Podiatry school curriculum vs. Medical school

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Anybody have any first hand experience on how these curriculums compare to each other? Is Podiatry school just as hard as medical school or would you say it is a step-below in difficulty compared to medical school. I am assuming it can't be as difficult as medical school since the requirements of applicants are a step-below the requirements medical schools look for in their prospective students.

I had aspirations of becoming a doctor and I am taking medical school courses in Drexel's IMS program...but over the course of this semester I've had a change of heart and feel that Podiatry might be more for me. I'm just trying to determine the level of difficulty here. If anybody has any input that would be great!

Thanks

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Is Podiatry school just as hard as medical school or would you say it is a step-below in difficulty compared to medical school. I am assuming it can't be as difficult as medical school since the requirements of applicants are a step-below the requirements medical schools look for in their prospective students.


<---grabs :corny:
 
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=5520428#post5520428
This has been discussed/debated to death, and I don't see any need to do it again. My general take on it is linked above.

...I am assuming it can't be as difficult as medical school since the requirements of applicants are a step-below the requirements medical schools look for in their prospective students. ...
One thing to keep in mind is that while pod avg admission stats are lower than MD programs, MD program attrition rates are <5% while pod schools' are much higher than that. Easier to get into? Yes. Easier to get through? I don't know. I can't imagine it is, esp at the pod schools were you take largely the same curriculum/curve as DO students during first year or two.
 
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thanks for the feedback. I posted the question because I am currently taking medical school courses in a special masters program and after doing so I am thinking about making the switch to podiatry. I'm just trying to gather more information so that I can make a more informed decision on what the next step is for me.

Also, its not my intention to come off like i was bashing podiatry...im just curious.
 
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http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=5520428#post5520428
This has been discussed/debated to death, and I don't see any need to do it again. My general take on it is linked above.


One thing to keep in mind is that while pod avg admission stats are lower than MD programs, MD program attrition rates are <5% while pod schools' are much higher than that. Easier to get into? Yes. Easier to get through? I don't know. I can't imagine it is, esp at the pod schools were you take largely the same curriculum/curve as DO students during first year or two.
If curric. is similar why won't MD schools accept crosssover kids in transfer? Also, why won't the AMA allow DPM's to get MD's? I'm not arguing just wondering if level of toughness is equal, then why the difference in respect still to this day after years of improving?
 
If curric. is similar why won't MD schools accept crosssover kids in transfer? Also, why won't the AMA allow DPM's to get MD's? I'm not arguing just wondering if level of toughness is equal, then why the difference in respect still to this day after years of improving?

i have friends in med and dent programs, and all of us seem to be working our tails off. the first two years are very similar for all three (i assume for optometry too), and the amount of time required to put into those courses is pretty much equal. we are all taking a bunch of credits and the subjects are by no means easy. biochem is biochem etc.
the next two years are different for all three degree programs. different does not mean easier. we spend a lot of time in clinics learning podiatric medicine, just like med students do for their specialties, or dentists do. its all time consuming.

we dont learn the same information when all is said and done, that an MD learns and we dont take the USMLE. we are a focused subspecialty, the level of 'toughness' to get the end goal is largely similar to that of an MD program, its just different. hence the DPM and not MD.
 
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1.) If curric. is similar why won't MD schools accept crosssover kids in transfer? 2.) Also, why won't the AMA allow DPM's to get MD's? 3.) I'm not arguing just wondering if level of toughness is equal, then why the difference in respect still to this day after years of improving?
This topic has been played out. answer to why DPM's don't get MD degree.. becuase they are different! I am in Podiatry school to become a DPM. Why would I want an MD degree when I want to specialize in the lower extremity. I probably would have applied to DO/MD school if I wanted that. The difference in respect comes from the individual doctors themselves. Most of the MD's I met didn't seem like they felt superior. They felt superior in their respective field because they specialized in it. Check out the admission stats on DO/dental/pharmacy and other professions over the last 10 years. They all have significantly increased avg GPA/test scores for the admitted students.
So the answer to your questions in order...1) They are different fields 2.) DPM's are not the same as MD's. why give a degree for something not related to your study. 3.) Level of toughness depends on the student's strengths and weaknesses and also the school's curriculum. Difference in respect is on a personal level. Ask each MD/DO why the lack of respect. They would be ignorant for thinking that.
 
I can only speak of my experience at midwestern university. Here, DPM curric IS Med school curric. We take all of the basic science classes with our D.O. classmates. Now, if you want to debate D.O. vs. MD, good luck. All I can say there is that D.O. students take ALL the same classes as M.D., can take USMLE like M.D., and ON TOP OF THIS, spend all free time doing OMM.

I went to midwestern to get the same challenging education all docs get. I have not been disappointed.
 
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The level of difficulty is the same. In fact, at many of the programs, basic science courses are taken with the MD/DO students. This all culminates in part one of the board exams which are very similar to the USMLE step one. Most pod students use USMLE study material for the NBPME part I. Differences in the first few years include an obvious focus of the lower extremity at some point for pod students. At my school, we did the first year with the DO's and started the second year with them. When systems started, the DO's studied the broader, more indepth aspect of the systems whereas we studied them with a focus on patient populations that we would commonly see (diabetics, vascular disease, etc) although some of the material was the same stuff the DO's saw. The second part of our second year, we completely split off and really began to focus on the lower extremity (lower extremity anotomy course, surgery course, etc).

The last few years differ in that most of our rotations are podiatry based although many programs have other medical rotations. As is the case with MD rotations, some rotations are very demanding while other rotations are more layed back.

In the end, I don't think anyone "in the know" would say that one path was easier than the other. They are both equally difficult. Some aspects are very similar while others are very different.

As far as "respect" is concerned, this generally tends to only be an issue with pre-meds and some med students early on. In the medical community, we get plenty of respect (and refferals).
 
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If curric. is similar why won't MD schools accept crosssover kids in transfer? Also, why won't the AMA allow DPM's to get MD's? I'm not arguing just wondering if level of toughness is equal, then why the difference in respect still to this day after years of improving?

this concept is simple to anyone who understands economics. Thw AMA wants to make it as hard as possible for anyone to become and MD. This is why the MCAT is so hard and class sizes are maintained small. By suppressing the supply of doctors, the demand skyrockets and physicians can be paid more. This is why they are trying to keep DPM scope of practice as limited as possible.

The more DPMs can do, the more orthopedists and other specialists will have to compete. The AMA knows full well how (more) qualified DPMs are to do what they specialize in
 
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this concept is simple to anyone who understands economics. Thw AMA wants to make it as hard as possible for anyone to become and MD. This is why the MCAT is so hard and class sizes are maintained small. By suppressing the supply of doctors, the demand skyrockets and physicians can be paid more. This is why they are trying to keep DPM scope of practice as limited as possible.

The more DPMs can do, the more orthopedists and other specialists will have to compete. The AMA knows full well how (more) qualified DPMs are to do what they specialize in

Way to bring back a 4 year old thread...
 
This thread was put away on my 16th birthday lol.
 
I forgot all about GymMan.

The first 2 years of Pod school was very challenging. We lost a significant percentage of our class. I basically read for 2 years straight only stopping to eat/sleep.

Clinic life is much easier but still challenging. I guess its just easier in that you dont have 5 exams next week. I can really concentrate on one thing. But I do spend a significant amount of time at night reading articles/old notes after feeling incompetent in pimping sessions.

More difficult than MD/DO school? I dunno. It was very challenging though.
 
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