What does Osteopathic medical school really look like

[TylerGLee]

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Hey there, so I have been researching a lot and have posted a few things regarding my interest in finding the right schools for me etc.

Within my research I found two interesting and completely opposite threads describing their experience with osteopathic medical school.

So you have Orthojoe who just to be frank sounds like a boss. Besides clearly working harder than most people I know, he seems like a nice fella. After reading his thread I was dead set that DO school would be the right choice. If he can do it, I can.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=13782069

Then no less than a couple hours later I find this second thread where this guy seems to find not only faults with his particular education but also with the DO route through medical school period.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=161700

So my question is simply what is it really like going through osteopathic school and becoming a DO. Would most people say that Orthojoe has it pretty spot on and with hard work you can be pretty happy. Additionally would people just agree that the second guy was having a bad week/ is probably just generally unhappy regardless of his path he chose... Or does the second guy make some valid points? I am sure it does for sure depend on the school and thus on the professors that you can get (which will change over time for every school). Just curious is all, if anyone else has similar or completely different experiences.

It is just challenging because lets say by some grace I am given the opportunity to go to a DO school that I like or an MD school that I like and the cost is similar and living situation etc is similar. Specifically comparing the methods of teaching, pros and cons of programs etc. After reading Orthojoe's thread I would pick the DO school hands down no questions asked (especially because in my ignorance I would like to do Ortho Surg. so he was a shining example to me). If this is a reality then that is very good. If Orthojoe is 1 in 1,000,000 then that would be good to know too...

Thanks a bunch

 

[NontradCA]

I'm pretty sure your original post is a violation of the ToS. That being said, med school/residency/life as a physician in general is stressful and people vent about it on here because there are people who understand their frustrations to network with. That's pretty much it.

 

[coolingglasses]

Don't put too much stock into individual accounts. I know you can't take a campus-wide poll but at least try to pool from other experiences.

I know I'm pretty happy here, but I know someone else in my program may not be (and there have been a couple of threads to this point over the last year).

 

[cliquesh]

Being a DO puts you at a disadvantage from the beginning, which is something you just need to accept.

No matter how smart you are or how hard you work, it is unlikely, as a DO, you will match into acgme derm, rad/onc, orthopedics, urology, ent, or neurosurgery. It is unlikely a top program in any field (besides anesthesia, PM&R, and family medicine) will take you.

Moreover, even if you take AOA residencies into account, it is unlikely you'll be a urologist, ENT, neurosurgeon or ophthalmologist coming from a DO school, simply because there are very few spots offered each year.

It is realistic to become an orthopedic surgeon coming from a DO school if you score in the +90th percentile on the comlex and are willing to attend an AOA residency.

It is realistic to go to mid to upper tier acgme program for anesthesia, PM&R, neurology, family medicine, pathology or psychiatry.

Its realistic to go to a mid tier acgme Internal medicine, pediatrics, or ob/gyn residency.

Its realistic to go to a low to mid tier acgme radiology or general surgery residency.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Being a puts you at a disadvantage from the beginning, which is something you just need to accept.

No matter how smart you are or how hard you work, it is unlikely, as a DO, you will match into acgme derm, rad/onc, orthopedics, urology, ent, or neurosurgery. It is unlikely a top program in any field (besides anesthesia, PM&R, and family medicine) will take you.

Moreover, even if you take AOA residencies into account, it is unlikely you'll be a urologist, ENT, neurosurgeon or ophthalmologist coming from a DO school, simply because there are very few spots offered each year.

It is realistic to become an orthopedic surgeon coming from a DO school if you score in the +90th percentile on the comlex and are willing to attend an AOA residency.

It is realistic to go to mid to upper tier acgme program for anesthesia, PM&R, neurology, family medicine, pathology or psychiatry.

Its realistic to go to a mid tier acgme Internal medicine, pediatrics, or ob/gyn residency.

Its realistic to go to a low to mid tier acgme radiology or general surgery residency.

This is a great post 👍. Realistic. What I bolded is very true. I've had family friends who went to DOs and matched into great programs in those fields.

 

[TylerGLee]

Awesome replies, thank you all very much

 

[SurgeDO]

go to a DO school that hosts a lot of its own residencies and you will match whichever specialty you desire.

 

[TylerGLee]

These are the 5 DO schools that I will be applying to:
DMUCOM (Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
PCOM (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine)
KCUMB (Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine)
CCOM (Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine)
ATSU-KCOM (Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine- AT Still Univ.)

So far I have heard that CCOM and PCOM has decently strong residency options both AOA and ACGME. I hear KCUMB is not quite as strong, and the other two I am not sure about period. So its pretty much if I am lucky enough to get in to a solid one.

 

[TylerGLee]

Ohh and possibly UMDNJ but I have heard either very very good things about there, or completely the opposite, very bad things. So more research is needed I think. I feel that I am not a particularly strong applicant to only be applying to 14 schools all together (9-MD 5-DO) so I feel like I should put on more? But perhaps I am just digging too much into the SDN vibe heh of "hopeless if <30 MCAT"... So continuing to ask questions and research these forums is helping.

 

[Trogghunter]

Being a DO puts you at a disadvantage from the beginning, which is something you just need to accept.
.

Except for OMT

 

[TylerGLee]

Except for OMT

Which I am generally curious to learn, although many say it can be learned regardless of DO or MD school. The only thing I would be less hesitant about is Cranial which as many other people have previously brought up on other places, seems really goofy.

 

[JediZero]

Being a DO puts you at a disadvantage from the beginning, which is something you just need to accept.

No matter how smart you are or how hard you work, it is unlikely, as a DO, you will match into acgme derm, rad/onc, orthopedics, urology, ent, or neurosurgery. It is unlikely a top program in any field (besides anesthesia, PM&R, and family medicine) will take you.

Moreover, even if you take AOA residencies into account, it is unlikely you'll be a urologist, ENT, neurosurgeon or ophthalmologist coming from a DO school, simply because there are very few spots offered each year.

It is realistic to become an orthopedic surgeon coming from a DO school if you score in the +90th percentile on the comlex and are willing to attend an AOA residency.

It is realistic to go to mid to upper tier acgme program for anesthesia, PM&R, neurology, family medicine, pathology or psychiatry.

Its realistic to go to a mid tier acgme Internal medicine, pediatrics, or ob/gyn residency.

Its realistic to go to a low to mid tier acgme radiology or general surgery residency.

I'd say this is pretty close to accurate. I think if you're a hardcore, tons of research, great personality, 40 MCAT, straight A's etc. type that chooses DO for ideological reasons, you can probably go just about anywhere provided you continue that success through medical school. If you're a clearly superior candidate, then the letters after your name are irrelevant to all but the most stodgy, closed-minded people out there. But you didn't want to work with them all the time, anyway. 😛

But for the more average student, yes. You're going to have to work harder and perform better than MD students to get the same opportunities (ACGME residencies), or you're going to have to select from an often-weaker pool of programs in locations you may not want to go (AOA). Still, it's not as if there's a high percentage of DO's who don't match- everyone goes somewhere, and even if it's not your first-choice specialty, you're still a doctor and you will still have a job for life as long as you don't do something stupid and throw it away.

As for the thread by frustratedDO. There is a certain culture inherent in the Osteopathic world, and it's a weird mix of pride and shame. The way it plays out is something of an inferiority complex, with some people fighting to 'prove' that they are superior to MDs (in terms of patient care, holistic view, OMT, whatever), while others just kind of try to quietly blend in. It sounds to me like that poster was frustrated with his experiences with the former group, and I get that. Personally, I think the best way to handle it is to just stop worrying about it and do your job. Accept that there is some history, and that the quality of the training (especially in clinical rotations) can be more variable for DOs, but at the end of the day, five years out of residency nobody cares. You're either competent or you're not; either your patients like you, or they don't.

As for OMT: Most don't really use it at all, even if they wind up in a DO residency. There's another portion (where I anticipate being myself) that uses it occasionally, when it's clearly indicated and can be easily worked into the treatment plan. Then there's the smallest subset, that uses it almost exclusively and tend to be the most skilled. The thing here is that even among these clinicians, styles vary wildly. There are docs that focus on one modality almost exclusively, and others that use everything you're taught in school and more. Most are somewhere in the middle. My OMM rotation had four docs in the office; one was exclusively cranial, one mostly cranial with a hodgepodge of other things, one was purely muscle energy/MFR, and the last did ME, cranial, MFR, HVLA and other stuff.

All that to say, you don't have to use everything they teach you. Find what you like, find what works for your patients, and do that to whatever extent makes sense for the type of practice you'd like to have.

Good luck to you, OP, wherever you choose to go. =)

 

[NekoBeats]

So my question is simply what is it really like going through osteopathic school and becoming a DO.

I wondered about this last year when I applied. I have some friends at MD schools who I interact with pretty frequently, and from what I've gathered so far, we're all learning the exact same things. The exception is that I have to learn OMM. I'm not really getting the whole holistic thing yet (which is apparently what helps to set DO's apart from MD's) but I'm only a first year so maybe I just haven't been exposed to enough of it yet.

Your experience in an osteopathic school is really going to depend on your own attitude. Personally, I'm happy here and so are most of the people in my class. There will always be people who are unsatisfied. If they go to a DO school, they wish they went MD. If they went MD, they wish they went to Harvard. You get the idea. Just be positive and work hard wherever you go; it's the best way to get through medical school.

Good luck OP 🙂

 

[TylerGLee]

Thank you all so much, yall are so great and sound pretty neutral which I appreciate. You seem to just tell it how it is and no sugar coating, its very good.

Well it looks like my choice is made for me and perhaps that is for the best. I did a GPA calculator last night just for kicks and somehow found out that my GPA is basically a hair under the 10th percentile for my allopathic schools. I for whatever reason did the math wrong previously... So with my MCAT being a 28 and my GPA as it is. Its time to make some lemonade out of these lemons and pick a solid DO school for me! And good news is I am shadowing an ortho DO monday, so that will be a great experience hopefully!

 

[Anicetus]

Most people, especially people like cliquesh nail these types of questions.

If your goal isn't neurological surgery, urological surgery, ENT, Plastic surge, (insert more crazy specialties), then don't waste more time and just apply to DO.

Not saying that the above specialties are impossible for a DO but there are only several spots for them and too many people think they are a special snowflake and that suddenly after a 3.3 GPA and a 26 MCAT that they will Flip a 180 and pull straight A's and a 260 USMLE score in medical school.

 

[Dr Yiot]

Most people, especially people like cliquesh nail these types of questions.

If your goal isn't neurological surgery, urological surgery, ENT, Plastic surge, (insert more crazy specialties), then don't waste more time and just apply to DO.

Not saying that the above specialties are impossible for a DO but there are only several spots for them and too many people think they are a special snowflake and that suddenly after a 3.3 GPA and a 26 MCAT that they will Flip a 180 and pull straight A's and a 260 USMLE score in medical school.

the only problem i have with this thought process for instance is I really wanted to do EM prior to medical school. I knew that was very achievable as a DO. However, bieng exposed to another one of those specialties which you guys have mentioned are off limits for DO's and practically impossible even through the DO match, your kind of screwed. Hence why if anyone has the opportunity to go MD I tell them to take that route. However, you will become a physicians as a DO regardless. Just not those said specialties.

 

[Anicetus]

the only problem i have with this thought process for instance is I really wanted to do EM prior to medical school. I knew that was very achievable as a DO. However, bieng exposed to another one of those specialties which you guys have mentioned are off limits for DO's and practically impossible even through the DO match, your kind of screwed. Hence why if anyone has the opportunity to go MD I tell them to take that route. However, you will become a physicians as a DO regardless. Just not those said specialties.

Agreed. I hear people change what they originally intended to do most of the time upon entering medical school.

 

[Superman DO]

I don't know about other schools, but this is what the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine looks like. . . .

 

[cliquesh]

If you're a clearly superior candidate, then the letters after your name are irrelevant to all but the most stodgy, closed-minded people out there. But you didn't want to work with them all the time, anyway

This statement, in my opinion, is not true, and I hope all of you pre-meds realize that. Lots of great places take DOs, but there are many programs that DO not. No amount of hard work will can change that.

The reason why I say this is because a friend at a local MD school got interviews at all of the places that rejected me despite the fact my usmle was 20 points higher than his and my gpa/class rank was also higher (everything else was similar). I know I'm assuming they rejected me because Im a DO, but it seems like a logical assumption to me.

I'm not saying being a DO is a bad choice or anything. I just want all of pre-meds to have realistic expectations before you attend a DO school.

 

[DrEnderW]

Most people, especially people like cliquesh nail these types of questions.

Not saying that the above specialties are impossible for a DO but there are only several spots for them and too many people think they are a special snowflake and that suddenly after a 3.3 GPA and a 26 MCAT that they will Flip a 180 and pull straight A's and a 260 USMLE score in medical school.

Agreed, Cliquesh dishes up the best info you're going to get on here.

I could not possibly agree more with the second half of your statement. There is a pervasive attitude on this forum that if a student would have just snuck in that MD school they would have gone from a very average DO student with a very average board score and CV to a transformation into an ortho gun with a 250 USMLE at the top of the class and 5 pubs. It's delusional.

To match a competitive surg specialty as alluded to previously, either ACGME as an MD or AOA as a DO, you have to have the best total package. The match rates between the two are not night and day different, although slightly slower on the AOA side.

 

[Skeeks]

This statement, in my opinion, is not true, and I hope all of you pre-meds realize that. Lots of great places take DOs, but there are many programs that DO not. No amount of hard work will can change that.

The reason why I say this is because a friend at a local MD school got interviews at all of the places that rejected me despite the fact my usmle was 20 points higher than his and my gpa/class rank was also higher (everything else was similar). I know I'm assuming they rejected me because Im a DO, but it seems like a logical assumption to me.

I'm not saying being a DO is a bad choice or anything. I just want all of pre-meds to have realistic expectations before you attend a DO school.

I see what you did there

 

[coolingglasses]

I don't know about other schools, but this is what the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine looks like. . . .

one of the better pictures posted here! the one I kept seeing from the POV of the fountain towards the CITC entrance... boring.

also that patch of dirt is now a dental school lol

 

[TylerGLee]

Really valid points, and up until last night that was my main concern (that I have brought up in a couple other threads and were never answered so clearly). The reality of my situation is, is that I am 100% open to any and all fields of medicine. In my limited time spent working/shadowing I could see myself going several routes. That is probably the strongest reason I kept sort of insisting on this point of finding if there were residency limitations for DO's. Unfortunately now that I have the answer, I have concomitantly found out that my cGPA is 3.38 and sGPA is a 3.23 with an earth shattering 28 on the MCAT heh... Which is different than the 3.6 or whatever I has previously thought (I had not included college classes I took while in highschool which I did not give a crap about and just stopped going to class).

I have actually already put off applying this year (due to financial stuff and getting married etc.) so I am going to move forward this next cycle. Looks like DO all the way for me I think. I might apply to my two allopathic schools here in Wisconsin (for those very valid reasons mentioned above) just for the crazy crapshoot chance I make it in. But I would bet money I would get prescreened..,? It sounds like I will have to make the best for the DO route and just hope that one of those more competitive specialties does not call my name, or hope that I find a nice groove and perform well in school, who knows. Again, thanks for the help, those are all some great points. Unfortunately I just do not think its in the cards for me to have that chance. Think I have to make the best of my situation instead of wasting years of time and money simply for an off chance that I would even want to go down a competitive specialty route.

 

[DrEnderW]

It sounds like I will have to make the best for the DO route and just hope that one of those more competitive specialties does not call my name, or hope that I find a nice groove and perform well in school, who knows. Think I have to make the best of my situation instead of wasting years of time and money simply for an off chance that I would even want to go down a competitive specialty route.

I know your bummed about your stats but I don't think that is the right attitude to have.

If you apply, get admitted, and graduate from a DO school, you will have the opportunity to be a fully licensed physician in this country. Have some perspective. What an amazing opportunity.

There are multiple people receiving competitive residencies from every DO school in the country. Someone has to take up all of those competitive AOA spots and someone is matching to awesome ACGME programs in EM, gas, IM, peds, etc. Why can't you be that person if you put the work in? It's not about making the best of a situation.

This is exactly the attitude future DOs should NOT have. "If I would have gotten into an MD school I probably would have just pursued ENT because that's what I'm interested in." You would suddenly be a shoe-in residency applicant against more competitive students with top board scores and publications? Yeah right. Make that commitment as a DO student and match AOA ENT or some other surg specialty if you want to. Don't blame it all on not having MD stats as a pre-med.

Sure, there are some limitations. But don't place more limitations on yourself with that attitude before even starting med school.

 

[TylerGLee]

I think it is tough for emotions to be put into writing well (especially if you are not a terribly good writer like me haha). I really am not that bummed about going the DO route. I mean in all honesty, even with talking with my wife last night, there is a part of me that is relieved. I would not be digging for scraps of the allpathic schools (applying to like 15 or 20 and maybe hearing from just one or two, then being waitlisted etc.) but instead if I continue to work hard, continue down the DO route, and hopefully have some decent interviews, maybe I will get a shot at a school or two.

I personally know two DO's in their residency now (one Allo and one osteo) and they both seem perfectly happy. One of which destroyed the USMLE and COMPLEX so I mean, for my own personal verification, there has to absolutely be some solid training in DO schools, no doubt. But sure I will probably still have that little bit of feeling where I am hoping I made the right decision and did not cut out any type of opportunity (just in case I would have wanted some crazy competitive allo residency). I am sure that once I start applying to schools and that ball starts rolling, those concerns will be gone for sure. I read on a thread that Goro has said "worry about getting into medical school first, then worry about residency." Perhaps I should for sure begin ingraining that more in my head, as who the heck knows how I will actually perform, only time will tell I suppose.

The stress or bummed out feeling particularly in my recent post is actually more because my list of schools was just cut but like 70% haha. It is challenging with so few osteopathic schools to find a solid list that:
A) I have a shot at
B) that my family would be happy at and that my wife could find work at (she is in a rare field of counseling that only a handful of states really support)
C) that I would be happy at
D) that hopefully have decent clinical years which in turn can help provide both direction and opportunity for residencies later.

It does add a little bit of complexity which I was not experiencing when I had my "make believe" decent GPA and a nice solid list of schools. But nothing that some more research cannot fix. Got a long weekend at work so hopefully I will come up with a few more schools to add to my list. Thanks again for the reality check though.

 

[DrEnderW]

It is challenging with so few osteopathic schools to find a solid list that:
B) that my family would be happy at and that my wife could find work at (she is in a rare field of counseling that only a handful of states really support)
C) that I would be happy at.

I hear you loud and clear with those two. I only seriously looked at MD and DO schools in Chicago, NYC, and San Fran for somewhat similar seasons.

I wish you the best of luck in your app process and finding the right school. Seems like your'e doing your research.

 

[FrustAndConfuse]

delete

 

[coolingglasses]

Really valid points, and up until last night that was my main concern (that I have brought up in a couple other threads and were never answered so clearly). The reality of my situation is, is that I am 100% open to any and all fields of medicine. In my limited time spent working/shadowing I could see myself going several routes. That is probably the strongest reason I kept sort of insisting on this point of finding if there were residency limitations for DO's. Unfortunately now that I have the answer, I have concomitantly found out that my cGPA is 3.38 and sGPA is a 3.23 with an earth shattering 28 on the MCAT heh... Which is different than the 3.6 or whatever I has previously thought (I had not included college classes I took while in highschool which I did not give a crap about and just stopped going to class).

I have actually already put off applying this year (due to financial stuff and getting married etc.) so I am going to move forward this next cycle. Looks like DO all the way for me I think. I might apply to my two allopathic schools here in Wisconsin (for those very valid reasons mentioned above) just for the crazy crapshoot chance I make it in. But I would bet money I would get prescreened..,? It sounds like I will have to make the best for the DO route and just hope that one of those more competitive specialties does not call my name, or hope that I find a nice groove and perform well in school, who knows. Again, thanks for the help, those are all some great points. Unfortunately I just do not think its in the cards for me to have that chance. Think I have to make the best of my situation instead of wasting years of time and money simply for an off chance that I would even want to go down a competitive specialty route.

I dunno what specialties you're interested in, but I thought it was worth noting that UW's Family Med program was recruiting at our Hospital Day fair last month. I think they're dual accredited?

 

[TylerGLee]

Not really gunning for any particular specialty, just like keeping options open.

And that is interesting to note about UW? I had no idea. Thats pretty cool.

 

[Dreamstoo]

I know your bummed about your stats but I don't think that is the right attitude to have.

If you apply, get admitted, and graduate from a DO school, you will have the opportunity to be a fully licensed physician in this country. Have some perspective. What an amazing opportunity.

There are multiple people receiving competitive residencies from every DO school in the country. Someone has to take up all of those competitive AOA spots and someone is matching to awesome ACGME programs in EM, gas, IM, peds, etc. Why can't you be that person if you put the work in? It's not about making the best of a situation.

This is exactly the attitude future DOs should NOT have. "If I would have gotten into an MD school I probably would have just pursued ENT because that's what I'm interested in." You would suddenly be a shoe-in residency applicant against more competitive students with top board scores and publications? Yeah right. Make that commitment as a DO student and match AOA ENT or some other surg specialty if you want to. Don't blame it all on not having MD stats as a pre-med.

Sure, there are some limitations. But don't place more limitations on yourself with that attitude before even starting med school.

This is so true. I have a friend who was a strong MD applicant before she took the MCAT and she scored in the mid 20s on two attempts. She went to DO and felt down about it during her first year. Then she picked it up, tried her hardest and is now in a primary care MD residency. It is not a really competitive residency but she was hesitant at first going to DO but realized with hard work, its limitations aren't huge.

 

[JediZero]

This statement, in my opinion, is not true, and I hope all of you pre-meds realize that. Lots of great places take DOs, but there are many programs that DO not. No amount of hard work will can change that.

The reason why I say this is because a friend at a local MD school got interviews at all of the places that rejected me despite the fact my usmle was 20 points higher than his and my gpa/class rank was also higher (everything else was similar). I know I'm assuming they rejected me because Im a DO, but it seems like a logical assumption to me.

I'm not saying being a DO is a bad choice or anything. I just want all of pre-meds to have realistic expectations before you attend a DO school.

Oh, I agree with that. Your situation with your friend is very common, but I'm not talking about candidates who are slightly better- I'm talking about people who are 95th percentile types with amazing resumes. Those are people who I think would get consideration almost anywhere.

 

[cliquesh]

I had a 251. He had a 232. I was in the top 20%. He was in the 50% to 60% of his class. That isn't close at all and he still did much better than I did in terms of interview invites.

The place he ended up is a place I ranked #4 or #5. I matched at my #2 so it's not the end of the world.

 

[pattr]

I had a 251. He had a 232. I was in the top 20%. He was in the 50% to 60% of his class. That isn't close at all and he still did much better than I did in terms of interview invites.

The place he ended up is a place I ranked #4 or #5. I matched at my #2 so it's not the end of the world.

glad you matched well and thanks for continually contributing on this forum... your posts are always informative and realistic.

 

[GUH]

Which I am generally curious to learn, although many say it can be learned regardless of DO or MD school. The only thing I would be less hesitant about is Cranial which as many other people have previously brought up on other places, seems really goofy.

There is nothing magical about most of OMT. It's pretty much just stretching and movement - OMT teaches you what stretches and movements to do and how to know when to use them.
I haven't done lymphatic pumps yet so I can't speak about that.

 

[thepoopologist]

Hey there, so I have been researching a lot and have posted a few things regarding my interest in finding the right schools for me etc.

Within my research I found two interesting and completely opposite threads describing their experience with osteopathic medical school.

So you have Orthojoe who just to be frank sounds like a boss. Besides clearly working harder than most people I know, he seems like a nice fella. After reading his thread I was dead set that DO school would be the right choice. If he can do it, I can.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=13782069

Then no less than a couple hours later I find this second thread where this guy seems to find not only faults with his particular education but also with the DO route through medical school period.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=161700

So my question is simply what is it really like going through osteopathic school and becoming a DO. Would most people say that Orthojoe has it pretty spot on and with hard work you can be pretty happy. Additionally would people just agree that the second guy was having a bad week/ is probably just generally unhappy regardless of his path he chose... Or does the second guy make some valid points? I am sure it does for sure depend on the school and thus on the professors that you can get (which will change over time for every school). Just curious is all, if anyone else has similar or completely different experiences.

It is just challenging because lets say by some grace I am given the opportunity to go to a DO school that I like or an MD school that I like and the cost is similar and living situation etc is similar. Specifically comparing the methods of teaching, pros and cons of programs etc. After reading Orthojoe's thread I would pick the DO school hands down no questions asked (especially because in my ignorance I would like to do Ortho Surg. so he was a shining example to me). If this is a reality then that is very good. If Orthojoe is 1 in 1,000,000 then that would be good to know too...

Thanks a bunch

Look I like Orthojoes posts too, just realize the scores he earned on his Steps aren't your average everyday scores.

 

[hallowmann]

OP, don't feel bad about dropping 70% of your schools, just apply to 1/2-2/3 of the DO programs and you'll be fine.

 

[JediZero]

I had a 251. He had a 232. I was in the top 20%. He was in the 50% to 60% of his class. That isn't close at all and he still did much better than I did in terms of interview invites.

The place he ended up is a place I ranked #4 or #5. I matched at my #2 so it's not the end of the world.

Okay, yeah, the class rank makes it a bigger difference. But again, I'm talking top 1-5%, not anything personally about you or the OP. Not trying to say it's all even, because it's definitely not.

And congratulations on matching well. 🙂

 

[JGimpel]

I agree with the more realistic comments about what chances DOs have in the residency and fellowship areas of GME. I also agree with warning people that they are highly unlikely to be that unique snowflake that gets the best scores and gets into the best program in the most competitive specialty. It will rarely happen for a DO.

I'm at a DO residency that is held together with duct tape with absolutely illiterate people running it and mine definitely isn't the exception to the AOA residencies out there.

And it's no secret that the incompetence goes up to the top leadership of our profession. Education that can't possibly help you with doing well on the COMLEX, rotations at tiny rural hospitals that offer little exposure to tough cases that teach you a lot.

 

[scarecrow90]

What about DOs matching into Mayo IM residencies? I see that DMU has done it before.

 

[cliquesh]

What about DOs matching into Mayo IM residencies? I see that DMU has done it before.

Mayo has also taken DOs for anesthesia, derm, and orthopedics recently.

It's not impossible to go to a well respected intuition from a DO school. Many top programs, however, will immediately throw your application in the trash once they see where you went to school.

By the way, some will argue that mayo isn't a top program for residency because it's fellow run blah blah blah. I think that's some SDN BS. I thought it was a very nice place when I interviewed there.

It really isn't THAT big of a deal being a DO. Just have realistic expections before you start and you won't be disappointed.

 

[circulus vitios]

What about DOs matching into Mayo IM residencies? I see that DMU has done it before.

Last year or the year before, a student from AZCOM matched Mayo dermatology. 😱

I guess it is possible...just highly unlikely.

 

[JGimpel]

What about DOs matching into Mayo IM residencies? I see that DMU has done it before.

Beware the curse of the "unique snowflake."

 

[Anicetus]

Beware the curse of the "unique snowflake."

It seems to be all the rave here in the osteopathic forums.

 

[JoyKim456]

This might be a bit late but does doing really well on the USMLE whilst going to a DO improve your chances?

 

[asdf123g]

This might be a bit late but does doing really well on the USMLE whilst going to a DO improve your chances?

it improves your chances. but from what i gather, MD recidencies are still more likely to take the MD over you even if your scores are better. Youre better off going MD if youre looking to match into a competitve residency/specialty. Itll be much better for your chances. @cliquesh can agree im sure. I think he posted in this thread already though so me stating this and him restating is just redundant.

 

[samac]

If you're just now applying it's hard to comment on what the future looks like for DO residencies.
The residency options will all be ACGME by 2020, so MDs and DOs are going for All the same residencies, no more AOA match. I don't know if programs will change their outlook on DOs that were previously not very welcoming. I don't know how many MDs are going to take spots in specialties hard to get into that used to be DO only.