RFU BMS or accept DO?

[MattSmith45]

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Hi all,

I am now geographically limited to Chicago and the surrounding area and am having to choose between attending Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine or attending the 1 year biomedical sciences program at Rosalind Franklin University. Apparently, the biomedical sciences program (RFU BMS) has a 60-70% linkage to Chicago Medical School. In this program you take classes with M1s and then if you get into CMS, you have advanced standing and don't have to take as many courses, which is nice.

I know most people are going to tell me to just go ahead and take the DO acceptance, but what if my interests are in competitive specialities (surgery, derm, ophtho, ENT, etc)? And can I re-apply to DO schools if I turn down an acceptance?

thanks

 

[tiedyeddog]

Hi all,

I am now geographically limited to Chicago and the surrounding area and am having to choose between attending Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine or attending the 1 year biomedical sciences program at Rosalind Franklin University. Apparently, the biomedical sciences program (RFU BMS) has a 60-70% linkage to Chicago Medical School. In this program you take classes with M1s and then if you get into CMS, you have advanced standing and don't have to take as many courses, which is nice.

I know most people are going to tell me to just go ahead and take the DO acceptance, but what if my interests are in competitive specialities (surgery, derm, ophtho, ENT, etc)? And can I re-apply to DO schools if I turn down an acceptance?

thanks

I would really consider taking the DO option here. If you are georgrapgically limited, and you are already accepted to the DO school in chicago, you'll be screwing yourself out of the DO program spot if you have to apply again. They won't accept you a second time. Are you going to be geographically limited to chicago if you apply again?

 

[MattSmith45]

I would really consider taking the DO option here. If you are georgrapgically limited, and you are already accepted to the DO school in chicago, you'll be screwing yourself out of the DO program spot if you have to apply again. They won't accept you a second time. Are you going to be geographically limited to chicago if you apply again?

No, I'm just geographically limited for the time being. If I apply again (this cycle), I will be able to apply out of Chicago. But for the next following year, I have to stay in this area.

But on the topic of taking the DO option, why do you say so considering my interests in competitive fields? Curious to know.

 

[ShabbaRanks]

If the RFU program only has a 60-70% linkage with the medical school, I would take the DO acceptance. A 30-40% chance of not being accepted the following year is to risky in my opinion. What are your stats? Would this program help your chances at other MD medical schools?

 

[tiedyeddog]

But on the topic of taking the DO option, why do you say so considering my interests in competitive fields? Curious to know.

What is your actual GPA/MCAT? We cold give better advice knowing those.

There are DO only programs for Ortho/Neurosurg/ENT etc. I don't know the quality of these programs (Im not a DO) but it is my understanding there are much fewer of these spots compared to the MD spots. If you think you'd be unhappy in anything but something competitive then don't go DO. I must say this, however, that going MD does NOT guarantee you a spot in a competitive field. You could still go MD and fail to match...

 

[packersfans]

Not trying to be rude, but what makes you believe you can go from performing at a level where you are only getting one acceptance in the Chicago area to a competitive specialty? If you are planning on working super hard and performing dramatically better in med school than undergrad, that's great. If you are capable of putting down that level of performance change, DO vs MD wont be your limiting factor in matching to what ever you want.

 

[MattSmith45]

If the RFU program only has a 60-70% linkage with the medical school, I would take the DO acceptance. A 30-40% chance of not being accepted the following year is to risky in my opinion. What are your stats? Would this program help your chances at other MD medical schools?

I'll PM you my stats.

From what I've heard, this program is more geared towards CMS. It does have people going into other MD/DO schools, but it is more geared towards CMS.

 

[MattSmith45]

What is your actual GPA/MCAT? We cold give better advice knowing those.

There are DO only programs for Ortho/Neurosurg/ENT etc. I don't know the quality of these programs (Im not a DO) but it is my understanding there are much fewer of these spots compared to the MD spots. If you think you'd be unhappy in anything but something competitive then don't go DO. I must say this, however, that going MD does NOT guarantee you a spot in a competitive field. You could still go MD and fail to match...

I'll PM you my actual stats. Thank you for your advice and time though.

 

[MattSmith45]

Not trying to be rude, but what makes you believe you can go from performing at a level where you are only getting one acceptance in the Chicago area to a competitive specialty? If you are planning on working super hard and performing dramatically better in med school than undergrad, that's great. If you are capable of putting down that level of performance change, DO vs MD wont be your limiting factor in matching to what ever you want.

Well, I've heard there's not much correlation to how you did in undergrad to what speciality you end up going into. But yeah, I do intend to work harder.

But unfortunately I've heard DO vs MD will be a huge limiting factor

 

[submarinegunner]

3 years later and I’m in the exact same situation as you. I’m curious what you ended up choosing / how it worked out ?

 

[gyngyn]

3 years later and I’m in the exact same situation as you. I’m curious what you ended up choosing / how it worked out ?

OP hasn't been seen since January 2016...