DO vs md

[booa373]

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I am so thankful for this forum you have no idea. I have narrowed my options even further with my own research and your input. I graduated in May 2013. Stat: 3.5 gpa, mcat: 26. Now I have completely eliminated foregn medical schools. I will be calling UAG later today. My stats are good for almost any DO school in the U.S. However two other options are 1) to take mcat third time in spring 2015, raise score, and apply to MD school, or 3) apply to a masters in health science. they are offered by some medical schools, and depending on how you do you get into their medical school or others. My goal is to practice medicine. Titles are not important for me. I want to be an oncologist in the end. Based off my research allopathic and osteopathic differ in their approach in their treatments, but DOs are still eligible for any residency as long as their scores are good. I just hope I am not missing anything when applying to DO schools. Thank you for your input again.

 

[Mad Jack]

The master's in health science probably won't help much. If you want to be an oncologist, you will have a better shot at it as an MD. If you retake the MCAT, you're probably going to need strong ECs and a 30+ since your GPA is kind of on the fence. 26 will get you into a DO school or two, but it's certainly not "good" for DO admission. Most schools have average MCAT scores of 27-29 nowadays, though you'd be competitive for a couple of the newer or lower stat schools without much trouble. You could become an oncologist as a DO, sure.

As far as a MCAT retake, you have to keep in mind that you'll be taking the new test. No one is certain how good the practice materials for the 2015 MCAT are at this point, nor is anyone outside of the AAMC truly familiar with the new format. If you truly think you can both improve your performance on the old subjects AND excel on a new format of test despite the uncertainty surrounding it, then go for it. If not, I'd apply DO, get in, and be done with it. You might or might not ever become an oncologist (probably not), but many specialties are still open to you and you'll be a damn physician. Choose wisely and carefully based on your own capabilities and goals. Also keep in mind that your specialty of choice will likely change multiple times during school- what seems appealing now might seem horrible after doing a few rotations.

 

[DrEnderW]

My stats are good for almost any DO school in the U.S.

That is not true, especially for the established schools and schools with higher stats/ near major cities. You should get acceptances but those aren't stats to be picking and choosing your school/location of choice by any means.

I agree with @Mad Jack, I'd skip the masters idea as that degree is completely worthless in the great scheme of things. If you don't have a preference for school or location at all, I would consider applying this cycle for DO. If you didn't study adequately for the last MCAT and have reason to believe you can score higher, I would retake and apply next cycle MD/DO, especially if you're a student of traditional age.

If location and school are important, I would definitely re-take. Onc is an obtainable fellowship as a DO and you would be shooting for a university IM program for residency. Rad onc = likely not.

 

[adriano710]

I am so thankful for this forum you have no idea. I have narrowed my options even further with my own research and your input. I graduated in May 2013. Stat: 3.5 gpa, mcat: 26. Now I have completely eliminated foregn medical schools. I will be calling UAG later today. My stats are good for almost any DO school in the U.S. However two other options are 1) to take mcat third time in spring 2015, raise score, and apply to MD school, or 3) apply to a masters in health science. they are offered by some medical schools, and depending on how you do you get into their medical school or others. My goal is to practice medicine. Titles are not important for me. I want to be an oncologist in the end. Based off my research allopathic and osteopathic differ in their approach in their treatments, but DOs are still eligible for any residency as long as their scores are good. I just hope I am not missing anything when applying to DO schools. Thank you for your input again.

You're going to have to hit at the very least a 30 to be competitive for MD schools. Not to be a debbie downer but a 26 MCAT will only get you into half of DO schools. To be competitive for ALL osteopathic schools you should hit a 28-30. Schools in NY and CCOM average around a 30 MCAT. A 26 MCAT, even for DO schools, is not a great. Your 3.5 GPA however is probably competitive for majority DO schools.

 

[GUH]

Don't go to a DO school if you don't want to be a DO.

Notice all the bitter DOs and DO students on the Osteopathic forums? They hate being DOs so much that they want all DO schools to award MDs instead.

Just do what it takes to be an MD if you want to be an MD.

 

[adriano710]

Don't go to a DO school if you don't want to be a DO.

Notice all the bitter DOs and DO students on the Osteopathic forums? They hate being DOs so much that they want all DO schools to award MDs instead.

Just do what it takes to be an MD if you want to be an MD.

I would rather be an MD. But I really want to be a doctor. I have a 3.4 GPA so I am competitive for DO schools but not really for MD schools (yet to take MCAT). So why wouldn't I just get into the path that will make me a doctor faster instead of wait a couple years, spend 60 grand, and do a post-bacc and THEN do the process all over. It doesn't make sense to me. To me it's all the same.

 

[ananasmed]

Don't go to a DO school if you don't want to be a DO.

Notice all the bitter DOs and DO students on the Osteopathic forums? They hate being DOs so much that they want all DO schools to award MDs instead.

Just do what it takes to be an MD if you want to be an MD.

??? 🙄

 

[adriano710]

??? 🙄[/QUOTE
To me it's all the same… as long as the $$$ is righttt

 

[darklordzzz]

You're going to have to hit at the very least a 30 to be competitive for MD schools. Not to be a debbie downer but a 26 MCAT will only get you into half of DO schools. To be competitive for ALL osteopathic schools you should hit a 28-30. Schools in NY and CCOM average around a 30 MCAT. A 26 MCAT, even for DO schools, is not a great. Your 3.5 GPA however is probably competitive for majority DO schools.

not to come off as being rude, but since you haven't gone through a cycle for DO schools, based on what sources can you say that with the OP's stats, the OP can get into half of DO schools?

 

[adriano710]

not to come off as being rude, but since you haven't gone through a cycle for DO schools, based on what sources can you say that with the OP's stats, the OP can get into half of DO schools?

By looking at the facts and averages of DO schools and comparing them with the OP's stats. Other variables such as EC's are not considered. We are just looking at FACTS alone.

 

[darklordzzz]

By looking at the facts and averages of DO schools and comparing them with the OP's stats. Other variables such as EC's are not considered. We are just looking at FACTS alone.

no i don't think so. Yes, OP will get Interviews to half of the schools he applied but getting into the school is another completely different thing.

 

[Goro]

Just worry about getting into medical school, and then worry about residency.

You're fine for almost all DO programs. Maybe not the Touros or CCOM.

I am so thankful for this forum you have no idea. I have narrowed my options even further with my own research and your input. I graduated in May 2013. Stat: 3.5 gpa, mcat: 26. Now I have completely eliminated foregn medical schools. I will be calling UAG later today. My stats are good for almost any DO school in the U.S. However two other options are 1) to take mcat third time in spring 2015, raise score, and apply to MD school, or 3) apply to a masters in health science. they are offered by some medical schools, and depending on how you do you get into their medical school or others. My goal is to practice medicine. Titles are not important for me. I want to be an oncologist in the end. Based off my research allopathic and osteopathic differ in their approach in their treatments, but DOs are still eligible for any residency as long as their scores are good. I just hope I am not missing anything when applying to DO schools. Thank you for your input again.

 

[adriano710]

no i don't think so. Yes, OP will get Interviews to half of the schools he applied but getting into the school is another completely different thing.

Agreed

 

[booa373]

Thank you everyone for you assistance