How competitive are DO Residencies?

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Relativity speaking, is it harder for a DO to get into a DO residency in a competitive field like dermatology or radiology, than it is for a MD to get in to a MD residency for a comparable field?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Relativity speaking, is it harder for a DO to get into a DO residency in a competitive field like dermatology or radiology, than it is for a MD to get in to a MD residency for a comparable field?

i would guess that it really depends on how fast you are traveling compared to the the MD students. If you are traveling near the speed of light, it is probably much harder as some much time will have passed on earth.

But relatively speaking, they are probably about the same. They are much fewer applicants, but also fewer residencies. So I bet the actual difference when looking at the number interviewed, the total positions, etc. they are roughly the same.

 

[HotandCold]

I think if you do extremely well in school and take up research in the field you're aiming for, you have a better chance than you MD counterparts. Most DO students go into school with primary care in mind. I highly doubt the same can be said for MD's. While it won't be a tremendous difference, if you're a fantastic student you'll be competing with a smaller crowd.

Btw, being a "fantastic student" in a crowd of medical students is rather difficult. Take into account that all of the people competing with you are highly skilled and intelligent. MCAT takin', day light breakin' medicinal studying machines. For true.

 

[DrUKDO]

I think if you do extremely well in school and take up research in the field you're aiming for, you have a better chance than you MD counterparts. Most DO students go into school with primary care in mind. I highly doubt the same can be said for MD's. While it won't be a tremendous difference, if you're a fantastic student you'll be competing with a smaller crowd.

Btw, being a "fantastic student" in a crowd of medical students is rather difficult. Take into account that all of the people competing with you are highly skilled and intelligent. MCAT takin', day light breakin' medicinal studying machines. For true.

Competing with a smaller crowd yes, but you are also competing for a much smaller number of osteopathic only residency positions in those specialties. If you really want to go for radiology, dermatology, etc. then make sure you also take the USMLE so that you can apply to allopathic programs and be the most competitive you can be.

 

[dntke1518]

i would guess that it really depends on how fast you are traveling compared to the the MD students. If you are traveling near the speed of light, it is probably much harder as some much time will have passed on earth.

But relatively speaking, they are probably about the same. They are much fewer applicants, but also fewer residencies. So I bet the actual difference when looking at the number interviewed, the total positions, etc. they are roughly the same.

 

[listentoadvice]

Well, I can guarantee you one thing: it's impossible for allopathic students to get in to an osteopathic residency.

 

[cck3]

Also another question regarding this: How different are future prospects for someone who did a competitive residency via DO route as opposed to a competitive MD route? I mean both will be certified doctors in the same competitive field (certified by different organizations), so I assume there will be some ups and downs for going either way. ( Only one I can think of is maybe more difficulty in securing an academic position as a DO resident trained physician?)

 

[LesBois88]

I think you've essentially got a grasp of it. The only time a DO would face any additional difficulty would likely be for a position at a prestigious academic institution. On the off chance that a PP group held some bias or something, it could be present there as well.

Of course really it depends more on the field- some (EM, Gas, PM&R, etc) have DOs working in essentially every big name academic center.

 

[st2205]

I'll answer by saying it was my intent before medical school to do psychiatry. I'm a decent student with above average board scores and thus far pretty good clinical grades. I feel comfortable that whatever specialty I choose that I'd have a pretty realistic chance to match to that specialty in the osteopathic match. If I were at an allopathic school I think some of the doors I feel I currently have open (urology, ophtho, surgery, orthopedics) that I would have absolutely no chance at. On the other side of the coin, thus far this year someone matched to urology at Mayo and someone took a prematched offer for Radiology at KU. These are only a couple people I know and this is obviously before all the matches are complete. My point is that you can be awesome anywhere. But if you're an average guy like myself having those DO doors open, despite there being fewer spots, gives pretty realistic chances to landing in the specialty of your choice because "dude gotsta go md for neurosurg lolz" mentality weeds out a lot of people vying for those competitive specialties because they bought into believing it wasn't possible for a DO. Also, your competition thins because, on average, the super competitive people often take their chances in the allopathic match.

 

[GottaTroop3]

i would guess that it really depends on how fast you are traveling compared to the the MD students. If you are traveling near the speed of light, it is probably much harder as some much time will have passed on earth.

But relatively speaking, they are probably about the same. ....

That made me laugh out loud. Thank you.

 

[Iliketoytles]

i would guess that it really depends on how fast you are traveling compared to the the MD students. If you are traveling near the speed of light, it is probably much harder as some much time will have passed on earth.