Is DO your first Choice

[SpiritiualDuck]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

It's early on in the application cycle. I have a secured a spot at an Osteopathic school. I have secondaries out for several MD schools and a few to go. I'm thinking about not finishing them. I really like this school. In effect, I would be choicing DO over MD. I feel okay with that. I don't see a difference. Any thoughts? I'm thinking about just enjoying the rest of this year, no more stress, no more interviews, just living this life.

 

[LP1CW]

I think you should follow through with the rest of your apps and interview and see what happens. Be happy that you've got one school in the bag, but see where you sit come next May. You might land a big name school and that's going to help if you're interested in some residencies. You might also interview at a school you like more. Just keep going. You don't know what you might miss out on if you just rest on it now.

 

[cluelessdoc]

Upon learning of osteopathy, it became my first choice.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I make no distinction between MD and DO as a profession. I look at the schools and feedback for each school and pick which ones best suit me. Just happens to be about 11 DO schools and 5 MD schools.

My overall first choice is the MD schools in my home state because of proximity. After that is Nova. An acceptance from any of those would stop the process for me.

 

[kristenE]

I, like you, Spiritual Duck, got accepted very early in the game and chose not to submit the rest of my secondaries. Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned. This is especially true when you have to pay all those freakin pennies back. If you like the school and the area, take that couple hundred bucks and CELEBRATE that you got in!

 

[Amy B]

I also have chosen DO over MD thus far. I grew up being treated by a DO who was great. I like how VCOM is going to have a heavy emphasis on rural primary care, which is the area I am planning on practicing.

I also have thrown away a number of secondaries from MD schools. I really think to be successful and enjoy your DO school, you have to love and believe in the DO education.

 

[LP1CW]

Amy, if an MD program comes through for you, are you going to stick with DO?

I think you have to look at cost too. An instate MD program is a better choice than DO for that reason. It's not worth the debt when you could get a great education for a lot less. There are so many factors to consider.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Either way I'm doing HPSP, so cost isn't an issue.

 

[that dr. jack]

at first, i thought D.O. would totally be a last resort. then, i got to know some other students going into osteopathic schools, and looked around me at the arrogant jerks that were "M.D. or nothing!"
i don't want to be part of that. i've never been someone who fit into any mold, and it seems like the D.O. schools are not only more realistic in terms of grades and scores, but recognize that clinical experience is sometimes the difference between a happy doctor and a miserable one. the D.O. students were passionate about medicine in it's true, tangible form, not some delusional idea that doesn't really exist. they didn't care as much about peripheral things like how much money they'll make and how powerful and respected they'll be. it seemed from the people i talked just wanted to help people.

at this point, i would do D.O. in a heartbeat. the M.D.s can have their compensatory narcissism, and i'll just get to meet wonderful people everyday and help them.

 

[LP1CW]

JKDMed

What is HPSP? Is that a scholarship? If it is, how can you be certain that you're going to get it? I mean, you have to be accepted before you can apply for something like the National Health.

 

[Amy B]

Originally posted by LP1CW
Amy, if an MD program comes through for you, are you going to stick with DO?

I think you have to look at cost too. An instate MD program is a better choice than DO for that reason. It's not worth the debt when you could get a great education for a lot less. There are so many factors to consider.

The ONLY things that would make me change my choices are:

1. If my husband could get a job where the MD school is and not in Blacksburg

2. Cost would be a SMALL deceiding factor. VCOM is $29,000

We have started the job search in the Blacksburg area. I hope he can find a job there ASAP. If he does I will withdrawl ALL my applications!!!

 

[DD214_DOC]

Originally posted by LP1CW
JKDMed

What is HPSP? Is that a scholarship? If it is, how can you be certain that you're going to get it? I mean, you have to be accepted before you can apply for something like the National Health.

HPSP is the military scholarships. They're not difficult to get, especially if you apply for more than one branch. The unofficial requirements are an acceptance letter and a pulse.

 

[Echinoidea]

DO is and was my number 1 choice. I only applied to DO schools - and not because I was forced to. My stats are good enough to get into an allopathic school. My biggest motivation was the amount of angst and mean-spiritedness I have found among traditional pre-med students. Of course, by no means are all allopathic students like that; I have met plenty of really cool ones. But, it seems that the really competitive gunners would'nt dream of going to a DO school, and thats fine with me.

 

[Fin-Nor]

i hear ya... ive known only a few premeds who arent the "typical premed" and really cool to hang out with. others, well, are just plain old boresville and nerdy.

Originally posted by Echinoidea
DO is and was my number 1 choice. I only applied to DO schools - and not because I was forced to. My stats are good enough to get into an allopathic school. My biggest motivation was the amount of angst and mean-spiritedness I have found among traditional pre-med students. Of course, by no means are all allopathic students like that; I have met plenty of really cool ones. But, it seems that the really competitive gunners would'nt dream of going to a DO school, and thats fine with me.

 

[jmarra03]

I applied to many schools DO and MD and after I visited several DO schools I decided that DO was definitly the path for me. I have recieved interview requests from MD schools after the fact but I will definitly be attending DO. THe philosophy of DO schools are most inline with the way I hope to practice medicine and I love UNE, which is the school I will be attending.

 

[snooze7]

I'll have to admit that I was one of the "gunners" mentioned so often as being the "98% test score or nothing" type of pre-medical student. I'll also admit that D.O. schools were origianlly the backup plan to my MD school aspirations. However, after researching the philosophy of osteopathic medicine, simply to do well at an interview, I began to question whether or not allopathic really made sense to me and the way I wanted to practice medicine. In short, I have received MD interview invites and have opted to decline them. Osteopathic medicine makes the most sense to me and its philosophy has even gone so far as to alter my "gunner" attitude toward education, and medicine in general.

 

[kpax18]

Originally posted by Slickness
I think it is one thing to say that you are qualified to make MD and have MD interviews, and to turn that down for the DO acceptance. But it is a whole different story to get an MD acceptance and a DO acceptance, and to choose DO.

I have been set on choosing DO over MD for awhile particularly because of location. However, I just received an MD acceptance to Temple and now am really confused. I mean, when we all wanted to be doctors, we all pictured an MD. I'm concerned of the fact that I may limit my opportunities and so forth. All of that stuff is really beginning to hit me. Either way, depending on additional acceptances, it will be a tough decision come May.

sounds a lot like a friend of mine, who was set out for COMP then received acceptance to SLU. He struggled for months to decide where to go and decided SLU because he said what if he wanted to do surgery he would have better chance. but he did want to stay in CA for the longest time
moral of the story: it's a tough decision, but eventually you have to decide. if you decide Temple, you can still match into CA residency after 4 yrs, if you really want to stay in CA and prefer the MD title.