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Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) account for 11% of all physicians in the United States. The profession uses a patient-centered approach to help prevent illness and injury. DOs complete 4 years of medical school with a standard curriculum, an emphasis on preventative medicine and comprehensive care, and go on to practice in all medical specialties. DOs understand how lifestyle and environmental factors impact your well-being, and use that process in maintaining your health and improving your symptoms. They use the most recent medical research in their treatment plans, but also consider complementary and alternative medicine in their treatment plans. DOs receive special training in the musculoskeletal system (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine) to diagnose and treat illness and injury by manipulating the muscles and joints and lymphatic system.

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Like MD schools, osteopathic medical schools require key academic pre-requisites in order to apply. While these may vary depending on the school, an osteopathic medical school applicant should aim to take courses in the following

  • One year of biology

  • Two years of chemistry

  • One year of physics

  • One year of English composition

It is important to check schools for their specific coursework requirements to ensure eligibility before applying.

The MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) is a standardized, multiple-choice exam created by the AAMC required for admission to medical schools (whether DO or MD) in the US or Canada. It is split up into 4 sections:

  • Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems: tests general chemistry, physics, biochemistry and biology, and applies these to the human body (ie- circulatory system, muscles, etc).

  • Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills (CARS): tests reading comprehension and reasoning (no science knowledge required) with passages from humanities and social sciences.

  • Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems: tests biology, organic and general chemistry, and focuses on topics like metabolism, DNA replication, cell function.

  • Psychological, Social & Biological Foundations of Behavior: tests psychology and sociology, and focuses on behavior, mental health, and social systems in health care.

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It is a 7.5 hour exam (including breaks), with about 230 questions, scored from 472-528, with a score of 500 as the midpoint. The national average for DO matriculants is around 504-507 and a GPA of 3.5 (each DO school has its own range, but most accept scores between 500 and 508, with a score of more than 507 making you more competitive). 2-6 months is the most common prep time, with a recommended study time of 300-500 hours. Some good MCAT resources include: the official AAMC materials, free resources like Khan Academy, and prep companies such as UWorld, Kaplan and Blueprint.

When applying to DO schools, it’s not just about your MCAT and GPA. Your experiences play a critical role in showing that you are prepared for the realities of medicine and understand the osteopathic philosophy, as well as help you demonstrate the AAMC’s 17 pre-med competencies. Some key experiences that DO schools look for are:

  • Clinical Experience: Hands-on or direct patient care shows you have been in a patient-care setting and understand the day-to-day life of healthcare providers. Examples include being an EMT, CNA, Scribe, Medical Assistant. Recommended Hours: 100-300+ Hours (the more the better!) 

  • Shadowing: Especially DO physicians, as it demonstrates that you have seen the profession in action and know what osteopathic medicine is all about. Examples: virtual or in-person shadowing, observing osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), etc. Most DO schools require a minimum of at least 1 DO physician. Recommended Hours: 50-100 Hours, ideally with both DOs and MDs (competitive tip: try to get a letter of recommendation from a DO!).

  • Research: This is optional but valuable as it shows critical thinking, curiosity and ability to contribute to scientific knowledge. Examples include clinical or basic science research, public health or social science research, etc. Recommended Hours: Not always required, but having 100-200+ hours can help (competitive tip: having a poster, publication or presentation gives an edge but is not mandatory!)

  • Volunteering: An act of community service that shows compassion, service orientation and alignment with medicine’s humanistic values. Examples include food banks, homeless shelters, tutoring underserved youth, etc. Recommended Hours: 100+ Hours (competitive tip: long-term commitment looks better than short, one-off events!)

  • Bonus: Leadership, Teaching, Extracurriculars: DO schools like to see leadership, teamwork and initiative. Examples include being a student organization officer, sports team captain, peer tutor or teaching assistant, etc.

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