How many applied to MDs and DOs and how do you explain why at interviews?

[ocdoc]

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If you applied to MDs and DOs, at interviews did they ask you why you did that? What's the best answer to give; is it something they frown down on?

 

[robh]

If you applied to MDs and DOs, at interviews did they ask you why you did that? What's the best answer to give; is it something they frown down on?

I was not asked specifically if I applied to allopathic schools as well as osteopathic schools, but I was asked why I was interested in osteopathic medicine in particular. You definitely should be prepared to answer that question. If you give them some canned response, I think they will see through it.

What they frown upon is people who apply to OM schools that have no interest in osteopathic medicine. There are some great things about OM. Do some research and work out a genuine answer that makes sense for you. That will be all you need.

For what it's worth, I interviewed at AZCOM, CCOM, and COMP. Of those, I would have a hard time choosing between AZCOM, CCOM. I really liked both schools. Think CCOM has a better clerkship program, so on that basis I would probably give CCOM the top spot. Good luck!

 

[Megalofyia]

I agree with robh. I applied to both and was prepared to explain what I liked about going to an osteopathic school but I also was ready to explain that I really wanted to be a physician regardless of the degree.

I was asked at one or two interviews if I had applied to both but they were more concered with what I knew about osteopathic medicine and why I would want to become a DO.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Here's a better question.....what is a good answer for the "Why are you applying osteopathic?" if you frankly don't see any REAL difference (besides the manipulation therapy) between DO and MD programs. I think "Because I want to be a physician and I honestly do not think it really matters the letters after my name" isn't an acceptable answer.

 

[Trevelyan]

I'm saving the "I want to just be a physician" answer for the MD schools. It seems it is usually the other way around. I really do not know what else to say in an MD interview.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Who says you can't use it for both?

 

[Megalofyia]

Your right that saying that isnt' acceptable. If you want a better answer then I suggest reading journal articles on OMM and osteopathy, like in the osteopathic medicine journal club section. Learning more than just the history of osteopathy is a good start.

 

[Trevelyan]

Who says you can't use it for both?

Well, you could, but I am not going to, because I have a better answer for why DO, because that is actually my preference.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I know a little bit about the history of osteopathy. History doesn't mean anything to me because it will not impact my actual practice, simply for the fact that historically we used to believe that bleeding people with leeches was a good therapy for a number of things (the current use of medicinal leeches notwithstanding). OMM also is not effective for most things beyond orthopedics or muscular problems, nor am I planning on being in a field where it would be applicable. Don't even get me started on the crock of **** that is cranial.....

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Well, you could, but I am not going to, because I have a better answer for why DO, because that is actually my preference

Because you're interested in primary care?

There are a lot of DO programs I would prefer to be at than most MD programs (out of my first five choices, four are DO programs)

 

[Trevelyan]

Because you're interested in primary care?

Yes. I also prefer the philosophy.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I've been treated by MD's and DO's and noticed no real difference....and even had several DO's repeatedly tell me that any of the "differences" are all in the heads of people who want to keep the "osteopathic tradition" going....

 

[robh]

I forgot to mention that shadowing a DO is an excellent way to research OM, and have something significant to say in your interview.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I've worked around more than a few DO's and none of them do OM unless specifically asked to do so (such as when I hurt my back on a fire scene and I asked one of them to manipulate me). I would imagine that primary care DO's would probably be more likely to use it, but then again, my primary care doc until very recently was a DO and neither her nor any of her DO coworkers (there were 4 of them in the practice) used OM in their practices (I asked).

 

[scpod]

I would imagine that primary care DO's would probably be more likely to use it, but then again, my primary care doc until very recently was a DO and neither her nor any of her DO coworkers (there were 4 of them in the practice) used OM in their practices (I asked).

One of our OMM instructors is in Family Practice with a group of MDs-- he's the only DO. He makes more than any of the MDs in his practice, specifically because he performs a lot of OMM in addition to everything else. It's billed separately from the office visit. I'd much rather supplement my income with OMM than with Botox injections.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I'm not saying that it's not profitable (I honestly didn't know and frankly don't care)....I was just stating that I know none of the DO's in my area that do it.
My question (not that I would EVER go into primary care; see my signature) if I were weighing the choice between Botox and OMM as a way to increase my profit margin would be: Which is quicker and which turns a bigger profit?

 

[Vox Animo]

In practice very few DOs regularly use omm.

However, if you can credibily market it, it would be a good income boost in fields like primary care, as some people have mentioned.

 

[ShyRem]

I applied to both. As an oos'er, i got an interview at MSUCOM -- and right on my application I flat out stated that while I had been in the medical field for over 10 years, I never paid attention to whether there was a DO or MD after a physician's name; a good doc was a good doc and a bad one was bad no matter what their initials. I bluntly stated that initials didn't make a good or bad physician and that I really didn't know anything about OMM, but I wanted to be the kind of physician that treated people and not diseases. I stated I realized that what we knew about medicine was a drop in the ocean and that every patient is different, even if the symptoms and complaint were identical. And I wanted to learn.

I was asked at several interviews about applying to both. I explained I was looking for a school that was a good "fit" for both me and my family, and reiterated the above.

I was offered a relatively early interview at 5 DO schools (in september). Interestingly, the interview process totally reshaped my list of #1 to last choice. And I got into a school that seems to be a perfect fit for me. They were honest, I was honest, and my interviewer baldly stated he appreciated my candor (apparently he was expecting it -- one of my LORs stated I was "a woman of unusual candor"). My acceptance letter was dated the next day.

I guess the bottom line here is be yourself. If you want to play the game, great. I didn't want to play, and it paid off for me. Be prepared for questions you may not have thought about. And don't lie.

Good luck to y'all. It's been my experience that adcoms can smell a BS answer a mile away. Be honest without being stupid about it and you should be fine.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Here's a better question.....what is a good answer for the "Why are you applying osteopathic?" if you frankly don't see any REAL difference (besides the manipulation therapy) between DO and MD programs. I think "Because I want to be a physician and I honestly do not think it really matters the letters after my name" isn't an acceptable answer.

I think it is acceptable. And thats what I said.