Undergraduate / Program for MD/DO

[culturenmusic03]

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So I'm a HS senior applying to college and am looking for some advice in picking a school out of my acceptances.

So far, I have/am considering:


- BS / DO with NSU KPCOM (4+4) -- relatively affordable in terms of Financial Aid

- Guaranteed interview (MD) -- still pretty pricey, but nice to have a guaranteed interview

- LECOM EAP (DO) -- "heard" that reputation isn't that good, limiting myself?, undergrad schools aren't the best and they aren't too cheap

- BS/ DO with NYITCOM (3+4) -- more than 90k in debt just for undergrad

- Cheap / Loan-free In-State Public School(s) --pretty affordable, but may not have as many connections / majors / programs / MCAT prep, etc.

- Bit more pricey "top" schools -- great majors, connections, success rate, prestige, great location, opportunities, pretty well-known, NEED LOANS



At the end of the day, what sort of category should I go for? I know that you can be a doctor from *any* UG school, however, what should be my priority here? I'm an ORM and so should I just go ahead and grab the opportunity with the combined (early) DO programs with KPCOM / NYITCOM (perhaps even RowanSOM)? Or should I go the trad route? In the trad route, should I just go to the cheapest school (state school) that I can and pray for the best? Or should I go to (still an affordable, but with loans) a medium-high tier school?


TL;DR -- what should I prioritize (as an ORM) when selecting an undergrad? Guaranteed acceptance (DO), guaranteed interview (MD), cheap state school (reducing debt), or a bit more pricey "top-xx" school?


Would be happy to provide more details and am grateful for any responses!!

 

[clumsy.md]

I've seen many people here on SDN regret going the BS/DO pathway. It's a good path for some but not for many. I like your last two options the most. Out of curiosity, how much loan would you be taking out for the "top" program? Is it drastically more than your state school? Regardless, I think it's very wise of you to be weighing finances heavily into school choice (others will disagree).

The fact is that you can be accepted to DO and MD programs regardless of where you attend college. Attending a "top"/highly recognized school will never hurt your chances. However, attending your state school could still easily land you where you want to be. If I were in your shoes, I would scour these school's websites for data on pre-meds applying to medical school. The schools I attended all published data with X number of students getting into X DO schools and Y MD schools. Also, you can email the school's pre-med advisors directly and ask for details.

 

[culturenmusic03]

@clumsy.md thank you so much! The total for the "top" schools is around 18k/year (parents can only pay around 5k so we might need to take the rest on loan) while one state school is free and the other is like 2k so we can just pay out of pocket for that.


Sure, thank you so much! Just by curiosity, what would you say are some of the downsides of going through the BS/DO route? Or, perhaps, when you mention that it's good for some-- who would that be? Would it be severely limiting myself? I'm just scared that I won't get into *any* medical school (MD or DO) period and so was inclined to go that route. Thanks!

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

If you are from a competitive HS and have good study habits you will be fine with traditional path. No need to spend huge amount for BSDO or BSMD from schools which you won’t consider for UG.

 

[clumsy.md]

@clumsy.md thank you so much! The total for the "top" schools is around 18k/year (parents can only pay around 5k so we might need to take the rest on loan) while one state school is free and the other is like 2k so we can just pay out of pocket for that.


Sure, thank you so much! Just by curiosity, what would you say are some of the downsides of going through the BS/DO route? Or, perhaps, when you mention that it's good for some-- who would that be? Would it be severely limiting myself? I'm just scared that I won't get into *any* medical school (MD or DO) period and so was inclined to go that route. Thanks!

So approximately 13k-- including or excluding living expenses? It honestly depends on which school we're talking about here. Feel free to PM if you want to talk specifics.

A BS/DO pathway would be good for someone who wants (or needs) to stay in the same locale for ~8 years and is completely informed and committed to becoming an osteopathic physician. There are other reasons, of course. On the other hand, you may choose the BS/DO pathway and realize during undergrad that you really have no desire to attend said school or stay in the same location. In all reality, you could end up having a fantastic GPA/MCAT and have the ability to apply to any MD/DO school you want, so why limit yourself to just one program? It's a risk but a risk worth taking. Even if you don't end up with the GPA or MCAT you want, there are still many DO programs that will likely take you.

 

[culturenmusic03]

If you are from a competitive HS and have good study habits you will be fine with traditional path. No need to spend huge amount for BSDO or BSMD from schools which you won’t consider for UG.

Oh, ok. Makes sense, thanks!

 

[culturenmusic03]

Oh, I guess I would also add that I'm interested in doing an MD/JD or DO/JD. KPCOM and RowanSOM both have those options. Taking both the MCAT and LSAT will be difficult. Would/should that change my answer?

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Oh, I guess I would also add that I'm interested in doing an MD/JD or DO/JD. KPCOM and RowanSOM both have those options. Taking both the MCAT and LSAT will be difficult. Would/should that change my answer?

Do you need to take both of them at the same time?

 

[deleted1080380]

The one where you'll come away with the least debt. Only go to the private "prestigious school" if you have a lot of aid or ur parents are paying otherwise hell no. As long as said state school is reputable you won't notice much opportunity difference when it all boils down.

 

[deleted1025488]

Save the money. Paying 80k per year is not worth it if you're going to bear the financial burden later.

 

[natalux]

Do not go into debt for undergrad, it is not worth it considering the magnitude of debt you'll be taking on later for med school

 

[culturenmusic03]

Do you need to take both of them at the same time?

Perhaps not like at the exact same time, but close to second/third year would be.

 

[culturenmusic03]

The one where you'll come away with the least debt. Only go to the private "prestigious school" if you have a lot of aid or ur parents are paying otherwise hell no. As long as said state school is reputable you won't notice much opportunity difference when it all boils down.

Do not go into debt for undergrad, it is not worth it considering the magnitude of debt you'll be taking on later for med school

Most definitely! I was thinking that too. Would you guys recommend not even taking loans for around 5k/year for the benefit of the BS/DO? Sorry for all of the questions-- I'm a first gen and first person going to med school in my family so I'm not sure if I should completely skip out on loans and go the traditional route w a state school or if I should take small loans for the "benefit" of a BS/DO or good private school. Thanks guys 🙂

 

[natalux]

Most definitely! I was thinking that too. Would you guys recommend not even taking loans for around 5k/year for the benefit of the BS/DO? Sorry for all of the questions-- I'm a first gen and first person going to med school in my family so I'm not sure if I should completely skip out on loans and go the traditional route w a state school or if I should take small loans for the "benefit" of a BS/DO or good private school. Thanks guys 🙂

Hmmm I personally don't think there's any benefit in going the BS/DO route (or even BS/MD imo) over the state school, unless you personally just REALLY want a jump start on medicine. Just in terms of lifestyle concerns, for me - go have your 4 year college experience at a cheap public school, focus on getting into med school a little later. But that's just my opinion in terms of allowing yourself the time and financial freedom to really enjoy undergrad. As for good private school vs state school, I don't think there are any significant benefits to undergrad prestige when it comes to med school admissions. N = 1, but I went to my state school for financial concerns (picked it over more prestigious private options) and I don't think my cycle has suffered whatsoever because of it.

 

[deleted1066189]

if you're parents aren't paying for your undergrad, then absolutely pick the cheapest school

 

[Rogue42]

Alright cowboy, pony up, this is going to be a wild ride.

First and foremost, pick a school that you feel you will be the happiest at. Because happiness drives success and success drives happiness. If you are not happy with the school / choices that you make, then you will not do well enough for any of the questions that you are asking about to matter. Point blank. Also, it makes the rest of this relative as if you know which school you would be happiest at, then pick it 11 times out of 10.

Second, looking back, part of me wants to say that I would have loved a guaranteed acceptance. But the other part of me enjoyed the journey. I enjoyed not having the stress of trying to maintain "xyz" grades or worrying about if someone of prominence would see me out at a bar and then take away that guaranteed acceptance. I enjoyed acting like a kid one last time before the real world began in med school. I enjoyed taking the classes I found enjoyable and the electives I wanted to take with my friends. I guess, at the end of the day, I found happiness, and that happiness made me successful in the environment that I placed myself in. I went to a lowly state school that no one has ever heard of outside of my state, and yet here I am in med school, literally killing it.

Third, med school is a long, long way off. There is going to be a million things happen in your life between now and then no matter what school you go to. What if you hate medicine? What if you find the love of your life and you'd rather be with them than go to medical school because your priorities change? What if you have a kid? What if you actually cant handle the curriculum or what if you simply hate it? What if, what if, what if, what if? Undergrad is the time in your life to really find yourself and what you enjoy. It is the literal definition of a fresh start, and you can and will become whoever you want to. I am not saying absolutely do not take the guaranteed acceptance, but what I am saying, is are you prepared to sacrifice this much for medicine already? To gain what, like 1 year more of salary? That is a lot of experiences to sacrifice so soon when you will be sacrificing for the rest of your life if you choose this path in the end.

Fourth, guaranteed interviews MEAN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. They're trash. Throw them away. Not worth it. At least, not in my opinion. There is simply not enough weight there for them to matter. Its nothing more than a courtesy to you after they put you through the ringer for 4 years.

Finally, you can indeed become whoever you want from wherever you go. You can 100% become a doctor no matter the school you attend. At the end of the day, if you find a school that you will be happy at that has a strong pre-med committee / advisor, then you should be fine. Loans do play a big part, but if the difference between a top well-known school is only like 10k in loans in total, then imo go there. But you're talking about 70k difference in loans, which to me simply is not worth it. So for this whole debacle imma go:

Happiness>>>State school>DO guaranteed acceptance. I simply do not think taking 70K out for loans for a big named school nor taking an guaranteed interview for an MD school are viable options - if it were me. However, MD>DO.

Final, final advice. Find a solid state school that you will be happy at, enjoy yourself, find yourself, make the grades you need, and try your hardest to get into the very best medical school you can - even if at the end of the day, it is a DO school. You will have truly exhausted all of your options while truly becoming the person medicine is looking for.

 

[JimKimSlim]

First of all, don’t narrow your options just to medicine. I’ve told this story many times on this forum, but I went to a top 15 UG, surrounded by 20 premed students in my freshman year. That number dropped to 4 in my senior year. The other 16 realized medicine was not the right path for them and pursued other great career options.

When you’re picking your UG, choose a school that you truly feel like you belong and be able to form life-long fun memories. There’s a good chance that you might change your mind and go into chemical engineering or other fields. Have an open mind and enjoy your college experience!

 

[Vivid_Quail]

I really don't think you can appreciate the limitations of going DO at age 17-18. Hell, many in-cycle premeds don't understand the facts in regards to DO schools. Remember, 99.9% of students don't choose to go DO over MD, MD schools just don't choose them. Don't pigeonhole yourself so early in life.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I have seen med students who go the high school to med school route flounder during their transition from UG to first semester med school. They were never significantly challenged/stressed in UG to score the highest possible GPA or MCAT. Then the meat grinder of first semester MS1 proves incredibly stressful. Better to test yourself in UG via the traditional path IMO. I would go the cheapest route too. A lot of those private pre med mills in our area are like 60k a year. Hardly worth the difference.

 

[culturenmusic03]

Thanks, everyone!! Your advice is extremely helpful and I think that going the traditional route at a cheaper school now seems to be the better idea!

 

[Sindhura]

Hi All, Iam New to SDN and Iam and internationally trained dentist finished my Graduation from India and Now looking forward to switch my career and choose DO pathway to be a osteopathic physician!! Currently Iam relocated to USA and really searching for the options to do DO And its eligibility criteria !! (wondering if Iam eligibile to even take MCAT or not) !! Please help me start by giving me some suggestions and opinions !!
Thankyou all in Advance !!