questions about ranking of DO schools

[allantois]

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So I pretty much come to the conclusion that there is no chart/statistics summarizing average MCAT/GPA of students accepted to *each individual* DO school. But I still want to ask a few questions mostly out of curiosity(I'm interested in learning more about the DO education/profession).

1) What DO schools are traditionally regarded as one of the top ones? (I am guessing that will be based on where graduates match).

2) Are the 2 DO schools in CA considered extremely competitive (much like MD schools in California)?

3)Are there actually DO schools which do not emphasize primary care but instead encourage students to specialize?

4) Can somebody explain me what's the deal with traditional year that's required of DO graduates in certain states?

5)Is COMPLEX very similar to USMLE (would you study for these two exams separately?) and do students who only want to apply to MD residencies still required to take COMPLEX?

6. (this one is a little off topic but I don't want to create a separate thread) Is it disadvantageous in terms of applying to med school to only be a permanent resident vs. a citizen? I looked up some statistics on this and I found that there are very little permanent residents who apply/get accepted to med school.

 

[keels99]

I can't answer all of your questions, but I'll just let you know that it's COMLEX and not COMPLEX.

 

[AlteredScale]

So I pretty much come to the conclusion that there is no chart/statistics summarizing average MCAT/GPA of students accepted to DO schools. But I still want to ask a few questions mostly out of curiosity(I'm interested in learning more about the DO education/profession).

1) What DO schools are traditionally regarded as one of the top ones? (I am guessing that will be based on where graduates match).

2) Are the 2 DO schools in CA considered extremely competitive (much like MD schools in California)?

3)Are there actually DO schools which do not emphasize primary care but instead encourage students to specialize?

4) Can somebody explain me what's the deal with traditional year that's required of DO graduates in certain states?

5)Is COMPLEX very similar to USMLE (would you study for these two exams separately?) and do students who only want to apply to MD residencies still required to take COMPLEX?

6. (this one is a little off topic but I don't want to create a separate thread) Is it disadvantageous in terms of applying to med school to only be a permanent resident vs. a citizen? I looked up some statistics on this and I found that there are very little permanent residents who apply/get accepted to med school.

From what @Goro has said, there is no formal ranking or tier system but from I remember after seeing Goro post about this numerous times:

1) CCOM, TUCOM- CA
2) Western and TUCOM have higher stats in regards to their matriculants. But from word of mouth, Western is a school that does positive selection (they find the best fit and not push someone out because of stats)
3) Hmm not sure about that one but search "AACOMAS CIB 2014" for a good summary of all the schools and their mission statement.
4) I don't know what your asking here, sorry!
5) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/comlex-vs-usmle.936468/

all students for DO programs take the COMLEX. If they want to go to a ACGME (MD) residency, they must take the USMLE. Not sure about how or if the rules have changes with the merger though.

6) Schools want to make sure that you will not have to leave the US, so most schools enforce the rule that you must be a US citizen. There are a few programs that do accept permanent residents (green card) but that is something to look for in the AACOMAS CIB (please check this out, it is free and VERY useful in answering many of your questions).

Hope this helps!

 

[Beth_W737]

East coast top tier : PCOM, Rowan.

Everyone takes COMLEX, question style very different from USMLE and includes OMM. I recommend doing Combank or Comquest in addition to Uworld.

If you give stats it'd be easier to give suggestions. Good luck

 

[Roxas]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/do-schools-ranking.905929/

 

[Goro]

This depends upon who you listen too. I can ask five DO colleagues "which schools would you send your kids too?" and I'll get six different responses.

My notion is that TUCOM-CA, CCOM, DMU, TCOM, Western, KCUMB and PCOM are at the top. This is based upon a mix of things: match rates, board scores, MCAT scores or GPAs.
side note I: my own doctor is a Western grad and I love the guy!
side note II: Because I interviewed at MUCOM, I saw immediately that they know what they're doing, and I have a very high respect for them.

1) What DO schools are traditionally regarded as one of the top ones? (I am guessing that will be based on where graduates match).

I'd add that the two CA schools are highly competitive because of all the qualified applicants coming out of the UC system. UCLA alone graduates >800 people each year, and this is enough to fill every medical school in the state of CA!
2) Are the 2 DO schools in CA considered extremely competitive (much like MD schools in California)?

Don't know. This is a non-issue. if you want to specialize, you can specialize.
3)Are there actually DO schools which do not emphasize primary care but instead encourage students to specialize?

I think that's an extra year of rotations for people who don't match. I'll have to ask my clinical deans about this.
4) Can somebody explain me what's the deal with traditional year that's required of DO graduates in certain states?

See emagavin's post above. BTW, it's COMLEX, not COMPLEX. USMLE I is completely optional, but if you want to do an ACGME resdiency, USMLE II is highly encouraged, if not actually required.
5)Is COMPLEX very similar to USMLE (would you study for these two exams separately?) and do students who only want to apply to MD residencies still required to take COMPLEX?

I've never heard of this being an issue.
6. (this one is a little off topic but I don't want to create a separate thread) Is it disadvantageous in terms of applying to med school to only be a permanent resident vs. a citizen? I looked up some statistics on this and I found that there are very little permanent residents who apply/get accepted to med school.[/QUOTE]

 

[costales]

5)Is COMPLEX very similar to USMLE (would you study for these two exams separately?) and do students who only want to apply to MD residencies still required to take COMPLEX?.

No, you don't study for them separately - the knowledge base is the same, except for OMM. In fact, if you want to take both exams, the typical strategy is to just study for the USMLE, and then, within a few days after the exam, take the COMLEX after a review of OMM. And yes, every DO student is required to pass the COMLEX (Levels I and II) - it is a requirement for graduation.

 

[allantois]

If you give stats it'd be easier to give suggestions. Good luck

My stats will change in 2 years when I will be applying

See emagavin's post above. BTW, it's COMLEX, not COMPLEX. USMLE I is completely optional, but if you want to do an ACGME resdiency, USMLE II is highly encouraged, if not actually required.
5)Is COMPLEX very similar to USMLE (would you study for these two exams separately?) and do students who only want to apply to MD residencies still required to take COMPLEX?

[/QUOTE]

I always thought that COMPLEX is a funny name for an exam, but now it all makes sense 🙂

 

[deleted407021]

@allenlchs COMLEX = Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination

I rather like the acronym.

 

[DoctorSynthesis]

Gosh another one of these threads. And the general answer to this question is usually older schools or schools by bigger cities are better. So like Dmu Ccom Pcom and Kcumb are old. Western u is by la and tucom ca is by San Fran. So I think that explains why all of those schools goro mentioned as top schools are that way. Other schools usually mentioned is nova by Miami and Nyit by NYC. Newer schools usually aren't as highly regarded lucom for example.

 

[cliquesh]

4) Can somebody explain me what's the deal with traditional year that's required of DO graduates in certain states?

.

Oklahoma, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida require DOs to either 1) graduate from an AOA residency, 2) complete an AOA traditional rotating internship or 3) complete an acgme residency and receive resolution 42 approval.

What is resolution 42?
Resolution 42 is a way to receive approval for an acgme PGY-1 training year as an OGME-1 year, which, therefore, allows you to practice in those four states. There are 4 requirements for Resolution 42, as follows:

◾ Applicants must have AOA membership.
◾ Applicants must complete an application agreeing to the approval process and release of information.
◾ A letter is needed from the ACGME program where the PGY-1 year was completed, including training dates and the completed rotations. The AOA compares the received rotations to a traditional osteopathic rotating internship curriculum.
◾ Applicants must provide proof of an osteopathic educational activity. Applicants can complete this requirement through several different activities—attending an AOA- sponsored conference or conventions.

Nearly everyone who apples for resolution 42 gets it and this may be a non-issue in the future once residency accreditation mergers.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I can't answer all of your questions, but I'll just let you know that it's COMLEX and not COMPLEX.

COMPlex should be the test for WesternU 😛

P.S. Yes, I know the "COM" is not the same as the school's use of COM.

 

[DrEnderW]

I just want to point out (again) the futility of talking about ranking DO programs. This debate exists nowhere but on this sub-forum. In the real world, all DO programs are the lowest tier/unranked compared to all the medical schools in the US. The only notable difference is going to be regionally with name recognition of the school or someone "had a buddy that went there." Going to PCOM vs another DO school means absolutely zero in the greater medical community. The nice thing about established schools is that rotation locations are solidified, there's an alumni base, and the curriculum is set, however.

Choose based on price, location, curriculum setup, and in my opinion, proximity to MD programs and large institutions.

 

[cliquesh]

I just want to point out (again) the futility of talking about ranking DO programs. This debate exists nowhere but on this sub-forum. In the real world, all DO programs are the lowest tier/unranked compared to all the medical schools in the US. The only notable difference is going to be regionally with name recognition of the school or someone "had a buddy that went there." Going to PCOM vs another DO school means absolutely zero in the greater medical community. The nice thing about established schools is that rotation locations are solidified, there's an alumni base, and the curriculum is set, however.

Choose based on price, location, curriculum setup, and in my opinion, proximity to MD programs and large institutions.

While I completely agree with you, some DO schools are significantly better than other DO schools, and the rankings listed here are, in general, a reflection of the quality of various osteopathic schools.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I just want to point out (again) the futility of talking about ranking DO programs. This debate exists nowhere but on this sub-forum. In the real world, all DO programs are the lowest tier/unranked compared to all the medical schools in the US. The only notable difference is going to be regionally with name recognition of the school or someone "had a buddy that went there." Going to PCOM vs another DO school means absolutely zero in the greater medical community. The nice thing about established schools is that rotation locations are solidified, there's an alumni base, and the curriculum is set, however.

Choose based on price, location, curriculum setup, and in my opinion, proximity to MD programs and large institutions.

For the most part, I agree, but I'd say there's a somewhat of a two tier system where you have the public DO schools plus well established privates (Western, PCOM, KCOM, KCUMB, DMU, etc.) and those schools that are newer and those that we don't know how they'll turn out (MUCOM, CUSOM, ACOM, etc.). Well, there's also LUCOM which would be the equivalent to mainland Caribbean non-big 4.