We live in the real world

As you stated, you are a 4th year student. You have absolutely zero real-world podiatry experience as far as I'm concerned.

Addressing some of YOUR points (not all), however:

1) Who the heck is offering a 4th year student a position starting at $70k? If you truely have this offer, then it only goes to prove the point that it is much easier to make it in podiatry when you "know somebody." Maybe your dad is a podiatrist? Maybe a family friend. Whatever the situation, most of your classmates probably don't have any "sure thing" to drop in to like you claim to.

2) "Nobody is forcing anybody to take [poor paying residencies]." Well..actually, they are. It's called CASPR and you'll learn about it. If you interview and rank them...and match, you are legally bound to take that program. Of course, that doesn't stop the programs from closing down at the last minute and leaving you high and dry, but you had better not stand them up or you'll never get a program, and never get licensed.

3) People accept low salaries because that is what is offered. Maybe you have the high paying job waiting, but most associate positions pay slave wages. Ever hear of supply and demand? There aren't 500 jobs waiting every year for all the graduates. People take what is offered because they want to work, period.

4) You've seen no lack of respect from insurers (you haven't seen insurers yet, you are a student)? Are you kidding? Trust me. I WORK in the insurance industry. Podiatrists get offered as low as 13 cents per patient per month for HMO contracts in some cases, whereas ortho's get offered $1.50 PPPM. Insurers also close their panels to podiatrists on a much higher percentage than they do to MDs or DOs. If you have this magical job waiting, you may sneak in under the other doc's ID, but if you were on your own, no guarantee you'd get on any contracts.

5) No lack of respect from MDs? Wait until you do a few more externships that are outside of podiatry.

6) Podiatry oversaturation. Now, of course there are individual choices involved - but one shouldn't have to live in a rural town to practice. Some people also have spouses and family in certain areas and cannot leave due to their spouse's job, other responsibilities, etc. The point is that any MD or DO can get a job in a largely populated city, whereas a DPM will have a much harder time making a living there.

7) Lack of support from schools. You haven't experienced it because you are still there. Get your degree - then get the notice that you have to pay $200 a year to become an "alumni member" in order to use the library, get discounts at their seminars, etc. After you graduate, you don't generate any money for them so they don't care about you anymore. Sorry - it's true.

8) Competition comes from many others aside from Ortho's. Did you know that PT's and chiropractors are prescribing orthotics? Nurses are doing nail and foot wound care? They are cheaper than you are (in most cases) and can treat other parts of the body too. Don't think having that "doctor" in front of your degree makes you any more special than a wound care nurse when it comes down to spending money.

9) Marketability - I've commented on this numerous times. Since I don't practice, I had the opportunity, first hand, to try and market the DPM degree. Most people didn't even know what it was. Meant absolutely nothing. One place refused to even interview me because they were looking for a NURSE to do phone consultation work regarding diabetes and wound care.

10) Low number of applicants. You say your school "voluntarily" reduced the number of students based on certain guidelines. The guidelines were that they didn't have enough applications. Don't be so gullible!

11) Lack of respect from community. You said the PATIENTS wonder why you got into podiatry, etc. Keyword is patients. The list addresses that the community, at large, doesn't know what a DPM is. The patients may not know you are DPM, but they know you are a foot doctor, which is why they are seeing you. Go to a party and tell 5 people you are a podiatrist. 1 will know what that means. The others will think you treat children or won't have a clue what that means.

12) Low admission standards - very true! I sat on the admit committee at CCPM. They actually admitted a guy who had a combined score of 7 on his MCAT! SEVEN! I spent a day with the guy - he barely spoke any english! But he had a 3.5 biology GPA so they accepted him. He would have flunked out before he even started. Don't tell me that there are admissions standards at any of the schools. They are private schools that require money to function - they are in a crunch and will take ANYBODY that applies. We all know that doesn't mean that somebody will actually get through the program, but that is not their first concern.

13) Podiatrists eat their young - not merely opinion. You are still a student. Wait until you get into the real world to counter points that you know nothing about.

14) Residency match not based on merit. Again, you haven't been through it. Wait until you see the dregs of your class clean up with excellent 3 year programs. Wait until your friend, who is in the top ten, doesn't match. Happens every year. I was number 9 in my class - had over 20 interviews. Didn't match. Had some bad interviews...also had some good ones. No rhyme or reason to it as far as I'm concerned. MDs will tell you that if you are at the top of your class, you can get just about any program you want - it is YOUR pick at that point! In podiatry, your grades mean pretty much nothing.

15) "Personally I don't plan on having anything to do with nursing homes." Neither do most of the people who end up slaving at them every Saturday to bring in some extra cash so they can pay their mortgage this month. Don't knock it - you may need it one day!

16) DPM credits can, in fact, be transferred between DPM schools. Why do you think some people are able to transfer to a different school in the second or third years? Do you think they have to take all the classes over again? MD and DO schools work the same way. The point made was that MD schools won't consider any of the work you did in DPM school as good enough and you will have to take the same classes over again.

17) DPM jobs generally DO NOT cover health insurance, etc. Many of my classmates are working as Independent Contractors. They get a set salary every month, with no taxes taken out and no benefits. They have to buy their own health and malpractice insurance, as well as save money from their checks to pay the IRS each April. It is cheaper for docs to hire this way because they don't have to match the social security taxes, which you do if you have an employee. Happens all the time in podiatry.

That's about all I'll address. I'm sure others will further address other concerns from your post.

I'm not saying podiatry can't be a good profession - it can be. I just post so prospective students can make up their minds knowing all the facts. One of those facts, however, is that students can't possibly address the concerns that are posted here (unless they specifically deal with a school issue). These are real world problems that you are quite sheltered from in school. Whether you believe the postings or not, I can only tell it from my perspective and let you know what podiatry has given, and taken from, me.

Good luck to all. I have only to gain if the DPM degree becomes more respected in the community. That means that I am more respected and have better opportunities outside of podiatry.

Jeff