Three Year Osteopathic Schools and Advice

[Dhooy7]

Right now I am debating between MD and DO schools. Since I live in Wisconsin, there are no DO schools in the state, which is disappointing because I wanted to stay close to my family. I need to take the MCAT and just graduated college. I did well academically with a 3.98 at my community college (6 semesters) and a 3.957 at my 4-year college for about 4 semesters.

My question is if anyone has advice for DO schools to consider in the Midwest. What are the advantages to DO vs MD? What are some of the DO schools that offer 3 years for certain specialties? And if anyone has any other advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I have over 1000 clinical hours, but I want to be successful on the MCAT.

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[AnatomyGrey12]

Right now I am debating between MD and DO schools. Since I live in Wisconsin, there are no DO schools in the state, which is disappointing because I wanted to stay close to my family. I need to take the MCAT and just graduated college. I did well academically with a 3.98 at my community college (6 semesters) and a 3.957 at my 4-year college for about 4 semesters.

My question is if anyone has advice for DO schools to consider in the Midwest. What are the advantages to DO vs MD? What are some of the DO schools that offer 3 years for certain specialties? And if anyone has any other advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I have over 1000 clinical hours, but I want to be successful on the MCAT.

Focus on the MCAT and that will dictate where you should apply. This has been beaten to death but there is nothing that you can do as a DO that you can't as an MD. Unless you want to do primary care then I would forget about 3 year medical schools, why pidgeonhole yourself before you even get to see what is out there?

 

[ilovepita]

lecom is the only 3 yr one right

 

[Goro]

A good medical knows how to use the search function.

DO schools within a reasonable distance include:
CCOM
DMU
MUCOM
MSUCOM
KCOM
KCU
LECOM
OHCOM

Right now I am debating between MD and DO schools. Since I live in Wisconsin, there are no DO schools in the state, which is disappointing because I wanted to stay close to my family. I need to take the MCAT and just graduated college. I did well academically with a 3.98 at my community college (6 semesters) and a 3.957 at my 4-year college for about 4 semesters.

My question is if anyone has advice for DO schools to consider in the Midwest. What are the advantages to DO vs MD? What are some of the DO schools that offer 3 years for certain specialties? And if anyone has any other advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I have over 1000 clinical hours, but I want to be successful on the MCAT.

 

[LutGholein]

I've heard Jefferson is still in the works(proposed Wisconsin DO school) so that may be built soon?

(source: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/lo...cle_2bf1e97c-d09b-5d2f-866b-a89e6155f147.html )

 

[Alienman52]

A good medical student/anyone with eyes should know how to use the search function.

DO schools within a reasonable distance include:
CCOM
DMU
MUCOM
MSUCOM
KCOM
KCU
LECOM
OHCOM

FTFY
Strongly concur. There is currently a sea of DO vs MD threads that can provide you with information about going either route. Fantastic GPA by the way, and good luck with the MCAT.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

LECOM has a 3 year primary care scholars pathway program:
https://lecom.edu/academics/the-college-of-medicine/primary-care-scholars-pathway/

This pathway is only offered at the Erie campus.

 

[Dhooy7]

FTFY
Strongly concur. There is currently a sea of DO vs MD threads that can provide you with information about going either route. Fantastic GPA by the way, and good luck with the MCAT.

I worked very hard for my GPA and worked very hard.

I'll look at some advice in some of the MCAT forums.

 

[Alienman52]

I worked very hard for my GPA and worked very hard.

I'll look at some advice in some of the MCAT forums.

Glad to hear it


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[Dhooy7]

My goal is to minimize my debt as much as possible. Hopefully I can get a scholarship or something to minimize my debt for medical school.

 

[austintr]

My goal is to minimize my debt as much as possible. Hopefully I can get a scholarship or something to minimize my debt for medical school.

Agree with the above, see how the MCAT plays out. With that GPA and decent EC's, a 515 or so would probably get you love from some top or middle tier MD programs. And as it has been said many, many times before on this board, if you can go MD, go MD. Also, tuition for nearly any public MD school (even out of state if you don't get into a Wisconsin school) will be cheaper than or close to what nearly any DO school would cost.

I would focus on the MCAT and shoot for MD unless you get a sub-505 score. Then I would encourage you to look at DO schools. I know DMU has rotation sites in Wisconsin, if it comes to that.

 

[t5Nitro]

WI has two 3 year MD schools as branch campuses of the Medical College of Wisconsin if you're looking to stay in WI and attend a 3 year program. They're looking for a specific kind of applicant if it fits you.

 

[ERinspired]

I've heard Jefferson is still in the works(proposed Wisconsin DO school) so that may be built soon?

(source: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/lo...cle_2bf1e97c-d09b-5d2f-866b-a89e6155f147.html )

This school's funding has fallen through twice. I wouldn't gamble on it.


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[Dhooy7]

Agree with the above, see how the MCAT plays out. With that GPA and decent EC's, a 515 or so would probably get you love from some top or middle tier MD programs. And as it has been said many, many times before on this board, if you can go MD, go MD. Also, tuition for nearly any public MD school (even out of state if you don't get into a Wisconsin school) will be cheaper than or close to what nearly any DO school would cost.

I would focus on the MCAT and shoot for MD unless you get a sub-505 score. Then I would encourage you to look at DO schools. I know DMU has rotation sites in Wisconsin, if it comes to that.

That's my fear because I don't do well on standardized tests but at least hard work pays off.

If anyone has any threads that they would recommend for the MCAT I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[Dhooy7]

Agree with the above, see how the MCAT plays out. With that GPA and decent EC's, a 515 or so would probably get you love from some top or middle tier MD programs. And as it has been said many, many times before on this board, if you can go MD, go MD. Also, tuition for nearly any public MD school (even out of state if you don't get into a Wisconsin school) will be cheaper than or close to what nearly any DO school would cost.

I would focus on the MCAT and shoot for MD unless you get a sub-505 score. Then I would encourage you to look at DO schools. I know DMU has rotation sites in Wisconsin, if it comes to that.

I never knew that DO schools were more expensive than osteopathic schools. Tuition and scholarships also play an important role. We'll see how I do on the MCAT. I'm nervous for it but am really going to try to put in a lot on time and buy the Kaplan books. Then buy the practice tests and use Khan Academy.

 

[deleted244469]

That's my fear because I don't do well on standardized tests but at least hard work pays off.

If anyone has any threads that they would recommend for the MCAT I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

As a medical student/physician, you will be taking standardized tests for the rest of your career. I'd start determining the root of your issues right now.

 

[austintr]

That's my fear because I don't do well on standardized tests but at least hard work pays off.

If anyone has any threads that they would recommend for the MCAT I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Just look through the MCAT section of the board. Especially the stickies. People put some really valuable info on there. Also, look at r/mcat on Reddit. SDN has been insanely useful to me over the past few years, but when it came to the MCAT, the folks over on Reddit have it down. I found so many resources...including PDF versions of prep books, statistical breakdowns of content for test versions, etc. Seriously. Check out Reddit and SDN's mcat boards.

 

[surfguy84]

My goal is to minimize my debt as much as possible.

Don't go to a DO school.

 

[Fluffy123]

I don't understand the thought of DO tuition is higher than MD. I interviewed at an MD school where tuition is 50k per year. MSUCOM instate is 40k, LECOM is 30k, UNECOM is 50k. Of course you see that MSUCOM OOS is 80k, CCOM is 60k, AZCOM is 63k. The range is everywhere. Same with MD. MD schools in my state vary from 30k-50k. I am sure it differs in other areas as well. Many people still get scholarships and stuff on top of that. At the end of the day, becoming a physician should be your top priority. Count your blessings if you get 1 acceptance and if you get more than 1, you can start debating location, tuition, research opportunities, average usmle/comlex scores, etc.