Pathways to physicianhood?
Okay fellas, I am winding down on the med school applications process. And I have suffered some setbacks in my path and mistakes of my own that have left me with non-ideal choices. Long story short, I have been accepted to Ross University in the Caribbean, which offers an MD program. I have also obtained interviews at 3 of the 5 DO schools to which I have applied. My dilemma is deciding between 3 paths:
1. I go to RossU in the Caribbean and spend 2 years outside the states and all 4 away from Massachusetts where my family and sweetheart live.
2. I go to a DO school which is in the US, and is closeby to my home, but am not given as great a chance of obtaining a surgery residency as an MD.
3. I wait an entire year to reapply to get in to MD programs that are in-state. Problem is that I am currently unemployed and jobs are very scarce, and who knows I may not even get in when I apply to the US MD schools.
My MCAT is a 31R and GPA is 3.6. I may retake the MCAT, as I did not have enough time to study for the 1st time.
What do you guys think? If you were me what would you do? I am sorry if this is a cliche question among half-wit premeds such as myself, but there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the economy and the future of healthcare and no matter who I ask, everyone says that thay do not know what will happen regarding healthcare or how severe it will be or if it will affect entering physicians.
Update:I did not apply to any US MD programs this cycle because I could not secure my recommendation letters in time - sad i know...
Comments
I agree, with a 3.6 you should have gotten a better shot at an acceptance. Poor EC's or poor interview?
I'd avoid Ross. You're unemployed as it is and unlike a US med school Ross will not lend you a hand when you are in debt. Not to mention your chances of landing a surgical residency as an IMG are actually WORSE than a DO whose chances are actually quite good.
I think you'll learn a lot from this forum community who can answer your question more throughly:
www.studentdoctor.net
The community will probably either tell you to do it again next cycle and apply broadly or go DO. In the real world nobody except the elitists will care if you're DO or MD because 90% of the curricula is the same thing.
Sadly I can'y be of more help because I went to med school in Mexico where the system is vastly different.
Did you apply broadly? With a 31/3.6 you should have had a halfway decent shot at landing an MD acceptance.