Medical Schools (advice)

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by slo1318

We we live in CA now, but my son graduated high school in Texas and now attends UCLA. He's going into junior year and is compiling a list of Med Schools to apply to. He still has a thing for Texas so we are both just trying to get info. Most of his buddies are at A&M so he knows of the big schools, but wants to investigate some of the smaller ones too.....thx

Well, good luck to him. I would encourage him to apply widely, both in terms of location and ranking of schools.

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by slo1318

That is great. I actually had a good friend go to UNT HSC when the hospital was still there off Camp Bowie.

My son is debating between MD and DO schools which UNT is one. It seems that it comes down to, within the profession the MDs have a bit of a superiority complex. However in doing research there is no difference in their licensing or ability to choose specialties.

As someone who has a background in Healthcare Administration and knows a lot of physicians (including the one I've lived with for almost 20 years), I'm going to disagree slightly here. I would say that the allopathic/MD degree is absolutely the preferred option for someone who wants to go into a specialty that is more than even moderately competitive. It is extremely difficult for someone with a DO degree to match into an allopathic residency in a field such as Plastics, Ortho or Derm, for example. The MD degree will afford him more options. Just my opinion.

[Westerntraveler]

Originally Posted by slo1318

We we live in CA now, but my son graduated high school in Texas and now attends UCLA. He's going into junior year and is compiling a list of Med Schools to apply to. He still has a thing for Texas so we are both just trying to get info. Most of his buddies are at A&M so he knows of the big schools, but wants to investigate some of the smaller ones too.....thx

Best of luck to your son,OP.

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93

[/b]

As someone who has a background in Healthcare Administration and knows a lot of physicians (including the one I've lived with for almost 20 years), I'm going to disagree slightly here. I would say that the allopathic/MD degree is absolutely the preferred option for someone who wants to go into a specialty that is more than even moderately competitive. It is extremely difficult for someone with a DO degree to match into an allopathic residency in a field such as Plastics, Ortho or Derm, for example. The MD degree will afford him more options. Just my opinion.

Yeah its funny that was his opinion as well from everything he heard, but then on the otherside the DOs will tell you the opposite, Im sure the truth is on the individual experience.....thx

[ChristieP]

I also work in healthcare. MD is strongly preferred to DO in most specialties. If he wants to do internal medicine or family practice, then it doesn't really matter.

[Nn2036]

Originally Posted by Texas Ag 93

[/b]

As someone who has a background in Healthcare Administration and knows a lot of physicians (including the one I've lived with for almost 20 years), I'm going to disagree slightly here. I would say that the allopathic/MD degree is absolutely the preferred option for someone who wants to go into a specialty that is more than even moderately competitive. It is extremely difficult for someone with a DO degree to match into an allopathic residency in a field such as Plastics, Ortho or Derm, for example. The MD degree will afford him more options. Just my opinion.

AGREED. If your son wants to get to a competitive specialty and residency, he should go to the best MD schools he can get to. Certainly DO and even foreign medical graduate can get to competitive specialty and residency but it is much much much more difficult!

[slo1318]

He's also considering the military option, the benefits are amazing for med students. Of course you still have the same issues as far as picking medical schools....thx all.

[ChristieP]

Be careful with military medical school. They don't require a residency, unlike civilian medical school. You end up having to do your residency after you retire at age 40+. Not good. I have a good friend who went through that, and it was a very tough year!

[Nn2036]

Originally Posted by slo1318

He's also considering the military option, the benefits are amazing for med students. Of course you still have the same issues as far as picking medical schools....thx all.

I certainly don't think it is a good option. Med school is four years. If they pay for those years, the service requirement is probably 4 years. You earn much more as civilian.

[Dr.Mcninja]

Originally Posted by Nn2036

AGREED. If your son wants to get to a competitive specialty and residency, he should go to the best MD schools he can get to. Certainly DO and even foreign medical graduate can get to competitive specialty and residency but it is much much much more difficult!

The order is MD>DO>IMG, all things being equal. That being said, there are plenty of DOs and Caribbean graduates that have done fine. And more and more DO schools are opening which is effectively pushing out the ability of a Carib graduate to get a job (or even 3rd and 4th year rotations in the states). It all comes down to test scores and whom you know. A little known fact is that the ACGME and the AOA have now merged, and all DO students will apply to the MD match sometime in the next few years. Initial plan was 2018, but now it's probably 2020 or later. Single GME Accreditation System

My suggestion, having spent the last 5 years mentoring students in Texas and other states, is to go to the school that costs the least. Graduating in 2021 with $300,000-$400,000 of debt is an incredibly uphill climb due to the interest. Remember, they're not earning enough to pay down that principle until 2024 or beyond, so there are people finishing residency today that owe upwards of $600,000 secondary to compound interest and principalization.

If they want to be a military doctor, then by all means have at it. Realize that the government might not choose your specialty anymore, but they might not let you do it until you complete your contract. That means doing an internship then a GMO tour. And even if you do get into a military or civilian residency, you then have to work for the government for 4+ years. The math does come a lot closer to breaking even than it used to, but the military pays 50% or less what the private sector does. Each person is different, and again, if you want to serve the country, it's a great way to do so.

Beyond that, any of the schools in Texas will be better options than out of state. It's a cost benefit analysis. Each has merits, and you should look at what residencies are available at each school to determine the best fit. If your son wants to do orthopedics, he should go to a school with an orthopedics residency so he can get the best mentorship. Same goes for any specialty. If he hasn't decided, go to the one with the most.