Not starting a fight but... just need answers

[Peanut79]

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I know im probably gonna get crucified for posting this by the D.O students but, how much easier is it to get into a D.O school Vs an allopathic school? Is there someone who became a D.O but now regrets it because of difficulties they might have encountered due to the stigmas associated with that kind of degree maybe? Not looking to start a battle here but would appreciate some honest answers... 😛

 

[synapse lapse]

Significantly easier. Just do a thread search and then compare average stats between allo and osteo.

 

[PublicEnemy]

getting acccpetance to DO schools has the appearance of being easier, perhaps to some extent it is, but thats really only if you're looking at stats in a cursory way. the average mcat scores for DO matriculants are a few points less than the average allo matriculants. the GPA's for DO matriculants are almost the same.

DO schools offer the chance for applicants to significantly improve upon their undergraduate grades since they allow you to replace poor grades by retaking classes in the calculation of your science and overall gpa's. thats one thing, but applicants with bad ugrad grades still have to either eventually get very good grades in a post-bacc or graduate program, or at the very least there has to be significant upward trend, and thats not all that different from allo schools either.

but this is why DO schools appear to be more favorable to non-traditional applicants, since you can improve your standing somewhat quicker, and there is a lesser emphasis on the mcat. at the same time, they are able to weigh life experience and maturity slightly moreso as factors for preparedness for medical school.

but you have to jump through the same hoops, you have to have a good personal statement, have excellent LORs, have good EC's, research, clinical experience, volunteering, shadowing, etc. and you have to interview well, and along with all that you have to go out and get a letter from a DO to make yourself competetive, and you have to show some genuine interest in osteopathic medicine.

even the DO schools have acceptance rates well under 10% like the allo schools, so its by no means a free ticket. so the way i see it, if someone is competetive for allo schools, they will be competetive for DO schools, but thats because it entails being prepared for the same things. at the same time, applicants who are borderline for allo schools based solely on their stats, gpa, mcat, but with everything else good, they may stand a great chance of getting a DO acceptance, but someone who realistically has no chance at an allo school would probably be unlikely to get into a DO school as well.

 

[Soccer Doc]

Your question is a good one. Osteopathic schools do have lower MCAT requirements than M.D. schools, so great candidates with competitive GPAs, interviews, volunteer and clinical activities, evidence of service to others, and good LORs will have a better chance of being picked up at the D.O. schools, but don't think that you can be a slacker in anything else to be accepted. D.O. schools do not admit cheaters, convicted felons, or substance abusers any more frequently than do medical schools. Osteopathic schools also put a greater emphasis on clinical and primary care activities, and this is compatible with many applicants seeking a career in patient care. D.O. graduates in the military, for example, all complete ACGME-accredited residency training programs including any of the surgical subspecialties and are treated no differently than their M.D. counterparts - and as faculty it is rare that we can tell the difference between an osteopath and an M.D. The caveat here is, however, that some osteopathic schools have gone too far over the cliff on primary care, and 9 rotations in a rural primary care setting will make an incoming intern NONCOMPETITIVE for their medical ICU rotation in hospitals not training rural doctors. This would harm the excellent reputation that D.O. graduates have made for themselves in the military. There is a bell-shaped curve among both M.D. schools and D.O. schools and within each school. The bottom line for every applicant, is that he or she should have a realistic tally sheet of his or her strengths and weaknesses, and whether they have what it takes to be a doctor. The MCAT is the easiest standardized test you are ever going to take, and getting INTO med school is the easiest part of the journey. The stakes go up when you matriculate and every day is an investment.

I know im probably gonna get crucified for posting this by the D.O students but, how much easier is it to get into a D.O school Vs an allopathic school? Is there someone who became a D.O but now regrets it because of difficulties they might have encountered due to the stigmas associated with that kind of degree maybe? Not looking to start a battle here but would appreciate some honest answers... 😛

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

even the DO schools have acceptance rates well under 10% like the allo schools, so its by no means a free ticket. so the way i see it, if someone is competetive for allo schools, they will be competetive for DO schools, but thats because it entails being prepared for the same things. at the same time, applicants who are borderline for allo schools based solely on their stats, gpa, mcat, but with everything else good, they may stand a great chance of getting a DO acceptance, but someone who realistically has no chance at an allo school would probably be unlikely to get into a DO school as well.

Most Osteopathic schools have acceptance rates well over 10%. And while the differences between the two are not drastic, I do think that you are narrowing the gap a bit much. Avg GPA and MCAT differences are not simply one or two points. The guy is asking an honest question, so lets try and give him an honest answer.

 

[EMTLizzy]

You also need to consider the fact that fewer students apply to Osteopathic schools than to allopathic schools. Therefore, the competition will be on a very different level when you have 2000 applicants vs 5000.

 

[xadmin]

It is much easier to get into DO school. Gosh, this question has been asked a million times.

 

[thesterlinggirl]

If you compare Michigan State's two programs it is a good indication, because these two schools are on the same campus.

Michigan State University (COM)
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.50
Average MCAT Bio: 8.70
Average MCAT Phys: 8.00
Average MCAT Verbal: 8.20
Average MCAT Essay: O
Acceptance Rate: 12%

Michigan State University (CHM)
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.50
Average MCAT Bio: 10.00
Average MCAT Phys: 9.20
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.40
Average MCAT Essay: P
Acceptance Rate: 8%

 

[PublicEnemy]

Most Osteopathic schools have acceptance rates well over 10%. And while the differences between the two are not drastic, I do think that you are narrowing the gap a bit much. Avg GPA and MCAT differences are not simply one or two points. The guy is asking an honest question, so lets try and give him an honest answer.

I think I gave a completely honest answer. Almost all the DO school acceptance rates fall within 9-15%. At the same time, I can name you several allo schools that have higher acceptance rates than many DO schools. Wayne state, MCG, SIU, UIC, IU, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, USUHS, UMass, Mississippi, Missourri, UMDNJ-RWJ, NYU, North Dakota, Ohio, OSU, Cincinatti, oklahoma, Drexel, USC, Tennesse, Baylor, and UTSW... all have higher acceptance rate than more than half the DO schools, all those schools are pretty well above 10%.

In fact for me, its may even be easier for me to get into my state allo med schools, UMDNJ-NJMS, or RWJ which only acceptance rates around 15% than my state DO school UMDNJ-SOM which has an acceptance rate of 8%

but yeah, i agree this is just a trick with numbers. it by no means is an indication of which school is easier to get into. the entire process is a very individual one to begin with, regardless of what type of school and where you're applying. and i have even said that MD schools are more difficult to get into from the perspective of just stats.

Read my previous post, I never said that the average MCAT difference was only 1 or 2 points, my exact words were "average mcat scores for DO matriculants are a few points less". and in fact its about 1 point per section.

there is a gap, and i acknowledged that.

 

[acl3623]

You also need to consider the fact that fewer students apply to Osteopathic schools than to allopathic schools. Therefore, the competition will be on a very different level when you have 2000 applicants vs 5000.

this is mostly it i think...most D.O. schools have about half the applicants as MD schools. so of course their acceptance rate will be higher if theyre both filling classes of about 150...in the bigger picture though, it is HARD to get into either type of med school...D.O. may give you better chances but seriously, when i talk to other friends of mine (not premed..) they cant believe all the crap you have to go through to get into med school. youll still have to work hard and prove yourself...

 

[JMC_MarineCorps]

Significantly easier.

Without a doubt...and thank goodness for it! 😀

 

[cooldreams]

If you compare Michigan State's two programs it is a good indication, because these two schools are on the same campus.

Michigan State University (COM)
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.50
Average MCAT Bio: 8.70
Average MCAT Phys: 8.00
Average MCAT Verbal: 8.20
Average MCAT Essay: O
Acceptance Rate: 12%

Michigan State University (CHM)
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.50
Average MCAT Bio: 10.00
Average MCAT Phys: 9.20
Average MCAT Verbal: 9.40
Average MCAT Essay: P
Acceptance Rate: 8%

well im obviously no expert but looking at the stats looks like the exact same gpa, and a "point or two" difference on the mcat. is this what you are looking for??