PCOM vs. Low Tier MD school

[WDeagle]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I think there are at least a few DO schools that offer a better education than some of the "lower tier" allopathic schools. I chose a DO over a lower tier allo school because i honestly felt that i would get a much better education at the DO school. My opinions were backed up with match lists and board scores. Also, there was a much higher rate of specialization at the DO. Ive been suprised at how many of my classmates made similar decisions. By the way i dont go to PCOM.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Um, no. You should really try to speak about things you know of.

That's funny that in you ACGME residency, both Chief Residents are DOs.

 

[NonTradMed]

I'd encourage someone to do MD over DO if they have no mitigating reasons to take the DO option. I say this not to insult DOs but because there's no reason to deliberately be a medical minority. It's just more convienent to be part of the organization that composes the majority of doctors in this country. It makes licensing easier, it opens up more options for residencies and if you want to do international work, it may be easier to get recognition.

The difference between a DO and MD is not that big and it's quickly dissipating, so it's not a big deal if you choose one over the other, but this is still a system which is dominated by MDs, just go on the path of least resistance.

 

[RySerr21]

I'd encourage someone to do MD over DO if they have no mitigating reasons to take the DO option. I say this not to insult DOs but because there's no reason to deliberately be a medical minority. It's just more convienent to be part of the organization that composes the majority of doctors in this country. It makes licensing easier, it opens up more options for residencies and if you want to do international work, it may be easier to get recognition.

The difference between a DO and MD is not that big and it's quickly dissipating, so it's not a big deal if you choose one over the other, but this is still a system which is dominated by MDs, just go on the path of least resistance.

HAHA. I love your reasoning. Can you imagine reading a history book and/or imagine what the world would be like today if everyone lived by your "path of least resistance" philosophy. Good grief.

There are plenty of reasons that people "deliberately choose to be a medical minority." Open your eyes.

 

[Bacchus]

I'd encourage someone to do MD over DO if they have no mitigating reasons to take the DO option. I say this not to insult DOs but because there's no reason to deliberately be a medical minority. It's just more convienent to be part of the organization that composes the majority of doctors in this country. It makes licensing easier, it opens up more options for residencies and if you want to do international work, it may be easier to get recognition.

The difference between a DO and MD is not that big and it's quickly dissipating, so it's not a big deal if you choose one over the other, but this is still a system which is dominated by MDs, just go on the path of least resistance.

I agree with you. I have applications at several DO schools. Like you said, negative feelings are quickly dissipating and that is why I applied to so many DO schools. OMM pulled me towards them, too. That said, if I were accepted to a certain MD school I applied to I would have an extremely tough decision to make. However, I have my own "ranking system" on how I'm going to select a school if I get multiple acceptances.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Umm you realize that DOs have their own residencies in Derm, Ortho, NeuroSurg...etc.

So, no.

There also arent very many of them and they traditionally arent in great locations.

PCOM>>>>>>>Puerto Rican school

Any US MD school> than PCOM

For me anyways, unless of course PCOM gave me a full ride.

First puerto rican schools are LCME accredited so they are the exact same as mainland MD schools. They shouldnt be lumped in with the carribean schools because they dont carry the same kind of stigma with them.

These schools are generally about providing doctors to puerto rico or puerto rican populations. You need to be fluent in spanish and generally be from puerto rico to go there.

 

[Instatewaiter]

The difference between a DO and MD is not that big and it's quickly dissipating, so it's not a big deal if you choose one over the other, but this is still a system which is dominated by MDs, just go on the path of least resistance.

HAHA. I love your reasoning. Can you imagine reading a history book and/or imagine what the world would be like today if everyone lived by your "path of least resistance" philosophy. Good grief.

There are plenty of reasons that people "deliberately choose to be a medical minority." Open your eyes.

Sure you shouldnt choose the path of least resistance when the 2 paths lead to different places but in this case they lead to the same place.

When the 2 paths lead to the similar places and the path of least resistance offers more opportunities along the way and gets you to the destination in higher standing... why on earth would you choose the path of more resistance?

 

[davenp73]

HAHA. I love your reasoning. Can you imagine reading a history book and/or imagine what the world would be like today if everyone lived by your "path of least resistance" philosophy. Good grief.

There are plenty of reasons that people "deliberately choose to be a medical minority." Open your eyes.

I completely agree! And I know someone might look at my previous posts or my MD apps and say, of course I chose DO because of my low MCAT, but even before I took the MCAT, and even if I would have scored in my practice range of 29-31, I still would be applying to DO schools because I am drawn to the philosophy....It's sad when there are future physicians contributing to the ignorance of the population about DO's, their training and such!
Btw, MSUCOM (5th in the country for 10 consecutive years) and WVSOM (tied with harvard for 7th in the country for like 5 years or something, its on their website!) are tied or above rank for primary care with HARVARD, so if primary care is what you want, which, for me I want to do primary care then a fellowship in oncology, it doesn't really disadvantage you AT ALL to go to a DO school!

 

[DrBowtie]

I completely agree! And I know someone might look at my previous posts or my MD apps and say, of course I chose DO because of my low MCAT, but even before I took the MCAT, and even if I would have scored in my practice range of 29-31, I still would be applying to DO schools because I am drawn to the philosophy....It's sad when there are future physicians contributing to the ignorance of the population about DO's, their training and such!

The philosophy that many of those IN Osteopathic Medicine deny is unique or integrated? Anyone can apply that philosophy to their own personal practice style.

Btw, MSUCOM (5th in the country for 10 consecutive years) and WVSOM (tied with harvard for 7th in the country for like 5 years or something, its on their website!) are tied or above rank for primary care with HARVARD, so if primary care is what you want, which, for me I want to do primary care then a fellowship in oncology, it doesn't really disadvantage you AT ALL to go to a DO school!

If you honestly want to put stock in the primary care ranking, with the % matching into the easiest fields to be a main factor, go right ahead.

Also, if you do IM -> Oncology you aren't doing primary care and would be better suited going to a more research oriented IM residency to prepare for your oncology fellowship.

 

[J1515]

I still would be applying to DO schools because I am drawn to the philosophy....

Philosophy is exactly the same as allopaths.

 

[Leejwwc]

i agree with the last two posters. one's ability to practice empathetic, holistic, and community-oriented medicine has nothing to do with which two letters are behind his or her last name.

 

[MrBurns10]

for me I want to do primary care then a fellowship in oncology

Primary care implies a lack of specialization. Also, you can never really know what you want to go into until you do your rotations. I thought I wanted to do OB before med school and now I want to do pretty much the opposite of OB.

I'm not at all saying you shouldn't choose DO, but if you choose to go into the more competitive specialties it unfortunately is still somewhat of a hindrance.

 

[Bacchus]

Primary care implies a lack of specialization. Also, you can never really know what you want to go into until you do your rotations. I thought I wanted to do OB before med school and now I want to do pretty much the opposite of OB.

I'm not at all saying you shouldn't choose DO, but if you choose to go into the more competitive specialties it unfortunately is still somewhat of a hindrance.

The opposite of life is death... so you want pathology?

 

[MrBurns10]

The opposite of life is death... so you want pathology?

haha, touche, salesman...I didn't even think of that. Maybe I should have said "a field far, far away from OB."

 

[Depakote]

no, I think it's pretty clear that MrBurns wants to put newborns back into unexpecting mothers. I think you might have some issues that need to be addressed.

 

[RySerr21]

Sure you shouldnt choose the path of least resistance when the 2 paths lead to different places but in this case they lead to the same place.

When the 2 paths lead to the similar places and the path of least resistance offers more opportunities along the way and gets you to the destination in higher standing... why on earth would you choose the path of more resistance?

Okay, if it really matters that your future pre meds will hold your MD degree in "higher standing" then I guess you should go MD. But seriousy, who f*ckin cares. There is absolutely no difference between an MD orthopedic surgeon and a DO orthopedic surgeon. If anything, their "standing" is defined by their specialy, not their degree.

Philosophy is exactly the same as allopaths.

Sure, you can say that everyone wants to have good bed side manners, good doctor/patient relatinoship, "holisic" approach or whatever. I agree its kind of silly to say that MD schools don't want their students to be like that.

BUT, the thing that is different between the MD and the DO schools is the students, and their attitudes, and their personalities, and the general atmosphere of the school. And there are some MD schools that are "DO-like" in that sense, but for the most part there is a clear and distiuishable difference between the MD and DO school student body. That part is UNDENIABLE. And it might be that the "philosophy" that is so heavily advertised by the DO schools (much more so than the MD schools) attracts a different type of student, which is exactly what davenp was talking aout. For some people (myself included), that is a very important component to the medical school experience.

 

[MrBurns10]

no, I think it's pretty clear that MrBurns wants to put newborns back into unexpecting mothers. I think you might have some issues that need to be addressed.

Look, the longer that baby is inside the mother's womb, the longer OBs can charge for their services. I'm just doing them all a favor!

Next up: following schizophrenics around and whispering in their ears. Psychiatrists need to be paid better too, ya know.

 

[Depakote]

Look, the longer that baby is inside the mother's womb, the longer OBs can charge for their services. I'm just doing them all a favor!

Next up: following schizophrenics around and whispering in their ears. Psychiatrists need to be paid better too, ya know.

I like your style.

 

[DrBowtie]

BUT, the thing that is different between the MD and the DO schools is the students, and their attitudes, and their personalities, and the general atmosphere of the school. And there are some MD schools that are "DO-like" in that sense, but for the most part there is a clear and distiuishable difference between the MD and DO school student body. That part is UNDENIABLE. And it might be that the "philosophy" that is so heavily advertised by the DO schools (much more so than the MD schools) attracts a different type of student, which is exactly what davenp was talking aout. For some people (myself included), that is a very important component to the medical school experience.

What are you talking about? There is as much variety in the student bodies between schools (MD and DO) that the "undeniable" is a huge generalization.
I think you've read a little too much SDN talking about the laid back DO school vs. the full of gunners MD school. The "undeniable" part is there are gunners and laid back people at EVERY school.

 

[Depakote]

I don't know. I was accepted to both MD and DO schools... I myself am a walking hypocrite. I suffered a schizophrenic break trying to make myself fit the two different student bodies during the interview processes.

 

[Decicco]

the thing that is different between the MD and the DO schools is the students, and their attitudes, and their personalities, and the general atmosphere of the school. And there are some MD schools that are "DO-like" in that sense, but for the most part there is a clear and distiuishable difference between the MD and DO school student body. That part is UNDENIABLE.

Are you serious? Just checking to make sure this isn't a joke.😕 The only "undeniable" differences between MD and DO student bodies that I am aware of are the obvious, quantifiable ones.

 

[coldweatherblue]

There are plenty of reasons that people "deliberately choose to be a medical minority." Open your eyes.

Could you list some of the reasons?

 

[TexasPhysician]

I'd like to apologize to the poster. There are way too many uneducated people grumbling over useless topics.

To the poster: Your choice is yours and there is no easy answer to your question. I would crunch some numbers and choose the cheaper of the 2 options. If you have a HUGE desire to do medical mission work in weird places around the world, go the M.D. route or research the D.O. restrictions. D.O. degree still has some problems in many countries, but that is getting better. If you don't mind where you do mission work, the D.O. route will still work fine for you. Both schools can get you into fine residencies if you work hard. When you become a physician, few will ever ask where you attended school

Good luck in your medical pursuit, no matter the decision.

 

[JaggerPlate]

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsa...care_residents

Various MD schools put more students into 'non specialized' (which is incorrect) primary care than various DO schools ... meaning that DO class is more specialized.

And to instatewaiter ... I guess some people don't have time for a postbacc ... 🙄

 

[JaggerPlate]

Are you serious? Just checking to make sure this isn't a joke.😕 The only "undeniable" differences between MD and DO student bodies that I am aware of are the obvious, quantifiable ones.

You're going to be such a good allopath when you graduate from allopath school and practice allopathy.

 

[MrBurns10]

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsa...care_residents

Various MD schools put more students into 'non specialized' (which is incorrect) primary care than various DO schools ... meaning that DO class is more specialized.

And to instatewaiter ... I guess some people don't have time for a postbacc ... 🙄

It's tough to look at those sorts of statistics and say for sure that a "primary care" resident is actually going into primary care. For example, internal medicine is the most popular specialty among medical students (MD and probably DO), but that's because it's the launching pad for various fellowships. If you want to be a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, oncologist, etc., which isn't really primary care, you have to go through IM to get there. Just out of sheer curiosity, I'd be interested in seeing how the percentages of grads going into IM fellowships vs just staying in primary care compare among MD and DO schools.

 

[J1515]

Could you list some of the reasons?

1) Location
2) Curriculum
3) Clinical Affiliates
4) Family Ties
5) Tuition
6) Where you feel you will be happiest
7) Research projects

 

[Bacchus]

Can we all just get along?

 

[JaggerPlate]

It's tough to look at those sorts of statistics and say for sure that a "primary care" resident is actually going into primary care. For example, internal medicine is the most popular specialty among medical students (MD and probably DO), but that's because it's the launching pad for various fellowships. If you want to be a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, oncologist, etc., which isn't really primary care, you have to go through IM to get there. Just out of sheer curiosity, I'd be interested in seeing how the percentages of grads going into IM fellowships vs just staying in primary care compare among MD and DO schools.

Oh you're totally right. When MD schools are putting people into primary care ... it's so they can become cardiologists, but that couldn't be the case for DOs. Just a bunch of FP guys and gals ...

Always fair ... always balanced. Allopaths.

 

[MrBurns10]

Oh you're totally right. When MD schools are putting people into primary care ... it's so they can become cardiologists, but that couldn't be the case for DOs. Just a bunch of FP guys and gals ...

Always fair ... always balanced. Allopaths.

What? Did you even read my post? Or did you just assume that because I stated that it's "tough to look at those stats to say for sure someone is going into primary care" and then later said "just out of curiosity, I'd be interested to see what the percentages would be" that I meant that all MDs going into IM specialize and all DOs that do don't?

I'm thinking the latter since nothing that I wrote even implied that. Take off your take-everything-personally shades and re-read what I wrote. Sigh...

 

[JaggerPlate]

Take off your take-everything-personally shades and re-read what I wrote. Sigh...

Never.

 

[Decicco]

I'd like to apologize to the poster. There are way too many uneducated people grumbling over useless topics.

To the poster: Your choice is yours and there is no easy answer to your question. I would crunch some numbers and choose the cheaper of the 2 options.

This is a good point. It seems like many people who post here (including me, initially) confused PR schools with caribbean schools. This decision is likely going to take some considerable research on the part of the OP as many people haven't been in this position before. This is a unique question and I can't imagine that our discussion has helped much so far 🙂

 

[Medstudent85]

It got very helpful in the first page, now its beginning to get into pointless arguments of SDN.. at least we made it past a page!

 

[JaggerPlate]

It got very helpful in the first page, now its beginning to get into pointless arguments of SDN.. at least we made it past a page!

Ask a mod to lock the thread ... it's gone there.


(should have been locked right away because it's a cross thread anyway)

 

[tkim]

I'd like to apologize to the poster. There are way too many uneducated people grumbling over useless topics.

To the poster: Your choice is yours and there is no easy answer to your question. I would crunch some numbers and choose the cheaper of the 2 options. If you have a HUGE desire to do medical mission work in weird places around the world, go the M.D. route or research the D.O. restrictions. D.O. degree still has some problems in many countries, but that is getting better. If you don't mind where you do mission work, the D.O. route will still work fine for you.

Like Doctors Without Borders?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7140869&postcount=2

 

[Decicco]

It looks to me like Puerto Rican medical students have a good selection of specialties. In each school, the number of people going into family practice is less than 5%. Another neat thing I found--Israel has MD programs with MCAT and GPA averages around that of DO schools and an attrition rate of less than 1%. Tuition is cheap (20K), they have 100% US residency placement, 98% pass rate on Step 1, and courses are taught in English. This all sounds good if you don't mind living in Israel. You can also get federal financial aid.

There are several programs and one is associated with the Columbia medical center.

 

[NonTradMed]

HAHA. I love your reasoning. Can you imagine reading a history book and/or imagine what the world would be like today if everyone lived by your "path of least resistance" philosophy. Good grief.

There are plenty of reasons that people "deliberately choose to be a medical minority." Open your eyes.

But getting an DO or an MD would get you to the same place except that one path may offer an easier path to that point.

This isn't some "two forks in the road, follow the path that is lesser taken". You're not making some big principle or historic statement when picking MD over DO because it's an "easier" path.

I mean, if we followed that principle, I would advise the OP to go Caribbean to prove that someone from there can be just as good as an American trained doctor.

Picking a med school is not some political statement. You go where the tuition is cheap, the education is good, and the top residencies are easiest to get. If you want people to understand that DOs are just as good as MDs, then treat your fellow DO doctors as equals after you're an attending. Med school is hard enough without making it more difficult for yourself.

 

[RySerr21]

But getting an DO or an MD would get you to the same place except that one path may offer an easier path to that point.

This isn't some "two forks in the road, follow the path that is lesser taken". You're not making some big principle or historic statement when picking MD over DO because it's an "easier" path.

I mean, if we followed that principle, I would advise the OP to go Caribbean to prove that someone from there can be just as good as an American trained doctor.

Picking a med school is not some political statement. You go where the tuition is cheap, the education is good, and the top residencies are easiest to get. If you want people to understand that DOs are just as good as MDs, then treat your fellow DO doctors as equals after you're an attending. Med school is hard enough without making it more difficult for yourself.

the first half or your post was already said by someone else, and while i see your point, i already responded to the previous poster.

I am confident that the osteopathic schools that I interviewed at will provide me with a fantastic education, and will prepare me well for a top residency spot (MD or DO) if i work hard and do well in my studies.

Unless your 100% shooting for neourosurg, ortho, derm MD RESIDENCIES, going to a DO school does not make your medical education any more difficult.

 

[NonTradMed]

the first half or your post was already said by someone else, and while i see your point, i already responded to the previous poster.

I am confident that the osteopathic schools that I interviewed at will provide me with a fantastic education, and will prepare me well for a top residency spot (MD or DO) if i work hard and do well in my studies.

Unless your 100% shooting for neourosurg, ortho, derm MD RESIDENCIES, going to a DO school does not make your medical education any more difficult.

What if you decide you really want to do neuro, othro, derm etc? Most people will change their mind multiple times in med school. Why make it even harder to get those spots? If everything about the schools are equal, then I say take the MD offer.

People say "work hard and you'll be fine", but why make med school potentially harder than it is? Med school is painful enough as it is. Why put an extra obstacle if you can avoid it?

I say, unless the DO school is better than the MD school for whatever reason (location, money, OMM/holistic etc), take the MD school. Given that roughly half of DO students will go into allo residencies, it stands to reason that how your school does on the USMLE may be important to an aspiring medical student (DO or MD).

And since the USMLE is geared toward allopathic students, DO students who take it do worse than allopathic student (higher fail rate etc).

That isn't because DO students are dumber or the education is deficient, but it's the result of different curriculum which focuses on different things (and perhaps the added stress of having to take both the COMLEX and USMLE). Also, matching through both DO and MD systems is a pain since the DO match comes earlier and will drop your MD slot if you match first.

Most med students are hoping to become a doctor, not make a political statement that DO=MD. If you have no reason to not go to an MD school, I say go MD. You'll be a good doctor whether you go DO or MD, but there are certain hassles involved in being a medical minority.

 

[Bacchus]

I say, unless the DO school is better than the MD school for whatever reason (location, money, OMM/holistic etc), take the MD school. Given that roughly half of DO students will go into allo residencies, it stands to reason that how your school does on the USMLE may be important to an aspiring medical student (DO or MD).

We are talking about PCOM 😀.

 

[pistonsbball]

PCOM>>>>>>>Puerto Rican school

Any US MD school> than PCOM

For me anyways, unless of course PCOM gave me a full ride.

This person fails to realize that puerto rican medical schools are LCME accredited, therefore they are U.S. allopathic medical schools. According to the 2008 NRMP results, U.S allopathic graduates (including puerto rican medical graduates) have a match rate at 94.2%, while graduates of osteopathic medical schools have a 71.6% match rate. This information can be obtained at: http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2008.pdf. I believe that through hard work and dedication you can get anything you want, however it would be in your best interest to enroll in an LCME accredited school (placing you in a much favorable category of 'US Allopathic grad' when applying through the match).

 

[JaggerPlate]

This person fails to realize that puerto rican medical schools are LCME accredited, therefore they are U.S. allopathic medical schools. According to the 2008 NRMP results, U.S allopathic graduates (including puerto rican medical graduates) have a match rate at 94.2%, while graduates of osteopathic medical schools have a 71.6% match rate. This information can be obtained at: http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2008.pdf. I believe that through hard work and dedication you can get anything you want, however it would be in your best interest to enroll in an LCME accredited school (placing you in a much favorable category of 'US Allopathic grad' when applying through the match).

PR schools basically require ties and fluent spanish. They may be on par with US Allo schools, but they definitely aren't something you waltz into like a Caribbean school. However, it's always better to stay on US soil.

 

[bigyihoroi]

It seems like SDN ppl highly rated PCOM here and possibly better than some low-tier MD school. I wonder why. I think I read someone said something about the fact that it's because PCOM has been established for over 100 years and has a long history in education. But this doesn't sound too convincing because many other DO schools were established around the same time or earlier.

PCOM established in 1899
Des Moines established in 1898
Midwestern U established in 1900
KCOM established in 1892

So I really wanna know why ppl here on SDN rated PCOM so high.🙄

 

[Wylde]

HAHA. I love your reasoning. Can you imagine reading a history book and/or imagine what the world would be like today if everyone lived by your "path of least resistance" philosophy. Good grief.

There is a difference between choosing a path of resistance if you believe in that path. The difference between MD and DO is minimal at best, it's not a matter of choosing a more difficult path because of moral principles, etc.

There are plenty of reasons that people "deliberately choose to be a medical minority." Open your eyes.

I really do not understand this comment? You are assuming that everyone is fully knowledgeable and makes a decision they do not regret later. Obviously this is not the case.

 

[WDeagle]

It seems like SDN ppl highly rated PCOM here and possibly better than some low-tier MD school. I wonder why. I think I read someone said something about the fact that it's because PCOM has been established for over 100 years and has a long history in education. But this doesn't sound too convincing because many other DO schools were established around the same time or earlier.

Im not sure why PCOM in particular is so highly rated. Although they do have pretty good match lists and do well on their boards. Ive never been there so i dont know. Location in philly is probably a good reason its so highly rated by SDNer's and by people in the real medical world. Philly used to be the "medical capital" of the country and some still consider it to be. Its a good place to be for residency placement.

Also, i previously posted about lower tier MD versus some of the better DO schools out there. I applied to and interviewed at many lower tier MD schools and many DO schools. Some of these lower tier MD schools were really unimpressive. Some of the DO schools were amazing. I chose a DO over MD because of better facilities(and better funding), what i felt was a better curriculum, equal research opportunities, some well known faculty, well established rotation sites, board scores, match lists, and location in a city with a great amount of residency options. I felt that objectively the DO school was a better choice. My advice: apply to both, interview where you get the opportunity, make your own decision, dont listen to pre-meds, dont listen to douchebags, and dont be a gunner.

 

[bigyihoroi]

Im not sure why PCOM in particular is so highly rated. Although they do have pretty good match lists and do well on their boards. Ive never been there so i dont know. Location in philly is probably a good reason its so highly rated by SDNer's and by people in the real medical world. Philly used to be the "medical capital" of the country and some still consider it to be. Its a good place to be for residency placement.

Also, i previously posted about lower tier MD versus some of the better DO schools out there. I applied to and interviewed at many lower tier MD schools and many DO schools. Some of these lower tier MD schools were really unimpressive. Some of the DO schools were amazing. I chose a DO over MD because of better facilities(and better funding), what i felt was a better curriculum, equal research opportunities, some well known faculty, well established rotation sites, board scores, match lists, and location in a city with a great amount of residency options. I felt that objectively the DO school was a better choice. My advice: apply to both, interview where you get the opportunity, make your own decision, dont listen to pre-meds, dont listen to douchebags, and dont be a gunner.

Nice. Your input is great. I like how you compare DO with the low tier MD schools. It makes me understand more about why some DO school can possibly be better than low-tier MD schools because I won't have my interviews until next week. Your response makes a lot of sense to me. And the part --"dont listen to pre-meds, dont listen to douchebags, and dont be a gunner..."--I like that 😀

 

[Bacchus]

.

 

[Bacchus]

It seems like SDN ppl highly rated PCOM here and possibly better than some low-tier MD school. I wonder why. I think I read someone said something about the fact that it's because PCOM has been established for over 100 years and has a long history in education. But this doesn't sound too convincing because many other DO schools were established around the same time or earlier.

PCOM established in 1899
Des Moines established in 1898
Midwestern U established in 1900
KCOM established in 1892

So I really wanna know why ppl here on SDN rated PCOM so high.🙄

All of these schools have good reputations. You'll see them on here as PCOM, Midwestern (or CCOM for the Chicago campus), KCOM, and DMU.

 

[Decicco]

All of these schools have good reputations. You'll see them on here as PCOM, Midwestern (or CCOM for the Chicago campus), KCOM, and DMU.

I've lived in Des Moines for 21 years and can say that DMU has a mixed reputation, at best.

I think that everyone needs to remember that when the OP said 'lower tier MD schools,' he/she was refering to Puerto Rican schools. There are no low tier MD school in the 50 states.

U.S allopathic graduates (including puerto rican medical graduates) have a match rate at 94.2%, while graduates of osteopathic medical schools have a 71.6% match rate.

QFT--an important satistic.

That's still an incredibly high pass rate for osteopathic physicians. DO-students aren't trained specifically for the USMLEs but rather the COMLEX.

Any DO student will tell you that they "learn all the same stuff as MDs, plus OMM." I'm not sure how much I believe this, considering that MD students study all the time, and OMM takes hundreds of hours (where does that time come from?).

But, the statistic above has nothing to do with how they are trained, simply that MDs are more likely to match than DOs. Medical and osteopathic school is not about "teaching to the test."

EDIT: Bacchus has since removed the above quote.

 

[RySerr21]

There is a difference between choosing a path of resistance if you believe in that path. The difference between MD and DO is minimal at best, it's not a matter of choosing a more difficult path because of moral principles, etc.




I really do not understand this comment? You are assuming that everyone is fully knowledgeable and makes a decision they do not regret later. Obviously this is not the case.

Your first point has been made at least 3 times. No need to comment further.

Regarding my other comment......its very obvious you didn't understand the comment becuase thats not what I assumed at all. I simply stated that there are many reasons why people make the informed decision to go DO over MD. I'm prettty sure that comment was in response to someone who made it seem like no one ever chooses DO over MD. THat is most certainly not the case. I never said that everyone is happy with their choice of med school nor did I say that no one has ever had any regrets. In fact, on other threads I have talked about my encounter with a resident who chose to go to NYCOM over an MD school. She was very unhappy with certain aspects of her education and didn't care for OMM as much as she thought she would. She expressed very clearly that if she could do it over again she would have went MD. She also made it clear her problem was more with the school than the profession.