Podiatry Questions

[Breno58]

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I am an undergraduate contemplating podiatric medicine. I have went back and forth between MD and podiatric medicine and both have their pro's and con's. The biggest question I have is, the entrance requirements for podiatry school seem like they are less concerned about the 4.0 GPA and high MCAT score. I have seen people get into podiatry school with a 3.3 GPA and 25 MCAT. However, this wouldnt be competitive more MD school. I was wondering why this is? I have looked at the curriculumn for podiatry school and they take the hard basic sciences just like 1st and 2nd year med school students. Thank you!

Basically, Im asking why MD school is soo hard on entrance requirements when podiatric school students have to take the same science classes, however, podiatric schools are confident the student can complete the classes with a lower GPA and MCAT?

 

[ljafri14]

I am just assuming because not enough students apply to podiatry schools.
The schools need to fill their seats so they are willing to take less than steller transcripts and mcat scores.

 

[javajava]

I am an undergraduate contemplating podiatric medicine. I have went back and forth between MD and podiatric medicine and both have their pro's and con's. The biggest question I have is, the entrance requirements for podiatry school seem like they are less concerned about the 4.0 GPA and high MCAT score. I have seen people get into podiatry school with a 3.3 GPA and 25 MCAT. However, this wouldnt be competitive more MD school. I was wondering why this is? I have looked at the curriculumn for podiatry school and they take the hard basic sciences just like 1st and 2nd year med school students. Thank you!

Basically, Im asking why MD school is soo hard on entrance requirements when podiatric school students have to take the same science classes, however, podiatric schools are confident the student can complete the classes with a lower GPA and MCAT?

DPM is a great profession, but is less known and less popular compared to DO, MD and DDS DMD. Not many people know about it. As well you have some grads complaining that financial loans cant be paid because podiatrists arent paid very well.

 

[NoStress]

As well you have some grads complaining that financial loans cant be paid because podiatrists arent paid very well.

Are you sure about this? According to some "top highest paying job" surveys, podiatry always ends up on one of the top slots.

On a side note, I was shadowing a surgery about three weeks ago and the anesthesiologist in the rooms says, "If I were to go back in time, I would've been a podiatrist. They work like dentists and get paid like surgeons."

Of course, there are multiple factors weighing in on how much a podiatrist actually makes (location, hospital vs. private practice, # of patients, etc.)

 

[javajava]

Are you sure about this? According to some "top highest paying job" surveys, podiatry always ends up on one of the top slots.

On a side note, I was shadowing a surgery about three weeks ago and the anesthesiologist in the rooms says, "If I were to go back in time, I would've been a podiatrist. They work like dentists and get paid like surgeons."

Of course, there are multiple factors weighing in on how much a podiatrist actually makes (location, hospital vs. private practice, # of patients, etc.)

I didnt mean it as a truth, I just meant it as a possible reason because prospective students sometimes cross paths with podiatry bytes, uncensore podiatry and etc which are generally negative podiatry bashing sites where they often complain about podiatry low pay and etc. I was just stating what I read not my personal belief 😎. But personally I dont think Podiatry in general is a 'top HIGHEST paying job'. If you look at the MGMA (I know I know its not the best source to some of you but its something) there are many specialties with higher medians. But youll still be real comfortable 😎.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=817247

Here is some real data though if youd like to know about some podiatric salary, not my bros bro bro sisters dead fathers son in laws cow hearsay hehe

These numbers are from fiscal year 2004 (N = 10,830) NET INCOME:
< 25,000 = 5%
25k-75k = 17%
75k - 100k = 14%
100k - 150k = 25%
150k - 200k = 14%
200k - 250k = 10%
250k - 300k = 6%
>300k = 9%

I believe that this is probably pretty accurate considering the amount of variability in training within the profession. Of the respondents, 21% completed NO FORMAL RESIDENCY TRAINING (the older generation). Even still, only 22% make less than 75K and 64% make over 100K. In the young members study done last year, most podiatrists with a 3 year surgical residency were starting out in the low 100's. So, along those lines, I would expect the above numbers to rise with time as there is now a standardization of residency training as opposed to just a few years ago. Some docs got excellent training and some got next to none.

Okay so there is way too much information on that survey for me to write it but for the first year associate BASE( idont know if this includes bonus/benefits) the numbers wen as such
3% <30000
18% 30k-50k
44% 50k-75k
20% 75-100k
8% 100k-125k
7% >125k

But then there is another graph which states PERSONAL NET INCOME BY YEARS IN PRACTICE

2 year or less 85k
3-5 years 126k
6-8 yrs 141k

Also there are graphs based in type of residency

PSR- 12 = 90k
PSR-24 = 115k
PSR-24+ = 120k
PM&S 24= 90k
PM&S 36= 93K

Since this is always such a popular subject, I thought I'd post some exerts from the Young Member Salary Survey in 2005. I actually spoke with a member of the committee shortly after it was released. He said he thought that it was a fairly accurate survey but it was still probably a little on the low side. The actual document is PDF and can't be posted and I'm not copying/pasting that much! Here are some of the more pertinent questions:

2. How many years have you been in practice?
Years Frequency Percent
1 138 21.3%
2 171 26.4%
3 146 22.6%
4 107 16.5%
5 69 10.7%
6 10 1.5%
7 5 .8%
8 1 .2%
Total 647 99.5%
Missing 3 .5%

12. Which type of position do you currently hold?
Associate 254 39.2%
Independent contractor 53 8.2%
Partner small group (<3) 93 14.4%
Partner large group (>3) 28 4.3%
Solo practitioner 153 23.6%
Multidisciplinary group 43 6.6%
Other 24 3.7%
Total 648 99.7%
Missing 2 .3%

15. How did you find your current position?
Classified 80 12.6%
Word-of-mouth 201 31.7%
Residency program 108 17.0%
Head-hunter 8 1.3%
Other 238 37.5%
Total 635 97.7%
Missing 15 2.3%

18. What is your annual gross income (excluding
benefits)?
Under 30,000 24 3.8%
30,001-50,000 68 10.8%
50,001-75,000 132 21.0%
74,001-100,000 141 22.4%
100,001-125,000 76 12.1%
Over 125,000 189 30.0%
Total 630 96.9%

19. If you are an associate, what type of compensation do you receive?
Salary only 54 14.6%
Salary + bonus 220 59.3%
Income based on collections only 82 22.1%
Income based on billing only 15 4.0%
Total 371 57.1%
Missing 279 42.9%

22. Has there been a change in your income level over
the past year?
Increase 441 71.8%
Decrease 42 6.8%
No change 131 21.3%
Total 614 94.5%
Missing 36 5.5%

It also goes on to show that those with more surgical training tend to make more and that those in multi-specialty groups and large pod groups tend to make more than others as well. #15 shows that we find our jobs the same way that most docs find jobs (ie not classified ads or job postings). I always laugh when people say "I don't see any job postings for podiatrists."

Here is discussion about associate salary http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=11359444

Thats FIVE sources so it can help you get a general idea

 

[NoStress]

Okay, I misunderstood. 😀 I agree with you, it's definitely a comfy place to be, financially speaking, even if it's not at the top of the list. 👍

Quite frankly, I think podiatrists make a decent amount of money for the time they are dedicating to the 'specialty' (which I think is safe to say) in terms of time in pod school and residency. People should definitely look into it if they are truly interested in the field, the money will eventually get to you.

Podiatry has been around for a while, and interest in the field has slowly been increasing if you look at the statistic for average GPA and MCAT scores, etc. MD and DO schools have experienced a seemingly exponential applicant interest if you also look at the shear number of applicants each year. This is probably due to the fact that these programs are more well known and talked about (there are also many more MDs/DOs around.) I didn't know podiatry existed until college.

I think as more people stay in school due to the economic low-time we're experiencing in the U.S., and with continued adjustments by the current 9 podiatry schools and podiatric residency programs (hopefully,) we should continue to see this upward trend towards more competitiveness.

 

[javajava]

Okay, I misunderstood. 😀 I agree with you, it's definitely a comfy place to be, financially speaking, even if it's not at the top of the list. 👍

Quite frankly, I think podiatrists make a decent amount of money for the time they are dedicating to the 'specialty' (which I think is safe to say) in terms of time in pod school and residency. People should definitely look into it if they are truly interested in the field, the money will eventually get to you.

Podiatry has been around for a while, and interest in the field has slowly been increasing if you look at the statistic for average GPA and MCAT scores, etc. MD and DO schools have experienced a seemingly exponential applicant interest if you also look at the shear number of applicants each year. This is probably due to the fact that these programs are more well known and talked about (there are also many more MDs/DOs around.) I didn't know podiatry existed until college.

I think as more people stay in school due to the economic low-time we're experiencing in the U.S., and with continued adjustments by the current 9 podiatry schools and podiatric residency programs (hopefully,) we should continue to see this upward trend towards more competitiveness.

Ya its comfortable.. I just wish the first year base was higher on average as most people dont have a high base.. but there has to be some bonus structure I suppose