Very Confused

[BlueJaysFan]

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Hi Everyone,
I need some really honest advice. Basically I am in a little conundrum right now. I have been accepted to SGU, a school in Australia and a Doctor of Osteopathy School(DO). My feeling has been attending a DO school just because it is in the USA and allows students to match through Carms (Ontario, BC) in the first round-this has only been allowed for a few years now. However, after speaking to many residency directors on the phone and even CARMS, it appears that because of the new eligiblity in allowing DOs to match in Canada, most were oblivious to what DOs are? What do you think I should do, attend SGU or Australia in Jan or a DO school in August?

Thanks so much for any insight

 

[bioman2006]

.

 

[Bacchus]

The DO school. Do your residency in the states. Check out the FAQ at the top of the main forum page for Canadian practice rights.

 

[ArsenalEPL4Life]

I will give you my honest opinion, but understand that I am applying to both US MD/DO schools only. From what I have read, heard, and seen going DO is your best option. I know several physicians, some whom I have shadowed, who have told me that there is basically no difference between MD/DO, and that DO should always be taken over any route regarding the carribean.

So far I have been accepted to several DO schools and am waiting to hear back from the MD schools I have applied to. I am ecstatic that I will be able to be a physician, either way, US MD/DO school is your best option.

Now, I also know someone who went to Ross for one year. He is currently retaking his MCAT and trying to get into a US MD/DO school. I dont know him well so I havent really talked to him about it, but from what I do konw, he was not pleased with Ross. Either the Carribean screwed him over, or he wasn't able to hack it down there.

Just my two cents 😉!

 

[Laryngophed]

The DO school. Do your residency in the states. Check out the FAQ at the top of the main forum page for Canadian practice rights.

😆 at your substatus.

SSMMBMBSBBMM

 

[FutureMDer]

Hi Everyone,
I need some really honest advice. Basically I am in a little conundrum right now. I have been accepted to SGU, a school in Australia and a Doctor of Osteopathy School(DO). My feeling has been attending a DO school just because it is in the USA and allows students to match through Carms (Ontario, BC) in the first round-this has only been allowed for a few years now. However, after speaking to many residency directors on the phone and even CARMS, it appears that because of the new eligiblity in allowing DOs to match in Canada, most were oblivious to what DOs are? What do you think I should do, attend SGU or Australia in Jan or a DO school in August?

Thanks so much for any insight

Hey man. This is tough. I would have to agree with everyone and stay DO. However, some countries do not recognize DO's as equivalents to MDs. Don't get me wrong, I think DO's are just as qualified as MD's, however, I am not certain as to what most Canadian hospitals think. I do know in some European countries DO's are not equal to MD's. I would hate for you to spend 200k on an education and later find you cannot go back to where you want to live.


If you were thinking of practicing in the USA only, I would say DO hands down. But if you are set on Canada, I would seriously call a few more people and make sure DO still holds the same merrit as MD there.

(Before I get mauled with comments) I 100% feel DOs are as qualified, and in ways are trained better than MD students. But we have to remember the rest of the world may not have this attitude.

Honestly, apply to Ross or a similar school. That way you'll know you can match back to your area. It may suck to do two years there (or not because its nice weather), but you spend your clerkship years in the states usually at a multitude of hospitals.

 

[J1515]

Hey man. This is tough. I would have to agree with everyone and stay DO. However, some countries do not recognize DO's as equivalents to MDs.

Did you know some countries don't recognize the US MD? Do a search, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[scummie]

Go to the DO school. It'll make matching easier than as a FMG. Also, check out the school's attrition rates. A lot of students drop out of the Caribbean schools because they can't make the grades.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Two words 'residency placement.' DOs match much, much better than FMGs, and having that MD behind your name isn't going to mean crap when you can't get into the field you want.

 

[bioman2006]

.

 

[SolanoDoc]

Hi Everyone,
I need some really honest advice. Basically I am in a little conundrum right now. I have been accepted to SGU, a school in Australia and a Doctor of Osteopathy School(DO). My feeling has been attending a DO school just because it is in the USA and allows students to match through Carms (Ontario, BC) in the first round-this has only been allowed for a few years now. However, after speaking to many residency directors on the phone and even CARMS, it appears that because of the new eligiblity in allowing DOs to match in Canada, most were oblivious to what DOs are? What do you think I should do, attend SGU or Australia in Jan or a DO school in August?

Thanks so much for any insight

By far the DO is the best route, definitely well above SGU. SGU is a for profit Caribbean school. Even if you do not get a residency in Canada you can train in the US and return, many provinces have made it easier to return to Canada. I was interested myself in going to Vancouver. Of the Canadian provinces I think British Columbia and Manitoba are the most open to DOs.

 

[MexicanDr]

Two words 'residency placement.' DOs match much, much better than FMGs, and having that MD behind your name isn't going to mean crap when you can't get into the field you want.

Completely agree!

 

[DocHomer]

Hi Everyone,
I need some really honest advice. Basically I am in a little conundrum right now. I have been accepted to SGU, a school in Australia and a Doctor of Osteopathy School(DO). My feeling has been attending a DO school just because it is in the USA and allows students to match through Carms (Ontario, BC) in the first round-this has only been allowed for a few years now. However, after speaking to many residency directors on the phone and even CARMS, it appears that because of the new eligiblity in allowing DOs to match in Canada, most were oblivious to what DOs are? What do you think I should do, attend SGU or Australia in Jan or a DO school in August?

Thanks so much for any insight

I think going to Australia would be awesome, and I considered doing it for some time. But Australian medical schools emphasize the subject matter differently, and you have to prepare much more on your own to sit for the boards in Canada. This is a huge disadvantage. Plus, Aussie schools are expensive for foreign students.

That really leaves you two choices: DO or Carib. I know that a lot of Canadians go to Saba for some reason. I think that half the class there is Canadian, and I'm not sure why that is. Anyway, you would be better off going to an osteopathic school for the reasons people on this and other threads have cited.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I think going to Australia would be awesome, and I considered doing it for some time. But Australian medical schools emphasize the subject matter differently, and you have to prepare much more on your own to sit for the boards in Canada. This is a huge disadvantage. Plus, Aussie schools are expensive for foreign students.

That really leaves you two choices: DO or Carib. I know that a lot of Canadians go to Saba for some reason. I think that half the class there is Canadian, and I'm not sure why that is. Anyway, you would be better off going to an osteopathic school for the reasons people on this and other threads have cited.

The Australian schools are pretty solid from what I can tell, but the problems are that they don't teach to the USMLE (you have to prep for it on your own), you have to do your 3/4 years in the same country as your 1/2 to be able to practice in certain US states (like CA), so you'd be over there for 4 years, and you're still looked at as an IMG/FMG when matching, which means low on the totem pole.

DO without a doubt.

 

[Tekar]

I've had a chance to explore this issue. The residents and physicians I spoke with who graduated from the Carribbean (sp?) were proud of the degree and know they worked their asses off. They also knew they are forever limited in finding fellowships after their training. I asked if they could do it over again, the MD's said they would choose a stateside DO program instead. I was also warned that if there is family involved, don't expect them to get a decent job. Take that for the second hand two cents it might be worth.