As a D.O student, I love the philosophy behind OMM, which was the main reason I was interested in D.O schools in the first place. Willen is right, not everything works, or is a permanent fix, but when a technique does work, it's amazing. I've been to the OMM specialists here at PCOM for back pain and pulled muscles, and I can tell you a lot of what they have done for me helps (although sometimes only temporarily).
What I love about learning OMM is that it teaches me to think very anatomically and physiologically. Yeah, you have to memorize things, but trying to figure out OMM makes you think through things. It will always be a second tool in your toolbox, and you will never be afraid to touch a patient, that is for sure.
Biggest Downfalls:
We do the same requirements that any MD student will do, PLUS OMM, so most of the time, for most of us, OMM is always put on the back-burner. I don't go to OMM lectures, I don't usually do prep work before lab, I don't study for OMM until a few days before the exams (and never look at lectures other than this time), not because I am lazy, but because I am focusing on the other core material that is a bigger part of my GPA, and because after working on that, I like to have some semblance of a life. I always do fine on all of the practicals/exams, so it's not that it's not doable. You just have to decide if you want it on the back-burner all of the time. And then it is as least 20% of the COMLEX.
A lot of us won't use it in practice if we never become comfortable with it. I shadowed an amazing D.O in college who told me that the only reason he is good at manipulation (he is an ObGyn), is because his mentor during his residency used it all the time. So why learn something if you don't think you'll want to use it? I use little things on my friends/family all the time, so I am glad I am learning it.
Bottom line, it seems like you are most comfortable going the MD route, and want to know what it would be like to be a D.O student if you don't get into an MD program, and that's okay. A lot of students use D.O as a second choice, and it's actually smart because you save time and don't lose however many years of salary that it had taken you to get into an MD program, but if can't see yourself dealing with the downfalls, than I wouldn't waste your time applying/interviewing. I definitely don't have the time to do all of the research that my MD colleagues have time to do, so I am thankful we have both types of programs, because it is beneficial to have doctors with the different experiences and styles.
