Is it true that osteopath is easier to get into and has no boards?
False
The average MCAT and GPA of admitted students is lower for osteopathic students than allopathic. But I don’t think that just because those 2 stats are lowers means it’s easier to get in… In 2012, the average MCAT and GPA for students entering M.D. programs were 31.2 and 3.68 and 26.85 and 3.51 for D.O.
Regarding boards it’s called COMLEX and administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. I think there are 3 exams and a skills exam. And there taking during one’s progress through med school (not sure what years).
Hope this helps.
Tid is certainly not true. Depending on the school the average GPS and mcat scores could vary. In my alma mater the average GPa was 3.7 and the average mcat score was 31.
In addition as was said there are three steps to the board exams. COMLEX. 1, 2, and 3. In addition you have your specialty boards. What you are heAing about osteopathic medical schools being much easier to get in is due to a history that people who went to DO schools did so after being rejected from the MD schools because of their grades and they used the first year of DO schooling to increase their chances of getting into an MD school.
In this day and age, other than OMT there I no difrence in eight types of medical schools.
Right - the COMLEX step 1,2, and 3 take the place of the USMLE 1, 2, and 3.
This might change with the change in licensing of residency programs which will all be ACGME residencies, whether osteopathic or allopathic, for those graduating in 2015 (one year after me). There will be only one match, and there is talk that there might be only one set of boards eventually.
Kate
Imma’ need an injection of an Anti-SDNish-type-question vaccine STAT, before it spreads to the larger Oldpremeds community! 
- gabelerman Said:
Tid is certainly not true. Depending on the school the average GPS and mcat scores could vary. In my alma mater the average GPa was 3.7 and the average mcat score was 31.
In addition as was said there are three steps to the board exams. COMLEX. 1, 2, and 3. In addition you have your specialty boards. What you are heAing about osteopathic medical schools being much easier to get in is due to a history that people who went to DO schools did so after being rejected from the MD schools because of their grades and they used the first year of DO schooling to increase their chances of getting into an MD school.
In this day and age, other than OMT there I no difrence in eight types of medical schools.
In addition as was said there are three steps to the board exams. COMLEX. 1, 2, and 3. In addition you have your specialty boards. What you are heAing about osteopathic medical schools being much easier to get in is due to a history that people who went to DO schools did so after being rejected from the MD schools because of their grades and they used the first year of DO schooling to increase their chances of getting into an MD school.
In this day and age, other than OMT there I no difrence in eight types of medical schools.
8 types? What are the other 6?
Sisyphus
I think gabe used a tablet or something, he usually doesn’t make this many types. He probably didn’t mean 8, but “each”.
As for the answer to your question, I wouldn’t say that it is necessarily easier. They look at different things, and it is true that they generally tend to be more forgiving when it comes to number, because they do focus on other qualities.
It is also true that many students who have a choice between MD and DO (while not all students, certainly the majority based on my own research), will likely pick the MD largely due to cultural reasons.
It is true that DO are actually more educated because they take OMM, and that many elect to pass the step exams in the DO and MD network (something that will disappear because both networks will be fused into one).
Now, and although you can be a DO in any specialty, looking at the latest residency match statistics, for most competitive specialties it appear harder for DOs than MDs to match in highly competitive specialties. That doesn’t mean that no DO will match. Just that it appears harder. Again, this is based on my own discussions with various physicians and reading on the web. Also quick look at residency match stats can also help with getting an idea on the subject.
However, DO or MD, you have the same education, job, responsibilities, salaries and so on. Really it comes down to the type of practice and specialty you target. Somehow, I have always had a hard time understanding why we needed two diplomas as the differences between MD/DO have become next to nonexistent. For instance many DO do not practice OMM, so a DO minus OMM = MD.
Well, I am not expert. This is my understanding and I might be wrong. BTW I applied to 8 MD schools and 1 DO school. I received 3 acceptances and 1 interview (withdrew) from 4 MD schools, and yet the DO school didn’t even invite me. So who said it was easier to get into a DO school?
While MD schools have slightly higher applicant GPA/MCAT, DO schools have a higher applicant to seat ratio and thus are more competitive.
- pathdr2b Said:
Imma' need an injection of an Anti-SDNish-type-question vaccine STAT, before it spreads to the larger Oldpremeds community!
- croooz Said:
- pathdr2b Said:
Imma' need an injection of an Anti-SDNish-type-question vaccine STAT, before it spreads to the larger Oldpremeds community!
Now, Now, let not bash SDN too much. We are a partner organization and we will have Lee Burnett, co-founder of SDN as a speaker at this year's conference. We should take the view of older, wiser siblings and help educate by posting on SDN, especially if we all put OPM website and conference blurbs in our signature tags (hint! hint! nudge! nudge! say no more!)
btw I should have the conference registration finally online this week)
- gonnif Said:
Now, Now, let not bash SDN too much. We are a partner organization and we will have Lee Burnett, co-founder of SDN as a speaker at this year's conference.
Well, I was banned (by a fomer OPM member guess who?) from SDN for "going off the deep end" on a racist thread (of the MANY) in the pre-Allopathic section of all places, a few years back.
So yeah, I'd like to teach them a few things starting with the fact that the South lost the civil war, followed by a couple lectures on who the true beneficiaries of affirmative action have been for the last 35 years.
I'd follow that with a question of that fomer OPM member of what she and the Sam Jackson character in the movie Django have in common.
Oh my, I'm sooooooo bad today, ROTFLMBO!!
Okay, I know WHY I was banned now!
- pathdr2b Said:
- gonnif Said:
Now, Now, let not bash SDN too much. We are a partner organization and we will have Lee Burnett, co-founder of SDN as a speaker at this year's conference.
Well, I was banned (by a fomer OPM member guess who?) from SDN for "going off the deep end" on a racist thread (of the MANY) in the pre-Allopathic section of all places, a few years back.
So yeah, I'd like to teach them a few things starting with the fact that the South lost the civil war, followed by a couple lectures on who the true beneficiaries of affirmative action have been for the last 35 years.
I'd follow that with a question of that fomer OPM member of what she and the Sam Jackson character in the movie Django have in common.
Oh my, I'm sooooooo bad today, ROTFLMBO!!
Okay, I know WHY I was banned now!
Dont hold back, tell us how you really feel!
So are there any real perks to pick DO over MD?
I don’t know as I would call them “perks” exactly. For me, learning OMM WAS one of the things I wanted from DO school. I treated a PA at my rotation this past week with some brachial plexus compression from an elevated first rib, and with a lot of tension in her levator scapulae muscles and she said “how do you know that?”. Well, I took anatomy, and I’ve practiced checking for muscle tension? I know the tests for compression of the brachial plexus and for checking rib position on inhalation and exhalation? Basically…I’m going to DO school.
As a CNM, I know a few “tricks” to help with back and pelvic pain for laboring moms. I wanted to improve and add some manual medicine skills in diagnosis and treatment. I’m planning to do rural family practice, and there may not be a physical therapist or chiropractor in the “boondocks” where I may end up, so it would be nice if I could at least begin to care for folks in my office who needed some therapy for musculoskelatal problems.
And personally, I think it is a helpful adjunctive therapy for some other conditions: provably so for pneumonia and paralytic ileus, for example. Plus I like doing it 
Kate
So Kate, I take it you are overall happier as a DO than you wuold have been as an MD?
Do you think its true the rumor I have heard about them planning to somehow “merge” the two?
What is absolutely true is the ACGME and AOA accredited residency programs will ALL be ACGME accredited programs starting in 2015, and that D.O’s will be on the ACGME board. OMT will still be a tested component of boards for D.O.'s, but the details of COMLEX vs USMLE have not been worked out.
As I apply in 2014, I will still be applying to two matches. I’m planning to apply to only jointly accredited programs anyway, but will apply thru the osteopathic match (which is first) and thru the “regular” match.
Kate
Kate - Keep us (me) up to date on how that goes for you. I know I will be doing my match the following year, theoretically when all is merged, but just in case. Thanks.
No prob, Linda!
I have 2 of my “audition” rotations scheduled, have the request in for a third one, and haven’t decided for my 4th available slot. Doing 2 4 week rotations, at my two top choices (I hope, as one is the one I’m waiting on) and can do 2 more 2 week rotations, one of which I’ve scheduled.
Lots to think about!
Kate