Premed Interested In More Info about DO School

[Awkotaku]

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Hello,

Year 2 undergrad here at T30 school. I current have a cGPA of 3.94 and sGPA of 4.00. I worked in 3 research labs in high school for 2-3 month time periods (One at UConn, one at WashU, one at Stanford Medical School), and I am going to join a neuroscience lab at my undergrad school. I write for a SexInfo website, and volunteer for an elementary school STEM teaching program.

I have not taken the MCAT yet but I have done fairly well in the chemistry, math, and physics courses I have taken. I am heavily considering DO school for my graduate school plans, however I was wondering if I could get more information about the application process and DO school in general:

1) Am I on the right track? What am I doing right and what’s I am doing wrong for getting into DO school?

2) I am planning on studying for the MCAT when I am a junior, and to take the MCAT in the middle of my senior year. Is this a good plan or should I take it earlier? Later?

Thank you so much!

 

[Osminog]

Hello,

Year 2 undergrad here at T30 school. I current have a cGPA of 3.94 and sGPA of 4.00. I worked in 3 research labs in high school for 2-3 month time periods (One at UConn, one at WashU, one at Stanford Medical School), and I am going to join a neuroscience lab at my undergrad school. I write for a SexInfo website, and volunteer for an elementary school STEM teaching program.

I have not taken the MCAT yet but I have done fairly well in the chemistry, math, and physics courses I have taken. I am heavily considering DO school for my graduate school plans, however I was wondering if I could get more information about the application process and DO school in general:

1) Am I on the right track? What am I doing right and what’s I am doing wrong for getting into DO school?

2) I am planning on studying for the MCAT when I am a junior, and to take the MCAT in the middle of my senior year. Is this a good plan or should I take it earlier? Later?

Thank you so much!

Maintain your current GPA, do well on the MCAT, and apply to MD programs. Unless your GPA drops substantially or you bomb the MCAT, don't even think about the DO track. If you were to decide to enter a moderately competitive specialty (e.g., general surgery, radiology, anesthesiology, cardiology, etc.), then a DO would close a lot of doors for you. As it stands, getting a DO puts serious constraints on your academic and professional opportunities.

Take your MCAT in the spring of your junior year (ideally no later than mid-May). If you take it in the middle of your senior year, you'll have to take a gap year.

Also, if that profile picture is you, then you should remove it for the sake of anonymity.

 

[Awkotaku]

Hi, thank you for your reply! I took off my picture, I didn’t even realize it was there, thanks for letting me know.

I was thinking about DO because I was told a lot of DOs specialize in family medicine (Pediatrics, psychiatry, OB/GYN), which are the specialties I am considering. I am still thinking about both MD and DO programs though but I have really bad self-esteem issues and don’t think I can make it into really good programs.

I want to take a gap year after undergrad and take the MCAT when I am a senior (also because I won’t take biochemistry until the end of my junior year).

Thank you for your post!!

 

[Osminog]

Hi, thank you for your reply! I took off my picture, I didn’t even realize it was there, thanks for letting me know.

I was thinking about DO because I was told a lot of DOs specialize in family medicine (Pediatrics, psychiatry, OB/GYN), which are the specialties I am considering. I am still thinking about both MD and DO programs though but I have really bad self-esteem issues and don’t think I can make it into really good programs.

I want to take a gap year after undergrad and take the MCAT when I am a senior (also because I won’t take biochemistry until the end of my junior year).

Thank you for your post!!

MDs have an advantage over DOs when it comes to matching at top primary care residencies, and there's no guarantee that you'll still want to do primary care after doing rotations during the 3rd and 4th years of medical school. It's best to leave your options open and aim for MD. You have absolutely no reason to think about DO schools right now.

If you're planning on taking a gap year (which is a perfectly fine thing to do), then you can absolutely take the MCAT during your senior year.

One more comment: Your impressive high school research experiences were relevant for college admissions, but they will play no role in med school admissions. Med schools only care about your experiences in college and beyond.

 

[eberge3]

If you are really passionate about the DO philosophy then you should pursue what you are passionate about. If you believe in Osteopathic Manipulation and OMT skills that you would learn in a DO school could be useful in your practice as a primary care physician then go to a DO school. However many MD students also go into Family med and prolly have a better chance to grab the best residencies within that field.

 

[Osminog]

If you are really passionate about the DO philosophy then you should pursue what you are passionate about. If you believe in Osteopathic Manipulation and OMT skills that you would learn in a DO school could be useful in your practice as a primary care physician then go to a DO school. However many MD students also go into Family med and prolly have a better chance to grab the best residencies within that field.

If you're really passionate about the "DO philosophy," then get an MD and then do an NMM/OMM residency/fellowship. There is virtually no reason to ever choose DO over US MD.

 

[Awkotaku]

If you're really passionate about the "DO philosophy," then get an MD and then do an NMM/OMM residency/fellowship. There is virtually no reason to ever choose DO over US MD.

I think I am mainly thinking about DO schools (While not ruling out MD schools) is just to have a solid backup plan in case something bad happens, like a decrease in GPA, or doing not as well as I would hope on the MCAT. I will still apply to both MD and DO programs.

 

[sab3156]

You better be going MD with your stats. Don't even think about applying DO unless you bomb the MCAT.

If you do well in the MCAT, you're going to a top MD school.

 

[Awkotaku]

You better be going MD with your stats. Don't even think about applying DO unless you bomb the MCAT.

If you do well in the MCAT, you're going to a top MD school.

Thanks for the reassurance!
Have you taken the MCAT yet? What are your study tips?
I am planning on studying the summer after my junior year because that's when I'll be done with all my prerequisite courses (Chemistry, biology, physics, ochem, biochem, psych, soc).

 

[sab3156]

Thanks for the reassurance!
Have you taken the MCAT yet? What are your study tips?
I am planning on studying the summer after my junior year because that's when I'll be done with all my prerequisite courses (Chemistry, biology, physics, ochem, biochem, psych, soc).

I used Berkeley Review and did well (98 percentile I think?) despite not being able to finish it all due to time constraints. It is a very good resource.

 

[Awkotaku]

I used Berkeley Review and did well (98 percentile I think?) despite not being able to finish it all due to time constraints. It is a very good resource.

Oh my god 98 percentile that's amazing!
How long did you study for? Was Berkeley Review the only resource you used?

 

[sab3156]

Oh my god 98 percentile that's amazing!
How long did you study for? Was Berkeley Review the only resource you used?

Yep, only resource. I was only able to study for like 1 month and 3 weeks, but I recommend that you take around 2.5 months, or 3 months (if needed).

Actually I lied... it wasn't my ONLY resource (I used the examkrackers verbal stuff).

 

[Stagg737]

MDs have an advantage over DOs when it comes to matching at top primary care residencies, and there's no guarantee that you'll still want to do primary care after doing rotations during the 3rd and 4th years of medical school. It's best to leave your options open and aim for MD. You have absolutely no reason to think about DO schools right now.

If you're planning on taking a gap year (which is a perfectly fine thing to do), then you can absolutely take the MCAT during your senior year.

One more comment: Your impressive high school research experiences were relevant for college admissions, but they will play no role in med school admissions. Med schools only care about your experiences in college and beyond.

Agree with most of this, the only caveat I'd add is that if OP got their name on a publication in hs, it should absolutely be included on residency applications. Publications last for life. Additionally, some research and volunteer experiences from UG may actually count for something on residency apps. I included my UG research (no publications, 1 presentation), a significant volunteering experience from UG, and one of my jobs from UG on my residency application and one of those was brought up during at least half of my interviews. The whole "once you get into med school, nothing you did in UG matters" statement that is often parroted here isn't completely true.

I think I am mainly thinking about DO schools (While not ruling out MD schools) is just to have a solid backup plan in case something bad happens, like a decrease in GPA, or doing not as well as I would hope on the MCAT. I will still apply to both MD and DO programs.

If you want to apply DO as a back-up, that's fine. Frankly, with your stats and a likely solid MCAT score you shouldn't even need to do that. Even the "low tier" MD schools will open more doors for you than almost any DO school will. When the time comes invest in the MSAR and make sure you apply to a few back-up MDs and you'll be fine. This is coming from a DO who chose DO over MD.

 

[Awkotaku]

Yep, only resource. I was only able to study for like 1 month and 3 weeks, but I recommend that you take around 2.5 months, or 3 months (if needed).

Actually I lied... it wasn't my ONLY resource (I used the examkrackers verbal stuff).

Thanks! Right now, I am thinking about studying the summer after my junior year up until the winter/spring of my senior year.
I am thinking about using the 7 Kaplan prep books! The Berkeley Review seemed to help you a lot so I will try to incorporate that into my study plan as well! Thanks for the tips!

 

[Awkotaku]

Agree with most of this, the only caveat I'd add is that if OP got their name on a publication in hs, it should absolutely be included on residency applications. Publications last for life. Additionally, some research and volunteer experiences from UG may actually count for something on residency apps. I included my UG research (no publications, 1 presentation), a significant volunteering experience from UG, and one of my jobs from UG on my residency application and one of those was brought up during at least half of my interviews. The whole "once you get into med school, nothing you did in UG matters" statement that is often parroted here isn't completely true.



If you want to apply DO as a back-up, that's fine. Frankly, with your stats and a likely solid MCAT score you shouldn't even need to do that. Even the "low tier" MD schools will open more doors for you than almost any DO school will. When the time comes invest in the MSAR and make sure you apply to a few back-up MDs and you'll be fine. This is coming from a DO who chose DO over MD.

Hi, thanks for your advice! I will definitely keep that in mind.
May I ask if you would mind sharing your stats when you applied for medical school?
Also, how is DO school? What are you thinking about specializing in? What are the average salaries/job satisfactions of the people who have graduated from your DO school?

Thank you!

 

[sab3156]

Thanks! Right now, I am thinking about studying the summer after my junior year up until the winter/spring of my senior year.
I am thinking about using the 7 Kaplan prep books! The Berkeley Review seemed to help you a lot so I will try to incorporate that into my study plan as well! Thanks for the tips!

You won't have enough time to make use of the Berkeley Review books if you do that. The power of Berkeley lies in their shortcut methods and the ridiculously good practice passages.

 

[Awkotaku]

You won't have enough time to make use of the Berkeley Review books if you do that. The power of Berkeley lies in their shortcut methods and the ridiculously good practice passages.

Oh ok... then should I use Berkeley Review instead of Kaplan? What did your peers use to study for the MCAT?

 

[sky778]

Oh ok... then should I use Berkeley Review instead of Kaplan? What did your peers use to study for the MCAT?

Go online and check out what others said about each resource for Mcat prep. I used Princeton review and I think it’s amazing.

 

[sab3156]

Oh ok... then should I use Berkeley Review instead of Kaplan? What did your peers use to study for the MCAT?

My friend couldn't do very well with Kaplan, and for his third attempt used Berkeley and got similar to me. There simply isn't any replacement for practice passages, and Berkeley is the best source for that.

 

[Stagg737]

Hi, thanks for your advice! I will definitely keep that in mind.
May I ask if you would mind sharing your stats when you applied for medical school?
Also, how is DO school? What are you thinking about specializing in? What are the average salaries/job satisfactions of the people who have graduated from your DO school?

Thank you!

cGPA ~3.2
sGPA ~3.15
Master's GPA ~3.8
Took MCAT 3 times (first one expired before final app cycle): 29, 28, 29, composite was 34
Very strong ECs (varsity athlete, 1,000+ volunteer hours, clinical job, etc)
Applied in 3 cycles (long story, first cycle I was misinformed about my odds/applied stupidly, medical withdrawal during 2nd cycle, successful 3rd cycle)

DO school is basically the same as MD school for first two years, but we also take OMM. Some people hate it, I enjoyed my weekly massage in lab though, lol. Clinical years vary significantly from school to school and is where some schools fall short of MD education. Most MD schools do their rotations at their school's affiliated academic hospital. Only a few DO schools have academic hospitals associated with them and we do clinical rotations at random hospitals. There are certainly pluses and minuses to each (have talked to many MD students who have said they wish they got a greater variety of experiences), but the biggest advantage of having an academic home is access to department chairs and resources available within various fields (my psych advising was basically non-existent from my school).

I matched into psychiatry, so I will be starting residency next year. Salary and job satisfaction is completely dependent on field. It doesn't matter what school you come from, if you're an ortho surgeon you're going to make a ton more than an FM doc as a rule of thumb. Job satisfaction also varies based on field, DO vs. MD doesn't really matter for either of these points. If you're interested in that info, look at the Medscape physician salary surveys that come out each year. They're by no means comprehensive, but are a good place to start gathering that kind of info.