DO vs MD schools: Key Differences to Keep in Mind

DO vs MD schools: Key Differences to Keep in Mind

You probably know that the medical school admissions process is not easy by any means. From an increasing number of applicants every year to over half of the entire applicant pool receiving only rejections last year, it might be time to look at some other options. To stay on the safer side, consider a few DO or Doctors of Osteopathic medical schools. It’s understandable if you’re not ready to let go of that MD dream, but it’s definitely helpful to understand the DO vs MD schools comparison to keep your options open.

DO schools focus on training students in holistic patient care through an emphasis on natural treatments as methods of disease prevention. If you’re worried that taking the osteopathic route could get in the way of your surgery dreams, fear not. Although most DO students go into primary care programs, they also have access to the National Resident Matching Program and can go into any specialty of choice if accepted. To assist your debate between the two kinds of medical education, I’ve outlined the similarities between DO and MD programs and taken a closer look at each of the differences to help you decide between DO vs MD schools. 

DO vs MD: The Similarities

Before we dive into  DO vs MD schools distinctions, it’s important to note that the timeline of your journey into medicine looks the same regardless of the type of medical school you attend. For both programs, you need to take the essential pre-med courses throughout your four years of college (one year of biology with lab, one year of general chemistry with lab, one year of organic chemistry with lab, one year of physics with lab, and one semester of biochemistry), obtain your Bachelor’s degree, and take the MCAT. Once you’re admitted to either type of medical school, you complete four more years there, followed by three to seven years of residency, depending on what you choose as your specialty.

Both MD and DO physicians are licensed by the same state medical boards and adhere to the same rules for healthcare. Whether you attend an MD school or a DO school, you can practice and prescribe medicine across the country and, despite popular belief, may pursue any specialty – including surgery.

Differences Between DO vs MD schools

Aside from the most obvious difference – osteopathic (DO) medicine focuses more on treating the body as a whole while allopathic (MD) medicine emphasizes treatment based on diagnosing individual symptoms – there are some other differences as well in terms of program availability, application logistics, and career options, as outlined in the table below:

Let’s take a closer look at each of the categories:

Number of Schools Available

When looking at the table, you immediately notice the large difference in the number of schools which offer MD programs as opposed to DO programs 20,981 medical students applied to DO schools in 2018 while 52,777 applied to MD schools. Approximately 80% of students who eventually enrolled did so at an MD school. However, as the competition gets tougher, the applications to DO programs have been increasing as well, resulting in the establishment of new osteopathic schools.

Average Acceptance Rate, GPA, and MCAT of Admitted Students

One of the main reasons behind interest in DO programs – besides interest in osteopathic medicine – becomes obvious when you look at the differences in the scores of admitted students. Since the competition keeps getting tougher, MD admissions committees are more likely to accept students with the most impressive GPAs and MCAT scores – A GPA of 3.72 and an MCAT score of 511 is not easy to obtain! 

So to ensure that they are admitted to any medical school at all, students with lower numbers often turn to DO schools. As you might have guessed from the table, you should remain aware of the fact that even though the numbers for enrolled students are lower, the acceptance rate at DO schools are low not only due to the limited number of schools which offer osteopathic programs, but also because the demand for any medical program is extremely high!

Application Requirements

The application requirements for DO vs MD schools are similar. Definitely note that MD schools use the AMCAS application system, while DO schools use AACOMAS. You can’t copy and paste the same personal statement either – because the AACOMAS has a character limit of 4500 characters, while the AMCAS has a limit of 5300. You shouldn’t be writing the same essay in the first place because your specific interest in osteopathic medicine must be conveyed in the AACOMAS. Similarly in school-specific essays for DO programs, you need to emphasize genuine interest in osteopathic medicine, and what the particular school offers.  

Moreover, the AACOMAS activities section only permits 600 characters, while the AMCAS allows 700. Unlike AMCAS, you won’t be asked your 3 most meaningful activities for the AACOMAS. When you build your application profile, remember that if you’re applying to a DO school the activities you pursue should have a correlation to osteopathic medicine, such as shadowing an osteopathic physician to gain clinical and patient exposure. You don’t want adcoms thinking you’re using DO schools as fall back option – even if that’s the reality!

Dual Degree Options

If you’re interested in pursuing an MD/PhD, that’s definitely something to consider when choosing between DO vs MD schools. Most top MD programs offer the option to receive a dual degree, but only seven DO schools offer DO/PhD dual degrees. These are:

• • Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine 
  • Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
  • University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine 
  • New York Institute of Osteopathic Medicine

In making your decision between DO vs MD schools, remember that your selection is rather limited if one of your biggest priorities lies in getting a dual degree. 

Residency Options

Since you’re dedicated to the medical profession, you probably have some idea of what kind of medicine you want to practice as well. You should know that going the DO route doesn’t limit your options in terms of careers – 7% of 2018 DO graduates went on to general surgery, while 13% were matched with orthopedic surgery residencies. Allopathic graduates filled up 91.9% of the positions in plastic surgery, 91.8% of the spots in neurological surgery, and 91.8% of the positions in orthopedic surgery.

When thinking about DO vs MD schools, note that although DO graduates are allowed to enter the National Residency Match Program with their MD counterparts, they don’t always have the same results. 93.9% of allopathic graduates were matched, while 84.6% of osteopathic students received an MD residency placement. If you are genuinely interested in primary care and don’t mind taking your chances with osteopathic residency options, you will have more luck. The most common osteopathic program is primary care – with 56% of participating DO graduates choosing this path – followed by family medicine, at 34%.

Residency Duration

Before going into residency, all DO students must complete a general internship. After this, the duration of an actual residency depends on the program. Family medicine, which again is one of the most common residencies for DO graduates, only takes three years to complete, while radiology takes four. Residencies in allopathic practices could take much longer, but depends on the specialty. For example, cardiothoracic surgery takes 2-3 years while orthopedic surgery takes four. 

Exam to Obtain Medical License

The license exam for students attending DO vs MD schools differs. MD students take the USMLE, while DO students take the COMLEX. Until December 2018, the USMLE was valued more than the COMLEX. Now, the American Medical Association recognizes and promotes the two exams on an equal basis, and encourages residency programs to do the same. The USMLE tests your knowledge on biochemistry and first aid materials more than the COMLEX. If you decide to attend a DO school, you may choose either exam depending on your strengths. 

As you narrow down your search for the right medical school for you, weigh the pros and cons of attending DO vs MD schools. The decision you make depends on your numbers, your academic interests, and career goals. Don’t just apply to DO schools because you think it might be easier to get admitted. If you work on building your application through meaningful ways, demonstrate a genuine interest, and continue working hard throughout either med school program, no medical specialty will be out of your reach.

If you’d like to learn more, join us for our webinar, “MD vs. DO Applications: Everything You Need to Know,” on February 25, 2021!