Go DO or apply next year for MD?

[Osteo4sure]

Hi all!

I've been accepted into several DO schools, but still havent recieved word from any of the MD schoosl I applied to.
My question is, do I go ahead with DO school or take the MCAT again and give it another shot? What do you think??? (My current stats are:MCAT-27 GPA-3.6)
All responses appreciated. Thanks.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[docuw]

Judging by your name, you should go DO.

This really should be a decision made by you and only you. Do you want to practice osteopathic medicine, and do you like their philosophy? They are just as much physicians as MDs. The only disadvantage I see is that there are still those people who have a stereotype against DOs, and you might have to deal with that in your life/career. Using your stats etc., has nothing to do with this choice. You need to decide based on the type of medicine you want to enter not on what system is easier to gain admissions to.

 

[Osteo4sure]

Docuw:

Thanks for the advice. What you stated was exactly what I am concerned about. I have nothing whatsoever against the Osteo. philosophy in actuality its entirely identical to the allopaths. The thing that really concerns me is whether or not the stigmatism I might face in the future is worth it. Should I even worry about that or just take what I got?? Thanks for the advice again.

 

[LR6SO4]

I put myself in a similar situation by applying to both, but beforehand I told myself that if I got into DO first I would take it. I got into a few DO schools, and then a few MD schools a couple of months later. If you back out of the DO schools you are throwing a year down the drain, money money money, and the stress of the MCAT again if you wanted to take it (not like you can't get into MD with a 27, it happens). I'd go DO this year unless you absolutely cannot stand the thought. Maybe shadow a DO again a few times, call up some DO specialists. If you feel that they are stigmatized then don't go, but realize that a year now can turn into more than that if it doesn't work out.

 

[colorado_1]

take the d.o. if you really want to do medicine, take the d.o. if you aren't sure you want to do whatever it takes to treat patients, you're in the wrong career path. no one will care 10 years from now if you have a d.o. or m.d. i'm an m.d. student and i tell ya i don't care nor will my peers. i have enough to worry about on my own with my own patients, my own career. by not taking the d.o. you'll be risking never getting into med school which would tell me treating your patients isn't the MOST important thing in your life.

 

[Osteo4sure]

Hi again,
I thank you guys for the insightful advice. I think indeed I am gonna go DO rather than go through the awful application process, as well as taking the MCAT again. If anything, I think this experience has taught me to be grateful with what I am given. And most importantly, regardless of the letters that follow my name, I'll be doing the thing I love most. Thanks again, take care.

 

[guardian]

Have you received interviews from any allopathic schools? Your stats would be competetive at some med schools. Write a letter of intent to a few adcoms, get additional letters of rec., etc.

 

[Osteo4sure]

Guardian,

Sorry to say that I have'nt. I think its mostly due to the fact that my applications were complete late (mid-December). Oh well, guess I learned my lesson the hard way.

 

[A little elf]

It really depends on what you want to eventually end up going into. If you want to score an allopathic EM or radiology residency in the end, reapply and go allopathic. If you want to go into something less competitive, go osteopathic.

 

[rastelli]

The Elf fellla is on to something...GENERALLY, DO's fair better when applying to primary care residencies compared to other specialties. I've seen plenty of DO's in peds, medicine, etc. I've yet to see any in surgery, ortho, or the like.

At the risk of inflaming DO's out there(which seems fairly easy to do), I offer this. You could be potentially ham-stringing yourself by going DO if you're not sure what you want to go into. If primary care is where you're headed and you like what DO has to offer, go for it. You'll enjoy getting your education underway...

 

[grkbuckeye]

Please DO NOT listen to this fool (Rostelli)! Just take a look at the dumb-a$$ things he says on the other boards and how he gets slammed! First of all you have NO idea what your talking about. I'm not hear to preach Osteopathic medicine ro anything, but to say that your going to have a hard time specializing is rediculous! True you probably aren't going to get neurosurgery at Hopkins, but you'll have a hard time getting that coming from any top notch allopathic school. I saw the yearbook from one of the osteopathic schools this past summer showing where it's graduates of 2000 were going. 3 people were doing dermatology, 4 people doing opthomology, and 6 doing orthopedics. thats pretty damn close to how many go into those specialites coming from allopathic schools. anyway, i know im rambling, but my point is that you can specialize. Let me repeat it again...DO NOT listen to this fool!

 

[Werry]

Better to reapply than settle for a second rate medical degree. If you think you can get into an MD school next year I'd do so. Defer the DO if yo can.

 

[Doc Oc]

An extra thought - let's say you turn down your DO acceptances and decide to try again next year for MD. You retake the MCAT, do better, apply, and don't get any MD acceptances. The difference this time is that the DO schools that accepted you before might not accept you again unless you come up with some reason for not taking the acceptances last time, which will probably have to be a lie because the truth is that you preferred the MD. Do what you think is best for you, but keep in mind that DO may not be option later if you throw it away now. I don't know if the DO schools besides the ones that accepted you this time can find out, but things like prior application, acceptance, and matriculation get asked on secondaries one time.

 

[none]

Take the D.O. 56% of all applicants are completely rejected every year! You are extremely lucky to hold any sort of acceptance and if you turn it down, you run the very real risk of becoming a member of that 56% of applicants next year.

 

[vyc]

in my mind, without a doubt, i'd defer (can you defer at DO schools?) and apply to MD programs next year.

 

[Rock Star]

Definitely go D.O.!! Unlike what some people are saying, an osteopathic medical degree is NOT second rate. D.O.'s are just as smart and capable as M.D.'s and plus, are given an extra insight on how to care for patients. There are plenty of D.O.'s who specialize, in orthopedics, neuro, pathology, etc. If you really care about patients and about practicing medicine, take the opportunity you have now to attend a D.O. school.

 

[none]

You can't defer and try to get into a better school! That is absolutely forbidden universally. If you defer an acceptance, you are legally bound to attend there and any other school is not allowed to accept you.