Go to Top CA DO school or not?

[shazam211]

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Hey guys! I was accepted into a top CA DO school, but I am conflicted about whether to accept or not. I am interested in pursuing a career in a surgical specialty. Interested in neurosurgery but open to others too. I am first gen and low income so I applied to DO not really thinking about how they have lower match rates for the competitive specialities. Also just like the concern of putting down I was accepted to a med school previous cycle but didn't attend could be a red flag if I apply again. What do you guys think I should do?

 

[Goro]

A little tough love time.

Neurosurgery is hard enough for MD students to get into, so don't think that just because you have the MD you can Waltz into a Neurosurgery residency.

Why did you apply to a school that you didn't want to attend? You didn't do your due diligence? That's on you.

If you're gunning for the md, then do a special Masters program hosted an MD School, since it's clear that you don't want to be a DO.

 

[Goro]

You are not required to mention that you have been accepted to other schools unless you are directly asked. Most schools are concerned about whether or not you have matriculated.

 

[CBass2288]

in addition to the great advice above, i'd still take the A. we don't know what your application looks like. are you competitive enough for MD that you're willing to risk throwing away an A, just to not get in next cycle? nothing is guaranteed for anyone, it'd be especially risky if you're at or below matriculant average. do you wanna be a doctor more than you want to be an MD? is neurosurgery the only option? all things to consider for yourself.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'm aware of only three California DO schools, and I don't recall any of them having problems getting students into surgery (from stories posted here). Being in California should not be a problem connecting with opportunities where you would get experience to be a competitive surgery applicant. If you don't have any other options, take your acceptance and work hard/smart.

 

[candbgirl]

What makes you think the next cycle will produce different results on the MD side? What have you done to significantly improve your application? How many MD interviews did you get this cycle? Are you on any waitlists?
You obviously don’t want to go DO, so let the A go to someone waiting for it. But it could be the biggest mistake of your life if you really want to be a Doctor.

 

[shazam211]

My stats are MCAT 503 and GPA 3.7. Since I applied I joined a private neurosurgery clinic as a scribe. I am also continuing to do research. I should have 2 publications done by end of this year as we are working on papers right now. I know that MCAT is low, and so that would be my focus of improvement. But also true, that I don’t know still if I will get in and what I will even get on MCAT. And likely it will be hard to study and take the exam for this cycle. I think really it makes a lot of sense to take this A and go, but really I’m just scared of not getting those competitive specialities even if I do put in a lot of work just because it’s DO.

 

[ecobio]

I would go with the DO program. Theres no guarantee you’ll get another acceptance, either DO or MD, in the future. Ive heard horror stories of people repeating an MCAT around yours and getting a sub 500. If youre confident you can get a 510+ on a retake you’d have a shot an MD

 

[HuskyMD Emeritus]

Top DO school in CA, you mean Western? Then go for it.
My group has DOs in GI, radiology, pulm-ccm, endocrine, surgery, etc. At one of the hospitals I work at, there are DOs in vascular surgery, neurosurgery (yes, that's right), orthopedics. The DO residents in this hospital, over the years, have matched into competitive specialties (on a yearly basis) cardiology, vascular surgery, trauma, thoracic surgery, surg-onc, peds surg, .......
It's on you to perform well, build connections and get strong LORs.
And in regards to your stats, they are very average, so what makes you think you can get into an MD program next cycle (the apps that I reviewed for interviews (just to get them to interview!) 2 cycles ago had a average (and mean) GPA of 3.8x and average (and mean) MCAT of 516 (average and mean same indicate there weren't that many outliers) and this is not even a top 20 school.