Official 2023 Osteopathic Match Thread

Started by Rogue42
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DrStephenStrange said:
Blood bath incoming March 2024.
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The Step 1 DO fail rate in 2022 (which is when those undergoing the 2024 match will have taken Step 1) was 11% for DOs, up from 6 percent in 2021. It was also 9% for MDs, up from 5% in 2021. Fail rate for IMGs was a whooping 26%.

But it gets more interesting - the number of DOs taking Step 1 actually went down despite the extra 6 COMs. Number tested was 4722, down from 5365. This is because of the rule change now allowing students to bypass step 1 and directly go to step 2.

Given all of these numbers, I suffice it to say that the DO students who took and passed Step 1 on the first attempt should be just fine. The expansion of DOs in the match applicant pools seems to be those who are failing or not taking Step.
 
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HipiMochi said:
The Step 1 DO fail rate in 2022 (which is when those undergoing the 2024 match will have taken Step 1) was 11% for DOs, up from 6 percent in 2021. It was also 9% for MDs, up from 5% in 2021. Fail rate for IMGs was a whooping 26%.

Next year will be…. Insane.
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Where did you get this data? I can only find MD fail rate
 
HipiMochi said:
The Step 1 DO fail rate in 2022 (which is when those undergoing the 2024 match will have taken Step 1) was 11% for DOs, up from 6 percent in 2021. It was also 9% for MDs, up from 5% in 2021. Fail rate for IMGs was a whooping 26%.

But it gets more interesting - the number of DOs taking Step 1 actually went down despite the extra 6 COMs. Number tested was 4722, down from 5365. This is because of the rule change now allowing students to bypass step 1 and directly go to step 2.

Given all of these numbers, I suffice it to say that the DO students who took and passed Step 1 on the first attempt should be just fine. The expansion of DOs in the match applicant pools seems to be those who are failing or not taking Step.
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Wow thats like 900 fewer passes. I actually feel better.
 
FootballAndSkiing said:
Wow thats like 900 fewer passes. I actually feel better.
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Considering that there are around 32,000 DO students total, it comes down to around 8,000 per year. Last year just above 4,000 DO students took and passed step 1, so only about half of all DOs going into the 2024 match will be doing so with a pass on Step 1.

Just to be clear, I am not bashing our field. I love being a DO medical student because it keeps me grounded and OMM has actually tremendously helped my mom and wife because I do a lot of OMM on them and it helps their pain. But the fact that the numbers of DOs are going UP but the pass rates and those taking step are going DOWN indicates that something is seriously wrong.
 
HipiMochi said:
Considering that there are around 32,000 DO students total, it comes down to around 8,000 per year. Last year just above 4,000 DO students took and passed step 1, so only about half of all DOs going into the 2024 match will be doing so with a pass on Step 1.

Just to be clear, I am not bashing our field. I love being a DO medical student because it keeps me grounded and OMM has actually tremendously helped my mom and wife because I do a lot of OMM on them and it helps their pain. But the fact that the numbers of DOs are going UP but the pass rates and those taking step are going DOWN indicates that something is seriously wrong.
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To be fair everyone else went down too. P/f just caught a lot of people off guard. And for some reason some people think that the test that was formerly the most important thing when it comes it matching is now irrelevant.
 
HipiMochi said:
But the fact that the numbers of DOs are going UP but the pass rates and those taking step are going DOWN indicates that something is seriously wrong.
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I'd wait until this year and the next year before making any assumptions about there being a trend in DO pass rates declining. We only have 1 cohort's worth of data to look at, and it can largely be attributed to students massively underestimating the difficulty in passing Step 1 after it went P/F.
 
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Darrow O'Lykos said:
I'd wait until this year and the next year before making any assumptions about there being a trend in DO pass rates declining. We only have 1 cohort's worth of data to look at, and it can largely be attributed to students massively underestimating the difficulty in passing Step 1 after it went P/F.
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I hope you’re right
 
So I just got off a zoom meeting with one of the people in the surgical department at Campbell (current medical school) and they said that we got 8 people matching into gas, 7 into GS, 1 into ophthalmology, and that one person who got into Duke Ortho.

Edit: I don't have the match locations because first years and second years don't get that. But I heard that they were going to release the match list this year.
 
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Does anyone have the list for the new Incarnate Word DO school in San Antonio?

I am still surprised they got that school approved and now the main hospital they were using for teaching is closing down.
 
Darrow O'Lykos said:
I think most DO schools are reporting their placement rate as their match rate.
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Exactly. I think the strategy with a lot of these schools are to see who matches or SOAPs, and then when (inevitably) a couple students don't match/SOAP, move them to next year's graduating class. It explains the discrepancy between # of individuals matching and typical class sizes (often a difference of up to 10%).
 
LeBaffled J said:
Exactly. I think the strategy with a lot of these schools are to see who matches or SOAPs, and then when (inevitably) a couple students don't match/SOAP, move them to next year's graduating class. It explains the discrepancy between # of individuals matching and typical class sizes (often a difference of up to 10%).
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I agree! TCOM said that their match rate this year was 100% but this popular med student influencer who goes there said that she did not match initially, but later found a placement through SOAP.
 
The idea that any DO school matches 100% just does not seem possible to me. Even at the best schools there will always be that one student, probably more, that is applying ortho or derm that doesnt match. Also there is nothing wrong with that, that student deserves the chance to try, but its hard to match these specialties. They would have matched if they applied FM so who cares about the match rate. Thats why I dont mind schools reporting placement rates. Though people need to be more careful with their wording. From what Ive seen schools are usually good with using the word placement. But some people seem to think thats the same as match.
 
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Wilf said:
Does anyone have the list for the new Incarnate Word DO school in San Antonio?

I am still surprised they got that school approved and now the main hospital they were using for teaching is closing down.
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UIW student here. Texas vista isn't our main training hospital for medical students. Its home to our psych and IM residency via TIGMER. From what I've heard, psych residency will be fine. Idk about the IM residency tho. Match rate 96%, placement 99%. Notable matches: ortho match at UTH San Antonio, urology in the military match? at San Diego military medical center
 
Duke ortho match absolutely crushed her research year at Duke. Developed some great connections with people who were higher up and in the room making decisions. I remember talking to her at some point and she definitely had hope going into the cycle. Definitely proud of her considering Duke told me 2 years ago they would never consider a DO, as well as the other Campbell grad that ended up at GW a few years ago lol.

Dartmouth is far less reputable in the ortho world and often forgotten exists, but still impressive someone ended up there with a rotation. I will put some respect on the OU and Indiana matches as well, since these programs are more well-known/reputable in the ortho world than Dartmouth.
UT San Antonio match was no surprise, guy is an absolute stud and as humble as can be, and glad he ended up staying home. There were 2 other absolute stud DO ortho applicants with multiple MD interviews I know of that actually chose to stay at reputable osteopathic programs because of connections they have there, so I'm sure they could've ended up at a traditionally MD program if they wanted.

Ortho match was absolutely brutal this year, for MD and DO's alike. I'm just glad I made it with a <50% match rate and only 5 interviews. Think the game for DO's is drastically gonna change this upcoming cycle however. Think the strategy is/should be stick to former AOA programs to maximize chances of matching, cause on the other side with the MD's, it's gonna be an either further bloodbath with P/F step and increased application/re-application counts.
 
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drthedude said:
seems like a great match list, especially for a new DO school
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Part of me believes it comes down to the applicant and who they are. Fwiw I BELIEVE that if you work hard, do your absolute best, and stay motivated you have a solid chance at matching at a respectable place, despite your school name. Of course there are some students who fall through the cracks. Of course if you graduate from a T5 you’re going to end up at a nice place. But in general I think everyone has a solid chance if they work for it
 
helpmeouthere said:
Part of me believes it comes down to the applicant and who they are. Fwiw I BELIEVE that if you work hard, do your absolute best, and stay motivated you have a solid chance at matching at a respectable place, despite your school name. Of course there are some students who fall through the cracks. Of course if you graduate from a T5 you’re going to end up at a nice place. But in general I think everyone has a solid chance if they work for it
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It all comes down to the applicant (board scores, clerkship grades, research, connections, interview personality) not the school specifically for DO applicants. My school did nothing for me in helping me match where I matched-its a DO school aka thats not helping me get in anywhere
 
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