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Context: I've been accepted into several DO schools but am on hold at several MDs, wondering how to process my likely fate of becoming a DO. I think a part of me is just looking for validation of the choice to go the DO route in case I don't get into any MD programs, but I want to be completely realistic. Anyway, I've read a lot about general DO vs MD issues on here but wanted to specifically ask this question for pre-medical students who are leaning toward traditionally less-competitive specialties.
My understanding is that highly competitive ACGME residencies are extremely difficult for DO students to land regardless of grades, scores, or recommendations. However, I don't currently have any reason to believe I'd want to pursue any of these specialties (orthosurg, derm, ophtho, etc.) After shadowing many different types of physicians for many thousands of hours, I just don't see myself going into a highly-specialized field that does not allow physicians many opportunities to help patients on a psychosocial level.
It's possible that I will want to go into neurology instead of psychiatry (or something completely different), and I can't predict the future, but I have had a ton of practical experience with psych patients that only reinforced my longtime desire to be a psychiatrist. I'm just wondering if going the DO route would likely shut down any prestigious opportunities for me given my interest in this mildly-to-moderately competitive specialty.
Yes, I know prestige shouldn't matter much, but that isn't my primary reason for pursuing the medical path, and I want to know what I'm really dealing with here in terms of how high my hopes should reside. My dream is to be a practicing psychiatrist in a big, liberal city, and I am interested in research. How much would DO vs MD affect my chances of landing a highly-coveted psychiatry residency, say, at UCSF, Yale, or OHSU, other things equal?
Thanks for your time
My understanding is that highly competitive ACGME residencies are extremely difficult for DO students to land regardless of grades, scores, or recommendations. However, I don't currently have any reason to believe I'd want to pursue any of these specialties (orthosurg, derm, ophtho, etc.) After shadowing many different types of physicians for many thousands of hours, I just don't see myself going into a highly-specialized field that does not allow physicians many opportunities to help patients on a psychosocial level.
It's possible that I will want to go into neurology instead of psychiatry (or something completely different), and I can't predict the future, but I have had a ton of practical experience with psych patients that only reinforced my longtime desire to be a psychiatrist. I'm just wondering if going the DO route would likely shut down any prestigious opportunities for me given my interest in this mildly-to-moderately competitive specialty.
Yes, I know prestige shouldn't matter much, but that isn't my primary reason for pursuing the medical path, and I want to know what I'm really dealing with here in terms of how high my hopes should reside. My dream is to be a practicing psychiatrist in a big, liberal city, and I am interested in research. How much would DO vs MD affect my chances of landing a highly-coveted psychiatry residency, say, at UCSF, Yale, or OHSU, other things equal?
Thanks for your time
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