is DO your 1st choice?

[christina30]

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Yeah christina...while I do share your enthusiasm about DO school...that was a bit of reverse discrimination dont ya think?

I said qualified in quotes for a reason. I certainly don't think DO>MD or that MDs are less qualified.

The fact of the matter is - to do an AOA residency, you would need to have taken OMM and the COMLEX exam, and to be lacking in either of things would, in essence, "disqualify" you. It has nothing to do with the quality/intelligence/competency of the applicant.

It'd be similar to someone saying they should be allowed to apply to medical school without having taken pre-reqs or the MCAT, and that's the point I was trying to make.

If it makes you feel better, I'd change it to say they're not ELIGIBLE for a reason.

 

[VCU07]

There aren't exactly people on either side of the tracks that think this is much of an issue.

"Qualified"... i mean really? When it suits people, MD=DO. When it doesn't, DO>MD. Le sigh.




Wow, ballsy. Hopkins opens so many doors and i hate to say it, but I really think that they get an excellent education- probably better than most places. It is the kind of place that is not pretentious (unlike most people think and unlike a few of those top tier places in boston) and is truly interested in everyone getting a first class education. Family and home are hard to leave though.



And that's why jefferson is listed as your first choice on your MD apps page?



PCOM does have a good reputation and docs all over.

After conversing with you in another thread, I must say your posts come across very blunt, but you are objective. So, I can not argue with you there. PCOM is a great institution and who cares whether or not NC GUY's first choice was an MD or DO school...he will be a physician. This thread, like tons of others, seems to be headed in the direction of MD vs. DO. Can we just get back to the OPs question?

 

[PharMed2016]

Honestly, at the end of the day... a doctor is a doctor. Does it matter what initials are after your name as long as you can treat your patient? That is why everyone wants to be a physician right?

There are a few valid reasons for choosing one over the other and that is like I said before, your prerogative. This could be cost, location, friendliness to non-traditions, type of residency you want, and/or prestige. Let's not turn this into an DO vs. MD thread because there are enough of those on SDN.

 

[willen101383]

I said qualified in quotes for a reason. I certainly don't think DO>MD or that MDs are less qualified.

The fact of the matter is - to do an AOA residency, you would need to have taken OMM and the COMLEX exam, and to be lacking in either of things would, in essence, "disqualify" you. It has nothing to do with the quality/intelligence/competency of the applicant.

It'd be similar to someone saying they should be allowed to apply to medical school without having taken pre-reqs or the MCAT, and that's the point I was trying to make.

If it makes you feel better, I'd change it to say they're not ELIGIBLE for a reason.

Thanks! 🙂

 

[CookDeRosa]

After conversing with you in another thread, I must say your posts come across very blunt, but you are objective. So, I can not argue with you there. PCOM is a great institution and who cares whether or not NC GUY's first choice was an MD or DO school...he will be a physician. This thread, like tons of others, seems to be headed in the direction of MD vs. DO. Can we just get back to the OPs question?

>>

👍
Yeah, but I'm right. I'm going into a field with a large % of people who really don't want to be there. Which is odd, because there seems to be a lot of pre-md students hanging out here. Maybe DO really is the cooler place to be? 🙂

 

[HockeyDr09]

Honestly, at the end of the day... a doctor is a doctor. Does it matter what initials are after your name as long as you can treat your patient? That is why everyone wants to be a physician right?

There are a few valid reasons for choosing one over the other and that is like I said before, your prerogative. This could be cost, location, friendliness to non-traditions, type of residency you want, and/or prestige. Let's not turn this into an DO vs. MD thread because there are enough of those on SDN.

(Winning comment)

 

[pennstate4life]

Its funny how its automatically assumed that everyone on SDN gives a $hit about what others think of their every move. I have accomplished enough in my life and am proud as hell of everything I have done; to not give two ****s what some douche cocky allopathic kid has to say about the fact that im going to a DO school.

And yes I in fact CHOSE a DO school over the MD school I got into. The MD school was in a horrible location, I wanted to remain where I live now/own my house, and frankly I just think I will get a better education at my school.

Okay you win the argument because you said the S word. I believe that you believe you accomplished a lot. DO is extremely competitive nowadays. You need at least a 26 MCAT, which is like 50 percentile. That means you are above average!

 

[VCU07]

Okay you win the argument because you said the S word. I believe that you believe you accomplished a lot. DO is extremely competitive nowadays. You need at least a 26 MCAT, which is like 50 percentile. That means you are above average!

Come on guys....this type of stuff isn't going to get us anywhere. The fact that he/she chose D😵ver MD has no correlation to his MCAT score, esp. since he/she was admitted to an allopathic school. I don't really care about statistics...the measure of a physician in seen through his or her pts. (Regardless of DO or MD). Lets move on.

 

[Atom bum]

Lol I see someone hates the whole DNP movement as much as I do. My apologies then.

Really? What is with you guys and the DNP hate? I can understand the idea that generates the animosity, but is it fair for a bunch of premed and med students to pass judgment on a small group of professional health care workers? I just think when we are all Doctors our respective points of view will change in regards to other professionals such as international med grads and nurse practitioners so we should hold back on our derisive comments.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Really? What is with you guys and the DNP hate? I can understand the idea that generates the animosity, but is it fair for a bunch of premed and med students to pass judgment on a small group of professional health care workers? I just think when we are all Doctors our respective points of view will change in regards to other professionals such as international med grads and nurse practitioners so we should hold back on our derisive comments.

Wow, in a thread of asinine and absurd comments ... this remark really shines through as "dumb." Seriously, do your homework for 10 seconds. Any doctor that doesn't vehemently oppose the DNP movement wants to ruin their own profession and risk patient safety.

God damn ... I seriously may need an SDN break. This site is too much sometimes.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

MDs who wish they had gone DO. Now that's funny! Thanks for the laugh.

Haha if you are serious, then I am the one getting the real laugh. I speak the truth my friend. It is of no benefit for me to lie about something so petty since, ultimately, we will all be physicians. Thankfully I am 100% happy with the way I am choosing to get there despite comments like yours 🙂

 

[Atom bum]

Wow, in a thread of asinine and absurd comments ... this remark really shines through as "dumb." Seriously, do your homework for 10 seconds. Any doctor that doesn't vehemently oppose the DNP movement wants to ruin their own profession and risk patient safety.

God damn ... I seriously may need an SDN break. This site is too much sometimes.

I agree you do need a break. Instead of accepting my sincere opinion and countering with some of your supposed research you jump down my throat . In fact I know several doctors that find this anti DNP stuff is garbage. I'm trying not to be argumentative here but you can sure come across as kind of a dick.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I agree you do need a break. Instead of accepting my sincere opinion and countering with some of your supposed research you jump down my throat . In fact I know several doctors that find this anti DNP stuff is garbage. I'm trying not to be argumentative here but you can sure come across as kind of a dick.

Don't care what I come across as ... do care about nurses waltzing around in white coats, calling themselves doctors, creating 2 week residencies and claiming they are BC in fields like dermatology (the holy grail of real medicine residencies), demanding equal compensation to real doctors, AND treating patients with far, far, far less knowledge than fully trained physicians.

AND

This is just a perfect example of why this site makes me livid ... we have a thread full of people so clueless, so focused on getting from step A to step B, so attached to labels and perception and how society will view them, that they sit around and waste time bickering about one freaking letter in the PROFESSIONAL degree behind your name. All the while, nurses are taking over our profession, new legislation threatens to drive the system to levels that will eff docs, and things like 21% cuts to medicare (which will result in astronomical cuts to private insurances) hang delicately in the balance. Yet I'm sitting here reading the musings of an 18 kid who thinks the greatest challenge in life is next week's o-chem quiz and informs me that:

'DO isn't gewd bc you don't use OMM that much in practice, and I wouldn't use it as a derma-micro-radio-plastic-neurosurgeon in my clinic I plan to open in Kenya.'

Really??? Really??? Is this the "future" of health care? People who are so self-centered and oblivious that they spew this BS instead of focusing on much larger, more important, real world issues? God! Maybe I'm just as guilty, but this site is just starting to make me insane.

 

[Atom bum]

Don't care what I come across as ... do care about nurses waltzing around in white coats, calling themselves doctors, creating 2 week residencies and claiming they are BC in fields like dermatology (the holy grail of real medicine residencies), demanding equal compensation to real doctors, AND treating patients with far, far, far less knowledge than fully trained physicians.

Ok.. so where are you learning this? Have you actually talked to a physician about this? All I'm saying is that I think it is silly for us students to pass judgment without real experience. I believe most of what you are going to read on the matter will be negative and until you see it for yourself you should not be getting so upset. Once again though, just my "dumb" opinion.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Dude to be totally honest with you there is no way in hell I could tolerate going to any of the above listed schools even if I got in/applied. Elitism and douchebaggery annoys the hell out of me and I would be miserable the entire 4 years. So if someone liked CCOM (a sick very established school) better than some top 5 med school that really doesnt make them a tool, it makes them a mature individual who takes the whole picture into account, not just prestige.

Most medical schools are like that. You worked hard for your admission, PCOM's going to have some elitism and CCOM will as well. Both are the best DO schools and will be populated with people who think they are amazing. But that's not even what i'm taking about, for example UPENN has connections to arguable the best Optho residencies and a hand full of other amazing ones. They send there students to some of the best learning hospitals and put them into some of the best residencies. I personally wouldn't pass up the opportunity to have a stronger connection to the countries best neurologists and psychiatrists as I want to go into those fields. I mean no offense the top 10 will have the best research departments and the best minds in the world. You would be a fool to pass up that. The top 10 is ground zero for the development of most of the greatest medical developments. * Drools* For me its not about elitism, its more about connections and working with the best minds.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Ok.. so where are you learning this? Have you actually talked to a physician about this? All I'm saying is that I think it is silly for us students to pass judgment without real experience. I believe most of what you are going to read on the matter will be negative and until you see it for yourself you should not be getting so upset. Once again though, just my "dumb" opinion.

I'm literally too alsdkfjldk to even spend the 30 seconds and bring up the multiple CNN/Fox news segments where DNPs go on there and tell the world that they are "the same as doctors, just paid less," the threads on the NP dermatology residency at USF, the hundreds of first-hand experiences residents have, etc, etc. Just go read the "topics in health care" and "generally residency issues" forums. Even if it's exaggerated ... at the core is a very scary truth (I also don't think it's exaggerated). And no ... I'm not going to go find one burnt-out doc who is working 70 hours a week and has no time to research/hear about these issues.

 

[Atom bum]

I'm literally too alsdkfjldk to even spend the 30 seconds and bring up the multiple CNN/Fox news segments where DNPs go on there and tell the world that they are "the same as doctors, just paid less," the threads on the NP dermatology residency at USF, the hundreds of first-hand experiences residents have, etc, etc. Just go read the "topics in health care" and "generally residency issues" forums. Even if it's exaggerated ... at the core is a very scary truth (I also don't think it's exaggerated). And no ... I'm not going to go find one burnt-out doc who is working 70 hours a week and has no time to research/hear about these issues.

LOL. I'm going to end this argument with you because I don't feel like enraging you further. I will do my own research on the matter but I have to be honest with you, I don't think it is going to change my mind. If I'm wrong I will be sure to return with a plate of crow so you can gloat. I can understand how it can be frustrating, it actually bugs me to think about a nurse calling himself a doctor when they haven't jumped through all the hoops and done all the work that we have to, but I honestly don't think it is fair for me to make a judgment on this. It's like when ROTC kids tell me, a veteran, what the military is like. They have no real experience, just preconceived notions that they think are fact till they hit the fleet.

 

[JaggerPlate]

LOL. I'm going to end this argument with you because I don't feel like enraging you further. I will do my own research on the matter but I have to be honest with you, I don't think it is going to change my mind. If I'm wrong I will be sure to return with a plate of crow so you can gloat. I can understand how it can be frustrating, it actually bugs me to think about a nurse calling himself a doctor when they haven't jumped through all the hoops and done all the work that we have to, but I honestly don't think it is fair for me to make a judgment on this. It's like when ROTC kids tell me, a veteran, what the military is like. They have no real experience, just preconceived notions that they think are fact till they hit the fleet.

Eh, I won't gloat. I didn't even mean to jump down your throat ... I was just shocked that anyone looking to take the real route and put in the time, effort, etc, wouldn't rebel against those trying to take the prize without putting in any of the work. Especially when patient safety is an issue. Again, I apologize if I blew up ... these threads are just nuts and sometimes it really blows me away at how focused people can be on such trivial issues when the bigger picture is so much more important and issues like MD v DO are so trivial in comparison.

 

[Atom bum]

these threads are just nuts and sometimes it really blows me away at how focused people can be on such trivial issues when the bigger picture is so much more important and issues like MD v DO are so trivial in comparison.

It is also amazing how quickly a thread can degenerate into an MD vs DO crap fest... This thread really served no useful purpose to begin with. Who benefits from this? Who cares if someone chose DO instead of MD or MD instead of DO besides a bunch of neurotic pre-meds.

 

[JaggerPlate]

It is also amazing how quickly a thread can degenerate into an MD vs DO crap fest... This thread really served no useful purpose to begin with. Who benefits from this? Who cares if someone chose DO instead of MD or MD instead of DO besides a bunch of neurotic pre-meds.

Couldn't agree more, but I seriously need to just learn to exit them asap because I either have random, un-directed explosions, or literally get into discussions where it's 15 pre-allos and me and it takes up far too much time (though I usually end up winning because they make inane points and assumptions based off SDN rumors).

 

[Instatewaiter]

After conversing with you in another thread, I must say your posts come across very blunt, but you are objective. So, I can not argue with you there. PCOM is a great institution and who cares whether or not NC GUY's first choice was an MD or DO school...he will be a physician. This thread, like tons of others, seems to be headed in the direction of MD vs. DO. Can we just get back to the OPs question?

I agree. I am to-the-point and PCOM is a very solid school.

Really? What is with you guys and the DNP hate? I can understand the idea that generates the animosity, but is it fair for a bunch of premed and med students to pass judgment on a small group of professional health care workers? I just think when we are all Doctors our respective points of view will change in regards to other professionals such as international med grads and nurse practitioners so we should hold back on our derisive comments.

JP is right on the mark. Most residents and younger attendings (those who have a horse in this race) feel the same way too. The DNP is an abomination that will lead to people being hurt because quite frankly they have inadequate training. NPs have a role in simple things. They are not trained for complex medicine. It is about power and money. The politics rather than rational thought will make the DNP movement more powerful. It is a pity that the public is unaware that DNPs take ~40 clinically useful credits and only need about 1000 clinical hours. In comparison, doctors take 140ish clinically useful credits plus 17,000 clinical hours.

Ok.. so where are you learning this? Have you actually talked to a physician about this? All I'm saying is that I think it is silly for us students to pass judgment without real experience. I believe most of what you are going to read on the matter will be negative and until you see it for yourself you should not be getting so upset. Once again though, just my "dumb" opinion.

I am a physician... technically. I agree. See above.

Most medical schools are like that. You worked hard for your admission, PCOM's going to have some elitism and CCOM will as well. Both are the best DO schools and will be populated with people who think they are amazing. But that's not even what i'm taking about, for example UPENN has connections to arguable the best Optho residencies and a hand full of other amazing ones. They send there students to some of the best learning hospitals and put them into some of the best residencies. I personally wouldn't pass up the opportunity to have a stronger connection to the countries best neurologists and psychiatrists as I want to go into those fields. I mean no offense the top 10 will have the best research departments and the best minds in the world. You would be a fool to pass up that. The top 10 is ground zero for the development of most of the greatest medical developments. * Drools* For me its not about elitism, its more about connections and working with the best minds.

Not only connections but if you are surrounded by people who constantly push you to be better, you will be the best physician you can be. When you get complacent and feel comfortable, you don't work as hard to be good.

Hahaha... thanks for pointing that out... it was before I interviewed... I was so naive.

That's what I'm here for.

 

[Styria]

I love this forum, and I appreciate all of the information! I'm soaking it up 🙂

Before I even came to this forum, I wanted to apply DO. I didn't know that it was considered (by many) to be a less competitive admission; 2nd choice. I've been a little bummed that so few people consider DO a first choice. I worry that I'll be entering a profession where many of the people never intended on a mild shift in practice philosophy, rather it was just a means to practicing MD medicine. I've also noticed a number of people do end up in a DO program, but then go on to an MD residency.

Am I alone in seeking out a DO program as my 1st choice, and looking forward to a DO residency and DO practice?

You're not alone. I only applied DO and look forward to a DO residency because that's what I want to be.

People who blather and whine about osteopaths' claim to "treat the whole person" never bother asking how one treats the whole person. In fact, I bet their assertions that the MDs treat the whole person too 'nowadays' ultimately wind down to 'MDs are nice people too,' as though emotively caring for the patient and all of their complaints were the same thing.

If you want the philosophy, go after anatomy relentlessly (and don't ignore the fascia during dissection, everything's connected) and find mentors, since all you get in school are parts. And if you want to change how anyone else practices, get skilled and knowledgeable enough to become a mentor yourself.

 

[Daedra22]

'DO isn't gewd bc you don't use OMM that much in practice, and I wouldn't use it as a derma-micro-radio-plastic-neurosurgeon in my clinic I plan to open in Kenya.'

Really??? Really??? Is this the "future" of health care? People who are so self-centered and oblivious that they spew this BS instead of focusing on much larger, more important, real world issues? God! Maybe I'm just as guilty, but this site is just starting to make me insane.

I agree wholeheartedly. This is supposed to be a forum of aspiring "professionals"... it truly makes me sad that these are the people belittling certain degrees.

On the topic at hand, I only applied to schools which I would be happy to attend, both MD and DO. I got into a DO school, and I'm ecstatic about that. There are a several thousand applicants who were denied the opportunity I have been given; why would I ever look on such an accomplishment as second-rate?

 

[JaggerPlate]

On the topic at hand, I only applied to schools which I would be happy to attend, both MD and DO. I got into a DO school, and I'm ecstatic about that. There are a several thousand applicants who were denied the opportunity I have been given; why would I ever look on such an accomplishment as second-rate?

Another fact I always convey is that only 80% of Americans graduate high school, 15% earn a bachelors, and 8% earn professional degrees. Additionally, this doesn't even take into considering the tiny, tiny fraction that are special enough to make it to medical school, finish, and practice ... and yet, sometimes people get so caught up in the idea that they have to get X degree from Y school or Z will happen to their medical career, and it's nuts. It's so difficult to even get to the level we are/will be at ... and to get all the way here and then bicker over ONE letter in our doctoral degrees is insane, and that's my point - I truly believe sometimes we need to step back and take a look at the big picture before we all spend 4 hours in a heated debate over the letters M and O.

 

[csmittyB]

... I was just shocked that anyone looking to take the real route and put in the time, effort, etc, wouldn't rebel against those trying to take the prize without putting in any of the work. Especially when patient safety is an issue. ...

I think that is part of the problem, having to put in all that time and effort etc to take the real route. That route is basically a tunnel. We don't really see what is happening around us, we can only see the light at the end. We don't see the DNPs becoming more powerful and trying to expand. Just look at SDN. Posters are more concerned about which lab position will look better on their application than whether they will have a job when they get out of school. We are so focused on the light at the end of the tunnel that we just cross our fingers and hope everything turns out as we planned.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I think that is part of the problem, having to put in all that time and effort etc to take the real route. That route is basically a tunnel. We don't really see what is happening around us, we can only see the light at the end. We don't see the DNPs becoming more powerful and trying to expand. Just look at SDN. Posters are more concerned about which lab position will look better on their application than whether they will have a job when they get out of school. We are so focused on the light at the end of the tunnel that we just cross our fingers and hope everything turns out as we planned.

Yup👍

 

[pennstate4life]

You know if you go to DO school twice you will become a DODO bird. I've told this story before and I will say it again. Don't say I didn't warn you! DODO birds are clumsy.

 

[willen101383]

Okay you win the argument because you said the S word. I believe that you believe you accomplished a lot. DO is extremely competitive nowadays. You need at least a 26 MCAT, which is like 50 percentile. That means you are above average!

Hi! Welcome to SDN! Thanks for posting 🙂

 

[apolito2321]

You know if you go to DO school twice you will become a DODO bird. I've told this story before and I will say it again. Don't say I didn't warn you! DODO birds are clumsy.

Are you for real or am I just terrible at internet sarcasm?

 

[Daedra22]

It's a troll. Ignore it and it'll go away.

 

[willen101383]

It's a troll. Ignore it and it'll go away.

I actually read every single one of his/her posts and there is not a single posting of any substance...just making dumb "I think I am funny and a witty linguist" remarks. Oh well. Still proud of my school and where I am headed in life 🙂

 

[willen101383]

Come on guys....this type of stuff isn't going to get us anywhere. The fact that he/she chose D😵ver MD has no correlation to his MCAT score, esp. since he/she was admitted to an allopathic school. I don't really care about statistics...the measure of a physician in seen through his or her pts. (Regardless of DO or MD). Lets move on.

Thank you. Another person who has been on SDN longer than 2 months.

 

[COMedic2Doc]

Another fact I always convey is that only 80% of Americans graduate high school, 15% earn a bachelors, and 8% earn professional degrees. Additionally, this doesn't even take into considering the tiny, tiny fraction that are special enough to make it to medical school, finish, and practice ... and yet, sometimes people get so caught up in the idea that they have to get X degree from Y school or Z will happen to their medical career, and it's nuts. It's so difficult to even get to the level we are/will be at ... and to get all the way here and then bicker over ONE letter in our doctoral degrees is insane, and that's my point - I truly believe sometimes we need to step back and take a look at the big picture before we all spend 4 hours in a heated debate over the letters M and O.

Very, very well said 👍👍👍.

Seriously, folks at the end of the day, how many patients do you think know the difference between DO and MD? Second, do they really care? NO, they really care about you being the best Doctor when they need you the most, and they could care less where you got your degree. In my humble opinion, I'd dare to say that even your colleagues won't care if you're a DO or an MD, as long as you have exemplified yourself as a Doctor with professionalism, empathy, and a knowledgeable approach to Medicine.

So, as others have said let us move past the DO vs MD petty argument and move on to the reason for this thread.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Back to the issue at hand, I am only applying DO so it is my first choice. I am also only applying to 1 DO school. Main reason is I live not 10 miles from a well respected DO school. I don't really want to practice anywhere but my home town (I can move for residency but I would like to come back) and DOs are respected just fine. And my state MD school shows no love for their in-state students. But I also have kids to put in school, grandparents to appease (they gotta see the kids) and friends here. I can't see myself going anywhere else, so I might be more biased for different reasons.

 

[koennen]

I speak the truth my friend.

Bull. PM me the name and contact information (including phone number) of every MD you have heard say "I wish I had gone to DO school." I will come on here and confess to being a complete idiot if you can direct me to even one MD who will tell me that he wishes that he was a DO.

It is of no benefit for me to lie about something so petty ...

Well, it sure doesn't seem petty to pre-DO posters on SDN. Here are just a few of the ludicrous statements (loosely paraphrased) that I've read from pre-DOs just in the past week:

DO schools are actually more competitive than MD schools

DO is the future of medicine

I got in to a top 5 medical school (which I won't name), but I chose to go DO.

... and, of course, your classic

I know MDs who wish they were DOs

If I wasn't so lazy, I could come up with dozens and dozens of similar statements. Why do pre-DO students say such things? An inferiority complex for which they attempt to compensate by arguing that the DO degree is not just the equivalent of the MD degree, it is actually superior? You tell me. They really can't have a reasonable expectation that anyone believes that nonsense. When I read such things I am reminded of the famous line from Hamlet, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

 

[apolito2321]

If I wasn't so lazy, I could come up with dozens and dozens of similar statements. Why do pre-DO students say such things? An inferiority complex for which they attempt to compensate by arguing that the DO degree is not just the equivalent of the MD degree, it is actually superior? You tell me. They really can't have a reasonable expectation that anyone believes that nonsense. When I read such things I am reminded of the famous line from Hamlet, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."

Obviously many of them are compensating for feelings of inferiority imposed on them by MD>DO comments made on these forums. It's a two way street, as they say. Could you enlighten me as to your position on DO? I'm curious as to whether you actually feel superior or I'm just predisposed to think that everyone with posts like yours are anti-DO. Heck, I don't even know what type of school you're attending. I'd like to hear more about you and your opinion.

 

[The Poet Sings]

Back to the issue at hand, I am only applying DO so it is my first choice. I am also only applying to 1 DO school. Main reason is I live not 10 miles from a well respected DO school. I don't really want to practice anywhere but my home town (I can move for residency but I would like to come back) and DOs are respected just fine. And my state MD school shows no love for their in-state students. But I also have kids to put in school, grandparents to appease (they gotta see the kids) and friends here. I can't see myself going anywhere else, so I might be more biased for different reasons.

good luck with that. i highly suggest applying to more. if you don't get in, applying as a reapplicant is much harder from what i've heard... if you're willing to move for residency, why not move for med school?

 

[JaggerPlate]

good luck with that. i highly suggest applying to more. if you don't get in, applying as a reapplicant is much harder from what i've heard... if you're willing to move for residency, why not move for med school?

Definitely tougher, but he kind of made it sound like it's what he needed to keep up the current situation. I've known people that have done the same and whether the med school knew or not ... they seemed to make it in.

 

[The Poet Sings]

Definitely tougher, but he kind of made it sound like it's what he needed to keep up the current situation. I've known people that have done the same and whether the med school knew or not ... they seemed to make it in.

yea i know they said they have family obligations, but i just figured i could let them know about the potential disaster that could result. just in case it hadn't crossed their mind, which is possible.

 

[JaggerPlate]

yea i know they said they have family obligations, but i just figured i could let them know about the potential disaster that could result. just in case it hadn't crossed their mind, which is possible.

Fo sho.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

good luck with that. i highly suggest applying to more. if you don't get in, applying as a reapplicant is much harder from what i've heard... if you're willing to move for residency, why not move for med school?

because this is where my family is. i have a wife with a job, parents here, my kids attend school here, my support is here. i know i wouldn't be happy anywhere else. and the reason i am willling to move for residency is because i have no idea what specialty i will choose, but i do know what medical school i will choose.

don't get me wrong, i am very worried about only applying to one school, but i guess the best thing i can do is stay in contact with the school and make sure i am the most competitive candidate possible for the school.

 

[avatarftw]

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[avatarftw]

a

 

[mechanictodr]

You may have gotten the infraction not just for one comment but for the string of rude ones. A 24 MCAT is actually the average (50 percent tile).

Also, not all DO students (nor MD students) got a 26 or whatever number you are floating around. There are MD students that got 27's on the MCAT and others with 40's. Similarly, there are DO students with 30+ MCAT's and then those with lower ones.

You had a lot of sarcasm in the below post.

I don't think penstate4life was too far off. A little rude for sure, but the reality is that nearly every DO matriculant is getting into medical school by the skin of their teeth from a purely number perspective. This has little to do with how well they'll perform as physicians but it does mean that there will be some extra work to do to prove themselves in the professional community especially when it comes to residency or working in research for a large pharmaceutical company or something of that nature. I'm only applying DO and I'm honest with myself that I will be very fortunate to be a physician. I'm competitive, but only just and I can accept that and move on and do my best.

I think that the OP must be in a similar position otherwise he must really love the idea of OMT.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I don't think penstate4life was too far off. A little rude for sure, but the reality is that nearly every DO matriculant is getting into medical school by the skin of their teeth from a purely number perspective. This has little to do with how well they'll perform as physicians but it does mean that there will be some extra work to do to prove themselves in the professional community especially when it comes to residency or working in research for a large pharmaceutical company or something of that nature. I'm only applying DO and I'm honest with myself that I will be very fortunate to be a physician. I'm competitive, but only just and I can accept that and move on and do my best.

I think that the OP must be in a similar position otherwise he must really love the idea of OMT.

I disagree. When schools like CCOM, Western, UMDNJ boast averages of 3.5-3.6/28-29 and Allo schools are posting 3.6/30-31 ... the fact is that there is overlap and the pools are not too far off. Frankly, I've always felt like DO averages were "off" (for reasons I could get into ... but don't want to unless necessary) and saw many people on the interview trail with the standard 3.5/30 who had interviewed at both, etc.

 

[COMedic2Doc]

I disagree. When schools like CCOM, Western, UMDNJ boast averages of 3.5-3.6/28-29 and Allo schools are posting 3.6/30-31 ... the fact is that there is overlap and the pools are not too far off. Frankly, I've always felt like DO averages were "off" (for reasons I could get into ... but don't want to unless necessary) and saw many people on the interview trail with the standard 3.5/30 who had interviewed at both, etc.

👍👍👍 Well said Jagger, the thing about DO schools that I find different is that DO is taking more into account about the entire applicant, not just grades. Which is why I think there are more "mature" applicants or non-traditional students planning on attending/applying to DO schools.

 

[mechanictodr]

I disagree. When schools like CCOM, Western, UMDNJ boast averages of 3.5-3.6/28-29 and Allo schools are posting 3.6/30-31 ... the fact is that there is overlap and the pools are not too far off. Frankly, I've always felt like DO averages were "off" (for reasons I could get into ... but don't want to unless necessary) and saw many people on the interview trail with the standard 3.5/30 who had interviewed at both, etc.

I think that grade replacement discrepencies between AMCAS and AACOMAS really makes the GPA similar between MD and DO schools. It may not seem like much but I know that the extra .3 GPA boost that AACOMAS gave me will make a huge diff.

... I also love how you selected my words to make the worst possible exerpt that you could from that sentence.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I think that grade replacement discrepencies between AMCAS and AACOMAS really makes the GPA similar between MD and DO schools. It may not seem like much but I know that the extra .3 GPA boost that AACOMAS gave me will make a huge diff.

... I also love how you selected my words to make the worst possible exerpt that you could from that sentence.

No need to be aggressive. Also, I quoted your response in its entirety. From what I've seen, grade replacement is another one of those SDN arguments that people fall back on without any concrete evidence. I haven't personally ever seen any numbers on the issue, but I really don't believe it's that substantial. Maybe that's just me though.

 

[mechanictodr]

No need to be aggressive.

Classic...

Also, I quoted your response in its entirety.

Yes, but you bolded a very select part... come on now, you're in med school, you know what you did, it's not hard to figure out.

As for the grade replacement not being an issue. Sure, maybe it isn't, but if every applicant had as many retakes as I did that resulted in a 0.3 boost in GPA (and I only retook 7 courses (all C's --> A's) from my undergrad years) then it would really have a substantial effect on the reported GPA's of matriculating students.

Also, as far as the Western students are concerned, just because they made it in there doesn't mean they're anything better than what other schools produce. Where I work we get a lot of DO and MD students from WesternU, other DO schools, and OHSU rotating and the difference is indistinguishable. I would not agree ever that higher GPA/MCAT numbers make better physicians. However, I do think that more mature applicants and those with previous real patient experience do make better students in years 3 and 4. It's very obvious which students are stepping into a clinical setting for the first time and which ones have worked in healthcare before and have a feel for the environment a little, but even that smooths out in a few months... it just happens to be July again and this month the students are hilariously inept

 

[JaggerPlate]

(and I only retook 7 courses (all C's --> A's) from my undergrad years) then it would really have a substantial effect on the reported GPA's of matriculating students.

Only 7 huh? That number seems huge to me personally. I retook 2 and still felt that was high. Frankly, I do not think the average number of retakes is anywhere near 7. People would never graduate and be able to apply otherwise.