How to Get Into Osteopathic Medical Schools

All medical schools are competitive, so you need to do everything you can to make yourself an attractive and memorable candidate.  For osteopathic schools, this means showing that you are not only an excellent and capable student, but also that you are committed to patient care and osteopathic medicine.

• Study hard and get good grades.  While this is not new advice, it is worth repeating.  The medical school application process is partially a numbers game, and grades are important.  In 2010, the average undergraduate GPA of matriculating osteopathic medical students was 3.47 overall and 3.36 in science courses.


• Take an MCAT prep course, and work on achieving your best possible scores.  The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine reports that in 2011 matriculating DO students had an average  MCAT score of 26.48.


• Ask for application letters from professors and physicians who know you well and will write personalized recommendations.  Make sure that you include osteopathic physicians on your list, and give your references a few months notice.  This will give them plenty of time and allow you to make other arrangements if one of your chosen references cannot write a letter for you.


• Get involved in clubs and organizations, particularly service organizations.  This will show that you are an involved member of the community.  Simply showing up to club meeting, however, is not enough.  Schools want to see you taking leadership roles, so run for office, organize events and take initiative.


• Learn about osteopathic medicine.  Admissions committees want to see that you have an understanding of this discipline and are not just applying to every medical school you can find.  Use your knowledge in your personal statement and in your interviews.


• Shadow an osteopathic physician.  In addition to showing your commitment, this is also a good source for meeting potential doctors to write your letters of recommendation.  Some schools actually require applicants to have a reference from a DO and shadowing experience.  Even if your schools are not on this list, having this on your resume will be a plus for your application.


• Volunteer or get a job in a clinical setting.  Admissions committees are more likely to take your commitment to the profession seriously if you have significant clinical experience.


• Emphasize your uniqueness.  In your interview, application and personal statement, point out what you different and well rounded.  Osteopathic schools are famous for liking students outside the mold of the typical science major.  If you are a second career student, speak foreign languages, have traveled extensively, have experience in outside fields or have interesting hobbies, mention this.  You want to show that not only do you have good scores, great academic credentials and solid experience, but you are also an interesting person who will bring something unique to the profession.