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finally got into a medical school

The good thing: it's in state, so cheap tuition
The VERY bad thing: It's a D.O. school, which means my future prospects are diminished about 50%. To put things into perspective, if I wanted to do cosmetic surgery as an MD, there are about 100something residencies. For a DO, there are 2. Great.

I didn't even get into my alma mater even though I got a 30 on the MCAT and they are known to let people in that have the same or worse GPA as I do, and way lower MCAT scores (i.e. 22s and whatnot). I wanted to just stay here so I don't have to get a new house, move all my stuff, etc, etc. I mean it's better than not getting in anywhere, but it's barely better.

Suffice to say, it could've been worse, but I am wayyyyy not happy.
 
Congrats! So exactly what is the difference between a D.O and an M.D? I've never even heard of a D.O.
 
I've never even heard of a D.O.
Well there you go.....

DO is Doctor of Osteopathics. It's basically the same as an MD but you take one extra class about manipulation of the body. MDs learn to treat a problem, DOs learn to treat the system/whole body. I.e. a DO will look at a person's diet, excercize habits, etc. There's a lot of prejudice against DOs though from MDs. Mds think they're a lot better even though they're both pretty much exactly the same and both get the job done just as effectively. And like I said, way less residencies for DOs. I wanted to do derm, but there are a total of ZERO dermatology residencies for DOs.
 
Well, congratulations nonetheless :). It may not be an M.D., but you could get your D.O. and then if you're still up to it, have a better shot at an M.D. but then again that sounds like a whole lot of schooling... Then again you could always reapply next year? Medical school isn't always easy to get into on your first try.
 
Congrats on your acceptance. However, based on your view of this acceptance, I'd recommend that you be very certain before accepting it. It stinks if you put in all that time & are not happy with the degree/title that you end up with.... There are other options ....
 
Well there are still quite a few places out of state I have yet to hear from, and 1 more instate. However, none of them seem very likely to accept me since out of state places usually only take 2-3% out of state applicants. Since classes are 120-160, thats what? 8 people max?

I've wanted to be a doctor since I was 10, so its better than nothing. Once you're able to practice, DO and MD are pretty much exactly the same, so it doesnt matter too much in the end, I just don't want to be sidelined into primary care like lots of DOs are. If I had to spend 8 years of my life learning to look at sore throats until I die, I would not be very pleased to say the least. I can always go and try to transfer out my first year. Like I said, its not over yet. I coudl still get in somewhere else, but I doubt it :(
 
Well, even if you do end up in primary care, you will still be saving a ton of lives. In fact you can probably help more people (and save lives) as a primary care physician than a specialist.
 
so much for "knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system is astronomically deep"
 
I know I'll be saving lives and helping people...thats one of the reasons I wanted to be a doctor in the first place. I still am driven by that, and its the reason why I'll go and do it anyway, I'm just worried about residency. You can be a DO and be a hand surgeon and help a ton of people. Can you imagine if you couldn't use a hand or two? Even fixing carpal tunnel is a ton of help to anyone who has it. Hand surgery is cool, and I might do that, but like I said, I was really looking into derm and neuro-spine. I had horrible acne from about 13-18, and though its much improved, I still have it to an extent. Its not life threatening or anything, but its damn embarrassing and a horrible thing to have, which is why I've been so attracted to derm. I'd like to help people that have had to suffer through the same as I have. I know its not brain surgery, but at a time when your peers are overly critical and you're impressionable, not getting made fun of on a daily basis helps. I went through it and it sucked, but I guess I'm a stronger person for it. Doesn't bother me anymore though.

so much for "knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system is astronomically deep"
Why's that? Because I didn't get into my alma mater or what? I am still waiting on about 8 other schools, but just because I understand the ins and outs of the health care system does not guarantee admission. I did get into at least one place. Just having the mental capacity to be accepted automatically puts you in the top 3% of the brainpower in the nation. I'm only discouraged because I would've liked to have stayed here, not moved, etc. To be honest, the biggest reason I didn't get in is because I turned my application in about 2 weeks before the deadline. Much less intelligent and worse candidates than I had (i.e. 22-26 MCAT) already interviewed by the time my application was processed. I would've applied earlier but I wanted to finish that semester, since I was still taking some classes that were covered on the MCAT. I did get a 30 after all, which is 3 points higher than the national average (my essay was about 5 points higher than national average, but no one really cares about that)
 
  • #10
Adam, that was a low blow and thoroughly uncalled for. We frown upon that sort of thing here.

:nono:
 
  • #11
Congratulations! Looks like we will be seeing less of you around here. :-(
 
  • #12
Congrats on your MCAT score and on your acceptance. I wouldn’t sweat it too much; go where the wind takes you for a bit and then set your course.
 
  • #13
The future of healthcare will be more osteopathic and less allopathic, so you're going the right direction whether you think so right now or not. Congratulations.
 
  • #14
Thanks guys.

I like allopathic medicine. My dad is a DO after all :D.

However, I just wish MDs would stop being prejudice against DOs for pretty much absolutely no reason. Then I would actually be happy right now haha
 
  • #15
However, I just wish MDs would stop being prejudice against DOs for pretty much absolutely no reason.

Bah! Who wants to hang out with stuffy ole' MD's at conferences anyhow?! Congrats, Phission. I'm sure that, if you decide to go there, once you get into the class work and research you'll feel at home and be more satisfied than you are now.

Adam, that was a low blow and thoroughly uncalled for. We frown upon that sort of thing here.

Not to mention irrelevant.

xvart.
 
  • #16
There's less difference between an MD and a DO now and MDs have done the most of the adjusting - learning that health requires more than just a physician's intervention every now and then to cure something.
 
  • #17
Congratulations man! :D
 
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