<p>So I was accepted into two medical undergraduate programs but there are pros and cons to each.
The MD program is a BS/MD program called MedStart. I would do my four undergraduate years at Northern Michigan University and do my graduate studies at Wayne State University.
Pros: Get a MD degree, less costly (around $14,000 per year)
Cons: Far away (8 hours), not going to be used to the weather (6ft of snow!), less diverse and very rural (I come from a very diverse suburb in metro detroit), I have to get a 30 on my MCAT to maintain my guaranteed seat in the medical school. </p>
<p>The DO program is called the Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program and is at Michigan State. As long as I maintain a 3.4 gpa and meet the program requirements, I have a seat in their Osteopathic School of Medicine.
Pros: closer (2 hours away), basically more comfortable with the campus, I get my MCAT waived as long as I maintain a 3.4 gpa.<br>
Cons: more expensive ($24,000 per year), it is a DO degree and Im worried I wont get an equal opportunity for my residency</p>
<p>Im so stressed and have no idea which to choose! please give me some input! thanks in advance :)</p>
<p>Definitely go with Michigan State University. Michigan State’s Medical Scholars does not require an MCAT, so the pressure is off. DO’s also have a better opportunity for residency positions. More residency positions are available today to DO’s than MD’s. Working in a hospital, I see more Osteopathic residents working in higher residency programs than MD’s. </p>
<p>In addition, Michigan State is a very well known undergraduate and offers a better education than Northern Michigan. The campus is wonderful and the professor’s and alumni are great resources. From what I understand, it snows 10 months in a year at Northern Michigan. </p>
<p>The major problem with the Medstart program is that the MCAT requirement is very stringent. If you are unable to get a 30 on the MCAT, Wayne State Medical School will remove you from the program. A couple of medical students who work with me now were in the Medstart Program and were removed because they got MCAT’s lower than 30. </p>
<p>Northern Michigan is in Marquette city, which is not very lively. It’s hospital, Marquette General Hospital, is very small and does not have many research opportunities. A medical research background is very important later on when you are applying to residency. It is important to start your research as early as in college so you can show a strong continuation. Michigan State is in Lansing, which is much more lively and populated. There are better opportunities for research and community service projects. </p>
<p>Overall jajay494, I would not be concerned with the DO title. Many residency programs are having more positions available for DO’s than MD’s today. If you are looking into a better chance in your residency choice for the future, I would strongly recommend DO. Just two weeks ago, twelve of my fifteen DO medical students got into the surgery residency program they wanted to go to. And lastly, if Michigan State is closer to home than that would be a major benefit. Driving 8 hours is a big hassle, especially through the 6 to 8 foot snow.</p>
<p>Best of Lucks, reply with any questions.</p>
<p>Thank you so much! I did make my decision and will be going to MSU in the fall! :D</p>
<p>while I agree with you that Northern Michigan undergrad doesn’t hold a candle to MSU undergrad, can you please provide some citations for the statements regarding DOs?</p>
<p>For example, I know they’re getting lumped in with foreign medical graduates, but the overall match rates for US MD students is 91.4%, the “independent applicants” which includes DOs have a 44.2% match rate. <a href=“http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf</a></p>