Is podiatry more "laid back'' than medical school (M.D/D.O)

[Columbia09]

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I know they're all about the same length (4 years plus 2-3 year residency) but do you have more free time in podiatry vs regular medical school? I'm getting the impression from the D.O forms that balancing a relationship/fun time is very difficult because of all the work. Does this hold true for podiatry? I'm new to podiatry so I'm learning new things each day. I'm very committed to my studies but at the same time I want to have a life and I want to maintain my relationship that I'm in right now. So any thoughts?

 

[PatchAdamsFan]

I know they're all about the same length (4 years plus 2-3 year residency) but do you have more free time in podiatry vs regular medical school? I'm getting the impression from the D.O forms that balancing a relationship/fun time is very difficult because of all the work. Does this hold true for podiatry? I'm new to podiatry so I'm learning new things each day. I'm very committed to my studies but at the same time I want to have a life and I want to maintain my relationship that I'm in right now. So any thoughts?

From the allopathic medical student forums: "whoever said "it doesn't matter the location of your school. You won't have much time to explore since you'll be in the library all day" is full of spit.So many classmates have gone out partying at least 2 days a week every night. And during the day I always see classmates at stores, venues, exploring the streets, etc."

The study of medicine (podiatry included) is a give and take, you get out (grades, knowledge) what you put in. I'm just entering podiatry school, but I'm willing to bet lots of money that I will have enough free time to hit the gym or hang out with friends a couple days a week. I don't see how medical schools are any different. If you don't have a life, you're doing something wrong.

 

[feet2017]

I am about to attend westernu DPM program and i have about 30 hours of class each week. I think school hours vary from school to school including (MD/DO/DPM). Just for argument sakes that the DPM courses are easier or less time consuming than the DO/MD, I attend about 80% if not more of the same classes as the DO's. There are people with families that make time with there families and don't study as much as students that are single. From talking to a few upper years it is more about the quality of your studying, than the quantity.

so the level of "laid-backness" is based on your personal preference. I am a strong believer if you want to make time for something you can.

 

[pacpod]

I am a strong believer that you will get out of it what you put into it.

 

[heybrother]

You can maintain a relationship and excel at school. Other than that - you have 4 years of school to be ready for residency and 3 years of residency to be ready to practice as a fully functioning master of the foot. There's an unlimited amount of information available for you to take in that could make you a better podiatrist and your patients will have high expectations.

 

[TheFootDoc]

I am a strong believer that you will get out of it what you put into it.

You can maintain a relationship and excel at school. Other than that - you have 4 years of school to be ready for residency and 3 years of residency to be ready to practice as a fully functioning master of the foot. There's an unlimited amount of information available for you to take in that could make you a better podiatrist and your patients will have high expectations.

👍👍👍

 

[hughesn2]

Since I have been on here I have realized that if you ask some of the D.O./M.D. kids they assume that they are all better than the Podiatry students. My cousin is entering her 2nd year at a top D.O. school in my state and when I told her I was going towards Podiatry she was excited and treated podiatry just like DO or MD, but that isn't like many of the kids on the forums here.
Many of the DO students it seems as if hold Podiatry to a lower standard b/c the GPA to get in is much lower, but I think that is more b/c DPM is such a hidden gem that not many people know about it. If they had the cut-off for DPM at the same as D.O. then I truly believe there would be more than half of the current students not accepted and our country would have a soon shortage of Podiatrists.
Another thing you hear is that Podiatry is a "fall back" plan and not an actual plan when you ask D.O./M.D. students

 

[dyk343]

It really depends on the person.

Some people don't have to study as much as others. I had to work my butt off to get the grades I wanted. I defiantly was not out every weekend partying. If I did I would not be here today.

I had classmates who could manage good/decent grades and balance life better than I could. Again, it's really about the person.

 

[StudentDPM2016]

I know they're all about the same length (4 years plus 2-3 year residency) but do you have more free time in podiatry vs regular medical school? I'm getting the impression from the D.O forms that balancing a relationship/fun time is very difficult because of all the work. Does this hold true for podiatry? I'm new to podiatry so I'm learning new things each day. I'm very committed to my studies but at the same time I want to have a life and I want to maintain my relationship that I'm in right now. So any thoughts?

The course load definitely is not EASIER in a DPM program vs. an MD/DO program. However, my idea on MD programs was that it is cut-throat and competitive, which is a feeling I do not get from my colleagues and friends. Everyone wants everybody else to succeed. So in that sense it is much more laid back.

 

[jonod1107]

I think it is relative across the board. It doesn't matter if it is MD/DO or Pod.

For example, my best friend is in an MD program right now. There school uses the small group learning teaching method, so it's classes from 9-12, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sound pretty easy time-wise since it is only 3 hours a day, 3 times a week! Nope, you have to read all the material ahead of time because YOU have to teach everyone in the group. In a small group of 7-9 people, if you don't know your ****, you will be called out for not pulling your weight and the prof. will notice.

But he told me that there are kids who party on the weekend and still does really well. There are kids who study all the time and don't do as well. So I think it is more about how people learn and at what pace.

 

[Moose A Moose]

However, my idea on MD/DO programs was that it is cut-throat and competitive ...

This herein lies the only major difference. It has to be competitive because of the residency match situation for medical school students is cray cray... Especially for the gunners going for ROADS.