Ponce or DO?

[Medic741]

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accteped to a DO program that I love, want to do EM, just got II to Ponce, but tight on cash... would an LCME MD from Ponce be a leg up professionally? Any thoughts welcome! Trying to figure out if I should go. Not committed to either MD or DO, just want to be a doc and have a strong post-grad career

 

[Lawpy]

If you get accepted to Ponce, you should go there. LCME accreditation makes them effectively US MD schools which are better than US DO schools. I think it's worth attending the Ponce interview.

Hopefully you are fluent in Spanish! That is key.

 

[efle]

Which DO

 

[Goro]

Habla usted Espanol, mi hijo?

accteped to a DO program that I love, want to do EM, just got II to Ponce, but tight on cash... would an LCME MD from Ponce be a leg up professionally? Any thoughts welcome! Trying to figure out if I should go. Not committed to either MD or DO, just want to be a doc and have a strong post-grad career

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

I'm going to offer a different answer than seems to be the theme here. Unless you find the prospect of living in Puerto Rico for four years exciting (which you might), I would strongly consider the DO program. My reasoning is as follows:

1. You're suggesting that Ponce is going to cost you a lot more money than the DO school. Unless you're using the military scholarship program or have some other way of avoiding student loans, you should take every opportunity possible to minimize your debt burden. It will effectively reduce your take-home pay significantly for at least a decade after you're done with residency and/or fellowship.

2. Emergency medicine is of moderate competitiveness, and assuming you come in with good medical school grades and board scores, I don't think going to Ponce versus a reputable DO program will dramatically impact your chances of matching into emergency medicine either way.

3. If you're not fluent in Spanish, I would imagine the clinical rotations may be more difficult, as many of your patients are going to be exclusively Spanish-speaking. Again, you may be bilingual, or you may view this is as a great opportunity to learn Spanish.

Finally, the caveats to the above advice would be:

1. If the DO school is of questionable merit, is new, or is on or has recently been on probation...then my advice would lean more towards Ponce.

2. If you love the idea of going to Puerto Rico for the adventure, then have at it.

3. If you envision yourself being a big-wig researcher or academic admin in the field of emergency medicine, then you may want to choose the MD program.

But in general, if the DO program is significantly (say 20% or greater) cheaper and reputable AND your main goal (of which your fairly certain) is to be a community ER doc...then I wouldn't let the mere fact that the other school is a DO program push you too much in favor of Ponce.

 

[Lawpy]

Puerto Rico is part of the US and the LCME accredits its. It is an accredited US allopathic medical school

Thanks for the clarification!

I'm going to offer a different answer than seems to be the theme here. Unless you find the prospect of living in Puerto Rico for four years exciting (which you might), I would strongly consider the DO program. My reasoning is as follows:

1. You're suggesting that Ponce is going to cost you a lot more money than the DO school. Unless you're using the military scholarship program or have some other way of avoiding student loans, you should take every opportunity possible to minimize your debt burden. It will effectively reduce your take-home pay significantly for at least a decade after you're done with residency and/or fellowship.

2. Emergency medicine is of moderate competitiveness, and assuming you come in with good medical school grades and board scores, I don't think going to Ponce versus a reputable DO program will dramatically impact your chances of matching into emergency medicine either way.

3. If you're not fluent in Spanish, I would imagine the clinical rotations may be more difficult, as many of your patients are going to be exclusively Spanish-speaking. Again, you may be bilingual, or you may view this is as a great opportunity to learn Spanish.

Finally, the caveats to the above advice would be:

1. If the DO school is of questionable merit, is new, or is on or has recently been on probation...then my advice would lean more towards Ponce.

2. If you love the idea of going to Puerto Rico for the adventure, then have at it.

3. If you envision yourself being a big-wig researcher or academic admin in the field of emergency medicine, then you may want to choose the MD program.

But in general, if the DO program is significantly (say 20% or greater) cheaper and reputable AND your main goal (of which your fairly certain) is to be a community ER doc...then I wouldn't let the mere fact that the other school is a DO program push you too much in favor of Ponce.

I'm assuming OP knows Spanish and can adapt to the culture. Otherwise, there really isn't a reason for Ponce to interview OP since OP doesn't fit with the school.

Beyond that and assuming OP gets accepted to Ponce, he should attend there. While your reasons are apt, there are structural limitations with the DO pathway that must be taken into account.

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

Sure, but how much $$ is that worth? The OP seems to suggest that there is a big price differential. I'm just saying it's easy to ignore the cost when you're tacking everything on to student loans.

That said, I didn't attend a DO program, so I don't know the "cost" of how difficult it is to get into ER residency.

All I do know is that I've encountered plenty of DO ER physicians professionally (even at big trauma centers, where they presumably did EM residencies), so it certainly doesn't seem to preclude one from the field.

But fair enough...the road may be more difficult to be sure.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[OnlyOneZlatan]

I can tell you that after recently matching EM from a DO school and discussing this process with plenty of other DOs that there is a huge bias still. There are approx 15 programs out there that will not even consider a DO, while there are others that will consider you only if you have a very strong application AND rotated at their program. That said, if you have no preference regarding location, there are TONS of amazing EM programs across the country that will gladly accept a DO with reasonable statistics (near national averages for the specialty), and from what it sounds like, you really only want to get into the best possible program that you can and a lot of the top EM programs who will match a DO so long as you are in the top percentiles. Just go take a look at the recent match lists of DO schools and you will find that there are a lot of very strong matches in EM coming from DO schools.

Being an MD you will likely avoid a lot of biases that we had to deal with and match with weaker applications. I don't know the intricacies about Ponce vs other MDs, but I met some amazing graduates of Ponce and some of the country's best EM programs.

 

[Peach Newport]

People who are saying "Ponce is LCME accredited!" Forget one very important thing: bias and discrimination are not based on facts, no matter how much we rationalize otherwise. People on these forums give all sorts of "objective" reasons why PDs discriminate against DOs and IMGs with the same board scores and accomplishments. This is all 100% bullsh*t. It's like saying "well, I'm sure there are some black people that are smart, but I'm just not comfortable with their higher rates of crime." This is bull**** used to justify inherent prejudices, and deep down we all know it.

People say "PDs discriminate against DOs because of poor rotations and lax COCA standards!" The problem with this line of thinking is that they still discriminate against DOs from the many schools with objectively excellent rotations, and educational standards that exceed some USMD schools. Do you really think a PD at the university of Michigan isn't aware of MSUCOM's excellent reputation? They know damn well how good of a school it is. So why doesn't University of Michigan take DOs from MSU with great board scores for its more competitive programs? Simple. The letters "DO."

The same applies to Ponce. Ponce may be LCME accredited, but lots of PDs still consider it a Caribbean school. There's a reason why Ponce and AAMC feel the need to constantly remind everyone that Ponce is LCME accredited. They have to "remind" PDs that they are USMDs. In the words of Tywin Lannister, "A true king does not need to say 'I am the king!'"

All DO schools could be LCME accredited, meet their standards, and have the same admission stats. They could even keep OMM. But until they offered an degree with the letters MD, they'd be discriminated against.

Ponce could have the same entry stats as USMDs (it doesn't) and offer the best education in the world. But until it moves to the US mainland, they'll always be IMGs to SOME PDs.

In GENERAL, you have a slightly better match outcome at Ponce than you would from a DO school. You will have nowhere near the outcome of the worst-reputed USMD.

Do not go to Ponce thinking you'll be considered a USMD come match time. You won't be.

 

[Lawpy]

All DO schools could be LCME accredited, meet their standards, and have the same admission stats. They could even keep OMM. But until they offered an degree with the letters MD, they'd be discriminated against.

They wouldn't be DO schools if they became LCME accredited. Many DO schools would fail to meet the LCME standards and be closed, while the top DO schools would become MD schools.

 

[Peach Newport]

They wouldn't be DO schools if they became LCME accredited. Many DO schools would fail to meet the LCME standards and be closed, while the top DO schools would become MD schools.

That's true, but not really my point.

 

[Lawpy]

That's true, but not really my point.

But suppose DO schools did become accredited and the top ones became new MD schools. Would there really be an anti-DO bias towards graduates from the former DO schools? Maybe for 1-3 years i think but in the long term (>5+ years), the bias would disappear because of no DO schools existing.

 

[Peach Newport]

But suppose DO schools did become accredited and the top ones became new MD schools. Would there really be an anti-DO bias towards graduates from the former DO schools? Maybe for 1-3 years i think but in the long term (>5+ years), the bias would disappear because of no DO schools existing.

My point is that the bias would quickly disappear if they offered the MD degree. But not (exactly) because of the LCME accreditation, but because of the letters MD.

There are around 5-10 or so DO schools that (effectively) meet LCME requirements now. You mention them, these are the ones that would "become MD." But if they already meet the requirements, and PDs know exactly how good they are... why continue to discriminate against them now?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

My point is that the bias would quickly disappear if they offered the MD degree. But not (exactly) because of the LCME accreditation, but because of the letters MD.

There are around 5-10 or so DO schools that (effectively) meet LCME requirements now. You mention them, these are the ones that would "become MD." But if they already meet the requirements, and PDs know exactly how good they are... why continue to discriminate against them now?

Because the less reputable schools exist and it is easier to just throw them all out than to sort through them to find the good ones. Also, since the less reputable schools do exist, the DO reputation is still lower than it would be without those schools.

 

[Peach Newport]

Because the less reputable schools exist and it is easier to just throw them all out than to sort through them to find the good ones. Also, since the less reputable schools do exist, the DO reputation is still lower than it would be without those schools.

This could be true for PDs that aren't aware of the good DO schools.

But I'll refer to my UMich example again.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

This could be true for PDs that aren't aware of the good DO schools.

But I'll refer to my UMich example again.

They still have to look at the apps to see what schools they came from. If they just filter out DOs, they don't have to bother.

 

[Chelsea FC]

Ponce hands down!

 

[Medic741]

Hey everyone. Thank you so much for the feedback. Not going to lie, this is a tough decision. Accepted MUCOM, and fluent in spanish -- lived in Spain 7 mo and Patagonia ~9 mo.

Thinking Ponce would be good credibility/training for getting into outreach medicine (MSF) post-grad. Is this accurate or not a factor?

 

[IlDestriero]

I've been all over the Caribbean and to PR many times, though I haven't been back in years now. Keep in mind that PR is a poor island. Poverty and crime is a real consideration if you're going to be living there for years. They don't even do a good job of putting a glossy veneer over it for the tourists.


--
Il Destriero

 

[gyngyn]

Ponce may be LCME accredited, but lots of PDs still consider it a Caribbean school.

I know many PD's in many specialties. Not one of them considers Ponce a Caribbean school.

 

[Peach Newport]

I know many PD's in many specialties. Not one of them considers Ponce a Caribbean school.

Yeah but most PDs are also reasonable people who prefer to rank based on merit.

 

[gyngyn]

Yeah but most PDs are also reasonable people who prefer to rank based on merit.

Exactly.

 

[Goro]

Exactly how many PDs have you talked to who would turn their noses down at a Ponce graduate.

People who are saying "Ponce is LCME accredited!" Forget one very important thing: bias and discrimination are not based on facts, no matter how much we rationalize otherwise. People on these forums give all sorts of "objective" reasons why PDs discriminate against DOs and IMGs with the same board scores and accomplishments. This is all 100% bullsh*t. It's like saying "well, I'm sure there are some black people that are smart, but I'm just not comfortable with their higher rates of crime." This is bull**** used to justify inherent prejudices, and deep down we all know it.

People say "PDs discriminate against DOs because of poor rotations and lax COCA standards!" The problem with this line of thinking is that they still discriminate against DOs from the many schools with objectively excellent rotations, and educational standards that exceed some USMD schools. Do you really think a PD at the university of Michigan isn't aware of MSUCOM's excellent reputation? They know damn well how good of a school it is. So why doesn't University of Michigan take DOs from MSU with great board scores for its more competitive programs? Simple. The letters "DO."

The same applies to Ponce. Ponce may be LCME accredited, but lots of PDs still consider it a Caribbean school. There's a reason why Ponce and AAMC feel the need to constantly remind everyone that Ponce is LCME accredited. They have to "remind" PDs that they are USMDs. In the words of Tywin Lannister, "A true king does not need to say 'I am the king!'"

All DO schools could be LCME accredited, meet their standards, and have the same admission stats. They could even keep OMM. But until they offered an degree with the letters MD, they'd be discriminated against.

Ponce could have the same entry stats as USMDs (it doesn't) and offer the best education in the world. But until it moves to the US mainland, they'll always be IMGs to SOME PDs.

In GENERAL, you have a slightly better match outcome at Ponce than you would from a DO school. You will have nowhere near the outcome of the worst-reputed USMD.

Do not go to Ponce thinking you'll be considered a USMD come match time. You won't be.

 

[OnlyOneZlatan]

People who are saying "Ponce is LCME accredited!" Forget one very important thing: bias and discrimination are not based on facts, no matter how much we rationalize otherwise. People on these forums give all sorts of "objective" reasons why PDs discriminate against DOs and IMGs with the same board scores and accomplishments. This is all 100% bullsh*t. It's like saying "well, I'm sure there are some black people that are smart, but I'm just not comfortable with their higher rates of crime." This is bull**** used to justify inherent prejudices, and deep down we all know it.

People say "PDs discriminate against DOs because of poor rotations and lax COCA standards!" The problem with this line of thinking is that they still discriminate against DOs from the many schools with objectively excellent rotations, and educational standards that exceed some USMD schools. Do you really think a PD at the university of Michigan isn't aware of MSUCOM's excellent reputation? They know damn well how good of a school it is. So why doesn't University of Michigan take DOs from MSU with great board scores for its more competitive programs? Simple. The letters "DO."

The same applies to Ponce. Ponce may be LCME accredited, but lots of PDs still consider it a Caribbean school. There's a reason why Ponce and AAMC feel the need to constantly remind everyone that Ponce is LCME accredited. They have to "remind" PDs that they are USMDs. In the words of Tywin Lannister, "A true king does not need to say 'I am the king!'"

All DO schools could be LCME accredited, meet their standards, and have the same admission stats. They could even keep OMM. But until they offered an degree with the letters MD, they'd be discriminated against.

Ponce could have the same entry stats as USMDs (it doesn't) and offer the best education in the world. But until it moves to the US mainland, they'll always be IMGs to SOME PDs.

In GENERAL, you have a slightly better match outcome at Ponce than you would from a DO school. You will have nowhere near the outcome of the worst-reputed USMD.

Do not go to Ponce thinking you'll be considered a USMD come match time. You won't be.

I have to disagree with a lot of this. First, MSU COM does not have a good reputation outside of the silly US News whatever Report. It has a great reputation of matching people into primary care, not because they choose to go into it, but because they are pigeon-holed into it as the school does nothing to push students towards the NRMP match/ACGME programs or even taking the USMLE. Don't have to guess where I am from to know these things. Second, being LCME accredited is massive, so much so that 10 out of 10 programs will take a Ponce graduate over any DO student with the same exact application. So being the 'worst-reputed USMD' is better than being the 'best-reputed DO'. Last, and I think most important, most well-regarded programs and their leadership have just never had a strong DO applicant rotate through or become a resident at their program to properly judge. You have to realize it's a risk that they have to take by taking someone that they aren't very familiar with.

Here are the rough answers straight from the horses mouth, a radiology residency PD which I would guess is somewhere in California or another very competitive area - Radiology Faculty--Answering Questions/"AMA"

 

[Peach Newport]

Exactly how many PDs have you talked to who would turn their noses down at a Ponce graduate.

Here's what I was getting at: the kind of PDs that are generally obsessed with prestige, who will never take a DO or an IMG as a rule... in general, the unreasonable ones, will also look down on Ponce due to its location and entry stats. As in, the ones who generally have prejudice against certain applicants, will also lump in Ponce. With some people, LCME accreditation won't save you.

This was told to me by 2 of my friends from college who went to Ponce. They both told me that they never match quite as well as USMDs for this reason.

Granted I'm getting this all from them. I know maybe one PD who's never talked about this.

 

[JB50]

You are insane if you go to freaking Puerto Rico over DO. Generally speaking the consensus is that MDs have a better clinical rotations. I highly highly highly doubt that is the case in Puerto Rico. DO bias is eroding anyway.

Mind blown people are recommending Puerto Rican MD over US DO. SDN bias is strong.

If a PD has a problem with a DO, I would put a significant amount of money down that they are gonna have a problem with a Puerto Rican MD. Logic guys, use logic

 

[Goro]

As I expected, you were blowing smoke out of your anal sphincter.

Here's what I was getting at: the kind of PDs that are generally obsessed with prestige, who will never take a DO or an IMG as a rule... in general, the unreasonable ones, will also look down on Ponce due to its location and entry stats. As in, the ones who generally have prejudice against certain applicants, will also lump in Ponce. With some people, LCME accreditation won't save you.

This was told to me by 2 of my friends from college who went to Ponce. They both told me that they never match quite as well as USMDs for this reason.

Granted I'm getting this all from them. I know maybe one PD who's never talked about this.

 

[Lawpy]

You are insane if you go to freaking Puerto Rico over DO. Generally speaking the consensus is that MDs have a better clinical rotations. I highly highly highly doubt that is the case in Puerto Rico. DO bias is eroding anyway.

Mind blown people are recommending Puerto Rican MD over US DO. SDN bias is strong.

If a PD has a problem with a DO, I would put a significant amount of money down that they are gonna have a problem with a Puerto Rican MD. Logic guys, use logic

Idk man. I'd rather not deal with COMLEX/DO shelves/required OMM and keep my long-term options open whenever possible. Puerto Rican MD is US MD so works for me even if it's not ideal.

 

[DNC127]

This is one of those situations where I personally would choose DO over MD. I would rather gamble with some DO bias than live in puerto rico.

However, I also have no sense of adventure and my idea of leaving the country is going to Victorias Island to get some fish and chips...

 

[Chelsea FC]

This is one of those situations where I personally would choose DO over MD. I would rather gamble with some DO bias than live in puerto rico.

However, I also have no sense of adventure and my idea of leaving the country is going to Victorias Island to get some fish and chips...

Have you ever been to Puerto Rico? ? If you had you know how ridiculous your comments are. You will get a chance to be a MD while living on a beautiful island with amazing weather and culture

 

[Chelsea FC]

You are insane if you go to freaking Puerto Rico over DO. Generally speaking the consensus is that MDs have a better clinical rotations. I highly highly highly doubt that is the case in Puerto Rico. DO bias is eroding anyway.

Mind blown people are recommending Puerto Rican MD over US DO. SDN bias is strong.

If a PD has a problem with a DO, I would put a significant amount of money down that they are gonna have a problem with a Puerto Rican MD. Logic guys, use logic

You have zero idea about the clinical rotations in puerto rico so you are basically speaking out your A*s. Ponce and UPR in particular train really good doctors and you won't have the DO bias hanging over you

 

[Lawpy]

Have you ever been to Puerto Rico? ? If you had you know how ridiculous your comments are. You will get a chance to be a MD while living on a beautiful island with amazing weather and culture

You have zero idea about the clinical rotations in puerto rico so you are basically speaking out your A*s. Ponce and UPR in particular train really good doctors and you won't have the MD bias hanging over you

I've been all over the Caribbean and to PR many times, though I haven't been back in years now. Keep in mind that PR is a poor island. Poverty and crime is a real consideration if you're going to be living there for years. They don't even do a good job of putting a glossy veneer over it for the tourists.


--
Il Destriero

😕 could you clarify?

 

[Chelsea FC]

😕 could you clarify?

As someone who lived in the Caribbean all their lives and lived in PR for a months I concede that crime is a problem but it is concentrated in certain areas. All you have to be is smart (street smart ). SUNY Downstate also has pockets of high crime and high drug use in surrounding communities around school but people know how to be smart to stay out of trouble sane with Chicago . I just think people exaggerate how the realities are outside of the really bad areas. Don't think that should be something to stop someone going ponce over a DO

 

[JB50]

You have zero idea about the clinical rotations in puerto rico so you are basically speaking out your A*s. Ponce and UPR in particular train really good doctors and you won't have the DO bias hanging over you

You are correct. Thank you for capitalizing my ass though. Still, there is no way I would choose Ponce over a DO acceptance. There is way more upside to a US based program than heading to Puerto Rico for an education.

Have you ever lived in the US?

 

[Chelsea FC]

You are correct. Thank you for capitalizing my ass though. Still, there is no way I would choose Ponce over a DO acceptance.

Have you ever lived in the US?

Yes for years. And that's your personal decision and I respect that at the same time I am willing to say it's a stupid one

 

[JB50]

Yes for years. And that's your personal decision and I respect that at the same time I am willing to say it's a stupid one

Opinion*

I think you're underestimating what it would be like for a US native (read: all their life) to move down to Puerto Rico for med school if they have the opportunity to attend in the US.

 

[gyngyn]

This was told to me by 2 of my friends from college who went to Ponce. They both told me that they never match quite as well as USMDs for this reason.

They are US MD's, with all the rights and privileges of a graduate of an LCME accredited school.

 

[DNC127]

Have you ever been to Puerto Rico? ? If you had you know how ridiculous your comments are. You will get a chance to be a MD while living on a beautiful island with amazing weather and culture

Ehhh. I would also never live in LA, New York, Chicago ect.

I prefer stability. Not down with living somewhere where you have to be "street smart" to make sure you don't end up on the wrong side of things.

 

[Chelsea FC]

Opinion*

I think you're underestimating what it would be like for a US native (read: all their life) to move down to Puerto Rico for med school if they have the opportunity to attend in the US.

I think you are overestimating it. Places outside of the US aren't some mad max dystopia. Puerto Ricans are american citizens hence there is alot if traveling between the island and USA hence the difference is no as large as you imagine, not any greater than leaving a rural area in the west to come to school in the city on the east coat(which no one ever says is a okay reason to choose DO over MD). But OP will do what they think is best.

 

[Chelsea FC]

Ehhh. I would also never live in LA, New York, Chicago ect.

I prefer stability. Not down with living somewhere where you have to be "street smart" to make sure you don't end up on the wrong side of things.

Fair enough street smarts is a uncommon skill that I feel is very beneficial in life and sadly not enough of pre-meds have.

 

[JB50]

Ehhh. I would also never live in LA, New York, Chicago ect.

I prefer stability. Not down with living somewhere where you have to be "street smart" to make sure you don't end up on the wrong side of things.

Stability during med school would be something I would prefer as well. +1.

 

[OnlyOneZlatan]

You have zero idea about the clinical rotations in puerto rico so you are basically speaking out your A*s. Ponce and UPR in particular train really good doctors and you won't have the DO bias hanging over you

I can tell you that after going on a bunch of sub-Is at places with Ponce graduates in their EM programs, these Ponce graduates said they do not have many strong rotations in PR, not to mention EM rotations that could be comparable to allow them to get a SLOE, but they still match at some great programs in the US with less issue than a DO and lower step scores. Completely forgot to mention how much of a pain in my ass it was taking 2 sets of boards to make sure I was 'comparable' to the MD counterparts when in reality, my classmates and I had to really score 10+ points higher than those we matched with in our respective EM programs.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You are insane if you go to freaking Puerto Rico over DO. Generally speaking the consensus is that MDs have a better clinical rotations. I highly highly highly doubt that is the case in Puerto Rico. DO bias is eroding anyway.

Mind blown people are recommending Puerto Rican MD over US DO. SDN bias is strong.

If a PD has a problem with a DO, I would put a significant amount of money down that they are gonna have a problem with a Puerto Rican MD. Logic guys, use logic

Are you serious? First of all, a Puerto Rican MD is a USMD. Period. It is not the Carib, and lumping it in there is a premed mistake.

Second, I admit that I haven't been there in a while, but I loved both times I went to Puerto Rico and would gladly go to school there.

Third, the DO bias is still very real in some specialties. I would never advocate going Carib or foreign MD over DO, but Ponce does not fall into that category.

@Medic741
Go to the interview. Don't be afraid to choose DO over Ponce if you like the program better, but don't close the door just because it's Ponce.

 

[JB50]

Are you serious? First of all, a Puerto Rican MD is a USMD. Period. It is not the Carib, and lumping it in there is a premed mistake.

Second, I admit that I haven't been there in a while, but I loved both times I went to Puerto Rico and would gladly go to school there.

Third, the DO bias is still very real in some specialties. I would never advocate going Carib or foreign MD over DO, but Ponce does not fall into that category.

@Medic741
Go to the interview. Don't be afraid to choose DO over Ponce if you like the program better, but don't close the door just because it's Ponce.

I think we are past that they are USMD's boyo. There is more to it than that. Moving countries for med school isn't wise for most of us.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I think we are past that they are USMD's boyo. There is more to it than that. Moving countries for med school isn't wise for most of us.

You realize Puerto Rico is part of the US, right? I hope I'm misreading this post.

 

[JB50]

You realize Puerto Rico is part of the US, right? I hope I'm misreading this post.

You get what I meant lolololol yes I know PR is a US territory ffs.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You get what I meant lolololol yes I know PR is a US territory ffs.

You never know. Moving to an island that is part of the US is not a big deal, especially if you speak the language. I PCSed to Oahu, which is considerably more remote than PR, and it was fine.

 

[JB50]

eh meh nah

 

[OnlyOneZlatan]

This conversation went on a slight tangent because of a medical student or a pre-med that hasn't gone through anything yet. Going back to the OP's question, I would simply say any USMD>DO. When compared to your fellow DO applicants, you will need lower board scores to get interviews in the more competitive fields like EM. If we are talking primary care/psych/PMR/anesthesia? go to a DO school because you will be just fine.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

This conversation went on a slight tangent because of a medical student or a pre-med that hasn't gone through anything yet. Going back to the OP's question, I would simply say any USMD>DO. When compared to your fellow DO applicants, you will need lower board scores to get interviews in the more competitive fields like EM. If we are talking primary care/psych/PMR/anesthesia? go to a DO school because you will be just fine.

Glad you got us off that tangent.