Interesting about DO schools

[Bill Cornbread]

I have a relative that is graduating from a DO school in OK. I really never considered it mainly because of "what's a DO?" Anyway, I was just looking at there webpage and found this:

# Minimum GPA of 3.0
# Minimum average MCAT score of 7.0
# Supplemental application
# Letter of recommendation from premedical advisory committee; or letters of recommendation from three faculty members, at least two of whom teach sciences
# Letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician

http://www.aacom.org/colleges/osucom.asp
I do not know if these numbers are common for DO. I am wanting to go to AUC 100% but thought I would post this since others may not be as gong-ho in leaving the states as I am.

[rdecastro]

As you said, these are MINIMUMS. I doubt that anyone got into a DO school with a 3.0 and a 21. The average student is more like a 3.4 overall and a 27-28 at most DO schools.

DO Schools are proabably a better choice for those that can get into them. DO's have an easier time in gaining residencies than IMG's, and in the US, anyway, DOs have exactly the same privileges as MD's do. The only downsides are the whole "DO" thing, explaining what a DO is, and some countries don't recognized DO's as MDs since they are more like Chiropracters in those countries.

According to the AOA, however, there are ~50 countries and growing where DO's are recognized.

[Bill Cornbread]

That makes more since. That's the MCAT(27) I have along with a little higher gpa and I cann't get into the little allopathic med school here in Shreveport, LA. I think I am competitve for AUC though. I am still waiting. My numbers must be just average for DO then. Come on AUC call me up PLEASE!!!

[FLK]

DO's like MD's are only as good as their

1. abilities
2. work ethic
3. residency training

IMO, many of the DO residency training programs are terribly lacking when compared to allopathic residencies.
Many DO's are now training in allopathic programs--- A good idea.

My group provides coverage at a DO hospital. The OB residents there transfer out anything remotely complicated. ( to be managed by the OB residents at the hospital where my group provides primary coverage )

Makes me wonder how they learn anything


it's hard to manage the routine ( properly ) when you can't manage the complex

[xsbb]

I personally applied to a whole bunch of MD schools in the states and some DO schools. I had admission in 1 DO school and was on the waiting list for the other DO school. I thought long and hard and eventually decided that I wanted to get an MD degree (and hence the decision to come to AUC), primarily due to the fact that DO's are not recognized in many countries. Since I have travelled between countries so much in my life I cannot be certain where I am gonna be in the next ten years (Japan, 3 countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, London etc). Moreover, I heard a few people say that if you are an IMG MD, you are looked as more so an equal by the MD's in the states compare to DO's.

[Hemo Dynamic]

Interestingly, I have a good friend who is a DO Cardiologist who persueded me to go to an MD program instead of a DO. He has told me on many occasions that he has had to deal a lot of prejudice for being a DO which has been such a hassle for him. He didn't want me to go throught the same thing and was actually overjoyed when I told him I was going to attend AUC instead of a DO school.

For what it's worth.

As for what DO stands for: I think "DO" stands for what Homer Simpson says when he does something boneheadish.

Personally I rather be an FMG than a DO.

For anyone whom I offended, "DO!"