What DO Schools to apply to?

[brodaiga]

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I am coming over from the pre-allo forum and see a lot of good posts in here. Here is my situation: for this current cycle, I applied to MD only and am currently on 2 waitlists (applied late cause of AUG MCAT). In thinking about reapplying, I will add D.O. schools to my list, but not just as a "backup," so please don't flame me. (I will not list my reasons for sake of making this post shorter).

Below are a list of my stats:

- Georgia State University-using D.O. gpa calculations high 3.9 Science, 3.7 overall, and 3.9 total.
-28 MCAT, 9, 9 , 10
-lots of clinical experiences (EMT, showding, volunteering) and some research experiences
-various institutional honors.
-have never shadowed a D.O. so applying with no rec letter from D.O. but have one from an MD

What I want in a school:

-location next to a big city (cali, nyc, chicago)
-a good reputation
-a match list showing a healthy number of specialties

I will be applying to around 6-7 Schools. Which ones should I choose? Let the comments begin

 

[bbake87]

I am coming over from the pre-allo forum and see a lot of good posts in here. Here is my situation: for this current cycle, I applied to MD only and am currently on 2 waitlists (applied late cause of AUG MCAT). In thinking about reapplying, I will add D.O. schools to my list, but not just as a "backup," so please don't flame me. (I will not list my reasons for sake of making this post shorter).

Below are a list of my stats:

- Georgia State University-using D.O. gpa calculations high 3.9 Science, 3.7 overall, and 3.9 total.
-28 MCAT, 9, 9 , 10
-lots of clinical experiences (EMT, showding, volunteering) and some research experiences
-various institutional honors.
-have never shadowed a D.O. so applying with no rec letter from D.O. but have one from an MD

What I want in a school:

-location next to a big city (cali, nyc, chicago)
-a good reputation
-a match list showing a healthy number of specialties

I will be applying to around 6-7 Schools. Which ones should I choose? Let the comments begin

It is almost scary how much my situation mirrors your's. Also, my criteria for selecting a DO school (big city, good matches, etc.) reflects that of your own. After a ton of scrutiny and considering retaking that blasted MCAT I decided to go to Midwestern of Chi-town. Their match list was crazy impressive (Duke, San Francisco, etc.) w/ a lot of diversity. Obviously I am a little bias, but it is just something for you to kick around.

Billy

 

[raptor5]

Below are the Pros and Cons of PCOM from one of my previous posts. You decide. Many people are going to spout off Stats about Board scores, number that went into specialties, how their school is the best, etc. I am just providing what I believe are highlights of PCOM from MY perspective.
Good Luck

PCOM -
Pros - A reputation (Not one practicing MD physician has said anything bad about PCOM to my face). The school has been around since 1899. Only two other DO schools have been around for 100 years or longer. Well respected by allopathic schools (in Philly and that is a fact), most allopathic osteopathic school there is. Many hospitals (double digits in Philly) to rotate through. You WILL rotate with allopathic students in your 3rd and 4th year. Major healthcare hub of the US with 5 allopathic and 1 other Osteopathic school in the area. (UMDNJ, Penn, Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, Penn State) as well as the largest concentration of Pharm. Companies and Medical Research in the US. OMM faculty has practically written a 1/4 of the FOM (Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine) book. Lecturers from all the med schools I listed above. Most lecturers are clinicians and are top notch. Physiology prof is an MD, PhD and also an Emed doc at Einstein in Philly. Plenty of research if interested; basic science and OMM. OMM dept is well funded with an extensive research dept. Pathology taught by a pathologist who was a family doc before he was a pathologist. I do not know what to say about Papa Doc Fogel other than he knows his stuff, feels for us, and loves to teach or least he appears to anyway. Great Parking - Parking garage that is great during the winter. Great gym and facilities thanx to the 76ers. Lectures are scribed and also recorded on MP3 files which are available online.

Cons - OMM dept. can't keep faculty around very long b/c they keep leaving to either chair depts. or run residency programs. OMM is quite heavy on the HVLA and muscle energy. OMM faculty are an odd bunch but very nice people. Radiology is in limbo as they are w/o anyone permanent to teach it right now. All Rad lectures for cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonology 1st year classes have been put off until further notice. Lack of planning got them into this bind by relying on a very old prof that has multiple medical problems. Primary care skills class is run by the chair of FM who is also the residency director; like he doesn't already have enough to do. Class size is too large for my liking but then again I came from a very small undergrad. No hospital of their own. They had one but it was in financial turmoil when they bought it, so now it is a vacant lot next to the school. Tuition is an arm and a leg but comparable to other PA med schools, yes even state schools. You'll often have two of the same lecture starting in the 3rd trimester b/c the lecturers are coming from say UPENN and PCOM. No biggy and it is usually taught in reference to something else, but there is quite a bit of repetition in the clinical lectures. There are many other little things but they are probably just my pet peeves.

 

[brodaiga]

Below are the Pros and Cons of PCOM from one of my previous posts. You decide. Many people are going to spout off Stats about Board scores, number that went into specialties, how their school is the best, etc. I am just providing what I believe are highlights of PCOM from MY perspective.
Good Luck

PCOM -
Pros - A reputation (Not one practicing MD physician has said anything bad about PCOM to my face). The school has been around since 1899. Only two other DO schools have been around for 100 years or longer. Well respected by allopathic schools (in Philly and that is a fact), most allopathic osteopathic school there is. Many hospitals (double digits in Philly) to rotate through. You WILL rotate with allopathic students in your 3rd and 4th year. Major healthcare hub of the US with 5 allopathic and 1 other Osteopathic school in the area. (UMDNJ, Penn, Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, Penn State) as well as the largest concentration of Pharm. Companies and Medical Research in the US. OMM faculty has practically written a 1/4 of the FOM (Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine) book. Lecturers from all the med schools I listed above. Most lecturers are clinicians and are top notch. Physiology prof is an MD, PhD and also an Emed doc at Einstein in Philly. Plenty of research if interested; basic science and OMM. OMM dept is well funded with an extensive research dept. Pathology taught by a pathologist who was a family doc before he was a pathologist. I do not know what to say about Papa Doc Fogel other than he knows his stuff, feels for us, and loves to teach or least he appears to anyway. Great Parking - Parking garage that is great during the winter. Great gym and facilities thanx to the 76ers. Lectures are scribed and also recorded on MP3 files which are available online.

Cons - OMM dept. can't keep faculty around very long b/c they keep leaving to either chair depts. or run residency programs. OMM is quite heavy on the HVLA and muscle energy. OMM faculty are an odd bunch but very nice people. Radiology is in limbo as they are w/o anyone permanent to teach it right now. All Rad lectures for cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonology 1st year classes have been put off until further notice. Lack of planning got them into this bind by relying on a very old prof that has multiple medical problems. Primary care skills class is run by the chair of FM who is also the residency director; like he doesn't already have enough to do. Class size is too large for my liking but then again I came from a very small undergrad. No hospital of their own. They had one but it was in financial turmoil when they bought it, so now it is a vacant lot next to the school. Tuition is an arm and a leg but comparable to other PA med schools, yes even state schools. You'll often have two of the same lecture starting in the 3rd trimester b/c the lecturers are coming from say UPENN and PCOM. No biggy and it is usually taught in reference to something else, but there is quite a bit of repetition in the clinical lectures. There are many other little things but they are probably just my pet peeves.

Thank You, keep them coming

 

[dr.z]

CCOM, NYCOM, and Western/COMP are all in or near large city. They all accept students without DO letters.

 

[raptor5]

CCOM, NYCOM, and Western/COMP are all in or near large city. They all accept students without DO letters.

PCOM may talk about requiring a DO LOR but the OP's stats are good enough that any LOR will do. That will get you the interview. It is your spot to lose from there.

Is that all you have to say about CCOM, NYCOM, and COMP?

I would stay away from PCOM-Atlanta. Too new. Wait until profs get the bugs worked out. Understand it is the same PCOM curriculum with different profs. Profs don't have the luxury of giving the same lecture for 5-10 years +.

 

[VentdependenT]

AZCOM 05 match

http://mwunet.midwestern.edu/academic/AZCOM/azcomDean.htm

Good school if you put the extra mile in for clinicals. Emphasis on extra. There's plenty to search on the Osteopathic forums concerning the school.

 

[Truce57]

AZCOM 05 match

http://mwunet.midwestern.edu/academic/AZCOM/azcomDean.htm

Good school if you put the extra mile in for clinicals. Emphasis on extra. There's plenty to search on the Osteopathic forums concerning the school.

Agreed. Of all the schools (MD and DO) that I interviewed at, AZCOM is number two on my list overall and number one of DO programs. I have a friend there, so I understand the clinical rotations, and if Phoenix is big enough for you (it is for me, and I'm getting the heck out of Cincinnati) then it's a great school.

 

[brodaiga]

Agreed. Of all the schools (MD and DO) that I interviewed at, AZCOM is number two on my list overall and number one of DO programs. I have a friend there, so I understand the clinical rotations, and if Phoenix is big enough for you (it is for me, and I'm getting the heck out of Cincinnati) then it's a great school.

could you summazrize what is different about their clinicals?