hey had 2 questions if you dont mind. Can you talk a bit more about research and how much is needed to be competitive, what other applicants you may know have had, publications vs research without any pubs. Secondly not sure if you applied there but how are the northeast programs in regards to competitiveness and DO friendly nature. appreciate the help
Hey, I think research as a DO is not as important if you are okay matching at a community program/community w/ university-affiliated program but may be more necessary for the university programs. My research was brought up at about 50% of my interviews and was usually brought up more often at university programs. I think Radiology research is certainly better than research in another field but any research is better than no research for university programs. I think having pubs is not as important but will certainly help you at university programs. If you do not have research I still think you certainly have a shot at university programs as long as your scores are average/ above average and other parts of your application stand out as well w/ good letters of rec, community service, leadership, etc. I would make sure to express your interest in possibly pursuing research if you do get an interview at a university program because I think that is what they are looking for. I was straight up asked if I would like to continue to pursue research several times at university programs and definitely got the feeling it would not have gone well had I said no.
I did apply and interview at quite a few northeast programs and have included a DO friendly list along with some of my thoughts about the programs I interviewed at. I think the northeast is generally very DO friendly and is probably the best place to apply as a DO with below-average scores as there are many community programs that are DO friendly. I know New York has several DO friendly programs but I only applied to a handful of New York programs and only interviewed at one so I can't be very helpful with them. Maybe someone else who is more familiar with the New York programs can comment.
Northeast DO friendly programs
Temple (great program moderately competitive w/ average/ above average scores)
Albert Einstein Philly (DO’s in every class moderately competitive with average scores great teaching but old hospital rotate at CHOP supposedly merging with Jefferson)
Albert Einstein Montgomery (new branch campus will have teleconferences from main campus for didactics beautiful new hospital in a nice suburb of Philly, not very competitive)
Christiana Care DE (very DO friendly not very competitive with average/ slightly below average scores, very good community program)
Allegheny PA (solid community program lots of procedural experience rotate at UPMC children’s not very competitive with below-average scores/ average scores)
Main Line Health/Bryn Mawr PA
Penn State Hershey (good program in the middle of nowhere, moderately competitive with slightly below average to average scores)
Geisinger PA (received interview did not attend)
UPMC (excellent program very competitive do interview and accept DO’s rarely will need above-average scores and research)
Norwalk Hospital CT (received interview did not attend)
Quinnipiac University Frank Netter School of Med/St. Vincent’s CT
University of Connecticut
Hartford Hospital
Yale New Haven Med (not as DO friendly very competitive)
Maine Med Center (very solid community program very DO friendly especially those from Maine)
St. Vincent Hospital MA (received interview did not attend)
Layey Clinic MA
UMMS Baystate
University Massachusetts
Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Cooper NJ (good program, nice hospital in a bad area most residents live in Philly w/ short commute, very DO friendly entire match this year was DO not competitive with slightly below average/average scores)
St. Barnabas NJ
Monmouth Med Center NJ
Atlantic Health Morristown NJ
Rutgers Robert Wood NJ
Albany Med Center
Jacobi/Albert Einstein COM NY
Maimonides
SUNY Brooklyn (good program residents are very independent, teaching didn’t seem great, lots of trauma very expensive COL not competitive with average scores)
SUNY Upstate
Zucker Hofstra/Northwell
NYU Winthrop
Icahn Mount Sinai West
Stony Brook/ Mather
University of Rochester
Stony Brook Med/ University Hospital Program
Westchester Med