MD & DO MSU-COM vs Albany -- a not so subtle MD vs DO question

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whattodo2014

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Hi everyone,

I hope this is the right place for this -- I think WAMC is perfect because of the bipartisan audience and since the thread is also for "school selection issues".

Regardless, I've been lucky enough to get into a great DO school and a MD school I also really enjoyed. I have already sunk a lot of money into MSUCOM and, without the Albany acceptance, was planning to start there in about a month. I already have an apartment and have paid summer tuition.

On the other hand, I was recently accepted to Albany Medical College off of the "under consideration" list. I really like the school, though it's a bit more expensive for tuition. I like the location and environment as well.

My question really comes down to this -- I'm currently interested in both neurology and emergency medicine. Would Albany give me a much better shot of matching into such a residency, or is MSUCOM regarded highly enough, especially with its connections to many Michigan residency programs, to have a fighting chance?

Thanks a ton!
 
Check out there match lists and see how well they match to programs you're interested in/locations you're interested in. Neither of the programs you are interested in are that competitive, so I doubt the school you went to would matter. I think you're bigger decision should come from whether you want the additional/different training of a DO, and where you want to match in the future and how each school fills that desire.
 
Hi everyone,

I hope this is the right place for this -- I think WAMC is perfect because of the bipartisan audience and since the thread is also for "school selection issues".

Regardless, I've been lucky enough to get into a great DO school and a MD school I also really enjoyed. I have already sunk a lot of money into MSUCOM and, without the Albany acceptance, was planning to start there in about a month. I already have an apartment and have paid summer tuition.

On the other hand, I was recently accepted to Albany Medical College off of the "under consideration" list. I really like the school, though it's a bit more expensive for tuition. I like the location and environment as well.

My question really comes down to this -- I'm currently interested in both neurology and emergency medicine. Would Albany give me a much better shot of matching into such a residency, or is MSUCOM regarded highly enough, especially with its connections to many Michigan residency programs, to have a fighting chance?

Thanks a ton!

You can match in either as a DO. However, there are still a significant number of programs who give preference to MD applicants or who outright won't match a DO grad.

Speaking from an EM point of view, most DO applicants tend to match at smaller community hospitals in the midwest. If your goal is to match at a top academic EM residency on the coasts, you'll have a much better shot as an MD grad.

Either way, the bottom line is that having an MD will open more doors down the line when applying to residency.
 
Thanks to all of you for the responses. It sounds like most of you would recommend going MD for the sake of the degree, but that DO wouldn't significantly affect my chances at EM or Neuro (but might affect the kind of program I could enter).
 
Where do you think you'll be happier for the next four years? Which school has the best fit? Both are good. You'll get a fine training at either. You can't complain about the climate, though...both are freezing in winter!
 
Where do you think you'll be happier for the next four years? Which school has the best fit? Both are good. You'll get a fine training at either. You can't complain about the climate, though...both are freezing in winter!
I honestly think I would be happier at MSU due to many Michigan connections -- During my tour, I could really see myself as part of the student body. I don't have much going for me (personally) in Albany, though I did like the city, campus environment, and school structure. Haha, I have no problem with cold/snow... in fact, I enjoy it. 🙂
 
You should go where you will be happy and feel like you have the opportunity to succeed. I think I'm just jaded from the endless threads of people on here who are willing to spend inordinate amounts of time and money on the chance to get into an MD school when they have a currently good shot at DO.
Yeah, that's really why MSU is even on the same level as Albany in my mind, because I take my perceived success and happiness seriously -- and MSU has a bit of an edge in that regard. I've got two great acceptances and can't really go wrong either way, it seems. Every MD I've shadowed has told me to avoid DO like the plague, which certainly makes it difficult (at least in feeling like family friends will be "disappointed" and look down on my medical education), and SDN also has a hefty "MD or get out" mentality. 😕 However, thankfully, my parents and significant other are totally supportive and love MSU.

I'll be sure to do my due diligence comparing match lists, since that seems important for predicting future success.
 
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