Pod school vs. med school difficulty

[mednoob]

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I know pod school is generally easier to get into, but which one is harder in terms of difficulty? Which one will be more time consuming and leave less free time?

 

[GetnMyFtNtheDor]

I know pod school is generally easier to get into, but which one is harder in terms of difficulty? Which one will be more time consuming and leave less free time?

To me this question comes off as a bit slackerish...you should not pick a field of medicine based on which one you think is going to be the least difficult or least time consuming. Finishing medical school requires hard work and sacrifice. Likewise, finishing podiatry school requires hard work and sacrifice. You should persue medicine because you have the drive and passion for it, instead of looking for an easy road to success. Do yourself a favor and reevaluate your goals and motives. Seriously, if you just want the term "Dr" in front of your name then go to chiropractic and naturopathy school. If you want to make a lot of money, go to law school and start your own business.

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

At DMU the Pods were with us for the basic sciences, we had a couple more classes throughout the first year, maybe 1-2 more. As second years their schedule is much lighter, you can compare the strip chart of classes online at the dmu website, but I think at one point we had 6 and they had 1 or 2classes. The only thing they take with us is pharm. everything else is a watered down system or pod specific class.

 

[MaseratiGT]

I know pod school is generally easier to get into, but which one is harder in terms of difficulty? Which one will be more time consuming and leave less free time?

They are both time consuming and difficult.

 

[MaseratiGT]

At DMU the Pods were with us for the basic sciences, we had a couple more classes throughout the first year, maybe 1-2 more. As second years their schedule is much lighter, you can compare the strip chart of classes online at the dmu website, but I think at one point we had 6 and they had 1 or 2classes. The only thing they take with us is pharm. everything else is a watered down system or pod specific class.

Just because it's a pod specific course, doesn't mean it's easy. 🙄

 

[JEWmongous]

Just because it's a pod specific course, doesn't mean it's easy. 🙄

He's not talking bout pod specific courses (ie biomechanics)...the guy is speaking about the systems classes (renal/phys, GI, etc) that the pod students at DMU take during the 2nd year.

 

[MaseratiGT]

He's not talking bout pod specific courses (ie biomechanics)...the guy is speaking about the systems classes (renal/phys, GI, etc) that the pod students at DMU take during the 2nd year.

http://www.dmu.edu/cpms/pm/curriculum/images/dpm_student_schedule.jpg Pod schedule.

I see that the DO schedule http://www.dmu.edu/com/do/curriculum/images/do_strip_chart.jpg is jam packed with systems the second year. It could be argued that during Jan, Feb, and Mar, the pod students have it a little harder because of LEA?!

Additonally, I'm sure that I misread vegas's post when I read it the first time, so post #5 wasn't intended to start ****. 😀 I've got love for THIV.

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

Just because it's a pod specific course, doesn't mean it's easy. 🙄

Pod specific class are just that, I have not clue what is envolved in them other than they have to do with the foot. As for the system (cardio, GI, etc)classes they take are a little easier in which they do not go into the depth of diseases and management and complication.

 

[Paulywog]

And the winner is.......who cares. WHy do you want to know which one is more time consuming. Pick a career that suits you. Learning about medicine is a lifelong pursuit. Some people learn some subjects better than others...med school might be harder, some POD classes might be tougher...WHy are you asking this? Is one group better than the other because the curriculum was tougher, is the person who applied themselves going to be a better doctor?
You can have as much free time as you want. Just don't study. You can have no free time and study all day. GO into whatever interests you the most and manage your time well. Done!

 

[jonwill]

I really don't think there is a "winner". I think that they are both extremely time consuming and difficult. To the OP, depending on class schedules, breaks, and rotations, you have breathers but for the most part you are gone a lot in pod school. Especially the first few years. Part I of the board exam for pod students is similar to Part I of the USMLE so much of the first two years is the same. After that, the focus for DPM students becomes more lower extremity (and then residency comes and you become very well versed in most aspects of medicine but that's another story).

The bottom line is that while it is easier to get into pod school, it is not any easier to get through.

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

Either way it still sucks 7 years (minimal) of your life out of you. Do dentistry, Pharm, or PA for quick bucks.

 

[MaseratiGT]

Pod specific class are just that, I have not clue what is envolved in them other than they have to do with the foot. As for the system (cardio, GI, etc)classes they take are a little easier in which they do not go into the depth of diseases and management and complication.

Yeah, your schedule looks rough. 🙁

But ya gotta do what ya gotta do, eh?

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

Yeah, your schedule looks rough. 🙁

But ya gotta do what ya gotta do, eh?

Well somebody got to do it, we all cant go to into school expecting to come out as specialist 😉

 

[Creflo]

At DMU the Pods were with us for the basic sciences, we had a couple more classes throughout the first year, maybe 1-2 more. As second years their schedule is much lighter, you can compare the strip chart of classes online at the dmu website, but I think at one point we had 6 and they had 1 or 2classes. The only thing they take with us is pharm. everything else is a watered down system or pod specific class.

At AZPOD, the DO's and POD's take mostly the same classes during the 1st and 2nd year. The DO's have the first summer off, the pods have to go during the summer to take mostly leg related courses such as anatomy, imaging, biomechanics, etc.

 

[cool_vkb]

So when do you guys take lower extremity course in azpod? summer or regular year?

 

[Creflo]

So when do you guys take lower extremity course in azpod? summer or regular year?

summer after the first year