First time applying to DO schools, need help please!!

[cargirl110]

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Hello everyone. This will be my first time applying to DO schools. Is there a thread or website that lists all of the DO schools and what their primary focus is or gives more insight into the school? Or would I have to go to each individual school's website and read up on it? Thanks!

I am looking for DO schools that are more research-oriented without a direct focus on primary care. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

 

[zenlike]

Hello everyone. This will be my first time applying to DO schools. Is there a thread or website that lists all of the DO schools and what their primary focus is or gives more insight into the school? Or would I have to go to each individual school's website and read up on it? Thanks!

http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/cib2008.pdf

I am looking for DO schools that are more research-oriented without a direct focus on primary care. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

 

[Doc Henry]

To the OP- From what I've seen on these forums, some schools have more of a primary care emphasis than others, but really it is up to you what you focus on. I think it is best to read each school's mission statement to get an idea of what they are aiming for, but I think any school will be fine for any specialty.

good luck this cycle

 

[rockchalkjdoc]

I am looking for DO schools that are more research-oriented without a direct focus on primary care. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

I know that Midwestern has a larger emphasis on research, because of their masters program. Any comment for PCOM/DMU/KCUMB/other schools that offer a MBS?

 

[EEL08]

TCOM has a lot of research opportunities.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

If you want a school that is focused on research, it seems like osteopathic medical school would be about the most difficult path you could take. There are a few places that offer a DO/PhD, but almost every allopathic school will offer an MD/PhD, and you might even be happier just getting a PhD from a big powerhouse state school that gets tons of grant money.

 

[scpod]

TCOM has a lot of research opportunities.

Agreed, and they have far more research dollars than any other school. However, it's virtually impossible to go there if you aren't a Texas resident.

This chart shows a comparison of research dollars from both private and public osteopathis schools. That should give you a good idea of where the resarch really is:

http://www.jaoa.org/cgi/content/full/107/11/469/TBL6

 

[endocardium]

If you want a school that is focused on research, it seems like osteopathic medical school would be about the most difficult path you could take.

Agreed. That is a sound point, as of current. If you are looking for loads of research, particularly as an emphasis in your training, I don't think OMS is really the best option. Heck, I bet even most OMS's will admit to that, albeit somewhat begrudgingly, perhaps.

 

[Marthea007]

Agreed. That is a sound point, as of current. If you are looking for loads of research, particularly as an emphasis in your training, I don't think OMS is really the best option. Heck, I bet even most OMS's will admit to that, albeit somewhat begrudgingly, perhaps.

We don't focus on research at all. Although plans for a research building are under way, but it's a few years down the road.

 

[cargirl110]

Thanks for everyone's responses. I think I need to explain myself a bit more. I have done biomedical engineering research, specifically biomaterials, all four years of college. As a result, I am extremely interested in orthopaedics. Having shadowed an orthopaedic surgeon and being an orthopaedic patient have only augmented my interest in this field. I know it is still very early, so I am keeping my options open, but for now, this is a field I would like to delve into. I know that obtaining an orthopaedic residency from a DO school is a bit more difficult than a primary care residency. I do realize it does depend on board scores, grades, and evaluations rather than the type of school you attended, MD or DO. However, I want to continue this research into medical school which is why I was asking about research-oriented schools. I have no interest in going for a PhD, as I want to be a clinician. I just have a big interest in academic medicine. If anyone can list any other schools that have a good research opportunities, have less of a primary care focus, and are kind to OOS, please let me know!

 

[TexasTriathlete]

There is no easy path to ortho. There are also no schools that are going to force you into primary care.

 

[cargirl110]

There is no easy path to ortho. There are also no schools that are going to force you into primary care.

I am sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way. I know there is no easy path to ortho. And I also know no schools will force me into primary care. I was just replying to responses concerning going the PhD route rather than medicine.

 

[endocardium]

However, I want to continue this research into medical school which is why I was asking about research-oriented schools. I have no interest in going for a PhD, as I want to be a clinician. I just have a big interest in academic medicine. If anyone can list any other schools that have a good research opportunities, have less of a primary care focus, and are kind to OOS, please let me know!

That's just it, there aren't any osteopathic medical school that are currently research powerhouses. Some OMS's do have research opportunities available, but generally speaking, it isn't the big-dollar research you'd find at a large, allopathic medical school, with a long history of big-name researchers doing mega-projects, in large, well-known labs, with lots of NIH funding and support. Quite simply, if you are looking at osteopathic medical schools for preparation for academic medicine with a heavy research focus, you are barking up the wrong tree. This is not to say that osteopathic medical schools aren't awesome; they just aren't, at present, the academic research powerhouses that some allopathic medical schools are. Understandably so, given that the stated focus of the osteopathic tradition is primary care.

If you want a heavy research focus, try looking at some of the allopathic programs that have MSTP. I'm not saying you should look into MD/PHD, but generally speaking, you'll probably be well-hooked up with research opportunities at institutions that support this type of thing. If I had a serious interest in academic medicine, with a strong research focus, I probably would have gone the allopathic route.

 

[cargirl110]

Thanks for your response. I understand what you are saying. I have applied to allopathic schools twice before. The first time I did not receive any interviews because my MCAT was too low. I retook and improved a lot, but just as I was about to apply to AMCAS, I got into a motorcycle accident and was hospitalized for a month. Therefore, my AMCAS was submitted in August and did not get verified till October! Above all, I just want to be a physician. Sicne my stats are average, I have been encouraged by numerous people on SDN to consider DO schools which is what I am doing now. I am a little unsure about the process since I am only familiar with the process concerning allopathic schools, but I want to try since my ultimate goal is to be a physician.

 

[endocardium]

Thanks for your response. I understand what you are saying. I have applied to allopathic schools twice before. The first time I did not receive any interviews because my MCAT was too low. I retook and improved a lot, but just as I was about to apply to AMCAS, I got into a motorcycle accident and was hospitalized for a month. Therefore, my AMCAS was submitted in August and did not get verified till October!

Sounds like quite the ordeal and some tough luck. I'm sorry to hear about your MX accident. Regroup and try again; this time get out there early.

Above all, I just want to be a physician. Sicne my stats are average, I have been encouraged by numerous people on SDN to consider DO schools which is what I am doing now. I am a little unsure about the process since I am only familiar with the process concerning allopathic schools, but I want to try since my ultimate goal is to be a physician.

*sigh* Yeah, SDN... Take advice on SDN with a few grains of salt. It's almost reflexive: low stats ---> apply to DO programs. 🙄 Having low stats isn't the best indication for considering osteopathic medical schools, especially if your interests are different than the stated goals of osteopathic medicine. There are other approaches, if your numbers aren't good; it might be worth investigating those approaches. Nevertheless, it is correct that osteopathic programs accept a broader range of scores and GPA. It would be better, when considering osteopathic programs, if you are willing to go in with the knowledge that you can accept some of the quirks that tend to accompany attending an osteopathic medical school, such having to learn OMM, possibly going out-of-state for your rotations (by lottery), perhaps rotating at community hospitals, and the possibility that you might have to settle for limited research opportunities. Also, of note, you will likely be at some disadvantage for matching to the more competitive allopathic residencies, if you attend an osteopathic medical school. If you are okay with all that, then, yes, it's a good idea to apply to osteopathic medical schools in addition to allopathic programs, to broaden your chances.

Take a look at some of the statistics at osteopathic medical schools. Look at the schools that have more NIH funding, if it's more of a research-focus you are looking for... Look at the match lists of the schools to see what the trends are... Traditionally, osteopathic programs have a higher percentage of folks choosing primary care specialities. Look for osteopathic programs that tend to match a lot of non-primary care specialties. Make sure you research how rotations are set up at osteopathic medical school that you are interested in applying to.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I am sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way. I know there is no easy path to ortho. And I also know no schools will force me into primary care. I was just replying to responses concerning going the PhD route rather than medicine.

You didn't rub me the wrong way. Not sure what gave you that impression. Anyway, there are plenty of routes to ortho as a DO. There are osteopathic-only ortho programs. I don't know anything about these, but I don't know anything about the MD programs either. There is also the military, which might actually offer you the chance at ortho, and some research opportunities, although I'm not really sure how this works either.

I am also interested in ortho, although I have hardly settled on it. It does look cool though, and I will keep it on my short list of specialties to watch. I'm keeping a pretty open mind about this though. I'm going to see what I like best. But anyway, my gameplan is to do as well as I can in med school, do my best on the boards, work hard on rotations, and then hope I get a shot in whatever specialty I choose.

 

[OCHO]

It must be me...

But, has anyone else noticed that if you post a comment with a "female type" screen name, the posts are fare more gentler? Now if it was a guy posting I can imagine about six or seven people that would have lit this thread up. hahahaha

Too funny...

 

[prionsRbad]

It must be me...

But, has anyone else noticed that if you post a comment with a "female type" screen name, the posts are fare more gentler? Now if it was a guy posting I can imagine about six or seven people that would have lit this thread up. hahahaha

Too funny...

Hmmmm interesting observation OCHO.

Most people on SDN think I'm a dude, so I'm not sure that applies to me.

 

[OCHO]

Well Prions... anyone that is ANYONE...Knows you are not a DUDE...DUH! cha, kah, fah...

Mooooo on!

 

[TexasTriathlete]

It must be me...

But, has anyone else noticed that if you post a comment with a "female type" screen name, the posts are fare more gentler? Now if it was a guy posting I can imagine about six or seven people that would have lit this thread up. hahahaha

Too funny...

How are we going to get them to sleep with us if we are mean to them?

Seriously though, the OP's question showed ignorance, but it didn't really seem as troll-ish as others. It just looked like a normal dumb question. There have been way dumber questions on here though.

 

[RySerr21]

You didn't rub me the wrong way. Not sure what gave you that impression. Anyway, there are plenty of routes to ortho as a DO. There are osteopathic-only ortho programs. I don't know anything about these, but I don't know anything about the MD programs either. There is also the military, which might actually offer you the chance at ortho, and some research opportunities, although I'm not really sure how this works either.

I am also interested in ortho, although I have hardly settled on it. It does look cool though, and I will keep it on my short list of specialties to watch. I'm keeping a pretty open mind about this though. I'm going to see what I like best. But anyway, my gameplan is to do as well as I can in med school, do my best on the boards, work hard on rotations, and then hope I get a shot in whatever specialty I choose.

i thought the military was notorious for forcing you to be like a primary care doc or whatever the equivalent is for the military.... thats one of the things that turned me away. is this not true?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

You may get stuck with something you don't want, and I think the residency programs have you doing a lot of different stuff, but still, if you're good enough, you'll get something you want. Also, COMLEX is fine for all programs, I am told.

 

[OCHO]

i thought the military was notorious for forcing you to be like a primary care doc or whatever the equivalent is for the military.... thats one of the things that turned me away. is this not true?

You may have a year or two to serve as a GMO/PCP then your residency. YOu can got where you want to go, unless you are a sh..bird. Then you are stuck with what you are given...Usually duty stations in greenland, iceland or GA hahaha

 

[KateGia]

i thought the military was notorious for forcing you to be like a primary care doc or whatever the equivalent is for the military.... thats one of the things that turned me away. is this not true?

That's not true at all. The military has every specialty. Competitiveness for each specialty varies greatly from year to year, and is often very different from the civilian specialties.