanting to do a competitive residency; I can't help but think about reapplying. I'm currently thinking about ortho or thoracic surgery. The downside of reapplying is that I have already taken 2 gap years, but would be willing to take a 3rd one. I don't want to rile anyone up but could use some good advice.

Stats:
2.89ugpa 2.95sgpa 4.0ggpa 517MCAT

 

[Schwifty]

Stats:
2.89ugpa 2.75sgpa 4.0ggpa 517MCAT

If you wanna be a doctor go to the DO school. Otherwise drop the acceptance ASAP for someone who actually wants it

 

[Osminog]

If you want to do a surgical specialty, especially a competitive one, decline the DO acceptance and apply MD. One additional gap year isn't going to be the end of the world.

 

[EricMD2022]

Take the A and run with it. There is no guarantee that you will be accepted into MD schools.

 

[deleted898021]

I know this is a controversial topic, but it has been on my mind a lot lately. I recently got accepted to a good DO school, but this was before I completed my SMP. I feel I have a good chance at the school I did my SMP at and another instate school. I emailed both schools and was told I have a reasonable chance for an interview. I know most people say run with the acceptance and I gladly would, but with step going pass/fail, distance from my family, and wanting to do a competitive residency; I can't help but think about reapplying. I'm currently thinking about ortho or thoracic surgery. The downside of reapplying is that I have already taken 2 gap years, but would be willing to take a 3rd one. I don't want to rile anyone up but could use some good advice.

Stats:
2.89ugpa 2.95sgpa 4.0ggpa 517MCAT

Ortho is actually very doable as a DO there’s tons of good former aoa programs, integrated CT will be tough but you can get there from the general surgery route which is much easier, don’t give up the acceptance.

 

[deleted898021]

If you want to do a surgical specialty, especially a competitive one, decline the DO acceptance and apply MD. One additional gap year isn't going to be the end of the world.

Terrible advice, this rarely works for people, often times they give up the DO acceptance and waste a year and then they never get into a DO school again forget MD…

 

[deleted610572]

It depends what state you are living in. If California then no. Your gpa is absolutely atrocious… but your smp and mcat support your true ability. If you are ok with another year out and the possibility of no MD acceptance then I’d say wait since you have the potential. It comes down to being an MD will make your path a lot easier, talking magnitudes not times. But there is the chance you won’t be accepted to an MD and may never become a physician. You are in a gray zone simply because of your undergrad grades. I think if you would not be happy in a speciality easily attainable for DOs then you should roll the dice for MD. Yes DOs can and do match more competitive but you have to be okay with the worst outcome as wel.

It also used to be said that if you turned down a DO you’d never get another. That’s being shown to not be true except for the specific school you turned down. So that’s another option. Not saying it’s a good option but it’s an option.

Be wary of anyone speaking in absolutes, especially with DO school.

 

[FutureInternist]

take DO acceptance or reapply

Hello, I have seen similar posts regarding this question but wanted to get advice on my particular situation. I applied to MD and DO this cycle and received two interviews and was waitlisted at both schools (Georgetown and FAU). I was accepted to a DO school (NSU) but am having serious doubts...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[Osminog]

Terrible advice, this rarely works for people, often times they give up the DO acceptance and waste a year and then they never get into a DO school again forget MD…

With his stats, he would get another DO acceptance if he were to re-apply to DO schools. There’s really no question about that.

Surgical specialties, even general surgery, are very DO-unfriendly. It makes no sense to go to a DO school if your heart is set on becoming a surgeon. It’s worth waiting a year and aiming for MD.

 

[deleted898021]

With his stats, he would get another DO acceptance if he were to re-apply to DO schools. There’s really no question about that.

Surgical specialties, even general surgery, are very DO-unfriendly. It makes no sense to go to a DO school if your heart is set on becoming a surgeon. It’s worth waiting a year and aiming for MD.

General surgery isn’t DO unfriendly though.. match rate is ~70% and shoots up if you have an average app as a DO(230+ steps). Not worth wasting a couple years to have a slim chance at MD with a sub 3.0 undergrad gpa..

 

[deleted610572]

General surgery isn’t DO unfriendly though.. match rate is ~70% and shoots up if you have an average app as a DO(230+ steps). Not worth wasting a couple years to have a slim chance at MD with a sub 3.0 undergrad gpa..

You talk to any of those surgery applicants and they will agree it’s a blood bath. Their application is much more impressive than their MD counterparts interviewing for the same programs. Sometimes a little harder work up will save you a lot of heartbreak down the road. I’m in a super DO friendly specialty and there were programs that didn’t interview me despite having a strong application now extrapolate that to an unfriendly specialty. We spend a lot of time drinking koolaid in Medschool for us to only see the writing on the wall come interview season and match time.

 

[deleted898021]

You talk to any of those surgery applicants and they will agree it’s a blood bath. Their application is much more impressive than their MD counterparts interviewing for the same programs. Sometimes a little harder work up will save you a lot of heartbreak down the road. I’m in a super DO friendly specialty and there were programs that didn’t interview me despite having a strong application now extrapolate that to an unfriendly specialty. We spend a lot of time drinking koolaid in Medschool for us to only see the writing on the wall come interview season and match time.

Lol why do you need to match at a specific program though, is OP going for a specific program? OP wants to be a general surgeon, sure he can waste the next few years of his life and have a slim chance at MD and give up 2 years of an attending salary, or he can take the DO acceptance, put together average app for surgery and match just fine at a former aoa or community MD program and possibly even at a university program.. yea he won’t get as many interviews from top programs but who cares at the end of the day.. maybe OP does but tbh there isn’t much of chance of an MD acceptance with a 2.9 undergrad gpa, you have to be realistic, everyone knows there are some programs that won’t interview DO’s in each specialty.. but there are many more that do.. just look at the match lists and you will see many university gen surgery matches from DO schools..

 

[Dude5255]

Just to clarify the one program is heavy early decision and is linked with the school I did my SMP at. The Dean told me I have a reasonable chance of an early decision interview.

 

[Osminog]

Lol why do you need to match at a specific program though, is OP going for a specific program? OP wants to be a general surgeon, sure he can waste the next few years of his life and have a slim chance at MD and give up 2 years of an attending salary, or he can take the DO acceptance, put together average app for surgery and match just fine at a former aoa or community MD program and possibly even at a university program.. yea he won’t get as many interviews from top programs but who cares at the end of the day.. maybe OP does but tbh there isn’t much of chance of an MD acceptance with a 2.9 undergrad gpa, you have to be realistic, everyone knows there are some programs that won’t interview DO’s in each specialty.. but there are many more that do.. just look at the match lists and you will see many university gen surgery matches from DO schools..

517/4.0 SMP GPA will get him plenty of DO acceptances in future cycles. If you think there’s a serious risk he won’t get accepted into DO school during a second round of applications, you’re drastically overestimating the competitiveness of DO admission.

Surgical specialties are very DO-unfriendly. Look at the differences in match rates (e.g., 70% vs. 85% for GS) and at PD surveys. Talk to students who applied surgery from any DO school and ask them if they felt severely disadvantaged relative to MDs applying for the same spots. You’ll get the same answer over and over.

 

[deleted898021]

517/4.0 SMP GPA will get him plenty of DO acceptances in future cycles. If you think there’s a serious risk he won’t get accepted into DO school during a second round of applications, you’re drastically overestimating the competitiveness of DO admission.

Surgical specialties are very DO-unfriendly. Look at the differences in match rates (e.g., 70% vs. 85% for GS) and at PD surveys. Talk to students who applied surgery from any DO school and ask them if they felt severely disadvantaged relative to MDs applying for the same spots. You’ll get the same answer over and over.

op will get a DO acceptance but I was more talking about the waste of a couple years of an attending salary for a chance at an MD that isn’t very high.. like I said if the DO has 230+ steps that 70% number jumps up quite a bit, no one is denying that DO’s feel disadvantaged I am saying at the end of the day it isn’t worth it finically and practically to essentially end up at the same place. Your check cashes the same as a DO and a MD.

 

[Dude5255]

op will get a DO acceptance but I was more talking about the waste of a couple years of an attending salary for a chance at an MD that isn’t very high.. like I said if the DO has 230+ steps that 70% number jumps up quite a bit, no one is denying that DO’s feel disadvantaged I am saying at the end of the day it isn’t worth it finically and practically to essentially end up at the same place. Your check cashes the same as a DO and a MD

My concern is that step one is now pass/fail though

 

[deleted898021]

My concern is that step one is now pass/fail though

Step 2 is still scored. 240+ step 2, aways and doing well on your surgery rotation and getting involved in research will be key, it’s p/f for everyone so everyone will adjust, an “average “ app will still have a much higher match % then 70% for DO’s, but obviously if you get into the MD program run with it but don’t waste years chasing the MD…

 

[deleted610572]

Lol why do you need to match at a specific program though, is OP going for a specific program? OP wants to be a general surgeon, sure he can waste the next few years of his life and have a slim chance at MD and give up 2 years of an attending salary, or he can take the DO acceptance, put together average app for surgery and match just fine at a former aoa or community MD program and possibly even at a university program.. yea he won’t get as many interviews from top programs but who cares at the end of the day.. maybe OP does but tbh there isn’t much of chance of an MD acceptance with a 2.9 undergrad gpa, you have to be realistic, everyone knows there are some programs that won’t interview DO’s in each specialty.. but there are many more that do.. just look at the match lists and you will see many university gen surgery matches from DO schools..

You are making a different argument than me. I am not saying top. I am saying a friendly specialty would not interview a strong applicant at certain programs.. these weren’t even top programs. Now if you choose an unfriendly specialty then there will be a lot more programs like this.

He/she isn’t just a 2.9. He’s a 2.9 with a 4.0 in a linked SMP (that we have learned has told him he has early decision possibility) tied with a 517. He/she is not the same.

I know you are very pro-DO and we can do anything we set our minds to but that doesn’t mean it’s always the best choice. Im very excited for you to graduate medschool, enter the match, and go to residency and see how your views will change. I to was once as gung-ho about DO can do anything back when I was earlier in my training but the veil has slowly been lifted. We can but it will be magnitudes harder than our counterparts. Sometimes doing what’s harder now will make the future a lot easier. If OP had absolutely no chance at MD then I’d agree with you (go DO and try your damndest to match competitively) but they aren’t in that situation. They’re in a gray zone where it’s a reasonable request to have this discussion.

Again I’m in a pcp specialty at my #1 choice specialty and #1 choice program. I use OMM from time to time and love being a DO. I am not a bitter self hating DO.

As I’ve said earlier, everything is a gray area. To say that it 100% isn’t worth it for this applicant is just disingenuous .

 

[SonhosDaVida]

I would have to say that some medical schools may ask about your previous cycle, and you'd have to be honest and report the one acceptance. MD and DO schools will close doors if they hear you turned down a DO schools. That leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth.

Surgery is EXTREMELY doable with DO. Look at match rates of DO schools. ACGME and AOA have merged. The distinction is going away.

The PD only said you have a chance at an interview, not acceptance. Take the DO and run.

 

[deleted898021]

You are making a different argument than me. I am not saying top. I am saying a friendly specialty would not interview a strong applicant at certain programs.. these weren’t even top programs. Now if you choose an unfriendly specialty then there will be a lot more programs like this.

He/she isn’t just a 2.9. He’s a 2.9 with a 4.0 in a linked SMP (that we have learned has told him he has early decision possibility) tied with a 517. He/she is not the same.

I know you are very pro-DO and we can do anything we set our minds to but that doesn’t mean it’s always the best choice. Im very excited for you to graduate medschool, enter the match, and go to residency and see how your views will change. I to was once as gung-ho about DO can do anything back when I was earlier in my training but the veil has slowly been lifted. We can but it will be magnitudes harder than our counterparts. Sometimes doing what’s harder now will make the future a lot easier. If OP had absolutely no chance at MD then I’d agree with you (go DO and try your damndest to match competitively) but they aren’t in that situation. They’re in a gray zone where it’s a reasonable request to have this discussion.

Again I’m in a pcp specialty at my #1 choice specialty and #1 choice program. I use OMM from time to time and love being a DO. I am not a bitter self hating DO.

As I’ve said earlier, everything is a gray area. To say that it 100% isn’t worth it for this applicant is just disingenuous .

Lol man I am saying the same thing, yes there are programs in surgery that don’t interview DO’s but I have read the PD survey and the vast majority in surgery are in the often/seldom rank/interview DO’s and some are never rank/interview DO’s.. so that means that for most programs you can atleast get an interview. Yes it’s a gray area so yes OP should try for MD this cycle but if he/she doesn’t get it then it truly makes no sense to give up a Medical school acceptance for a shot at MD, where not much can be done to better an app, what will OP realistically do to improve thier chances? They already got a 4.0 in an SMP, and already have a 517, at that point the sub 3.0 gpa is holding them back and that can’t be changed unfortunately. Wasting a couple of years to end up at a DO program in a few years makes no sense. Even if OP is dead set on surgery. Yes as a DO you should be ok going to a former aoa program for the surgical specialties, doesn’t mean you can’t match at Uni program but you should be ok with former aoa, that’s the price you pay for being a DO

 

[deleted610572]

Lol man I am saying the same thing, yes there are programs in surgery that don’t interview DO’s but I have read the PD survey and the vast majority in surgery are in the often/seldom rank/interview DO’s and some are never rank/interview DO’s.. so that means that for most programs you can atleast get an interview. Yes it’s a gray area so yes OP should try for MD this cycle but if he/she doesn’t get it then it truly makes no sense to give up a Medical school acceptance for a shot at MD, where not much can be done to better an app, what will OP realistically do to improve thier chances? They already got a 4.0 in an SMP, and already have a 517, at that point the sub 3.0 gpa is holding them back and that can’t be changed unfortunately. Wasting a couple of years to end up at a DO program in a few years makes no sense. Even if OP is dead set on surgery.

I agree with 1 and done MD application. I may have misread them but I don’t think they were done with the SMP when they applied and got into the DO program. This would be their first cycle post 4.0 SMP.

 

[deleted898021]

I agree with 1 and done MD application. I may have misread them but I don’t think they were done with the SMP when they applied and got into the DO program. This would be their first cycle post 4.0

Correct me if I am wrong but OP said they were recently accepted to DO so I assume after the 4.0. Maybe off a waitlist?

 

[Dude5255]

Correct me if I am wrong but OP said they were recently accepted to DO so I assume after the 4.0. Maybe off a waitlist?

I was accepted by my prior to sending in my 4.0

 

[Goro]

I know this is a controversial topic, but it has been on my mind a lot lately. I recently got accepted to a good DO school, but this was before I completed my SMP. I feel I have a good chance at the school I did my SMP at and another instate school. I emailed both schools and was told I have a reasonable chance for an interview. I know most people say run with the acceptance and I gladly would, but with step going pass/fail, distance from my family, and wanting to do a competitive residency; I can't help but think about reapplying. I'm currently thinking about ortho or thoracic surgery. The downside of reapplying is that I have already taken 2 gap years, but would be willing to take a 3rd one. I don't want to rile anyone up but could use some good advice.

Stats:
2.89ugpa 2.95sgpa 4.0ggpa 517MCAT

If you're going to be a self-hating DO and constantly wonder "what if?", then yeah, dump the accept and let someone else achieve their dream.

 

[Deecee2DO]

MD always unless you cant get into an MD program. The uphill battle of being a DO throughout your training applying for residency and fellowship sucks but its better than not being a doctor at all

 

[Goro]

MD always unless you cant get into an MD program. The uphill battle of being a DO throughout your training applying for residency and fellowship sucks but its better than not being a doctor at all

We already know this ad nauseum. But for the OP, as a reinventor, next year they will still need to have DO schools on the list.

 

[Deecee2DO]

We already know this ad nauseum. But for the OP, as a reinventor, next year they will still need to have DO schools on the list.

thats fair

 

[Dude5255]

We already know this ad nauseum. But for the OP, as a reinventor, next year they will still need to have DO schools on the list.

I’d be okay with that but I currently feel like I didn’t even get to try for a MD school

 

[chilly_md]

I’d be okay with that but I currently feel like I didn’t even get to try for a MD school

If you feel that it will keep being in your mind, then drop the A. But you are probably already too late for this cycle, so your gap year is actually 2 more years till you start school.

 

[Goro]

If you feel that it will keep being in your mind, then drop the A. But you are probably already too late for this cycle, so your gap year is actually 2 more years till you start school.

OP might OK for their state school

 

[Deecee2DO]

You’re always giving terrible advice. Are you salty about attending a DO program and want others to suffer as well?

OP has a 517 which fewer than 2% of DOs have. Osteo schools will be begging OP to attend if they were to reapply.

One DO applicant's experience applying to orthopaedic surgery (still helpful for other competitive stuff)

I applied and matched orthopaedic surgery, but I think info like this can be helpful to other competitive stuff. I promised a write up in the match thread, and here is my attempt to provide information I think is valuable. Stuff said here is mostly just my opinion and what I noticed from my...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Ortho (and even gen surg) is not DO-friendly at all. Simply having to use the term DO-friendly implies that a specialty is difficult to achieve as a DO. Nobody ever uses that term with FM and community IM for DO/IMG

? GS is definitely DO friendly. Ortho is doable as a DO at former AOA if youre a strong applicant just as youd have to be as an MD. Ortho is competitive as an MD or a DO but if you want to be an Ortho as a DO and you have the app for it its not unreasonable to match into. However if OP wants ortho he or she should go MD but as this thread has implied i dont think he has that option other than his or her state progrM?

 

[Dude5255]

Thank you all for the responses you guys are giving me a lot to think about. My other issue is this campus is particularly new with very little research.

 

[deleted610572]

Thank you all for the responses you guys are giving me a lot to think about. My other issue is this campus is particularly new with very little research.

Ya if it’s a brand new school then def give the MD admissions a whirl because you’ll be able to get into another same caliber one.

well there’s never a definite. But it’s not like you are black balling yourself from one of the stronger schools that would actually help matching competitively

 

[deleted898021]

? GS is definitely DO friendly. Ortho is doable as a DO at former AOA if youre a strong applicant just as youd have to be as an MD. Ortho is competitive as an MD or a DO but if you want to be an Ortho as a DO and you have the app for it its not unreasonable to match into. However if OP wants ortho he or she should go MD but as this thread has implied i dont think he has that option other than his or her state progrM?

Lol that was my point, the charting outcomes don’t lie. I know people who matched derm, and ortho as a DO and I know first hand that they didn’t have to cure cancer lol to match… I think people on this site just assume that as USMD that you can just walk into ortho or plastics lol.. the fact is that if you have the average app for your specialty as a DO or MD, you have a decent shot to match, it might be a bit higher as USMD but I am willing to bet that the DO% isn’t much far behind, now as a DO It most probably will be at a former aoa program but in terms of purely matching it isn’t much different.

 

[deleted898021]

You’re always giving terrible advice. Are you salty about attending a DO program and want others to suffer as well?

OP has a 517 which fewer than 2% of DOs have. Osteo schools will be begging OP to attend if they were to reapply.

One DO applicant's experience applying to orthopaedic surgery (still helpful for other competitive stuff)

I applied and matched orthopaedic surgery, but I think info like this can be helpful to other competitive stuff. I promised a write up in the match thread, and here is my attempt to provide information I think is valuable. Stuff said here is mostly just my opinion and what I noticed from my...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Ortho (and even gen surg) is not DO-friendly at all. Simply having to use the term DO-friendly implies that a specialty is difficult to achieve as a DO. Nobody ever uses that term with FM and community IM for DO/IMG

Also that was thread that you posted, the OP had a 237 step one(below average) and got interviews from Mayo and Harvard.. so what exactly is your point?

 

[Deecee2DO]

Also that was thread that you posted, the OP had a 237 step one(below average) and got interviews from Mayo and Harvard.. so what exactly is your point?

Ya that dude is a legend and a giant anomaly. he applied with like 30+ publications to his name in high impact peer reviewed journals. Thats the kind of baller status a DO needs to get looks from the big guns like Mayo and Harvard ortho. Never should someone go DO in hopes to match top tier MD ortho

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I believe in the short term, residencies will become more competitive, unless more residency slots are opened. Lower tier and new MD schools will have tougher match results. This is just numbers, residencies can be even more selective. Matching in the short term will be tougher for everybody as greater numbers of students graduate. The concept of having a competitive app and matching somewhere will need to be revisited. Playing the match game well will even be more important in the future. I think the best advice is to try the one shot at MD and then attend a DO school. Most people change their minds in med school as to what specialty they want to enter. I know I, my wife and son all did.

 

[Dude5255]

Thank you guys for all of the replies. I'm sorry if the topic riled anyone up but I appreciate all the genuine advice. From what everyone has said, I believe research would be the key to being successful at a DO school. I was kind of enchanted by their marketing in the beginning, and was truly led to believe that a branch campus would be as established as the main. But at this point the school is fairly new, and has no equipment in their dedicated research room. The hospital that is associated with the school would not be able to offer research until our third or fourth years. I think its right for me at this time to reapply to both MD and more established DO schools. If anyone wants to help make me a list of schools that are reinvented student friendly I would truly appreciate it.

 

[zNoodlez]

Thank you guys for all of the replies. I'm sorry if the topic riled anyone up but I appreciate all the genuine advice. From what everyone has said, I believe research would be the key to being successful at a DO school. I was kind of enchanted by their marketing in the beginning, and was truly led to believe that a branch campus would be as established as the main. But at this point the school is fairly new, and has no equipment in their dedicated research room. The hospital that is associated with the school would not be able to offer research until our third or fourth years. I think its right for me at this time to reapply to both MD and more established DO schools. If anyone wants to help make me a list of schools that are reinvented student friendly I would truly appreciate it.

Sorry if I missed this but how many times did you take the MCAT?

 

[Dude5255]

Just once

Sorry if I missed this but how many times did you take the MCAT?

 

[Gilakend]

You’re always giving terrible advice. Are you salty about attending a DO program and want others to suffer as well?

OP has a 517 which fewer than 2% of DOs have. Osteo schools will be begging OP to attend if they were to reapply.

One DO applicant's experience applying to orthopaedic surgery (still helpful for other competitive stuff)

I applied and matched orthopaedic surgery, but I think info like this can be helpful to other competitive stuff. I promised a write up in the match thread, and here is my attempt to provide information I think is valuable. Stuff said here is mostly just my opinion and what I noticed from my...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Ortho (and even gen surg) is not DO-friendly at all. Simply having to use the term DO-friendly implies that a specialty is difficult to achieve as a DO. Nobody ever uses that term with FM and community IM for DO/IMG

DO can match ortho and GS if they work hard and do well on tests. OP has shown they can work hard and do well on tests. They have a guaranteed seat in med school, your advice would be telling them to give that up and potentially not get in anywhere. That's bad advice.

 

[DOVinciRobot]

You talk to any of those surgery applicants and they will agree it’s a blood bath. Their application is much more impressive than their MD counterparts interviewing for the same programs. Sometimes a little harder work up will save you a lot of heartbreak down the road. I’m in a super DO friendly specialty and there were programs that didn’t interview me despite having a strong application now extrapolate that to an unfriendly specialty. We spend a lot of time drinking koolaid in Medschool for us to only see the writing on the wall come interview season and match time.

This. Things worked out for me but I know many really strong DO applicants for whom it did not.

I really don’t think people realize just how much more impressive your DO app has to be. Even I didn’t realize the true extent until I was on this side of the curtain. I’m talking like 240+/multiple pub DOs interviewing at the same places MDs interview at with Step scores 20+ points lower and 1 case report.

Surgery is definitely doable, but it’s no cake walk.

Lol why do you need to match at a specific program though, is OP going for a specific program? OP wants to be a general surgeon, sure he can waste the next few years of his life and have a slim chance at MD and give up 2 years of an attending salary, or he can take the DO acceptance, put together average app for surgery and match just fine at a former aoa or community MD program and possibly even at a university program.. yea he won’t get as many interviews from top programs but who cares at the end of the day.. maybe OP does but tbh there isn’t much of chance of an MD acceptance with a 2.9 undergrad gpa, you have to be realistic, everyone knows there are some programs that won’t interview DO’s in each specialty.. but there are many more that do.. just look at the match lists and you will see many university gen surgery matches from DO schools..

I can straight up tell you that the former AOA programs are largely trash if you have any desire to be anything other than a bread and butter only general surgeon. The lowest tier MD program will beat 90% of the former AOA programs in both volume and variety.

Matching university GS is not an easy feat. The people doing so from DO programs are very strong applicants significantly more impressive than their MD colleagues in the same program.

Surgery is EXTREMELY doable with DO. Look at match rates of DO schools. ACGME and AOA have merged. The distinction is going away.

This is just really bad advice lol.

would have to say that some medical schools may ask about your previous cycle, and you'd have to be honest and report the one acceptance. MD and DO schools will close doors if they hear you turned down a DO schools. That leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth.

Also not true. MD programs just don’t care if you turned down a DO acceptance. They really just barely acknowledge that DO schools exist.


A few thoughts here OP. If you really know in your heart of hearts you want to be a surgeon (it’s ok, I did when i started) then I would take a stab next cycle at MD schools and ALSO apply to many DO schools. Despite what many say here on SDN, medicine is a career. This means you need to set yourself up for the best opportunity to succeed that you can. One year up front can save you a lot of pain on the back end. I matched an academic MD program so it worked out for me, but it was an uphill battle and I worked everyday for 4 years to make it happen.

A little side note, Cardiothoracic is now a competitive fellowship again. A few years ago it was fairly easy to match, but it has very steadily increased since then. Matching CT from a former AOA program will be very difficult unless the trajectory changes, honestly it is getting difficult even for small, community MD programs unless they have a well known faculty member or something. Just something to think about.

 

[dsnittles]

This might be a stupid question, but could you defer your acceptance for a year and reapply to MD during that time?