put all my eggs in one basket?

[gatewasani]

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Hi all,

I soon have to decide which SMP's to apply to but some of my friends/family have started to deter me from the idea. I don't care if I become a DO or MD,

Do you think it would be foolish for me to go all out on applying to osteopathic schools this summer and forgo doing an SMP. The reason why I am considering this is because of several...
Pros.
1) SMP is ridiculously expensive ($45,000 tuition and housing)
2) I have no problem going DO if I can get in.
3) I am worried that interviewing for DO will get in the way of studying during SMP and I'll fall behind. (this is actually a big concern of mine, and I'm not sure if it has any validity but SMP's seem like they are very hard so it doesn't seem good)
4) I'm gonna say money again (Making $15,000 vs spending $50,000 with interest is the biggest deterent.
Cons
Of course there is a downside to not doing the smp.
1)basically no chance at MD (but like I said, don't care, I just want to be a doctor)
2)very possible that I don't get in to any DO schools
3) won't get to get a head start on learning all that material before med school

So please tell me what you guys think.

Thanks.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

Hi all,

I soon have to decide which SMP's to apply to but some of my friends/family have started to deter me from the idea. I don't care if I become a DO or MD,

Do you think it would be foolish for me to go all out on applying to osteopathic schools this summer and forgo doing an SMP. The reason why I am considering this is because of several...
Pros.
1) SMP is ridiculously expensive ($45,000 tuition and housing)
2) I have no problem going DO if I can get in.
3) I am worried that interviewing for DO will get in the way of studying during SMP and I'll fall behind. (this is actually a big concern of mine, and I'm not sure if it has any validity but SMP's seem like they are very hard so it doesn't seem good)
4) I'm gonna say money again (Making $15,000 vs spending $50,000 with interest is the biggest deterent.
Cons
Of course there is a downside to not doing the smp.
1)basically no chance at MD (but like I said, don't care, I just want to be a doctor)
2)very possible that I don't get in to any DO schools
3) won't get to get a head start on learning all that material before med school

So please tell me what you guys think.

Thanks.

What are your stats?

 

[deleted248403]

Without knowing your stats, its impossible to say

 

[gatewasani]

I have a 3.3 gpa, 2.86 science. I am planning on re-taking two classes in the summer and if I am successful, my new cgpa would be a 3.46 and my new sgpa would be a 3.15.

Mcat will be taken soon

 

[deleted248403]

Assuming a decent MCAT and you have solid ECs...

You'd have a solid shot for DO without an SMP

You've got a less than good chace at MD without an SMP

Bottom-line I guess would be if you want MD than do an SMP, if you don't then do DO.

In terms of addressing your concern about interviewing and taking classes in an SMP - a lot of them are 1.5yr programs (in which ppl leave early to attend med school) so you could plan on applying in what would be your 0.5yr and subsequent gap or 'glide' year.

That way you have a solid year of classes under your belt before applying, can improve your ECs if needed, and its less of an issue for you interviewing and taking classes.

 

[gatewasani]

I should clarify,

I am planning on doing an SMP AND applying to DO schools at the same time. I would apply for DO schools in the summer and do the SMP starting in the fall so any potential interviews would come while I was in the program.

Also, the program I am looking in to does not have a gap year if you are successful. I would be able to matriculate into Fall 2011 class.