According to the American Osteopathic Association:
“Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, are fully licensed physicians who practice in all areas of medicine. Emphasizing a whole-person approach to treatment and care, DOs are trained to listen and partner with their patients to help them get healthy and stay well.
“DOs receive special training in the musculoskeletal system, your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles, and bones. By combining this knowledge with the latest advances in medical technology, they offer patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.
“Osteopathic physicians focus on prevention, tuning into how a patient's lifestyle and environment can impact their well-being. DOs strive to help you be truly healthy in mind, body, and spirit—not just free of symptoms.”
In short, DOs and MDs receive the exact same training, but DOs also learn osteopathic manipulative treatment, a hands-on approach that helps DOs “diagnose illness and injury and encourage your body’s natural tendency toward self-healing.” One in four medical students in the United States now attends an osteopathic medical school.
Median Indiana salary: $177,540 for primary care physicians
Projected job growth: 40% for primary care physicians by 2020
Time to degree: Four years
Clinical requirements: Three to eight years of internships, residencies, and fellowships
Certification requirements: NA
Minimum GPA: 3.0 (3.1–3.5 considered competitive)
MCAT required: Yes (scores of 24 or 498 considered competitive)
Tuition: Ranges between $120,000 and $250,000, plus fees and living expenses
Application deadline: Rolling admission opens in early April
Classes
What to Do
Questions to Ask
Year 1
Fall 1
BIOL-K 101, CHEM-C 105/125, PSY-B 110, MATH 15300
Volunteer work/student activities
Do I want to study abroad? What kind of research experience do I want?
Spring 1
BIOL-K 103, CHEM-C 106/126, SOC-R 100 or ANTH-A 104, MATH 15400
Volunteer work/student activities; apply for the LHSI
Summer 1
Volunteer work; shadowing
To which programs do I want to apply?
Year 2
Fall 2
CHEM-C 341/343, PHYS-P 201
Volunteer work/student activities
Spring 2
CHEM-C 342/344, PHYS-P 202
Volunteer work/student activities; apply for the LHSI (if you weren't admitted in Year 1)
Whom do I want to write recommendation letters for me?
Summer 2
Study for the MCAT; ask recommenders to write for you; do a research internship
How much can I spend on the application process?
Year 3
Fall 3
BIOL-K 384
Register for the MCAT (and keep studying!); start working on personal statement
Who can look at my personal statement and give me constructive, honest feedback?
Spring 3
Take the MCAT by the end of January; complete personal statement
Summer 3
Apply to DO schools
Year 4
Fall 4
Interviews
Spring 4
Interviews
Summer 4
Year 5
Fall 5
Start school!
General education:
One semester of a social science (anthropology, sociology, ethnography, etc.)
One semester of a behavioral science (psychology, life span development, etc.)
Sometimes two semesters of English/humanities required
Life and physical science (all must include labs):
Two semesters of biology
Two semesters of general chemistry
Two semesters of organic chemistry
Two semesters of physics
One to two semesters of biochemistry often required