Big 3 or Osteopathic School: Which offers more opportunity?

[USIMG2008]

I am currently deciding on whether to apply to either a Big 3 Caribbean school or a US Osteopathic program. My goal is to get into a Diagnostic Radiology residency, through which program will I have a better chance of getting a residency in Radiology? A DO program or Big 3? The Osteopathic programs I am looking at are Touro University in California and Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Also as far as overall residence placement in other fields such as ER or Surgery, out of which schools will I have more opportunities? The DO or Big 3 Caribbean programs? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[stephew]

please do a search on this as its discussed frequently. Also "big three" is a really unfortunate term that's caught on. Its a lazy way to say most famous and successful three but its become misconstrued as the only viable way to go.
steph.

[dawgdoc]

DO licensed in all 50 states.
SGU,AUC,Ross licensed all in 50 states.
I know a DO that is head of the ER at a hospital in WA state.
I know an MD that is head of the ER at a hospital in WA state.
Score high on the USMLE or the COMLEX and doors will open.
If you are west coast check out Western University(DO) in Pomona,CA.
Apply to several programs-better chance you will get into one of them.
If you want to practice outside the US-then MD.DO is only accepted in UK and recenctly Germany I think.

[stephew]

DO licensed in all 50 states.
SGU,AUC,Ross licensed all in 50 states.
I know a DO that is head of the ER at a hospital in WA state.
I know an MD that is head of the ER at a hospital in WA state.
Score high on the USMLE or the COMLEX and doors will open.
If you are west coast check out Western University(DO) in Pomona,CA.
Apply to several programs-better chance you will get into one of them.
If you want to practice outside the US-then MD.DO is only accepted in UK and recenctly Germany I think.

not all MDs from one country are accepted in other countries actually and particularly from off-shore schools. please continue thread here:
http://www.valuemd.com/viewtopic.php?t=10789&start=0

[Japhethi]

I am currently deciding on whether to apply to either a Big 3 Caribbean school or a US Osteopathic program. My goal is to get into a Diagnostic Radiology residency, through which program will I have a better chance of getting a residency in Radiology? A DO program or Big 3? The Osteopathic programs I am looking at are Touro University in California and Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Also as far as overall residence placement in other fields such as ER or Surgery, out of which schools will I have more opportunities? The DO or Big 3 Caribbean programs? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

DO school any day, any time.

[stephew]

DO school any day, any time.

as stated on the prior threads: anyone who makes sweeping generalizationson this particular topic should be taken with lots and lots of salt; this is a topic like relion and politics and stirs people to try to "win" the argument without rationality. Many have an agenda and can't provide a thoughtful view.
http://www.valuemd.com/viewtopic.php?t=10789&start=0

[rdecastro]

DO licensed in all 50 states.
SGU,AUC,Ross licensed all in 50 states.
I know a DO that is head of the ER at a hospital in WA state.
I know an MD that is head of the ER at a hospital in WA state.
Score high on the USMLE or the COMLEX and doors will open.
If you are west coast check out Western University(DO) in Pomona,CA.
Apply to several programs-better chance you will get into one of them.
If you want to practice outside the US-then MD.DO is only accepted in UK and recenctly Germany I think.

not all MDs from one country are accepted in other countries actually and particularly from off-shore schools. please continue thread here:
http://www.valuemd.com/viewtopic.php?t=10789&start=0

Are US licensed physicians excluded anywhere? Do other countries make distinctions on where you went to Med School (FMG/USMG)?

[stephew]

Are US licensed physicians excluded anywhere? Do other countries make distinctions on where you went to Med School (FMG/USMG)?
Yes they are. And yes they do.
Steph.

[GeorgeMD2B]

Since your interest is in getting into a competive residency, Radiology, the DO route is a better pathway than the Caribbean. If you go to a DO school, you will be recognized as a US graduate and you will be ranked just below US allopathic graduates. DOs can get into residencies like Radiology, Ortho, and ER that would be very difficult for IMGs.

Another positive is with regards to licensure, in certain areas, particularly mountain states and other parts of the Western region, its easier for a DO to get licensed. Some highly desirable Western states like Colorado and Washington are notoriously difficult for IMGs. Some new legislation in Texas is also another issue to consider.

With regards to financing a DO degree, it will be a lot easier to get financial aid for a DO program than for a foreign school. For one thing the Stafford loan limit for US allopathic and osteopathic schools is much higher, you can borrow about $38,000 a year, for a foreign school Stafford will only cover you up to $18,500 annually. So in many cases to finance a foreign medical degree you will need to get a loan from a private bank, and to do this you need to have a very good credit rating.
With regards to scholarships, it is easier to get a scholarship for a DO program than for a foreign school. For example the US Military HPSP scholarship is only available for students at accredited US medical schools and Osteopathic students are eligible.

The only downside is that you will have DO behind your name rather than MD. Some people complain that its problem but in reality you will do pretty much the same job as a comparably trained allopathic doctor.

[stephew]

Since your interest is in getting into a competive residency, Radiology, the DO route is a better pathway than the Caribbean. If you go to a DO school, you will be recognized as a US graduate and you will be ranked just below US allopathic graduates. . Inocrrect. You as a DO are seen as an IMG: someone who failed to get into a US school and you are not ranked as a policy above IMGs and "just below" US grads. MOst DO's go into primary care but do the leg work yourself: look at the individual web sites of sgu, auc etc and sevceral osteopath schools and see for yourself where people go. But on the other side of the fence you shouldnt worry about ahving a "DO" behind your name. That's a poor reason to reject that option. ITs a perfectly viable alternative.
steph

[Dr.Jeckyl]

Up to you.... You can get what U want with either, however it's up to you on how you perform on your boards. Both are pretty much the same, CaribIMGs usually perform their clerkships in inner city hospitals along with DO students, e.g. Wyckoff, Brookdale, etc in NY and St. Michaels in Newark. So your pretty much looked at by PDs as in the same arena as Caribgrads. Would you want a DO or MD after your name. And are you truly interested in osteopathic medicine? It's up to you. I went to AUC, I know of a couple of people who obtained rads. One pre-matched, the other matched. So, it certainly can happen.