What are your motivations for wanting to become a DO?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Are the residency spots for primary care really going to dwindle that much with the merger? Since most DOs go into primary care or internal medicine...

Maybe it might be more difficult for those who can't get into MD, so apply DO, but have no intention or interest in primary care?

Luckily most of us aiming for DO are interested in primary care. I'm not really worried about the merger. 🙂
I'm more worried about loans. haha =P
 
Are the residency spots for primary care really going to dwindle that much with the merger? Since most DOs go into primary care or internal medicine...

Maybe it might be more difficult for those who can't get into MD, so apply DO, but have no intention or interest in primary care?

Luckily most of us aiming for DO are interested in primary care. I'm not really worried about the merger. 🙂
I'm more worried about loans. haha =P
Internal Medicine is Primary Care, to be fair.


Post-Merger works just as much in the favor of DOs as it does MDs for the most part. There will be a trade of 'goods' to some extent, but the overall outlook at this point seems to be good on both sides.
 
Internal Medicine is Primary Care, to be fair.


Post-Merger works just as much in the favor of DOs as it does MDs for the most part. There will be a trade of 'goods' to some extent, but the overall outlook at this point seems to be good on both sides.

For those of us who don't mind a community care residency in a primary care field, including IM, FM, PEDS, OB/GYN is there really any concern for the merger?
Granted DO PEDS can be competitive for high-tier MD, pre-merger?


One question i do have is how will the board scores work with the merger? I still don't know much about the USMLE vs. the COMLEX....

can anyone education me briefly on this?
 
Well, MD schools didn't take me, so either I don't become a doctor, or I become a doctor who is unlikely to match derm/ophtho/surgery. I think I'll pick the 2nd choice.
Did you mean Ortho? Surgery is not a super competitive field for DOs. There are plenty of chances to match Surgery.
 
Did you mean Ortho? Surgery is not a super competitive field for DOs. There are plenty of chances to match Surgery.
i thought surgery is quite competitive too? we usually have only a dozen people going into it 0.0. But then it's prolly because a lot of people hate the lifestyle...
 
i thought surgery is quite competitive too? we usually have only a dozen people going into it 0.0. But then it's prolly because a lot of people hate the lifestyle...
I think for general surgery, it becomes moderately competitive. Not too competitive like ENT and Ortho
 
i thought surgery is quite competitive too? we usually have only a dozen people going into it 0.0. But then it's prolly because a lot of people hate the lifestyle...

A dozen people out of one graduating class seems quite high if you ask me. A lot of Surgery is self-selection. Not many people want that life-style.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
i thought surgery is quite competitive too? we usually have only a dozen people going into it 0.0. But then it's prolly because a lot of people hate the lifestyle...

It's competitive but not out of reach. I know literally dozens of DO surgeons who didn't have trouble matching.
 
I want to get into Osteopathic Medicine because I want to serve in Navy for at least a decade.
It's my sort of mission to become a 'doctor without border.' I want to become a physician who gets along with people of different culture, background and personal history. This means I do have a strong desire to practice outside the U.S. for a short period of time (~10 years). I feel that Osteopathic Medicine will allow me to treat soldiers and war victims alike with regards to their mental health and overall well-being. 😀
 
Last edited:
It's competitive but not out of reach. I know literally dozens of DO surgeons who didn't have trouble matching.

Yeah when you include the AOA spots then general surgery is medium competitiveness honestly, I mean the average COMLEX in 2014 (last year we have data that I have seen) was a 499... which is definitely not up there with other surgical fields. ACGME is definitely more competitive. I think the future of GS competitiveness for DOs lies in how many AOA spots pass the merger. If most of them make it then the competitiveness will probably stay about medium. If a lot of them close then GS will probably become a specialty where those who match will generally have a minimum USMLE of 235+, probably 240+.
 
0/10 troll


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
The silliest thing ive seen in this forum is this response. X/10 troll is dumb. Just because you area DO ir preDO and if someone even hints to anything negative about being a DO, even if its not intentional, they are a troll.

Now correct my "ir" to make yourself feel superior about grammar on this anonymous internet forum.

Sent from my SM-G900V using SDN mobile
 
I wanted to be a DO over an MD because I thought OMM would make me a better doctor.

I'm not saying I beleived in the efficacy of OMM, which im still unsure of. Some would even say...skeptical.

I meant that I applied exclusively to osteopathic medical schools with the beleif that learning extra palpatory/ physical examination skills, learning anatomy and physiology from another perspective, and using my hands to become intimately familiar with the intact, in-vivo musculoskeletal system, would make me better equipped to treat my patients.
 
I went through a lot of stuff (personal and family) early in my college career, and as a result, my stats weren't great coming out of UG. Halfway through UG I took some time to consider my options, and couldn't see myself doing anything else. Every DO I've shadowed has been fantastic at patient care/helping me out as well. This swayed me toward Osteopathic Medicine.

At the end of the day, I just want to help people. The two letters after my name don't matter. I'm VERY grateful that I still have the opportunity to become a physician.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Top