Originally posted by emedpa:
•As an older applicant(32),the D.O. option is more appealing to me because these programs tend to value life experience and prior medical background in addition to gpa and mcat's.They also don't place as much emphasis on where you did your prerequisites, as long as one does well. very few allopathic schools will consider classes taken at community college as equivalent to those taken elsewhere.
Having worked in health care for 15 years, I have appreciated the interactions I have had with D.O's. I'm sure there are cranky D.O's out there, but I have yet to meet one(even when I call them at 3 in the morning for a consult). they are often more willing to talk to allied health care providers without condescending in the fashion of many M.D.'s.
I also have had a number of mentors who are M.D.'s, but they are the exception and not the rule.
The general rotating internship required of D.O.'s before attending a specialty program also appeals to me. D.O.'s also have a wider variety of residency opportunities because they can do an osteopathic or allopathic residency.hope that helps.-emed p.a. 😀•
Interesting take.
I find the misconception time and time again. People want to go to Osteopathic Medical School because "DOs interact with less of a condescending attitude." So you then believe that if you, yourself, become an MD, you will do the same. Something in our letters, or our education, teaches one to become a jerk?
Oh, I love it... just LOVE it, when I hear "the DO treats the whole person, and the MD just treats the disease." Come on!
"DOs are more compassionate." The schools actually TEACH COMPASSION, whereas the MD schools simply teach us to scream.
"DOs have more residency opportunities." Well, they have DO and MD options. But they have to take both boards. And DOs must face a discriminating field, and are unable to practice abroad.
"DOs are better physicians." That's as dumb as saying "MDs are better physicians." From what *I* see, there is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE IN PRACTICE. None. Once a DO has a practice, it is the same as MD, with the exception for the small % of DOs who manipulate.
I chose MD because:
1) it was cheaper
2) it is better recognized
3) i'll have more career options.
Period. Not because I'll become a better physician with an allopathic education, or that I'd have a worse education with DO, but ONLY the reasons outlined above.
You'll find a lot of DOs justifying their "choice" to go to osteopathic school by saying that MDs are worse, etc. But the DOs that DON'T justify their decision using nonsense logic are the ones who truly think that their particular DO school is better, which may be the case for that individual. I personally don't believe that one is better or worse than another.
Happy doctoring to all!
