less prestigious MD vs. DO

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MD, because the "prestige" doesnt really matter when it comes to residency match as long as you got the grades/EC. DO is pretty much same as MD but I think it limits the residency options to a certain degree; ex some competitive (not all) programs dont take any DOs at all. So if you go DO and want a competitive residency you might face more limitations compared with a guy with a MD. DO does have its own residency, but with DO you also have to learn OMM and other stuff but generally MD=DO in practice rights
 
Prestige is a funny thing to be asking about and I don't think it's applicable in this comparison. For nearly all practical purposes, both degrees are the same. It's almost like asking if your dentist has a DDS or DMD.
 
What 3-5 specialties are you interested in? This helps decide.
 
This is a valid question Im debating the same issue now as I finalize my list of places to apply. My instate MD schools are decent mid tier schools but I will also be applying to "top" DO schools.

Apart from the competitive match issue which applies to very few students anyways, choosing between a top DO school vs. a mid tier MD school is a tough choice.

It comes down to what specialties you are most interested in, location (if you want to stay close to home or not), tuition (obv. cheaper at in state MD school), and most importantly where you will be able to get the most out of your education (rotations spots, curriculum, fit, faculty, resources, etc.).

I really dont know at this point what I would do given the choice.
 
Bayonetwork said:
This is a valid question Im debating the same issue now as I finalize my list of places to apply. My instate MD schools are decent mid tier schools but I will also be applying to "top" DO schools.

Apart from the competitive match issue which applies to very few students anyways, choosing between a top DO school vs. a mid tier MD school is a tough choice.

It comes down to what specialties you are most interested in, location (if you want to stay close to home or not), tuition (obv. cheaper at in state MD school), and most importantly where you will be able to get the most out of your education (rotations spots, curriculum, fit, faculty, resources, etc.).

I really dont know at this point what I would do given the choice.
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it's not really a tough choice, unless the location of the DO school is somewhere really important to you, or if you like OMM and the philosophy enough to pick it over an MD.

A state MD is cheaper and will keep more doors open for allopathic residencies
 
WeAreNotRobots said:
Prestige is a funny thing to be asking about and I don't think it's applicable in this comparison. For nearly all practical purposes, both degrees are the same. It's almost like asking if your dentist has a DDS or DMD.
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What the heck is a DMD? Nope, Googled it. Per the ADA, they are the same degree.
 
Bayonetwork said:
Apart from the competitive match issue which applies to very few students anyways, choosing between a top DO school vs. a mid tier MD school is a tough choice.
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Bayonetwork said:
Apart from the competitive match issue which applies to very few students anyways, choosing between a top DO school vs. a mid tier MD school is a tough choice.
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:laugh:. The competitive match issue applies to almost every student. You may want a non-competitive residency like IM, but guess what? Those top IM programs that will really help you get that fellowship you want (or really help with job applications) are very competitive. Same with FM/peds/psych/PM&R and every other "non-competitive" residency out there. Non-competitive just means that its not that difficult to get a spot, it doesn't mean that it isn't tough to get a good program. jI'm not saying DO's can't match at top allopathic programs, because they can, but the road is definitely easier from an MD school.
 
WeAreNotRobots said:
Prestige is a funny thing to be asking about and I don't think it's applicable in this comparison. For nearly all practical purposes, both degrees are the same. It's almost like asking if your dentist has a DDS or DMD.
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I disagree; while the DDS and DMD are the same degree, the DO and MD degree have some more significant differences. Not to say that one is better than the other, but some students may choose MD over DO if they want to practice in certain foreign countries that don't recognize the DO degree, or if they want to pursue certain ultra-competitive allopathic residencies that are harder to get into with a DO. I've also spoken to at least one person who is really into the OMM and prefers DO school.

In contrast, I don't think any dentist-to-be ever gives much thought to "do I want a DDS or a DMD?".
 
CerebroDad said:
I disagree; while the DDS and DMD are the same degree, the DO and MD degree have some more significant differences. Not to say that one is better than the other, but some students may choose MD over DO if they want to practice in certain foreign countries that don't recognize the DO degree, or if they want to pursue certain ultra-competitive allopathic residencies that are harder to get into with a DO. I've also spoken to at least one person who is really into the OMM and prefers DO school.

In contrast, I don't think any dentist-to-be ever gives much thought to "do I want a DDS or a DMD?".
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Odds are that if you want to practice in a different country, the letters after your name are a smaller roadblock than all the other obstacles. If you truly want to practice in a country for more than Doctors without borders, then there are a TON of obstacles to overcome. Many countries say they don't allow it, but that is because of different definitions of what a DO is OR they haven't had anyone try. There aren't too many people from obscure countries who come to the states to go to medical school in general. If one is committed to practice in a place, 100s of pages of paperwork are in order, in which much of it entails qualifications and standards of education. You will then most likely have to pass language tests, medical exams/certifications for that nation and maybe do a little dance to the gods of chance. After all of that is done, you will then have to learn to navigate a completely different medical system with all of its own unique quirks with regards to reimbursement, practice standards, treatment standards and even what medications are available or preferred to prescribe.

People act like one can get a US MD and just waltz on over to some other country. It isn't easy at all in most cases. We make foreign docs go through hell when they come here and it isn't much different if we want to go over there.

You interview at each school, get accepted wherever and decide where you like and where you think YOU will succeed. It is that simple. Stop this b.s. about prestige. Nobody gives a damn outside of pre-meds and a few random groups of people. You may encounter one or two patients your entire career who will actually choose docs based on perceived pedigree of their programs. Most just want a good doctor and don't friggin care where you came from.
 
I agree that people get too hung up on 'prestige' (though I think that many prestigious places offer very real and definite advantages to their students and often have more resources to devote to their students). However, I think that going to any DO school over a US MD school is a big big mistake unless you have a compelling personal reason to go to a specific DO school due to its location (i.e. spouse, sick parent etc,).

If you go to a US MD school and do well you can go into any field you want. If you go to a DO school and do exceptionally, which by definition 99% of people won't, you still will have trouble matching into competitive fields. If you go to a US MD school and do average, you will be able to get into a good residency in a non-supercompetitive field and would have a decent shot at matching in competitive fields as well. If you do average in a DO school, you will have trouble matching into allopathic residencies period.

Matching in all fields is only getting more competitive. I'm a MS2, and there are 15% more US MD students nationwide in the class starting next fall than in my year. It is incredibly unlikely that congress is going to increase the number of residency spots, so matching in all fields is set to get much more competitive in a few years and the people most likely to left on the outside looking in are DOs, IMGs, and FMGs.

It is way too early in your career/training to be closing doors unnecessarily.
 
Bayonetwork said:
This is a valid question Im debating the same issue now as I finalize my list of places to apply. My instate MD schools are decent mid tier schools but I will also be applying to "top" DO schools.

Apart from the competitive match issue which applies to very few students anyways, choosing between a top DO school vs. a mid tier MD school is a tough choice.

It comes down to what specialties you are most interested in, location (if you want to stay close to home or not), tuition (obv. cheaper at in state MD school), and most importantly where you will be able to get the most out of your education (rotations spots, curriculum, fit, faculty, resources, etc.).

I really dont know at this point what I would do given the choice.
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Choosing between the very top DO school and a mid-tier MD school? Barring issues related to location (i.e. the DO school is located next to your dying grandmother who would be heartbroken if you left and the MD school is 2000 miles away), there is absolutely no comparison here.

Oh, and the match is competitive for everyone. The DO's have a bit of an advantage in that they can apply for the osteopathic residencies, but in competitive specialties there are like, two DO programs in the country. And they have the disadvantage when it comes to applying for the allopathic programs.
 
Um, but don't DOs have their own residency programs? Even their own competitive ones in ROAD and 'nearly all' the same programs? So it's not like all--or even most--DOs have to jump an extra hurdle by getting into an allopathic residency.
 
WeAreNotRobots said:
Um, but don't DOs have their own residency programs? Even their own competitive ones in ROAD and 'nearly all' the same programs? So it's not like all--or even most--DOs have to jump an extra hurdle by getting into an allopathic residency.
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Very few competitive programs.

I'm not sure if there's more DO graduates than DO residencies in total, but there are far more DO graduates that want to do things other than primary care than there are non-primary care DO residencies.
 
Raryn said:
Very few competitive programs.

I'm not sure if there's more DO graduates than DO residencies in total, but there are far more DO graduates that want to do things other than primary care than there are non-primary care DO residencies.
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Gotcha.
 
nr6unhH said:
Question explains all..

what would you do? why?
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I would do M.D. because when it comes to residency programs pertaining to competitive specialties you have a better chance coming from a M.D. school. For example some integrated programs out there.
 
You can't really compare a less prestigous MD school to a prestigious DO schools. The schools are ranked among their own respective peers (DO ranked against DO, MD ranked against MD) not each other (unless we're talking about primary care here).


Go to the one you want to go to and worry less about prestige.
 
Hah said:
You can't really compare a less prestigous MD school to a prestigious DO schools. The schools are ranked among their own respective peers (DO ranked against DO, MD ranked against MD) not each other (unless we're talking about primary care here).


Go to the one you want to go to and worry less about prestige.
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good point!👍
 
I'd go my state university MD any day over DO. But I'd choose DO over foreign MD any day as well. 😀
 
If you're concerned with prestige, you should quit now, go get a degree in finance, and work for a TARP bank.

Talk to me once you've bought your first yacht with taxpayer money.
 
Hah said:
You can't really compare a less prestigous MD school to a prestigious DO schools. The schools are ranked among their own respective peers (DO ranked against DO, MD ranked against MD) not each other (unless we're talking about primary care here).


Go to the one you want to go to and worry less about prestige.
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Sure, that's the way they may be ranked on some list (even on THE list), but that doesn't mean you can't compare them in terms of prestige.
 
MD is the bomb.. trust me I am a medical student!! :laugh:
 
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