Matched 4th year DO Student .. Ask me (almost) anything

[GuitarFreak]

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Guitar freak, congrats on matching radiology! Did I see you say somewhere along in this thread that pathoma has the most high yield material?

Thank you!
I found Pathoma to be extremely helpful, concise & high yield. Some definitions Dr. Sattar used showed up word for word on my COMLEX 1.

 

[Omppu27]

Congrats on the match!

Just a few questions:

1. If i understood what you said correctly, you applied to both DO and MDs school, correct? Besides adjustments for character requirements (4500 for DO vs 5300 for MD i think...) did you have to make any changes to your personal statement because you were applying to both types of programs?? I've read that some people suggest removing a paragraph about research since many DOs aren't interested in research. However, i'd say the research i've done throughout undergrad has been a significant experience for me.

2. Why does NYCOM has the rep for a high attrition rate?? I hadn't heard about that until reading it in this thread.

3. Any comment on the DO and MD residencies deciding to combine? You think this will actually bring on change and maybe help eliminate any DO/MD discrimination? Or will programs that were traditionally MD keep bringing in a majority MD students (and vice versa)?

4. Lastly, compared to an MD degree, do you see any difficulties in a DO getting involved in healthcare policy? I'm pretty interested in an MPH with a policy/administration focus along with a medical degree.

Thanks for doing this AMA! Best of luck to you down the road.

 

[GuitarFreak]

Congrats on the match!

Just a few questions:

1. If i understood what you said correctly, you applied to both DO and MDs school, correct? Besides adjustments for character requirements (4500 for DO vs 5300 for MD i think...) did you have to make any changes to your personal statement because you were applying to both types of programs?? I've read that some people suggest removing a paragraph about research since many DOs aren't interested in research. However, i'd say the research i've done throughout undergrad has been a significant experience for me.

2. Why does NYCOM has the rep for a high attrition rate?? I hadn't heard about that until reading it in this thread.

3. Any comment on the DO and MD residencies deciding to combine? You think this will actually bring on change and maybe help eliminate any DO/MD discrimination? Or will programs that were traditionally MD keep bringing in a majority MD students (and vice versa)?

4. Lastly, compared to an MD degree, do you see any difficulties in a DO getting involved in healthcare policy? I'm pretty interested in an MPH with a policy/administration focus along with a medical degree.

Thanks for doing this AMA! Best of luck to you down the road.

Thank you!

1. If research is a significant part of your application & what you did, then I see no reason to take it out. I didn't take the blurb about my research out of my PS. As a matter of fact, a couple DO schools I interviewed at asked me about my research; one in detail. So I wouldn't say that DO schools 'aren't interested' in research.

2. NYCOM has the high rep because we do have a high attrition rate. I'm not sure why, as I'd said earlier. Those of us who made it through the exams, didn't seem to find them super challenging (definitely not easy by any means) and people who had extenuating circumstances were able to work with NYCOM and come up with a mutual solution in terms of how to proceed.

3. It probably won't eliminate DO/MD discrimination but I believe its a step in the right direction. For example, one of my buddies did significant cardio research at a major academic hospital in NYC and left a great impression on his PI & one of the program directors. But the program director told him straight up that they don't take DOs & as much as he would love to have him, the rest of the committee won't agree to it. Issues like that, may be solved as DO-friendly personnel will have more leverage in these situations to make an argument. Obviously, these are my opinions and I may be completely off.

4. I believe that as long as you have an MPH from a strong program, and network with that, you can open many doors for yourself in healthcare policy / public health in general, regardless of the nature of your medical degree.

 

[kingbob128]

Hi Guitarfreak,
Im an incoming NYCOM student and I had a couple of questions about the school.

How did you like the hospitals in which you rotated and do you feel like NYCOM was able to provide you with the hospitals you wanted?

Do you feel that the NYCOM curriculum well prepared you for the boards?

How accessible is NYCOM via public transportation (aka LIRR)?

Good Luck!

 

[Omppu27]

Thank you!

1. If research is a significant part of your application & what you did, then I see no reason to take it out. I didn't take the blurb about my research out of my PS. As a matter of fact, a couple DO schools I interviewed at asked me about my research; one in detail. So I wouldn't say that DO schools 'aren't interested' in research.

2. NYCOM has the high rep because we do have a high attrition rate. I'm not sure why, as I'd said earlier. Those of us who made it through the exams, didn't seem to find them super challenging (definitely not easy by any means) and people who had extenuating circumstances were able to work with NYCOM and come up with a mutual solution in terms of how to proceed.

3. It probably won't eliminate DO/MD discrimination but I believe its a step in the right direction. For example, one of my buddies did significant cardio research at a major academic hospital in NYC and left a great impression on his PI & one of the program directors. But the program director told him straight up that they don't take DOs & as much as he would love to have him, the rest of the committee won't agree to it. Issues like that, may be solved as DO-friendly personnel will have more leverage in these situations to make an argument. Obviously, these are my opinions and I may be completely off.

4. I believe that as long as you have an MPH from a strong program, and network with that, you can open many doors for yourself in healthcare policy / public health in general, regardless of the nature of your medical degree.

Thanks! Great answers

 

[GypsyHummus]

Hey all,

I did one of these a few months ago, got a bunch of good questions, and was able to give back to aspiring physicians, like yourselves.

Since then, I've matched my top choice for residency (Radiology) and have some more time to kill.

Let me know if you guys have questions about anything, from getting into medical school to getting into residency, and everything in between. 🙂

Best,
GuitarFreak

What are the specialties to steer away from?

 

[Eric552]

As someone who will be taking COMLEX in a couple months I am still undecided on whether or not to take the USMLE also. Do you have any regrets for not taking it?

Also, do you know if someone were to not to well on the USMLE, are you required to report that when applying AOA?

 

[GuitarFreak]

Hi Guitarfreak,
Im an incoming NYCOM student and I had a couple of questions about the school.

How did you like the hospitals in which you rotated and do you feel like NYCOM was able to provide you with the hospitals you wanted?

Do you feel that the NYCOM curriculum well prepared you for the boards?

How accessible is NYCOM via public transportation (aka LIRR)?

Good Luck!

NYCOM's hospital affiliations are great. Definitely more than adequate, depending on where you end up. I got all of my first choices & I have friends who got none. So its a YMMV kind of a situation..

I think NYCOM's curriculum was fairly adequate. Little tidbits missing here & there but nothing significant that they missed, other than various acts/policies etc.

NYCOM is kind of accessible via public transportation but not super convenient. The Greenvale LIRR station is ~2 miles from NYCOM. There's a bus as well so its doable but just not super convenient.

 

[GuitarFreak]

What are the specialties to steer away from?

None. Do what you'd like to do, don't do what you can't see yourself doing.

I chose Radiology. More than half the people you ask the question, will say Rads is the field to stay away from but I can't see myself doing anything else.

 

[GuitarFreak]

As someone who will be taking COMLEX in a couple months I am still undecided on whether or not to take the USMLE also. Do you have any regrets for not taking it?

Also, do you know if someone were to not to well on the USMLE, are you required to report that when applying AOA?

When applying AOA, you are not required to report your USMLE score. If you're not fully comfortable about doing well on it, I'd say steer clear. Based on what field you want to go into, You can see how necessary it is for you to take the USMLE.

I do regret not taking the USMLE but I wasn't super comfortable at the time, so I'd much rather have had no USMLE than a bad/failed one.

 

[petyr_baelish]

When applying AOA, you are not required to report your USMLE score. If you're not fully comfortable about doing well on it, I'd say steer clear. Based on what field you want to go into, You can see how necessary it is for you to take the USMLE.

I do regret not taking the USMLE but I wasn't super comfortable at the time, so I'd much rather have had no USMLE than a bad/failed one.

If you have a bad score but don't have to report it, would it matter if you do poorly? I'm just curious about the extent of not needing to report it - like is there any way the AOA could see that it was attempted but the score is not reported?

 

[GuitarFreak]

If you have a bad score but don't have to report it, would it matter if you do poorly? I'm just curious about the extent of not needing to report it - like is there any way the AOA could see that it was attempted but the score is not reported?

You don't have to reveal your score to AOA programs. But its not unheard of, that during your interviews at AOA programs, they ask you if you took the USMLE & how you did. I've had that happen to more than a couple personal friends. It's uncalled for, but the ball is entirely in their court when they choose to do so.

 

[SENIOR]

Hi Guitar freak I was recently accepted to NYCOM. I live in queens about 25 minutes away but wanted to live closer to campus to eliminate my commute. How are the housing opportunities near campus (examples limited, too expensive)? Do you know of any good areas or housing complexes nearer to campus where I wont have to live 5-6 people in one house?