How to Choose an Osteopathy School

Stethoscope

A medical student who studies at an osteopathy school will learn about medicine as a holistic discipline. This type of medicine also opens doors for medical students to pursue a wide range of medical specialties. Osteopathic medicine is becoming a more popular discipline in the medical field, with more students applying each year. Choosing an osteopathy school should begin early. This career path will suit the medical student who seeks a hands-on and preventive approach to caring for patients.

Instructions

1. Determine that you want to earn a D.O. degree. Choose a D.O. over the more popular M.D. if you would like to eventually practice general medicine with a holistic approach. General medicine is the most popular practice of medicine for those graduating from this type of medical school. Realize that the resulting medical degree will be a D.O., or Doctor of Osteopathy, rather than the more popular M.D., Doctor of Medicine.

2. Purchase or go to the library to borrow a copy of the Osteopathic Medical College Information Book for the upcoming school year. The book is published and updated annually by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The association offers free online access to the book in PDF format.

3. Browse through the list of osteopathy schools that are accredited. Look for the features you seek in the medical degree program. Consider finding a school which offers a dual-degree program if you want to earn the D.O./Ph.D.

4. Familiarize yourself with the different deadlines for each medical school as well as their pre-screening process. Many osteopathy schools run a criminal background check, drug test applicants or require interviews. These pre-screening tools are in addition to GPA requirements in science and MCAT scores. Find a medical school which is compatible with your personal grade statistics.

5. Research the financial aid options and scholarships available at each osteopathy school you are considering. One or more schools may have scholarships for which you qualify based on your experience or background.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider how far you are willing to move or relocate in order to attend osteopathy school.

Resources

• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
• AACOM Application Service
• Osteopathic Medical College Information Book