I just graduated from college. I am going to a post bac program before i apply to medical school. My medical school advisor said that in case i do not get good enough grades i should consider applying for a do degree instead of a md degree. I was wondering if anybody knows that if i decide to go to a do degree if it is possible to change to a md degree either during or after i finish d.o medical program so that eventually i will be a md. Would i need to reapply to md degree program. If so can my courses from my do degree be transfered toward my md degree
Reapplying to get an md from a do
- Thread starter BOBBY M
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dude, no need to open 3 duplicate threads...
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Well I'm no expert but I do know that medical schools make transferring quite difficult, and that's between MD programs. I don't think you would be able to transfer from a DO to an MD or vice versa, despite the fact that the first 2 years are probably very similar in terms of curriculum.
I also don't think an MD school would admit you after you had completed a DO program because almost all of the course work would be redundant (you would already be a physician). You could always ask, though, but would you really want to go through medical school twice just for two letters? If it really means that much to you, you're better off spending an additional post-bac year making sure that your application really shines (research & overseas clinical volunteer experience, for example).
I also don't think an MD school would admit you after you had completed a DO program because almost all of the course work would be redundant (you would already be a physician). You could always ask, though, but would you really want to go through medical school twice just for two letters? If it really means that much to you, you're better off spending an additional post-bac year making sure that your application really shines (research & overseas clinical volunteer experience, for example).
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You can't transfer from a DO school to an MD school.
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yes you can... a friend/classmate of mine did it after his 2nd year
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For the grand majority of intents and purposes, transferring from DO to MD is highly unlikely; you'd really have to have an extraordinary reason for doing so other than "I just want an MD."
OP, think about it; if you didn't get into an MD program during the normal application cycle, what makes you think an admissions committee would accept your transfer request?
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I have been reading this same post here and in the other forum you posted. Please do your research regarding being a DO before asking such things.
Did you do your research? I do not know. But judging from your post I would say no. Go to www.osteopathic.org and get your information. This is a very touchy subject with many people here and creates many flame wars.
If you do not want to be a DO, please do not apply and take away a seat from someone who does. If you really want to be an MD and you cannot do it at an American Allopathic Medical School, apply to Off-shore schools or the University of Guadelajara in Mexico.
Did you do your research? I do not know. But judging from your post I would say no. Go to www.osteopathic.org and get your information. This is a very touchy subject with many people here and creates many flame wars.
If you do not want to be a DO, please do not apply and take away a seat from someone who does. If you really want to be an MD and you cannot do it at an American Allopathic Medical School, apply to Off-shore schools or the University of Guadelajara in Mexico.
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It sounds like you don't want to be a DO. Then don't apply to be one. If you're dead set on the letters MD, then go where you can get them. If not the US (and it sounds like that may be out), then Carribean, Ireland, Cuba, Mexico, Israel, etc. But then you'll have problems being a FMG.
Or you can go back to undergrad, take enough classes to bring your GPA up, repeat courses to bring your grades up, and then apply to US MD schools until you get in. Or until you go broke trying.
Or you can go back to undergrad, take enough classes to bring your GPA up, repeat courses to bring your grades up, and then apply to US MD schools until you get in. Or until you go broke trying.
As others have posted, if you do not want a DO degree, do not apply. In addition to saving yourself from a degree you do not want, you'll avoid having to explain the difference between osteopathic physicians and:
- "normal" physicians
- osteopaths
- optometrists
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Don't forget orthopedic surgeons. Many people think osteopathic physicians are bone doctors.
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