Who applied to BOTH MD & DO schools?

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youreokandimok

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Hey everyone. I was just curious how many of you applied to both osteopathic & allopathic programs. I applied to both, and got accepted to both. I've worked with both types of physicians for over three years in an emergency department.

I was interested in DO because of the philosophy and emphasis to holistic/preventive care. I was also very interested in acquiring OMM skills. But after working with DOs and MDs, I must say I never really saw a difference in how both types of physicians practiced medicine.

I decided to go allopathic. How about the rest of you guys, and why?
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Something in my gut tells me that this thread will be locked in the near future. :smuggrin:
 
youreokandimok said:
Hey everyone. I was just curious how many of you applied to both osteopathic & allopathic programs. I applied to both, and got accepted to both. I've worked with both types of physicians for over three years in an emergency department.

I was interested in DO because of the philosophy and emphasis to holistic/preventive care. I was also very interested in acquiring OMM skills. But after working with DOs and MDs, I must say I never really saw a difference in how both types of physicians practiced medicine.

I decided to go allopathic. How about the rest of you guys, and why?
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congrats on your multiple exceptions, if you want to pass one of those over to me...that would be pretty good.
 
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just curious, MDs and ODs are just name of their degrees right? and they both can be specialists of the same field correct? like they can both be cardiologist, or plastic surgeons?
 
Alphabet soup time:

MD: Medicinae Doctor: Physician. US model (4 years college -> 4 years med school.)
DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine: Physician. US model (4 years college -> 4 years med school.)
MBBS: Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae: Physician. The rest of the world model (2 years high school preparatory -> 6 years med school.)
MD/MS: Medicinae Doctor/Master of Surgery: Attending. Indian model (6 years med school -> 1 year internship -> 3 years residency.)
DM/MCh: Doctorate of Medicine/Magister Chirurgiae: Specialist. Indian model (6 years med school -> 1 year internship -> 3 years residency -> 3 years fellowship.)

OD: Oculis Doctor: Optometrist. US model (4 years college -> 4 years optometry school.)
DDS: Doctor of Dental Surgery. US model (4 years college -> 4 years dental school.)
DMD / BDS / CD: Doctor of Dental Medicine / Bachelor of Dental Surgery / Doctor of Dentistry. Other models (4 years college -> 4 years dental school or 2 years high school preparatory -> 4 years dental school.)
DPM: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. US model (4 years college -> 4 years podiatry school.)
DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy. US model (4 years college -> 4 years physical therapy school.)
DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice. US model (4 years BSN -> 2 years MSN -> 2-4 years DNP.)
ND or NDM: Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. US model (4 years college -> 4 years Naturopathy school.)
 
Cleavername said:
just curious, MDs and ODs are just name of their degrees right? and they both can be specialists of the same field correct? like they can both be cardiologist, or plastic surgeons?
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MDs and DOs can, yes. OD's are optometrists (not to be confused with a ophthalmologists, which are physicians).

I am applying MD and at least one DO school as well (PCOM). Staying in the Philadelphia area is really important to us (I'm married), so I may choose PCOM over an MD school that would require us to move. It's not that simple for us, though, money is also a big factor, but I'm applying to at least one DO school, PCOM, and maybe UMDNJ-SOM and another one or two, but not likely.
 
I applied both MD and DO. I got accepted to my first-choice DO, and waiting for a reply from my first-choice MD school. I am on the fence between what I would do if I were accepted to the MD school... but since I want to go into primary care, learning OMT would be great to know... so I am leaning more towards the DO program.
 
I applied to both, but was only accepted osteopathic. Sooooo glad I was open-minded, and very excited that I get to be a doctor. ^.^
 
Applied to both, loved DMU. Went with the MD school that gave me a full scholarship :)
 
I applied to all the med schools in the Philadelphia area. Accepted to PCOM, rejected from Temple, now waiting on word from Drexel. If I get accepted to Drexel, it will be almost impossible for me to decide.

However, I might go via the superficial route and go allopathic, although I have great respect for the osteopathic physician that wrote me a LOR. He has done better for himself than most MDs I know.
 
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why would anyone want DO at the end of their name? might as well write loser instead................................... hehehehehe
 
Sesom said:
why would anyone want DO at the end of their name? might as well write loser instead................................... hehehehehe
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I hope to god you're attempting a joke.
 
Just to clarify, I didn't start this thread with the intention of initiating a bash session. I posed the question b/c I have a mutual respect for both MD's and DO's and was considering a career in either field. I was just curious what other people in my scenario felt about the whole thing :)
 
Applied to both. Accepted at both. Chose the school that I got the best vibe from and was the best match for me.
 
Interviewed at 3 DO schools, accepted to all 3. Applied to 5 MD schools, interviewed at 4, waitlisted at 3 and then accepted off the waitlist to 2 of the 3.

Now I am deciding between a close DO school and an MD school a few hours away... It's a hard decision, but I am really thankful to have the opportunity.
 
What if the adcoms bring up this question: Why MD instead of DO? (or vice versa)

Personally, I'm attracted to the DO philosophy, but I understand that osteopathic doctors can't practice within the full scope of medicine in some countries outside of the U.S.? Could I mention that I want to do some medical missions as a future doctor and being a DO could possibly affect this? I don't know how else to answer this question without bashing the other side. Thanks for any insight!
 
Hanzo Hasashi said:
What if the adcoms bring up this question: Why MD instead of DO? (or vice versa)

Personally, I'm attracted to the DO philosophy, but I understand that osteopathic doctors can't practice within the full scope of medicine in some countries outside of the U.S.? Could I mention that I want to do some medical missions as a future doctor and being a DO could possibly affect this? I don't know how else to answer this question without bashing the other side. Thanks for any insight!
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When I was asked if I preferred MD over DO or vice versa, I answered that I simply want to be a physician and that the initials at the end of my name do not matter. My strategy was to apply to schools within my stat range, in a certain geographical area, as well as a few 'reach' or 'dream' schools. I decided based on the best fit for me, regardless of if the program was allopathic or osteopathic (as several people above have stated).

IF you want to practice overseas, there are some limits for DO's (however, there are some countries where osteopathic practice is unlimited):

View attachment international-practice-rights.pdf
 
Hanzo Hasashi said:
What if the adcoms bring up this question: Why MD instead of DO? (or vice versa)

Personally, I'm attracted to the DO philosophy, but I understand that osteopathic doctors can't practice within the full scope of medicine in some countries outside of the U.S.? Could I mention that I want to do some medical missions as a future doctor and being a DO could possibly affect this? I don't know how else to answer this question without bashing the other side. Thanks for any insight!
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Unless you mention shadowing experience of a DO or something similar that would indicate your interests lie in the DO route, no MD school is going to ask you. At the very least, its not likely.
 
Don't you have to have a letter of recommendation from a DO doctor to apply to DO schools? I've heard this before, but was not sure if it was just a rumor or if it was true.
 
paperaeroplane said:
Don't you have to have a letter of recommendation from a DO doctor to apply to DO schools? I've heard this before, but was not sure if it was just a rumor or if it was true.
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some schools have it as a requirement, others have it as strongly recommended.
 
Cybii said:
I applied both MD and DO. I got accepted to my first-choice DO, and waiting for a reply from my first-choice MD school. I am on the fence between what I would do if I were accepted to the MD school... but since I want to go into primary care, learning OMT would be great to know... so I am leaning more towards the DO program.
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I think there are some allopathic schools where you have the option of doing OMT as one of your 4th year electives. I'm not sure though, and haven't done any research on the topic.
 
paperaeroplane said:
Don't you have to have a letter of recommendation from a DO doctor to apply to DO schools? I've heard this before, but was not sure if it was just a rumor or if it was true.
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Some schools require it, some recommend it, and others couldn't care less.
 
youreokandimok said:
Just to clarify, I didn't start this thread with the intention of initiating a bash session. I posed the question b/c I have a mutual respect for both MD's and DO's and was considering a career in either field. I was just curious what other people in my scenario felt about the whole thing :)
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Any type of "MD vs DO" question is a sensitive issue on SDN so don't worry about it. I started a somewhat similar thread a few months ago; it turned into a huge flamefest after a few replies.
 
I applied to both and was accepted at both. I ultimately decided to go to the allopathic school because I felt like Tulane had much more of a public and international health focus than the DO schools I was accepted at, but I think it's a decision that each person needs to make based upon personal fit and cost.
 
Applied to and accepted at both. Always intended to go MD if I got in but I wouldn't turn down DO.
 
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