milleniumhc,
First of all, I haven't talked to you in a while how's things been? I haven't seen Peds on the posting board in months either. Tell her I said hi.
(by the way let me appologize right now if I sound a bit harsh in my response, but you kinda got the ole blood boiling a bit
Now lets talk about this DO/MD "issue" that some people just can't seem to get over. I want to be a doctor and that's it. Simple as that. I respect both Osteopathic and Allopathic medicine for their similar yet uniquely different approaches to the healing process. Both MD schools and DO schools see themselves as on par with each other dispite the self-defeating arguements which plague both sides of this tired "issue." In the field, both MDs and DOs serve together at hospitals and clinics, family practices, rural practices, etc.. and come to rely on each other for one another's knowledge, expertise and experiences. During my interviews I made it crystal clear that I applied to both DO and MD schools. I explained my reasons for applying to both along with the merits of both and ultimately how I would decide where I wanted to begin my career in medicine. My responses were not narrow minded, but open minded and knowlegeable. The admissions committees respect this and so should you, because they understand the difficulties involved with getting into medical school DO or MD. I think it's past time for people on both sides of the fence to get off their high horses and start discussing better ways we can both work together and maintain each others distinctiveness rather than forming seperate camps to sneer at one another. Your quick choice to insinuate that Reddy and I (and many others) are simply MD wannabe's is extremely disheartening (especially since you of all people know me better then that) and incredibly insulting. Try reading all the posts and not just the one or two which catch your eye. In my posts regarding this issue I have remained realistic, honest, informed, inquizitive, and most of all open-minded. I suggest you do the same.
I wanted to stay in Michigan so I can stay near my family and friends. In addition, if you have a choice between 2 schools (DO or MD) one local which saves you 70,000 in loans and interest the other 2 hours away and 3 times as expensive and similar education which would you choose? If you think that the only decision you have to consider regarding medical school is which two letters you'd rather have after your name, then think again. There's tuition expenses, living expenses, equipment expenses, book expenses, individual program concentrations, quality of resources, faculty/student ratios, research/no research, location, effects on family and marriage for some, effects on friends, affiliated hospitals and programs, available hospital rotations, aquiring loans, interest on those loans, residencies, atmosphere. Someone help me out, am I forgeting anything?
[This message has been edited by DocGibby (edited 04-03-2000).]
[This message has been edited by DocGibby (edited 04-03-2000).]