MD vs DO

[sacholiver]

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I've been accepted to Indiana University (MD) and Marian University (DO)
(and some others that I don't care about)

I am not from Indiana so the tuition is similar for both schools. Really stuck on this decision. Thoughts?

 

[Anova05]

Both are in the same city with similar cost, so go MD.

 

[Lucca]

MD, no question about it

 

[Lawpy]

Always go for MD when given the opportunity. It will help you a lot in the long run

 

[Med Ed]

I've been accepted to Indiana University (MD) and Marian University (DO)
(and some others that I don't care about)

I am not from Indiana so the tuition is similar for both schools. Really stuck on this decision. Thoughts?

 

[piii]

Enroll and attend both. Graduate as a MD/DO. Pave the way of the future.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

M to tha Dizzy

 

[Lucca]

Enroll and attend both. Graduate as a MD/DO. Pave the way of the future.

"Holistic AF"

 

[spiffysteve]

Go for the MD, but be aware that IU has campuses all over the state, so you may not end up in Indianapolis.

 

[FutureD.O]

IU. Marian is a new school and IU is an established MD program. IU will provide you with a greater opportunity to pursue whatever specialty you like. Don't think, just do. (If you're into OMM take classes separately)

 

[PugsAndHugs]

I thought this was going to be another petty MD vs DO thread. Glad to see it wasn't 🙂

 

[frosted_flake]

Option 1 can be a scary place!

I still vote IU. I am an avid IU fan 🙂

 

[ChrisMack390]

Seems like an obvious choice, not because I am snooty about DOs, but because Marian is a relatively new school and IU is a well established university.

 

[Mad Jack]

MDMDMDMDMDMDMDMMDMDMDMDMDMDMMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMDMD

This isn't even a question, don't you even talk back to me about this, don't come up with excuses, don't question the decision, just go ****ing MD. You'll have better rotations, more options, and won't have to learn OMM if it isn't your thing. You will save money, won't have to take two sets of boards, won't be locked out of certain ACGME specialties, etc etc.

 

[TBV]

Should I accept $100 or a kick in the balls? Anyone? Help?

 

[cyang55]

I think these two choices are less about MD vs DO as it is about an established MD vs a new DO school. If it was a well established DO school with great board scores and matches vs a new or very low tier MD, then I'd say go for the DO. But in your case, the more established MD school for sure.

 

[Mad Jack]

Should I accept $100 or a kick in the balls? Anyone? Help?

We can draw a great parallel with OP's question, actually:

If you're the sort of guy that's willing to pay for that kind of treatment, go for the kick in the balls. Otherwise, take the money.

 

[Mad Jack]

I think these two choices are less about MD vs DO as it is about an established MD vs a new DO school. If it was a well established DO school with great board scores and matches vs a new or very low tier MD, then I'd say go for the DO. But in your case, the more established MD school for sure.

That would still be the wrong decision. MD every time, always and forever, unless you've got some serious geographical issues going on.

 

[TBV]

We can draw a great parallel with OP's question, actually:

If you're the sort of guy that's willing to pay for that kind of treatment, go for the kick in the balls. Otherwise, take the money.

I suppose that depends on the going rate for a kick in the balls in this day and age. >100 go for the kick, <100 go for the money

 

[Psai]

I think these two choices are less about MD vs DO as it is about an established MD vs a new DO school. If it was a well established DO school with great board scores and matches vs a new or very low tier MD, then I'd say go for the DO. But in your case, the more established MD school for sure.

Sorry, wrong.

 

[Howlin_Radio]

Go MD. Marian is a new DO school which should make this an easier decision. MD will open some more doors in the event you are interested in academics, research, or competitive specialities. MD will only marginally hinder you if you want an OMM only practice. But I've actually met an MD who did OMM after learning from outside resources. There is a way to bill for OMM as an MD.

DO is just fine for most specialty interests though. But even an established DO school is not enough to equal low tier MD schools in terms of opening doors for yourself. The clinicals may be very similar in that case, but there is still a match bias depending on what your interested in marching into.

Congrats btw

 

[Lawpy]

I thought this was going to be another petty MD vs DO thread. Glad to see it wasn't 🙂

I think that matter has been resolved quite decisively given the increasingly unanimous sentiment that is expressed even in the pre-osteo/osteo forums. An important milestone

There was also a recent thread that said its possible/encouraged for MD students to learn about OMM/OMT if they wish. So the answer is clear for any MD vs DO thread.

 

[raiderette]

Option 1 can be a scary place!

The Northwest campus is not scary and plenty of very nice places to live that are not Gary. The patient population is very diverse as well.

 

[sacholiver]

IU. Marian is a new school and IU is an established MD program. IU will provide you with a greater opportunity to pursue whatever specialty you like. Don't think, just do. (If you're into OMM take classes separately)

Can MD's do rotations in OMM?

 

[Mad Jack]

Can MD's do rotations in OMM?

Not as part of your medical school rotations, but you can do a one-year fellowship in OMM after your residency if you want as an MD. We've got one or two MDs every year that come through my school doing their fellowship. You can always be an MD that does OMM, but you can never be a DO that can switch their letters to MD (unless you go back to school for four years just to change those letters lol).

 

[Mavs88]

.

 

[sacholiver]

Not as part of your medical school rotations, but you can do a one-year fellowship in OMM after your residency if you want as an MD. We've got one or two MDs every year that come through my school doing their fellowship. You can always be an MD that does OMM, but you can never be a DO that can switch their letters to MD (unless you go back to school for four years just to change those letters lol).

Makes sense. Thanks!

 

[sacholiver]

Disagree...and with the residency merger coming up, I think the safety of an MD degree will be even more important.

can you elaborate?

 

[Mavs88]

.

 

[Mad Jack]

Does this indicate some change in your own perspective re: having made this choice yourself?

While I don't feel like I've made a mistake, personally (as I'm a bit older and I can definitely do what I want to do as a DO, so losing that year for the sake of a letter change really would have hurt, plus I'm really happy at my school and can't imagine being happier elsewhere), I do feel like, for the vaaaaaast majority of people, MD is the better decision. Unless it's going to cost you a year of practice (in which case, it depends on your fields of interest and how set you are with them), you have serious geographic limitations, or you're really, really into the idea of OMM (and even then, I'd be cautious, as an MD can still learn bone wizardry after graduation if they so choose), then MD is the way to go.

 

[piii]

can you elaborate?

All the competitive DO residencies will now be open to MDs, and DOs may be squeezed out.

 

[GrapesofRath]

can you elaborate?

In addition to what pii said, alot of DO residencies are going to end up getting shut down with the upcoming merger and ACME and AOA merging as DO residencies now have to meet the standards of MD residencies. Alot of the DO residencies wont make it and its not just the less popular ones like rural family med at risk. So not only will MDs now get a chance at some of the jucier DO residencies, there will be fewer DO residencies.

I suspect it's possible the number of graduating DOs who cant find a residency is going to go up to levels some might not be comfortable with; especially with more and more DO schools opening and there being more DO medical students. So not only will it be harder for DO's to match in a number of more competitive fields, you are going to have more and more left without being able to even match.

In short with the upcoming merger and the uncertainty surrounding it, there's just very little to justify taking a DO acceptance over any US MD granting institution(with the exception of Northstate)

 

[Goro]

More career opportunities with MD . They're both schools I have a lot of respect for.

I've been accepted to Indiana University (MD) and Marian University (DO)
(and some others that I don't care about)

I am not from Indiana so the tuition is similar for both schools. Really stuck on this decision. Thoughts?

 

[sacholiver]

I'm tempted to take this exact post over to the pre-osteo and hear what they say

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I'm tempted to take this exact post over to the pre-osteo and hear what they say haha

Not necessary. Osteo-peeps post here all the time. In fact, some would interpret such a move as "rubbing it in."

Also, you're not allowed to cross-post.

 

[sacholiver]

Not necessary. Osteo-peeps post here all the time. In fact, some would interpret such a move as "rubbing it in."

Also, you're not allowed to cross-post.

I see. That makes sense

 

[WedgeDawg]

OP, what would be your reasons for considering the DO school over the MD school in this case?

 

[Prairiepalmeri]

You should go wherever is going to make you happy. If you're dead set on a crazy competitive specialty, go MD....if you really go the warm and fuzzy feeling from Marian, go DO!


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[Hospitalized]

How does this situation even arise? You have an MD acceptance; are you not competent enough to realize that it's the proper choice over DO? Are you that uninformed about a career in medicine? Sigh.

 

[FutureD.O]

I'm tempted to take this exact post over to the pre-osteo and hear what they say haha

I plan on attending a D.O school and think I was very objective on the advice I gave..

 

[piii]

How does this situation even arise? You have an MD acceptance; are you not competent enough to realize that it's the proper choice over DO? Are you that uninformed about a career in medicine? Sigh.

#rekt

 

[FutureD.O]

How does this situation even arise? You have an MD acceptance; are you not competent enough to realize that it's the proper choice over DO? Are you that uninformed about a career in medicine? Sigh.

Not necessary. Osteo-peeps post here all the time. In fact, some would interpret such a move as "rubbing it in."

Also, you're not allowed to cross-post.

#rekt

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/md-vs-do.1181687/

Cross posted anyway.

 

[sacholiver]

OP, what would be your reasons for considering the DO school over the MD school in this case?

New school so I could potentially make a difference there plus I feel like their faculty and curriculum is better. Also I like the idea of having OMM under my belt as well.

 

[sacholiver]

How does this situation even arise? You have an MD acceptance; are you not competent enough to realize that it's the proper choice over DO? Are you that uninformed about a career in medicine? Sigh.

No need to be hostile. It's a genuine question.

 

[sacholiver]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/md-vs-do.1181687/

Cross posted anyway.

cross posted before being told its against the rules (check time stamps before being a jerk, nice try tho)

 

[WedgeDawg]

New school so I could potentially make a difference there plus I feel like their faculty and curriculum is better. Also I like the idea of having OMM under my belt as well.

What does making a difference there mean?

Is it worth it to you to have "better" faculty and curriculum (which may not be true) to have restricted career prospects? Same goes for OMM.

 

[Dr.Smexy]

Just go DO. If you're that naive to think that you'll make "a difference" at a new school (telling the school how miserable you are with your rotations, the non-proven curriculum and the lack of learning is the difference you'll likely make) and that OMM is worth anything to your medical career than you probably won't appreciate the things an MD school can do for you anyway. Let another student who knows how lucky he or she is have the acceptance.

 

[22031 Alum]

New school so I could potentially make a difference there plus I feel like their faculty and curriculum is better. Also I like the idea of having OMM under my belt as well.

What kind of difference, exactly, do you plan to make as a student at a new school?? I could see a faculty member choosing to join a new school or department to make their mark and influence its direction, and know plenty who have done so. As a prospective student, you're at the point where you'd really only suffer from any kinks that still need to be ironed out.

MDs can learn OMM to have it under their belt.

If you have the choice, go MD over DO to keep as many doors open for your future as possible.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

New school so I could potentially make a difference there plus I feel like their faculty and curriculum is better. Also I like the idea of having OMM under my belt as well.

 

[kenjixshadow]

@sacholiver One of my closest friends picked DO over MD when I told him to pick MD. He forever regrets that decision. Do yourself a favor and don't make that mistake. Moreover, IU is a better school in every aspect.