What amount of tuition difference would DO>MD be smarter

[Frogger27]

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DISCLAIMER: DO NOT WANT THIS TO TURN INTO A GIANT DO VS MD DEBATE

In what situations would it be smarter to attend a DO school with minimal debt vs OOS private MD that would put one at 150k-250k debt? Let's assume student does not know what specialty they want to go into and will most likely be a relatively average student at both schools

 

[625233]

I honestly don't mean to stereotype or pedal a stigma that clearly exists around DOs, but if you don't plan to specialize aka plan to practice family/pediatrics/obstetrics then go DO, otherwise you re sacrificing a slight decrease in match rate for more competitive specialities.


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[Dr. Death]

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT WANT THIS TO TURN INTO A GIANT DO VS MD DEBATE

In what situations would it be smarter to attend a DO school with minimal debt vs OOS private MD that would put one at 150k-250k debt? Let's assume student does not know what specialty they want to go into and will most likely be a relatively average student at both schools

If you truly don't know then I'd pay the money and go MD if you have the chance.

 

[Pepe18]

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[vellez]

At my school, they told us that certain of their residency programs call "graduation from an allopathic US med school" as a top 10 important factor (usually being like 7-8 ranked). I dunno if this true for other schools, so please don't shoot me. This was just *one* thing I was told.

 

[libertyyne]

If you want to practice primary care , and not not sub specialize even 50k difference would warrent getting the do over MD. Going MD is all a out keeping your options open. But if you have no value in the options they are worth zero so any reduction in real debt is a reason to accept the do route as optimal. There might be some value in not having to explain what a DO is to all your patients if you live in an area with a low prevalence of DOs but that is a personal problem rather than an economic one.

 

[Pepe18]

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[Lawpy]

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT WANT THIS TO TURN INTO A GIANT DO VS MD DEBATE

In what situations would it be smarter to attend a DO school with minimal debt vs OOS private MD that would put one at 150k-250k debt? Let's assume student does not know what specialty they want to go into and will most likely be a relatively average student at both schools

Unfortunately, none. Even for primary care, US MD simply opens more doors than US DO, so it's worth the cost in the long term.

 

[libertyyne]

I would say if you want to do primary and are older or have a really strong, unwaivering reason for primary care and are deadset on certain locations. I've met a lot of people who sincerely wanted to do primary care, but ended up changing for some reason or another once they have more knowledge of the system/more perspective.

If I was thinking of primary care, I'd still pay for the MD and then do a loan forgiveness program if I did eventually end up in primary care

Loan forgiveness only works in underserved areas. Can't be a pcp in a city and expect that to work.

 

[Slack3r]

If you have the option for MD, go MD.

 

[Pepe18]

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[angeloflogic]

Maybe also consider location as another factor. Sure, going to school an MD school in the northwest shouldn't hurt your chances too much going for a residency in the south, but for example going to a DO school from the area will ensure more connections with hospitals and clinics in the south and it would be easier to meet up with people in the area/save effort and money traveling for audition rotations when they come.

 

[piii]

Look, a hundred thousands of doctors have gone to med school, accrued the same debt, and have been fine. They pay off their loans for 5-10 years while living relatively okay, and then move on and make a nice upper middle class living if not more depending on specialty. Not to mention in a field with incredible job safety, high demand, cool technology, rewarding and meaningful work. If the debt was truly so terrible, hardly anyone would be doing it. I'd go MD paying $60 K a year over a full ride at DO. I want that degree, the tradition, the high volume academic research hospital, the clinical rotations, all the resources I'm making this commitment.

 

[libertyyne]

There are plenty of underserved areas in cities and public hospitals.

Presumably, OP would be a physician for the rest of their life, so I don't think it's worth risking an unhappy career when so many people do change specialty interests and so many people hate primary care because there are legitimate, major reasons to dislike it. Unless you know there is no reason you would ever not do primary no matter what, it's not worth saving the money (plus if you are absolutely certain, you could apply for the national health whatever scholarship that covers all your tuition if you get it)

I agree with you. OP asked for an edge case where it would make sense to go DO over MD. I provided it to them. The HPSA math may make sense if OP is willing to practice in such an area. What if OP just wants to do primary care for rich folks or whatever. Anyway the point is that debt is real there are edge cases where DO over MD might make sense. However for the most part MD is the only way to go .

 

[angeloflogic]

Look, a hundred thousands of doctors have gone to med school, accrued the same debt, and have been fine. They pay off their loans for 5-10 years while living relatively okay, and then move on and make a nice upper middle class living if not more depending on specialty. Not to mention in a field with incredible job safety, high demand, cool technology, rewarding and meaningful work. If the debt was truly so terrible, hardly anyone would be doing it. I'd go MD paying $60 K a year over a full ride at DO. I want that degree, the tradition, the high volume academic research hospital, the clinical rotations, all the resources I'm making this commitment.

I feel like with this you'd need to put a qualifier on a couple of MD schools. Like CNUCOM and some new MD schools like the one for Washington State. won't have these things you're looking for, while osteopathic schools like DMU and KCU will.

 

[libertyyne]

Look, a hundred thousands of doctors have gone to med school, accrued the same debt, and have been fine. They pay off their loans for 5-10 years while living relatively okay, and then move on and make a nice upper middle class living if not more depending on specialty. Not to mention in a field with incredible job safety, high demand, cool technology, rewarding and meaningful work. If the debt was truly so terrible, hardly anyone would be doing it. I'd go MD paying $60 K a year over a full ride at DO. I want that degree, the tradition, the high volume academic research hospital, the clinical rotations, all the resources I'm making this commitment.

Not all MD schools are made alike.
You may also be attributing desires, dreams and ambitions you may have that OP may not.
Not all applicants are made alike either.

I feel like with this you'd need to put a qualifier on a couple of MD schools. Like CNUCOM and some new MD schools like the one for Washington State. won't have these things you're looking for, while osteopathic schools like DMU and KCU will.

Agree.