Taking an MBS over a DO acceptance

[madiso30]

I just wanted to get some outside advice on a situation I'm in.

So I've been accepted to PCOM which I love. I've also been waitlisted by Geisinger, which also gives me a guaranteed acceptance to their MBS program. I know that pursuing an MBS is no certainty for getting into Geisinger or any MD program but it obviously helps.

I'm leaning towards sticking with my DO acceptance. In fact, I'm greatly leaning that way. But I wanted to hear from external sources whether or not this is the smart thing to do.

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[mc29012]

PCOM is a great program and a lot safer of a bet than doing a masters then reapplying just so you can have different letters after your name with no guarantee! My advice is to wait it out and hope to get off the waitlist, and if you don't go to PCOM. You would be sacrificing a sure fire thing along with a year of physician salary for a chance at an MD program that is not a guarantee. Risk vs. benefit is way in favor of taking the acceptance

 

[madiso30]

PCOM is a great program and a lot safer of a bet than doing a masters then reapplying just so you can have different letters after your name with no guarantee! My advice is to wait it out and hope to get off the waitlist, and if you don't go to PCOM. You would be sacrificing a sure fire thing along with a year of physician salary for a chance at an MD program that is not a guarantee. Risk vs. benefit is way in favor of taking the acceptance

Awesome. Thanks for the response. That's how I was feeling about it but just needed to make sure I wasn't stuck in my own head.

 

[CJhooper123]

PCOM is great DO school. Take the acceptance and run with it.

 

[Goro]

I just wanted to get some outside advice on a situation I'm in.

So I've been accepted to PCOM which I love. I've also been waitlisted by Geisinger, which also gives me a guaranteed acceptance to their MBS program. I know that pursuing an MBS is no certainty for getting into Geisinger or any MD program but it obviously helps.

I'm leaning towards sticking with my DO acceptance. In fact, I'm greatly leaning that way. But I wanted to hear from external sources whether or not this is the smart thing to do.

Go to PCOM. Fine school.

 

[Osteosaur]

PCOM is one of the better DO schools and in an area with plenty of resources for research and such, lots of hospitals and rotation sites...

MBS is hardly a sure thing.

 

[hallowmann]

Does the MBS at Geisinger (is that what Commonwealth is called now?) have real linkage, like a guaranteed acceptance if above X criteria? If not, then it really depends on what you want long-term. If you think you'll want a competitive surgical subspecialty, it might be worth it to go the MBS route and risk it. If not, then stay on the waitlist and take the PCOM acceptance. If you get into Geisinger even after you start at PCOM, it would be worth leaving PCOM for it even if you have money down already.

 

[MusicDOc124]

1 in the hand is worth two in the bush. Go with PCOM unless you get off the waitlist. Then decide where you want to go based on what you want to do/can se yourself doing, finances/cost of attendance, where you'd be living, and how you jive with the school/admin/current students from the interviews.

 

[Deecee2DO]

I just wanted to get some outside advice on a situation I'm in.

So I've been accepted to PCOM which I love. I've also been waitlisted by Geisinger, which also gives me a guaranteed acceptance to their MBS program. I know that pursuing an MBS is no certainty for getting into Geisinger or any MD program but it obviously helps.

I'm leaning towards sticking with my DO acceptance. In fact, I'm greatly leaning that way. But I wanted to hear from external sources whether or not this is the smart thing to do.

PCOM dude. 100% PCOM. Congrats on getting into med school

 

[DoctorMedicine]

Definitely pick PCOM. Geisinger's MBS do not give you a guarantee acceptance however each of their MD class has around 4-5 previous MBS students.

 

[tlccreepwaterfalls]

Go to pcom. Great school.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Answer this question: do you want to be a doctor?

If so, you have been accepted to medical school.
If you’re not sure, go for the MBS and try your luck when you are done

 

[XRZAX]

Go to PCOM and dont look back.

 

[rajp98]

I'd choose the DO acceptance any day. You can get an MBS later

 

[Norwood-Sano]

PCOM is a good school, go with it.

 

[Magus5454]

I'd choose the DO acceptance any day. You can get an MBS later

MBS isn't a degree you use, its a linkage to get into medical school. just FYI

 

[BlueBleck]

Something I think worth appreciating: over the course of a lifetime, one extra year doing an MBS is -60k (aprox CoA of an MBS) and -1 yr attending salary. Like hallow said, if you want something competitive, a year might be worth it. If you end up in FM anyways, you gave up a lot of money for, imo, very little.

Also keep in mind that competitive specialties are competitive even for MDs. So you're fighting for single to low double digit percentage advantages. If the %s were already low to begin with, that boost is invaluable. If you're going for FM, the boost is much less relevant, and you're just weighing the prestige drop. Which isn't without value itself. It might be easier to operate a private clinic as an MD than a DO just because people are confused by the title.

If I were from the area, I would take the PCOM acceptance without much deliberation.