Hey guys! Just wanted to know if anybody has done that in the past? Start AUC in Sept'07 or more likely in Jan'08 and still hope to match in 2011 or wait for D.O in Sept 2008? Both are sure things, the only thing I'm (a lot) closer to being 40 years young than 20 . But I beg you not to turn it into ever-nausiating M.D vs D.O thread. I've been around the block a few times, and asking a very specific question. BTW, what I want to get out of it is PM&R with possibly a pain management fellowship down the road, psycho (somatics) / (genics) field, may be neuro or psych. I know all of these had been attained by AUC grads in the past, and pushing 40 doesn't make me any younger. Your thoughts, and opinions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks All!

Depends on how much that year really means to you. Graduate when you're 44 or 45, finish residency when you're 50.

It also depends on the current state of your finances. I don't know how much the DO school costs, but you'll be pulling over $200,000 worth of loans by going to AUC, and do you think you'll be able to pay it back?

How about your family?

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Well, we live in NYC. I know that AUC has some awesome rotations in Brooklyn, and other NY areas. I think that debt could be significantly reduced if there isn't too much of moving around. D.O schools are in $35,000 area. So not really much cheaper. Family is a tough one. But SXM is easy to get to and from JFK or any other Tr-State airports. Though, my kid is still young, I won't be able to spend much time there either way. Clinical years should not be as bad as basic science for me. I've got a lot of health care, including hospital experience under my belt. And if I can rotate in NY then I can live with my family. BTW, I'm not really 40 (just pushing it). I'm 37 now . One of my big concerns for going Carib is a tough competition with newly opened (including in NYC area) D.O schools. So, that's my dilemma in a nutshell.
Thanks

newly opened allopathic school i would probably choose over either, but newly minted DO? even established DO - i would pick foreign MD (though i did pick foreign MD over charter class DO)- depends on whether DOs are well represented in PM&R and if you are willing to wait a year to have the DO degree. PM&R is not too too difficult to get out of the caribbean.

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i guess it really comes down to whether you care about the extra year or not. if you do choose AUC for jan..... you really have no room for error when scheduling rotations (core and electives). you also need to take step 1 asap to start clinicals asap. its either that or you will miss the match. i know somebody who missed the match (even though he did very well in school and the steps). now he is trying to land a spot off cycle.

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Dr. Scott
Internal Medicine
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AUC Forum Moderator

I'd say that out of all the specialties out there PM&R tends to be the most D.O-frienndly. If my choice was between D.O and Carib now I'd take D.O in the heartbeat. But it's not about M.D vs D.O for me. I couldn't careless more since I work with these guys every day. It's that I'm already late in the game, and want to start already. But rotation spots...what about thoese? Do you guys think D.O schools will take away some of those from Carib schools? I really dread starting in the Carib now only to find out that my rotations spots went to D.O school I could've gone to, albeit a year later.

AUC seems to be getting new core rotation sites exclusively in NY; I can't imagine that we will run out of spots in the next five years.

That's really good to know .
Thanks

What? We have to pay it back?

I'll be 50 when I finish residency (if I ever get there). I plan on financing the loan out for as many years as they'll let me. I'll die on them before it's paid off.

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John Gilbert

"Zip it, Kreskin! Wear a cup. It gets tough out there." - Dennis Miller

I passed up NYCOM to come down here. You are right, you will save a ton of money when you head back to NY. The way I figure it, the total cost should be 160 -180k if you stayed at home during rotations.

Here is what I passed up - higher tuition from NYCOM but a sure thing for residencies

Having to worry about failing while not having that pressure at NYCOM - at least not the way its like here

Living in NY with Con Ed/ DEP making sure everyone is happy vs 3rd world country with a lousy Utility Co.

I could go on and on but you should be the one making the list not me.

American Holidays Vs Queen day


I know I shouldn't but MD Vs DO - this one was a personal decision.


I would strongly consider NYCOM because of that advantage you gain by going to a US school.

This is my take since I was once in your shoes albeit not in the same age category.