youngerama wrote:This is the second year I am applying to medical school. I have considered applying to DO and international programs as a second option. I want to make it clear to others who might be in my situation; 95% of people who go to D.O. school go because they could not get in to M.D. program. DO philosophy is unique and they make excellent physicians, equal to MD's at face value and ability but they are considered second tier by the whole american medical community in an unspoken sense. Competing for residency versus an MD would prove very difficult.
While i agree that some go into DO school because they couldn't get into MD, i disagree that DO are regarded as second tier by american medical community in an unspoken sense. Unfortunately, it's a notion that still exist among premed and even med students (especially 1st and 2nd yr) prior to their clinical experience.
I am doing an externship program now in wheeling hospital WV (after my 1st yr of med school). It has dual accreditation, as long as you know what you are doing, nobody cares whether you are a DO or an MD. Whether you have a DO or MD beside your name really doesn't matter anymore when someone is sick and needs to be treated. If you can make them better, then you are a good physician. Period!
good luck