r/Osteopathic

So after yearssss of working to get an acceptance to medical school. The grad plus loans are disappearing. Luckily my school has pushed out start date up so my class can be grandfathered into the plus loan.

I applied and got denied ultimately from adverse credit history from not being able to afford other student loan payments ~$1,200/ month (fuck u Sallie Mae). So because of this I need an endorser and neither of my parents are willing to do that for me (which is their right to say no). But I feel like I’m royally ******. Like what do I do?

Wanted to come here to see if anyone had any ideas or is also struggling with this. I’d love to hear what you’re doing.

And don’t get me started omfg my mom is the OG rage baiter and goes:

“maybe you’ll have to go half time”

“maybe you just have to wait until a school nearby opens up and you go there”

“Maybe you should do something else”

Have committed to Touro- MT for this year. I’m honestly really nervous about it being in the middle of nowhere far away from my friends and family.

Any advice/thoughts on living in such a rural area during med school?

IF U ARE PLANNING TO COME HERE, DONT. READ THE PAST REDDIT ABOUT THIS CAMPUS. THIS PLACE IS ABSOLUTE HELL. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITLIST- SAVE YOURSELF. LAST TIME SOMEONE WROTE ON REDDIT, OUR NEW DEAN PULLED US INTO A ROOM AND JUST DEGRADED US!! the person who wrote the last reddit post, another student told on them to the dean via email and the staff just laughed at grammar. they try so hard to make sure they are above us.

I need to make a big decision dependent on financial factors outside my control, and I would be grateful for any insight and connections to people familiar with this path!

I was recently accepted to RowanSOM USDO in New Jersey this cycle. I love everything about it except for the $160k CAD/year (including tuition ($86k USD), fees, living costs), equating to a cost of acceptance of ~$640k CAD. As a Canadian, I have been going to banks inquiring about LoCs and it seems with my family's financial situation, even with a cosigner, I may not receive the maximum $400k LoC some banks offer. OSAP provides an estimated $13k per year for me, and savings are minimal. I will not have further parental support.

Issue:

• As an international student, RowanSOM can only provide support through institutional merit-based scholarships open after matriculation.
• I have explored US private loans for international students that DO NOT require a US cosigner, like MPOWER and Prodigy Finance, since I have no connections in the US. While students at RowanSOM have used it before, it seems they are not supporting the school at the moment based on their site. There are no other US private loaners I can find. Even if I could get the $400k LoC, I am left with a hefty ~$150k CAD gap.

Before I continue, about me:

• Born and raised in Ontario
• McMaster science undergrad (cGPA 3.91), graduated 2024
• I am in my second application cycle---I spent two gap years working, volunteering, retaking MCAT, and applying for Canada MD and US MD/DO
• MCAT 515, CARS 127 (unfortunuately one point off for UAlberta and UCalgary)
• Casper definitely needed improvement
• I hope to go into primary care (likely IM) and practice in Canada
• I have a guaranteed seat for RVUCOM next cycle (tuition is $70k USD/year)
• Rejected post-interview for TMU this cycle

Next steps?

1. Even if I secured a Canadian student LoC, is funding my education doable and viable long-term? While entering the US with F-1 student status only requires proof of funds for the first year of studies, I would be stranded in the later years when my funds run out and a private loan cannot be attained. Plus, I'll be in massive debt, possibly having to do US residency to pay off the loans before coming back to Canada (I don't mind but would prefer matching back). Scholarships will only do so much.

2. Should I wait another year and re-apply for Canadian MD, cheaper USDO schools (e.g. LECOM), and consider Ireland? What about applying to other healthcare programs like accelerated nursing, PA, etc. as a plan B (my heart says there are no plan B's, but finances were a brick to the face). Spend the year retaking the MCAT, score higher on Casper, and make some money. It would be my third year out of school.

This year has been a rollercoaster. I was overjoyed with my acceptance until I found the harsh reality. If anyone is in a similar situation or knows of someone who is, we are in this unfortunate situation together and we will not lose.

Hey y'all. As title says. I know the general opinion is US DO > MD carribean, however with declining board rates at BCOM and no board data yet at OCOM, I thought it is worthy of discussion. Input is appreciated y'all.

View Poll

Stats: 502 mcat (494 first attempt), 3.39 cum gpa, 3.19 science gpa, a couple extracurriculars/volunteering, cancer research job out of college, 2 gap years (class of 2024), literally had an empty resume when I graduated college besides a little volunteering and my fraternity, so if I can do it, you can too. the school is NYITCOM-AR. Any other questions PM ME. LOVE YALL

I’ve been checking SDN like, every day lol has anyone gotten off the waitlist at MSUCOM? I’m so stressed thinking about moving my family.

i just got the call i’m going to my dream school😭🥳

Im applying this cycle, already started my application and about to send it in. But im tripping so hard. My sgpa is a 3.33 and my Cgpa is a 3.5 (im an econ major). I have good extracurriculars, 1000s of hours of volunteering (head basketball coach, community leadership, Head coach for interscholastic comps) 300 hours of Medical scribing and 2k+ hours as a pharmacy tech, shadowing and good LoRs. My MCAT is after tomorrow and im expected a 502-506 range. But my lower gpa scares me. (C in orgo 2 and a C in one of the bios). Im lowkey tripping. How do my chances look? Am i over reacting? Should I overapply top like 30 schools? i dont wanna spend all that money just to not get in anywhere. If anyone has there insights.

I have my third interview invite this cycle and it's with Kansas COM, I have not gotten any acceptances YET!

Anyway, would there be any current Kansas COM students or recently accepted that could share some insights about the virtual interview?

Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone I am in a difficult decision spot and hoping to get some opinions on what the best path forward is. I am currently accepted to OUHCOM which is a DO school in Ohio and also accepted to NEOMED's MFM program which is a one year masters of foundations in medicine. From what I have heard from current MFM students it is basically M1 and you have an anatomy capstone project at the end. You need to maintain a 3.0 gpa to matriculate to their med school, no mcat retake. However, NEOMED is about 2.5 hours from my family home and OUHCOM campus is 15 minutes. 

Ideally I would want to live at home during medical school since I am very close with my family and also have chronic illness so my health is an added barrier at times, I struggle with fatigue. So this is a worry for me in regards to living alone at NEOMED although they do have basically on campus housing that is a 5 minute walk to campus, and you can live with a roommate. With the added masters year and cost of living away from home NEOMED would be approximately an additional $125,000.

On one hand OUHCOM is 1 year less, and I do depend on my family a lot for help with physical chores and tasks. And live at home for clinical rotations 3rd and 4th year. I am also just very close to my family emotionally and they are a big means of support for me as ive struggled with mental health in the past. However, double boards, plus learning a whole extra course with OMM definitely might weigh on me in terms of cognitive exhaustion. Plus I dont want to risk having to take a gap year after M2 to pass both boards as again I can see myself struggling to cram for both exams within the same period, which would make my schooling 5 years anyway. I also worry about the DO bias and matching availability for residency, because I do really want to stay local. Proportionally in this past year, neomed matched more students to competitive specilaties compared to their class size. Ou’s graduating class was 222 and neomeds was 164. And from what I understand neomed follows a mentorship roadmap and has lot of usmle prep for students, in 2025 they had a 98% step 1 pass rate, whereas OU had a 86% level 1 pass rate, they don’t report their usmle pass rate. However I did find out NEOMED uses CBSE passing to screen students and allow them to sit for boards, whereas OU has not (they're implementing COMSAE this year). In terms of specialty I know it would be a bit unreasonable to think id be competitive enough for one of the top specialties, but Id like to match around midrange competitive. I’m not super enthusiastic about the idea of family med or primary care. 

A part of me feels like I may have no control over where I go for residency so I might as well take the next 4 years to be able to live at home with my family. But I also don’t want to be stupid and set myself up for failure or a lifetime of regret with a degree that doesn’t open as many doors for me in terms of industry as well. Neomed lets students do 4th year electives in Columbus and maybe even some of 3rd year, so I would be looking at living at least 3-4 years away from home. 

Additionally I don’t know if the masters will prepare me better to do well 1st year and on USMLE or burn me out more. Honestly a part of me is also terrified at the thought of starting M1 this July and worried im going be slammed 24/7 and do poorly. I have had a history with falling behind academically, not that I struggle intelligence wise but it just takes me longer and can be difficult staying on top of things. Especially with the added fatigue I experience. I really don’t want to set myself up for failure with either route and don’t want to end up leaving neomed to move back home, or dropping out/failing out of OU first year or regretting it come boards season.

I saw a wholesome post where someone asked for help with a school they were waitlisted at and people actually called to ask the school about it. I found that very helpful and wanted to make this thread where you can drop the schools name below and people can call and ask for you.

Quite literally the worse and most humiliating experience I have ever had. I am a Muslim and apparently that dictates if Osteopathic medicine is for me or not. I received an email stating I would have a higher chance if I opted for the in person interview rather than virtual so I flew out excited due to all the positive stuff I have read on these subreddits. For starters, I assumed bc of the Muslim population they had at the school they would be somewhat familiar with our religious background but I’m not sure if the student body never speaks up for themselves. I saw the student before me come out laughing and felt fully comfortable in the interview so I went in after her expecting a similar experience. Instead I felt so awkward smiling and could feel the tension in the room. During the interview one of them starts mentioning that during OMM labs “women show up short shorts and sport bras while men are usually shirtless (um what bc apparently that’s not true)” and then goes on with “during the labs females touch females, females touch male, male touch females” it was so awkward bc the wording was so unprofessional another interviewee jumps in and mentions “that of course nothing inappropriate and it’s all for teaching purposes” it did not feel like an interview style especially when he started reading off of a paper of stuff asking if I’m okay with that has to do with again being “touched”. I go on to then mention that of course I have done my research on DO and I am okay with OMM bc it’s all for educational experiences (I emphasized this) and connected it to my personal experience and how I specifically want to implement OMM. I then mention during my research the usual practice is that DO schools offer accommodations and that if this is something they potentially have “yes but I don’t see it being a thing anymore (casually admitting it)”. One of them then proceeds to ask if I received acceptances from other schools (how could that possibly be relevant) and then starts talking about my MCAT and CASPER score. I flew out thinking a school would give me a chance given my GPA is great and EC except the MCAT and CASPER which I had circumstances for. Instead proceeds to start talking about how low it is and focused on Casper on how it’s just common sense questions how did I proceed to get a low score. I explained on what prevented me from doing well and what I learned. I end up getting a phone call stating I was rejected due to my low scores and that the committee feels as if DO is not a correct path for me. My scores were already in before I received the invitation interview what could have possibly been different when I showed up and what dictated if DO is for me. I have spoken to numerous DO students from diff schools and they mentioned this accommodation being completely normal and does not hinder anyone’s learning. I also did mention in the interview I understood what OMM is and am okay with it due to its educational purposes. It’s disrespectful that I flew out and was treated this way and really wish students would stop falsely overhyping their school. Also, hoping the Muslim students as wcucom learn to have each others back

Hello!

I was fortunate to receive two DO acceptances this cycle (after applying late and to only 3 schools). I was called this morning to say I was accepted to KCU (Joplin) and have already put a deposit down at COMP-NW. I have to make the final decision by tomorrow night so any and all advice is appreciated.

KCU Pros:

- cheaper tuition (10,000)

- I like the 3rd year placement options and that you could spend an entire yr at the same hospital

- Their match list is very good

- Super great alumni network

- Reduced emphasis on OMM

- The faculty seemed amazing from the interview! and i was super excited about this school after learning about it

- Seems like they do their absolute best to prepare people for board exams

- Living in a new place 😄!

KCU cons:

- Far from home, my support network, snd where I want to practice (PNW)

- Cost of moving and traveling back home for holidays etc.

- 3rd and 4th yr placements kind disperced, not that this is necessarily super bad

- I've heard some whisperings about the curriculumn, faculty, and school not being supportive and having a high attrition rate. It looks like they're taking active steps to reduce this, though. Both very postitve, neutral, and super negative things swirling around

COMP NW pros

- Close to home

- 3rd year placements in Portland (where i'm from)

- Small class size

- I like some of their unique opportunities (longitudinal programs, emphasis on community engagement)

- I know some of the students personally, have my own network of people there, somewhat

COMP NW cons:

- I don't love Lebanon, but idk if I'd love Joplin either

- So flipping expensive but I WOULD'nt have to pay COL for the final two years because of Portland placements

- Newer school, less alumni, MAYBE worse reputation

- They love OMM here, strong emphasis

- Match list isn't as strong

Any input is welcome. I know this is ultimately my choice, but I love to crowdsource opinions. I'm leaning towards COMP because I already put down my deposit and moving would not be a hardhsip but there's a piece of me that thinks i'll be giving up something good by turning down KCU.

Thanks DO team ❤️

Spoke with a friend in a larger hospital system with OMT consult service. They said patients love it and the billing aspect is lucrative. Seems fairly easy to add on to inpatient visits if indicated, snag some extra RVUs

How to find a DO and make both his wiener n life hard

For all the low stat fam out there… you got this! 2II -> 2 waitlists -> 1A so far!

Most if not all of their DO students are from AT Still.