Is the DO path still a safe one?

[libertyyne]

My point is that even the students that take Step 1 and do well don't all WANT to be an aerospace neonatal knee specialist.

I am literally agreeing with you, but saying that prospects for the entire class are similar because of step 1 average being the same is disengenuous because atleast half of all DO students dont take step 1.

Same school. About 90% of our class ended up taking step. Average was 229

Ill take your word for it, still doesnt change thte fact that half the pool doesnt take step.

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[Dr.Bruh]

To echo what synaptic said I agree that DO internal selection bias is way to commonly ignored when analyzing thingnablike match list and PC vs non PC matches. I have a large class (250) and I can count in both hands how many people I’ve met that want to go into a surgical subspecialty.

 

[2021Doctor]

Same school. About 90% of our class ended up taking step. Average was 229

Skeptical about claims of 229 average.
A 229 average would be better than many MD schools,
RVU requires USMLE step 1 and reported a mean score of 220..
http://www.rvu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/RVU-2017-Institutional-Snapshot.pdf

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Skeptical about claims of 229 average.
A 229 average would be better than many MD schools,
RVU requires USMLE step 1 and reported a mean score of 220..
http://www.rvu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/RVU-2017-Institutional-Snapshot.pdf

That was the last time I had checked, but it could have gone down now...not sure. Honestly, it doesn't really matter or make a difference to my argument.

 

[Dhooy7]

As someone who is applying to med school and got an II at a new DO what would you say? If I got my MCAT up I could apply MD and reapply to a better DO school. I don't know enough about this merger . Any advice?

 

[rg2o3]

As someone who is applying to med school and got an II at a new DO what would you say? If I got my MCAT up I could apply MD and reapply to a better DO school. I don't know enough about this merger . Any advice?

I am a somewhat happy DO student. However, I chose this path for reasons other than not being competitive for MD. With that, I also went in with no desire to become a superstar Orthodermopod at some ivory tower. I'm okay with IM/FM and thats actually my main goal right now. With that, I would still say to attempt to go MD if you can. It just makes everything so much easier imo. Less BS hoops to jump through.

 

[libertyyne]

As someone who is applying to med school and got an II at a new DO what would you say? If I got my MCAT up I could apply MD and reapply to a better DO school. I don't know enough about this merger . Any advice?

depends on your stats and app. What was your mcat?
Are you content with going Primary care?

 

[BorntobeDO?]

As someone who is applying to med school and got an II at a new DO what would you say? If I got my MCAT up I could apply MD and reapply to a better DO school. I don't know enough about this merger . Any advice?

Get that MCAT up and reapply MD. Save yourself some money on tuition most likely also.

 

[_Rod_of_Asclepius_]

As someone who is applying to med school and got an II at a new DO what would you say? If I got my MCAT up I could apply MD and reapply to a better DO school. I don't know enough about this merger . Any advice?

Only you can decide that. I would have been a borderline MD applicant but knew I had a strong chance at DO. I know (roughly) exactly what awaits me in terms of specialties and matching, so know this before you commit to a DO program. Know how residencies / fellowships/ training pathways work and the scores roughly needed to make them happen. For example, GI is a competitive specialty but securing a decent IM program and excelling during residency will help you to obtain that fellowship vs matching straight to Derm which is arguably the most difficult specialty. People like @Goro and @AnatomyGrey12 are incredible DO resources and also will tell you how it is.

 

[Peach Newport]

How to get research as a DO:

Bust your ass and be prepared to spend ALOT of your free time networking. Your goal is to find one or more academic doctors who do clinical research, who publish high volume, who need help, and who take on med students. The vast majority of these work at MD schools and are pretty much always swamped with med students trying to work with them.

You will probably need to send emails to several dozen, if not hundreds of doctors to find one who will meet you, much less let you work with them. Its hard enough to find one in any field, but finding one in something competitive like derm or neurosurgery is virtually impossible... unless you already know somebody.

Be prepared to do research in a field with little interest to you. 7 pubs in geriatric endocrinology beats no pubs when it comes time to apply to ortho.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

As someone entering DO class of 2023, I’m a bit nervous with all of the uncertainty regarding the merger as well as proliferation of more and more schools. I was and still am excited, but the more I’ve read about matching since my acceptance the more worried I have become. I even read a thread about possible making USMLE pass/fail, which I imagine would make it even tougher for DOs. I have no delusions about matching ortho or neurosurgery and I am fine with primary care (my main interest is FM or IM( but my worst fear is busting my butt for 4 years w/ 300k of debt and not matching at the end of it. I’m not looking to beat a dead horse or spark debate - I just wanted to ask if this is still a safe path for my goals in the face of so much uncertainty, provided I pass everything and take the USMLE.

If you are interested in PC , FM, IM, you will be fine. Med school is hard. Work hard, and you will be fine.

 

[Goro]

If you are interested in PC , FM, IM, you will be fine. Med school is hard. Work hard, and you will be fine.

To this, add, Neuro, Psych, Path, Gas, EM, PM&R and with some work, Gen Surg.

 

[alprazoslam]

Do everything to dodge bottom quintile and you will be fine.

 

[Ho0v-man]

As someone who is applying to med school and got an II at a new DO what would you say? If I got my MCAT up I could apply MD and reapply to a better DO school. I don't know enough about this merger . Any advice?

As someone who is applying to med school and got an II at a new DO what would you say? If I got my MCAT up I could apply MD and reapply to a better DO school. I don't know enough about this merger . Any advice?

Retake the mcat before matriculation. If its solid for MD, dont attend a DO school. If its just to attend an “established DO school”screw it. Just get through ASAP. I had to defer starting a year after my acceptances bc of unforeseen circumstances. That year cost me a year of attending salary and now I’m competing against a couple hundred more DO applicants. Being at an older school just means the powerpoints are older and for some reason on SDN that matters...

If you aren’t ok with the specialties mentioned above, don’t go DO. Go PA, finish in the bottom of your class, and work in ortho/CT surg/ER/derm, etc.

Only an MD-level increase in mcat warrants a year delay.

 

[JoTheGirl]

To this, add, Neuro, Psych, Path, Gas, EM, PM&R and with some work, Gen Surg.

I would argue Gen Surg is easier to get into than EM.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Retake the mcat before matriculation. If its solid for MD, dont attend a DO school. If its just to attend an “established DO school”screw it. Just get through ASAP. I had to defer starting a year after my acceptances bc of unforeseen circumstances. That year cost me a year of attending salary and now I’m competing against a couple hundred more DO applicants. Being at an older school just means the powerpoints are older and for some reason on SDN that matters...

If you aren’t ok with the specialties mentioned above, don’t go DO. Go PA, finish in the bottom of your class, and work in ortho/CT surg/ER/derm, etc.

Only an MD-level increase in mcat warrants a year delay.

Established schools have worked out the kinks that newer schools are dealing with. Quality pre clinical instructors and rotations. The board score says it all

 

[Goro]

I would argue Gen Surg is easier to get into than EM.

I would argue that based upon the PD's survey for 2018, you're wrong:

 

[jd1031]

As someone entering DO class of 2023, I’m a bit nervous with all of the uncertainty regarding the merger as well as proliferation of more and more schools. I was and still am excited, but the more I’ve read about matching since my acceptance the more worried I have become. I even read a thread about possible making USMLE pass/fail, which I imagine would make it even tougher for DOs. I have no delusions about matching ortho or neurosurgery and I am fine with primary care (my main interest is FM or IM( but my worst fear is busting my butt for 4 years w/ 300k of debt and not matching at the end of it. I’m not looking to beat a dead horse or spark debate - I just wanted to ask if this is still a safe path for my goals in the face of so much uncertainty, provided I pass everything and take the USMLE.

Every time I see a post like this, it seems to stem from an underlying anxiety and uncertainty of the future, and OPs of posts like this want some reassurance that everything will be ok. There's nothing wrong with that. I understand. It's like staring into the abyss, not knowing what's gonna happen after 300k+ and 4 years of your life.

It's true that choosing to go the osteopathic route is inherently more risky, especially compared to the allopathic route, but nothing is guaranteed or completely "safe." It's best to get comfortable with that. The best thing you can do is focus on yourself and increase the odds you'll match somewhere you like in a specialty you like. Regarding the odds of matching at a "desirable" residency program, nothing has changed. It's still MD > DO >>>> Carib >>> everyone else (prestigious international med schools, like Cambridge etc, being the exception). The formula to get into a desirable residency is also still the same. Great LORs + Good USMLE score + Good clerkship grades + absence of red flags + not limiting yourself unnecessarily when applying for residency programs = success. Research can help a ton, esp if you're gunning for a more competitive specialty or big-name academia. Of course, the foundation of that formula is a good knowledge base, adaptability, good work ethic, good social/networking skills, and finding a field you enjoy (which makes the above exponentially easier to do).

I've had a few classmates from med school that went unmatched and had to scramble. One was because of a low COMLEX score. The other was because he was overconfident and only applied to 4-5 residency programs. Another was because of a low COMELX score AND only applied to a few residency programs (why??). They all scrambled successfully, graduated from residency, and are either in fellowship or practicing.