OU or OSU?

[future okie doc]

What school would you choose between University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Why?

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[mcataz]

I'm in a similar position. I'm deciding between U of A and AZCOM. My situation is different because AZCOM costs more. Whereas, your tuition will be relatively the same whether you attend OSU or OU.

I have heard good things about OU so I would go there if I had the opportunity. I'm from Oklahoma originally so I know a lot about the two schools. However, I have heard horrible things about U of A. And I have seen AZCOM upclose and I really like it. I love the student body and the teaching style. And I want to do family practice so being an MD doesn't really matter in my case.

If you are dead set on specializing, go to OU. It's harder to specialize as a DO. Yes, yes, we all know of DO's who specialize but they have to be pretty amazing to stand a chance at specializing. Whereas, you don't have to be at the top of your class to specialize as an MD due to politics. Of course, this depends on the field. General surgery is going unfilled these days so most DO can acquire that residency. However, if you want to do Orthopedics, Opthalmology, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Urology and other specialties, it will be much tougher for you to acquire these as a DO than as an MD.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by mcataz
If you are dead set on specializing, go to OU. It's harder to specialize as a DO. Yes, yes, we all know of DO's who specialize but they have to be pretty amazing to stand a chance at specializing. Whereas, you don't have to be at the top of your class to specialize as an MD due to politics. Of course, this depends on the field. General surgery is going unfilled these days so most DO can acquire that residency. However, if you want to do Orthopedics, Opthalmology, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Urology and other specialties, it will be much tougher for you to acquire these as a DO than as an MD.

This argument is really overused. Yes, there are some arenas & specialties where DOs are significantly under-represented, but not as many as you'd think.

In Tulsa alone, we have osteopathic residency programs in orthopedics, opthalmology, and radiology.

 

[mcataz]

In Tulsa alone, we have osteopathic residency programs in orthopedics, opthalmology, and radiology.

There are two osteopathic derm residency sites in Arizona alone, yet that doesn't mean acquiring one of these is any easier.

It may be an overused argument but it is accurate nonetheless. There are osteopathic residencies all over the nation. However, the number of osteopathic residency slots in fields like radiology, orthopedic surger and opthalmology pale in number compared to its allopathic counterpart.

To suggest to a prospective DO student that he or she will have the same opportunity to specialize in rare fields as an allopathic student is misleading. And for a DO student to acquire an allopathic residency in one of these fields is even more difficult. Therefore, if you are certain that you want to specialize, then you should go to an allopathic school if given the opportunity, because the odds are simply in your favor.

Again, I'm not putting down osteopathic schools. I'm just stating the reality. I never suggested that DO's can't specialize. I know several that have. However, I am stating that it is significantly harder for a DO to acquire a field like orthopedics than an MD. There are simply not as many osteopathic residency slots in those fields. And allopathic programs do favor their own before they look at DO's.

It has nothing to do with the calibre of a DO student vs. an MD student. It comes down to the number of slots that are available and politics. Again, just injecting a dose of reality.

 

[DrMom]

The specialties with limited #s of spots (ie: derm, rad onc are going to be a challenge for anyone (MD or DO) to get into. Either way, you have to be a stellar student & have great board scores, etc. As you said, its all about the # of slots.

That said, most specialties are not that competitive. Yes, there are fewer DO slots in things like opth & ortho, but DOs definitely do match in allopathic slots in these specialties. Since they are more competitive than gen surg or internal med, anyone applying has to be an above average applicant.

Anyways, we're just going to go around in circles on this I'm sure. 😉

 

[mcataz]

Yo Mom 🙂

It's cool Dr.Mom. I have a great deal of respect for you as a poster. And I think we are essentially saying the same thing although we might be focusing one aspect of our argument more than another part.

I only advised the original poster in the manner that I did because he or she has a chance to attend either an allopathic or an osteopathic school. And if the person really wants to specialize, I don't see why he or she should make their life more difficult by attending an osteopathic school. Politics will obviously provide the allopathic student with a slight edge in acquiring an allopathic residency.

Cmon, you don't really disagree with this do you? 🙂

Anyway, have the last response. I have said my peace.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by mcataz
And if the person really wants to specialize, I don't see why he or she should make their life more difficult by attending an osteopathic school. Politics will obviously provide the allopathic student with a slight edge in acquiring an allopathic residency.

Cmon, you don't really disagree with this do you? 🙂

Anyway, have the last response. I have said my peace.

Since you have offered me the rebuttal, I'll take it.

I do disagree with you. Strongly.

DOs who want to specialize are not "making their lives more difficult" by going to an Osteopathic school. In the real world (ie: not pre-med, med school life), rarely is there anyone who makes an issue of DO vs. MD.

A DO can specialize in any area that an MD can if they have equivalent scores/grades. The specialties that you have given as examples are difficult for anyone to get into, not just DOs. No matter what your degree, you'll have to be a stellar applicant to get into derm & rad onc.

At OSU, we are heavily recruited by allopathic residency programs from around the country. They frequently lure us with free lunches so that they can tell us why we should be interested in their programs. In fact, tomorrow, a bunch of them are taking part in a residency fair. I don't know exactly how many are coming, but there are a good 40 tables set up for them to use.

Yes, it is true that a higher percentage of DOs go into primary care than MDs, but its not because they aren't able to get into other specialties. Osteopathic schools tend to attract and accept students who are already leaning towards primary care as it fits well with the Osteopathic philosophy and is the "mission" of many Osteopathic schools.

I hope that clears things up! 🙂

 

[Fenrezz]

I heard that a lot of the male OU med students enjoy wearing lingerie under their clothes when they're in class.

Play it safe, go to OSU.

 

[Dr. MAXY]

And they shave their legs as well. Bottom line, OSU kicked OU butt in Football so just choose OSU and save yourself from shame.

 

[John DO]

I am from Oklahoma and was accepted to both OU and OSU and chose to not attend either one, opting instead for KCOM. However, I have friends and undergrad classmates attending both schools and I keep in touch with them, so I am still very familiar with both schools after admission.

Based on the happiness of my friends, I would definitely choose OSU. The friends who attend OU all have the same complaint: they feel alone in their education. Most compain that there is virtually no faculty support because most faculty are researchers by passion and really don't care to teach. Because of that, they become somewhat unapproachable. That being said, if you are interested in research, you would be doing yourself a disservice by attending OSU, whose research program has just recently began to take hold (don't yell at me, DrMom!). OSU's research budget can't compare with OU's multi-billion departments and budgets. However, OU's clinicians can't compare with OSU's as far as caring for the student and individual attention.

Hope this helps!

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by John DO
(don't yell at me, DrMom!)

I'm really not known for yelling. 😉

 

[UnderGrad]

if you are interested in research, you would be doing yourself a disservice by attending OSU

I would agree with John DO on this one.

If you are very interested in research, choose OU.

If you are interested in becoming a good clinician, go to OSU--even if you want to specialize.

 

[DireWolf]

To those applying to OSU-COM, be advised that you have to pass the Dan and Rick interview.

 

[DrMom]

Originally posted by DireWolf
To those applying to OSU-COM, be advised that you have to pass the Dan and Rick interview.

Don't worry, everyone. Their bark is worse than their bite!

 

[Fenrezz]

We can't tell you what the Dan and Rick interview entails, but if you succeed, you are instantly accepted to OSU-COM with full scholarship.

OU = no Dan and Rick interview. Hell they probably don't have anyone named Dan or Rick, which is a great reason not to bother applying there, let alone matriculating.

 

[Boomer]

Originally posted by Dr. MAXY
And they shave their legs as well. Bottom line, OSU kicked OU butt in Football so just choose OSU and save yourself from shame.

Sorry, just can't let this comment go unnoticed.

Keep in mind:

OU has to get pumped to play EVERY week. One loss, and we consider the season a waste. OSU can go 1-12, but as long as that one is the right one, nobody cares.

Rose Bowl, or what the hell was the name of the poke bowl this year? Houston Bowl? Wasn't that one of them where they didn't even bother to paint the names of the teams playing on the field?

If you wanna talk football, 7 national championships speak for themselves.