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[Doctor of JiJi]

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[de Ribas]

But now I just have some concerns about the field and can anyone of you give some advice?

What advice are you looking for? Can you be a little more specific?

Based on what you said, you applied to DPM right away just because you had no luck with MD/DO. Based on what you said, it doesnt seem like you did any research or shadowed a podiatric physician yet.

I wouldn't suggest considering DPM just because you had no luck with MD/DO at least without researching a bit about this field and seeing if you like it.

If you had interviews at MD/DO schools, maybe you are not far from an acceptance. Improve your app, improve your MCAT score and try again especially if it was your first cycle.

I dont think anyone can change your view on DPM or reassure that it is a good decision to make. You can research DPM forum for various threads on Pros and Cons of this field as well as shadow a podiatric physician and decide.

 

[PodSquat]

If you haven't had a chance to explore the field yet, I would take the time to see if this is something you want to do for the rest of your life. From what I can tell, for most podiatrists, operating in the OR is a small portion of what they do and not their main role so if you are in it for the surgery, I would shadow some more podiatrists and ask how many of their colleagues that they know that mainly operate and see what the others do most of the time at work, etc.

It is true that a lot of people that might not have the stats for MD or DO are given a chance with podiatry. Nothing wrong with that as long as you know what you are getting into.

Yesterday, I read about someone not able to score well on the MCAT and finally on their 7th try they were able to get an good score and get 1 acceptance into an MD school. If you haven't taken the MCAT at least 2-3 times, it might be worth it to try to do better and go DO if that is something you want. There are also some SMPs I know of that will overlook your MCAT once it reaches a certain threshold if you do decently on your interviews if you prefer to be a DO/MD but either way it will cost more money and or time. I would suggest studying for the MCAT and if need be getting someone to help you if needed. You should be able to get the psychology score up more easily and I think DO will be more accepting if you can get your CARS score to 123+ in my opinion (MD 125+)

 

[de Ribas]

I did shadow and talked to a podiatrist in the department I work (an ortho department). What he told me and what I saw the day I shadow him was not the same impression or information I got from the interview day. This turned me down a bit that it seems the education is not on a par with MD/DO school especially I feel they just take whoever applies. I am just worried if this is the right choice now. Idk if you feel me.

I get what you are saying. Why don't you try with MD/DO couple more cycles?

 

[de Ribas]

The one podiatrist I shadowed told me he used to operate every day but made no money so he turned to routine check and other stuff for the most of the time now.

And no I only took MCAT once it was a disaster for me when reading all of those CARS and psy passages. I somehow lose the motivation to retake it and I know MD schools don't want anyone scores 10 percentile CARS section maybe DO too regardless how well I can do for the other two science sections. I am thinking of some SMPs maybe, thank you

How would SMP help with low MCAT?

 

[PodSquat]

How would SMP help with low MCAT?

Some accept people after a decent interview as long as you get a certain GPA once you are in the program. It is one way to bypass the MCAT but an expensive method. If OP is only having trouble with the verbal portion and can do well on the sciences, I see it as a viable option, but as I said very expensive

 

[de Ribas]

Some accept people after a decent interview as long as you get a certain GPA once you are in the program

It is probably lengthiest and costliest route for DO and MD if your only weakness is low MCAT.

Just study MCAT for 3 mos and retake.

 

[PodSquat]

And no I only took MCAT once it was a disaster for me when reading all of those CARS and psy passages. I somehow lose the motivation to retake it and I know MD schools don't want anyone scores 10 percentile CARS section maybe DO too regardless how well I can do for the other two science sections. I am thinking of some SMPs maybe, thank you

I think you definitely need to retake the MCAT at least once more maybe twice if the second time does not get enough improvement. Check out the MCAT section for more tips. As ESL it will be harder for you, but you need to at least get close to the 10% score for schools to give you some slack. You might want to work with someone who is a specialist in CARS and have a proven track record even if it will be expensive. Also, as cliche as it sounds, don't be in such a rush and work hard to get your MCAT right the next time you take it. You will probably need to dedicate 3 months on CARS and exhaust all the materials you can find.

Or figure out if podiatry is right for you by shadowing some more doctors and getting their opinions, etc. But from what you are saying right now, you sound like you want to go MD/DO and there is nothing wrong with that

 

[Weirdy]

The guys on here have been very kind and patient with their advice. I recommend you take it.

I am sorry you had the experience you did. Not all schools are equal or act accordingly to push our profession forward. Some are still predatory and are desperate to fill seats. Some- not all.

Look down on this profession all you want, but the fact of the matter is your scores were not good enough for MD/DO.
And if they were, then it was your English proficiency/ personality that was a red flag. You are the exact type of student predatory programs are trying to rope in.

Stop being bitter about your situation and labeling the entire profession based on what you saw from shadowing 1 DPM and 1 program.

Your next step should be retaking the MCAT if you want that MD/DO acceptance. Don't take the DPM acceptance then spend your entire life whining about how inferior this field is or end up hating F&A when you were too scared to retake the MCAT and get the program you want.

Best of luck. You can do well in the CARS section given practice.

 

[NTT123]

It's an honorable and rewarding profession. We help people, we save limbs. However, it's not for everyone. You should apply to DPM school because you want to be a DPM. Don't apply to DPM because you can't get into MD school. I have seen many MD-rejects come to DPM as their back up plan, and their lives are miserable. In contrast, those who want to be a DPM have much happier lives.

 

[HarmonicConvergence]

Wait what school is giving out 30K scholarships? I thought 10-12k is usually the max. Specially for sub 500 MCAT

 

[I Drink Riesling]

Wait what school is giving out 30K scholarships? I thought 10-12k is usually the max. Specially for sub 500 MCAT

I assumed he meant for all four years as long as he met the requirements for renewal per annum.

 

[AttackNME]

Just a short story about myself. I am applying to both MD and DO this year. But after a desperate wait from both schools and I would only have few waitlists from DO school and I see no hope to even get any acceptance from these schools that interviewed me, I turned my sight to DPM. Initially, I thought DPM was essentially equivalent to MD and DO but my opinion changed after I applied (Temple and NYCPM). I got the interview invitations within a few hours I handed in my application; an acceptance within in two days after the interview (NYCPM withdrew from Temple) and award me a 30K+ scholarship.

Now I start looking down the field a bit because of the ease to get into the school. I feel at the day I did interview one of the staff acted like the school is a refuge for everyone who can't get into MD and DO. He said "When it comes to the medical field if one can't get into MD or DO that is not the end of the world. That is also DPM that people often ignore." Plus this scholarship I feel it is like something they give to everyone to bring them in.

Being an ESL who moved to this country only a few years ago, I really appreciate the acceptance podiatry school gives to me in spite of the low MCAT I have (only 121 for cars and 30 something percentile for psychology section, although 90 percentile for both science sections). I like doing surgery that is one of a reason I consider podiatry. But now I just have some concerns about the field and can anyone of you give some advice? I thank you so much.

Watch an episode of the toe bro, that is the bread and butter of what we see in clinic. Some do bunions and hammertoes, some do more including complex recon and ankle stuff, but you need to be at some level okay with chiropody type work.

 

[Prehealth1011]

Being an ESL who moved to this country only a few years ago, I really appreciate the acceptance podiatry school gives to me in spite of the low MCAT I have (only 121 for cars and 30 something percentile for psychology section, although 90 percentile for both science sections). I like doing surgery that is one of a reason I consider podiatry. But now I just have some concerns about the field and can anyone of you give some advice? I thank you so much.

Based on this, I would do a SMP if your goal is to get into MD/DO. But it has to be a SMP with guaranteed acceptance or at least a guaranteed interview. Otherwise it's just a waste of money IMO.
CARS is something that's just hard to beat if you're not a native English speaker. I have friends that tried for years, gave up and ended up going to the Caribbean. I did a SMP and a LOT of my classmates had typical med school applicant stats but a poor CARS.