Just don't want the D.O. title?

[smc927]

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I spent a lot of time deciding between M.D. and D.O. I am not a reapplicant but have been thinking about why some people just don't want to go the D.O. route. I wondered if there are any reapplicants here who have or will have applied multiple times to M.D. schools but refuse to go D.O., even if their chances there are good. So to anyone who is in that boat and feels that way would you mind explaining why? I ask this in all honesty, just trying to understand people's points of view. I've chosen D.O. (and not because of GPA or MCAT) and know many people shy away. As I'll probably spend my life explaining what D.O. is I'd like to understand how others feel about it.

Reply here or PM me.

 

[ColoMD]

As you said, the general population at large doesn't know what D.O. means and this lack of public awareness is a contributing factor to why many students prefer allopathic programs.

And as a gross generalization, D.O.s have a higher tendency to practice in primary care settings as opposed to specialities and sub-specialities. Prospective medical students who "know" that they want to be a pediatric nephrologist or some other ultra-specialized physician tend to lean towards allopathic programs.

Also, don't discount the fact that there are FAR MORE allopathic schools across the country than there are osteopathic schools. Depending on your geographical preferences, allopathic schools may be your only "local" option.

 

[AMD]

student loan amount in the end is a lot larger if u compare state schools vs DO (mostly private)

 

[docslytherin]

I spent a lot of time deciding between M.D. and D.O. I am not a reapplicant but have been thinking about why some people just don't want to go the D.O. route. I wondered if there are any reapplicants here who have or will have applied multiple times to M.D. schools but refuse to go D.O., even if their chances there are good. So to anyone who is in that boat and feels that way would you mind explaining why? I ask this in all honesty, just trying to understand people's points of view. I've chosen D.O. (and not because of GPA or MCAT) and know many people shy away. As I'll probably spend my life explaining what D.O. is I'd like to understand how others feel about it.

Reply here or PM me.

i'm a second year DO student and while there have been times that i've doubted my decision to go DO instead of MD, that doubt springs from what ColoMD says, my school is not local. i am engaged and my fiance is 10hrs away. i have never doubted that my education is inferior or that i will ever be at a disadvantage in my career. my goal is to do heme/onc and there are plenty of DOs out there doing that and even more specialized fields who have graduated from my school.

i don't think i'll have to spend the rest of my life explaining my degree. some people will come to you because you're a DO and they'll understand what that means, you'll never have to interact with the people who won't go to you because you're a DO, and the rest are people who won't even notice when you say "Hi. I'm Dr. Smith" that the letters on your jacket are DO instead of MD.

in my experiences the DO/MD dichotomy exists mostly in the minds of pre-meds and not to any significant extent within the medical communities. i'm from alabama, a state with very few practicing DOs and i encountered no real opposition to the idea of choosing DO over MD. most wondered why i would choose to move so far from home, but not, for the most part, why i came to a DO school.

there is a very real lack of public awareness of what DOs are and why they're "different" kinds of doctors. however, that being said, i think that there are far more similarities than there are differences and that's why i am a bit hesistant to support the AOA's propaganda that insinuates that while DOs treat the whole patient and not just symptoms, MDs don't. I think that's ridiculous. MDs treat patients as well... And there are DOs who treat symptoms.

I was a reapplicant when I was accepted to DO school, but had improved my app well enough to get into MD programs too. My decisions of where to apply and where to attend were based on quality rather than granted degree. I didn't apply to DO schools the first time around because I didn't know anything about them.

alright, i have to get to studying pharm now...

good luck in your DO school. as long as you don't buy into the stigma, it will be a great experience. there is a lot of history to our profession and our generation of physicians actually has a chance to change the lack of public knowledge.

 

[DOctorJay]

student loan amount in the end is a lot larger if u compare state schools vs DO (mostly private)

not at UMDNJ-SOM!!! 👍

generally speaking though the above poster is correct.

-J

 

[crys20]

Just to throw in my $0.02; I really don't have much sympathy for the 3x reapplicants who've never applied DO. Really, to me, if you're doing the exact same thing and making the exact same $$$...Isn't that all that matters? You can specialize as a DO; albeit you might have to jump through a few more hoops but half of DOs end up in allo residencies anyway. If people ask what DO means say "a doctor with additional training". There ya go. 🙂 I would just highly highly encourage any reapplicants as well as first time applicants to learn about osteopathic medicine...It might take some time to get over the stigma you have in your head, but seriously, I just cannot see spending so much time and money applying to allo schools 2+ years in a row while neglecting the DO option particularly if you know you aren't the best applicant. It's just so silly to me.

But to each his own and I know many will disagree here. But seriously...doing the same thing....making the same money....Apply DO! 🙂

 

[dr.z]

But to each his own and I know many will disagree here. But seriously...doing the same thing....making the same money....Apply DO! 🙂

👍
I am a re-applicant, and I did apply to DO programs. I did get into DO programs. I think we need to educate the general public about DOs so the stigma will eventually dissapear.

 

[Khenon]

I am a likely reapplicant (see my thread!), but I didn't apply this year to any DO schools. As stated above, I just didn't even know what it was. And when I looked up the info (upon recognizing the horror of my MCAT score), I felt that DO schools are looking for more than just allo left-overs, so I didn't add any DO schools to my application this year. However, I plan on shadowing a DO I work with, and learning more about it, so if/when I reapply next year I can also apply to DO schools and have something more to offer on my application other than "I just couldn't get into MD schools." Also, as stated above, the money and locations were another reason I didn't persue DO schools this year. It sounds horrible, but for shear financial reasons I would take an MD school over a DO school, but I've got a kid to raise, so money is a little more personal for me. But as someone who will likely reapply, I know I can't put all my eggs in one basket, and I know I want to become a doctor. So if moving somewhere weird and paying alot of money is what it will take to accomplish that, then so be it. 🙂

 

[mrsmac]

HI,

I'm also a reapplicant. I looked at DO as well at allopathic schools, and would have happily applied if they were in locations that supported my husband and his career. I did my research and was actually very impressed with the DO programs. If I were a single person, I would have applied and went wherever I was accepted. However, as an older reapplicant with a family, there were more factors that I had to consider. So, I think that as the sheer number of schools increases and more students are made aware (in undergrad) of DO as an option, more people will consider them an option.

Good luck
mrsmac

 

[AwaPremed]

DO, MD doesn't really matter. So long as you get the chance to practice what you want and you are still a doctor. Also - a DO is better than a foreign MD. AND the general public typically doesn't ask their doctor whether they're a DO or an MD.

 

[crys20]

It sounds horrible, but for shear financial reasons I would take an MD school over a DO school,

Oh right on, me too. I'm definately not saying that if I got into both MD and DO schools I wouldn't choose MD for whatever reason. And money would be a HUGE factor. So is location, if it's an issue. Location would probably be the main reason I would choose DO over MD if I had both acceptances. I just grind my teeth when people refuse to apply DO because of the 'stigma' when in reality the only real 'stigma' that exists is in the premed population. And aren't we the most enlightened bunch 🙂

 

[Lindyhopper]

... in reality the only real 'stigma' that exists is in the premed population. )

I think we are largely a competitive & prestige sensitive bunch. Many pre-meds have a hard time accepting that they will always have a title that in their mind says, "couldn't get into an MD program.". But ultimately, it is the work one does that will matter.

 

[group_theory]

but for shear financial reasons I would take an MD school over a DO school

I think you meant to say "I would take a public school over a private school"

The majority of medical schools (MD and DOs) are private. Some of the most expensive schools are MD schools (e.g., Colorado for out-of-stater, Tufts, Jefferson). The public DO schools are cheaper than many MD schools.


Also, another point of view

By not applying to DO schools initially (and subsequently having to re-apply), you lose out on at least one year of potential income as a physician. This is a 6-figure lost for most physicians. Sometimes the cost of doing something should be compared to the cost of not doing something. Of course, with dealing with the future and potential income and family, lots of variations will occur.

 

[Khenon]

I think you meant to say "I would take a public school over a private school"

The majority of medical schools (MD and DOs) are private. Some of the most expensive schools are MD schools (e.g., Colorado for out-of-stater, Tufts, Jefferson). The public DO schools are cheaper than many MD schools.


Also, another point of view

By not applying to DO schools initially (and subsequently having to re-apply), you lose out on at least one year of potential income as a physician. This is a 6-figure lost for most physicians. Sometimes the cost of doing something should be compared to the cost of not doing something. Of course, with dealing with the future and potential income and family, lots of variations will occur.

Yes, you're right . . . basically the difference is that there are many public MD schools with lower tuition, whereas most DO schools are private, and have higher tuition. That said, after I did a little investigation yesterday I realized that the tuition at DO schools is the same or lower than several of the out of state MD schools I had applied to. So if you're willing to go out of state at all, then why not apply to DO schools.

I posted this on my thread (a likely reapplicant) but I've actually changed my mind about applying to DO schools this year. I won't repeat my other post, but let's just say it looks like I'll be throwing my hat in the pile soon! Wish me luck! 🙂