<p>Okay, so I'm wanting to do a DO program, but I am concerned. First, I should start of by saying that I'm more competitive for DO program than MD, and I think my chances are better there. Secondly, I would like to do the DO program because my husband, who is quite a few years older than me, is going back to school to be a physician as well (peds), and it's obviously important that we stay together. I believe our best chances at both getting into the same university would be through a DO program, versus an MD program. Yes, I am aware that even those odds aren't the best, but he's doing his masters now and I apply a year before him, so if I get in somewhere, that is where we will go, regardless if he gets in or not. Lastly, it will offer me an advantage when it comes to getting into more competitive surgical residencies, b/c DO programs offer residencies that are meant just for DO applicants (MDs are not allowed to apply) and it therefore makes it less competitive. For me, I don't really care what my degree is (they are virtually the exact same thing), but I do care about losing surgical patients in lieu of other physicians simply because they have the words MD at the end of their name.</p>
<p>Does anyone think this will be a problem? It is truly looked at negatively if your degree is DO? Does it affect being able to work in certain hospitals, the level of respect you receive, or salary, etc? Thanks so much for any help anyone can offer.</p>