The limitations of choosing DO

[Gandyy]

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At the end of the day we still become doctors, and I did much better than my class average on the MCAT exam, that being said I have friend who went to a DO school that has a much higher average MCAT than my school yet their students do not do as well as ours on the board examination and subsequently in residency placement. So an exam can only mean so much, because a school needs to provide resources and guidance to its students to help them succeed. There are many schools that unfortunately allow their students to sink or swim, I think my school is not one of those schools.

It doesn't matter if we do not go to a top residency, we still match somewhere, get licensed, get a job, earn a living and become somebody in this world, and that is what matters.

Indeed, very true. Well for you haha. I still have to get in somewhere lol. My first Interview is at AZCOM and its coming up very soon. Should be fun!

 

[Stagg737]

I was referring to radiation oncology.

Understood, I just thought that rads as a whole was becoming less competitive. Is rad onc not included in that?

 

[IslandStyle808]

Understood, I just thought that rads as a whole was becoming less competitive. Is rad onc not included in that?

Nope, since it is a specialty of its own and ridiculously competitive (on par with derm and ENT). The only field where DOs have the worst chance of getting in since there are no AOA residencies...

 

[cliquesh]

Understood, I just thought that rads as a whole was becoming less competitive. Is rad onc not included in that?

As islandstyle said, they are different fields. In 2015, 1 DO matched acgme radiation oncology whereas 98 DOs matched acgme radiology.

 

[yeezuswest]

So I'm into neurological surgery and I checked the AOA website and there are roughly 11 NS residency programs in the entire nation for DO's. Would it be possible match into other NS residency programs as a DO, or is it pretty much limited to those 11 programs? I know that NS is something that I definitely want to pursue after med school, I'm just not sure if I would be better off doing it as an MD.

 

[cliquesh]

So I'm into neurological surgery and I checked the AOA website and there are roughly 11 NS residency programs in the entire nation for DO's. Would it be possible match into other NS residency programs as a DO, or is it pretty much limited to those 11 programs? I know that NS is something that I definitely want to pursue after med school, I'm just not sure if I would be better off doing it as an MD.

Better to go MD for NS. Usually 0 to 4 DOs match acgme NS each year. In 2015 0 DOs matched acgme neurosurgery. How many DOs actually want to do NS and have the scores need for NS? I am not sure, but probably not many. However, in 2012 there were 2.5 applicants per AOA NS spot, so at least a few DOs want neurosurgery.

 

[yeezuswest]

Better to go MD for NS. Usually 0 to 4 DOs match acgme NS each year. In 2015 0 DOs matched acgme neurosurgery. How many DOs actually want to do NS and have the scores need for NS? I am not sure, but probably not many. However, in 2012 there were 2.5 applicants per AOA NS spot, so at least a few DOs want neurosurgery.

Would you happen to know the equivalent number for ACGME spots?

 

[Seth Joo]

Indeed, very true. Well for you haha. I still have to get in somewhere lol. My first Interview is at AZCOM and its coming up very soon. Should be fun!

Well good luck to you, if AZCOM accepts you, take the acceptance, its a great school, as long as you work hard and put in 100 percent you will make it.

 

[cliquesh]

Would you happen to know the equivalent number for ACGME spots?

In 2014 there were 1.54 applicants per acgme NS spot. If you only look at the number of US MDs it was, as southern surgeon mentioned, 1.2 applicants per spot. About 80% of USMDs applying for NS in 2014 matched. About 40% of DOs who applied for AOA NS in 2012 matched.

General surgery, orthopedic, and, perhaps, ophthalmology are more realistic goals coming from a DO school.

 

[Stagg737]

Nope, since it is a specialty of its own and ridiculously competitive (on par with derm and ENT). The only field where DOs have the worst chance of getting in since there are no AOA residencies...

As islandstyle said, they are different fields. In 2015, 1 DO matched acgme radiation oncology whereas 98 DOs matched acgme radiology.

Interesting, I always thought Rad Onc was a fellowship or track within Rads. Learn something new every day.

 

[67552931811]

As islandstyle said, they are different fields. In 2015, 1 DO matched acgme radiation oncology whereas 98 DOs matched acgme radiology.

Not like it really matters but its actually more than 1. My school had a rad-onc match in 2015 but the person is listed as a TRI on our official match list report.

 

[Prairiepalmeri]

I think people on this forum forget that you can only match into one residency. As a DO, if you match into one residency that you are interested in, you are good to go!

 

[IslandStyle808]

Not like it really matters but its actually more than 1. My school had a rad-onc match in 2015 but the person is listed as a TRI on our official match list report.

Yep 2 matches total, must be the PGY-2 match.

 

[cliquesh]

Not like it really matters but its actually more than 1. My school had a rad-onc match in 2015 but the person is listed as a TRI on our official match list report.

I am just using the nrmp data. http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Main-Match-Results-and-Data-2015_final.pdf. It says 1 PGY2 match and 0 pgy1 matches. There was 1 physician (R) match too.

 

[67552931811]

I am just using the nrmp data. http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Main-Match-Results-and-Data-2015_final.pdf. It says 1 PGY2 match and 0 pgy1 matches. There was 1 physician (R) match too.

Yeah. I realized the above after I posted. You're usually on point with actual data: my b

 

[NontradCA]

You will be significantly limited.