I am afraid of MD/DO merger

[Black Mamba Gene]

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I have a 3.36 gpa and 3.29 science gpa.

MCAT likely to be greater than 511.

I do not know if I should take another year off to improve my gpa and apply to MD and DO or just apply DO right now.

I noticed that the match rate this year decreased for DO schools and increased for accredited Caribbean MD schools too. With the merger, would this get worse?

please let me know your honest thoughts. Thank you.

 

[eberge3]

I am not sure where you got those last statistics and if that is accurate or not can you give a source?

If you are concerned then do not go to a DO program. There are thousands of posts and threads concerning the merger, MD vs DO. If you really want to pursue a competitive specialty then the merger should concern you. If that is not the case the merger will not have an effect on you.

The medical school application process is all about risk vs reward. Do you want to take a chance to become a doctor now if DO is your only option and advance your medical career, or do you want to spend more years off retaking the mcat and reapplying which costs a fortune as well only to potential end up in the same place or worse as the cycles get more competitive every year. Being a DO can make things harder but if you are really motivated to succeed you will find a way just like everyone else.

 

[Black Mamba Gene]

I am not sure where you got those last statistics and if that is accurate or not can you give a source?

If you are concerned then do not go to a DO program. There are thousands of posts and threads concerning the merger, MD vs DO. If you really want to pursue a competitive specialty then the merger should concern you. If that is not the case the merger will not have an effect on you.

hi, I read through this thread :

925 DO grads unmatched this year. Stop school expansion?

 

[Black Mamba Gene]

I want to do interventional radiology

but that might change once I am in medical school.

 

[mtn&sea]

Just wanted to chime in that I have been accepted with an MCAT of 509 and similar GPAs to both MD & DO schools. Not saying you'll definitely get into to either (of course b/c this process is like that...), but just saying it's not out of the range of possibilities.

 

[eberge3]

Plenty of DO's match into Rads and can do IR fellowships after. Take a look at this post:



Overall I am not really sure if that thread has any concrete stats and credible numbers and is more a bunch of neurotic pre-meds/students. But whether the match rate goes up or not should really matter. If you try your hardest and do well academically you will be fine in the end.

 

[Black Mamba Gene]

Plenty of DO's match into Rads and can do IR fellowships after. Take a look at this post:



Overall I am not really sure if that thread has any concrete stats and credible numbers and is more a bunch of neurotic pre-meds/students. But whether the match rate goes up or not should really matter. If you try your hardest and do well academically you will be fine in the end.

Thank you, I sincerely appreciate the encouragement. I think I will go ahead and apply this year and see what happens. If I get accepted into medical school, I will attend as I am not guaranteed anything next year.

 

[Black Mamba Gene]

Just wanted to chime in that I have been accepted with an MCAT of 509 and similar GPAs to both MD & DO schools. Not saying you'll definitely get into to either (of course b/c this process is like that...), but just saying it's not out of the range of possibilities.

unfortunately Cali resident 🙁
but thank you for the encouragement. I will apply to both and see what happens

 

[mtn&sea]

That's what I did! Best of luck.

 

[Isoval]

I want to do interventional radiology

but that might change once I am in medical school.

My school matched at least three Interventional Radiology positions this year - at UTSW, Mayo Clinic (FL), and UMiami (FL).

Additionally, we usually match 5-10 diagnostic radiology every year.

Our class size is 230.

Anecdotally, this year’s match has been one of the best matches we’ve ever had despite there being less protected DO slots than ever before. We have matches to places like Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, and Mayo every single year despite not being in the area. We match into top Texas programs many times every year, like Southwestern and Baylor (no fewer than 15 across multiple specialties).

Left and right, I saw our guys picking up their first-choice residencies.

I wouldn’t let the merger shake you up too badly.

 

[Med.School.Hopeful]

Just wanted to chime in that I have been accepted with an MCAT of 509 and similar GPAs to both MD & DO schools. Not saying you'll definitely get into to either (of course b/c this process is like that...), but just saying it's not out of the range of possibilities.

Congrats on your cycle!

Are you ORM or URM?

Is your MCAT score balanced?

I’ve got a good GPA with a 508 MCAT but it’s unbalanced (124 CARS).

I will be applying to both MD and DO as well.

 

[mtn&sea]

Congrats on your cycle!

Are you ORM or URM?

Is your MCAT score balanced?

I’ve got a good GPA with a 508 MCAT but it’s unbalanced (124 CARS).

I will be applying to both MD and DO as well.

I'm solidly ORM and I cannot remember the portions of my MCAT score verbatim, but I know my CARS & Psych/Soc were significantly higher than my chem/phys section. If you want more info, feel free to DM. Good luck!