Chiro applying for DO

[ISUCY]

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Hey, I was looking for more info on practicing chiropractors going to med school. I know there is some info floating around here but nothing too recent.

I have been practicing for almost 7 years and I am going to apply to DO school later this summer and I was looking for experiences, either yourself, or someone you've known personally or went to school with regarding any trouble getting into school (or any other experiences really) because of being a chiropractor? I will be 34 years old with a wife and 2 kids.

Would all of the clinical experience in practicing as a chiro be of any advantage to improve my application? Any advantage to being an older non-traditional student with clinical experience?

Any thoughts or information is appreciated! Thanks

 

[gyngyn]

I am not a DO but it has been my impression that they have made every attempt to distance themselves from Chiropractors. I would also be interested to see if others have experience with this.

 

[ISUCY]

Just to be clear: I am not trying to compete with them I am looking to become a DO and practice medicine, just wondering if anyone (esp since this is a non-trad forum) has had any chiros in their class and what, if any, were their experiences in school AS WELL AS getting into school? Thanks

 

[gyngyn]

Just to be clear: I am not trying to compete with them I am looking to become a DO and practice medicine, just wondering if anyone (esp since this is a non-trad forum) has had any chiros in their class and what, if any, were their experiences in school AS WELL AS getting into school? Thanks

Forgive me if I offended, it was not my intent.
I too, look forward to any responses.

 

[ISUCY]

none taken...I just wanted to make sure that I was clear. thanks for your response.

 

[s5260205]

I think your situation is quite unique so people likely won't be able to provide much feedback. This is purely my opinion but I doubt the admissions would consider your experience as a chiropractor clinical experience, and it's advisable to steer away from the notion that chiropractic = OMM, especially due to the stigma against chiropractic. You will additionally need to address why you want to become a physician after 7 years of working as a chiropractor, which would require some DO shadowing. That said, if you could positively describe and tie your past experience into your desire to pursue medicine in your application essays and during interviews, I don't see how your experience as a chiropractor could hurt you.

 

[Goro]

I see a chiropractor as an interviewee maybe once a year. They tended to not be good interviewees, and have had poor grasps on critical thinking. not to say you'll fall into the same pool.

You'll need to explain well moving from one profession to another. Saying that you'd like to be able to prescribe medicines or do procedures wont win any points though.

Hey, I was looking for more info on practicing chiropractors going to med school. I know there is some info floating around here but nothing too recent.

I have been practicing for almost 7 years and I am going to apply to DO school later this summer and I was looking for experiences, either yourself, or someone you've known personally or went to school with regarding any trouble getting into school (or any other experiences really) because of being a chiropractor? I will be 34 years old with a wife and 2 kids.

Would all of the clinical experience in practicing as a chiro be of any advantage to improve my application? Any advantage to being an older non-traditional student with clinical experience?

Any thoughts or information is appreciated! Thanks

 

[ISUCY]

Got it. Ive seen on other threads that this was to the advantage to the applicant because of experience with treating patients, maturity in already being out in the "real world" as well as being a little bit ahead because of the coursework already taken. Didn't know if anyone else knew of any other experiences.

It will be no problem explaining why I am wanting the change from DC to DO. As far as chiro = OMM they are completely different in my opinion and I will NOT be making a comparison. Thanks for your feedback!

 

[ISUCY]

Goro - are you an interviewer?

What, in your opinion, would you say are good reasons as to why one would be switching professions?

 

[MrLogan13]

My interviewer at Dartmouth was a DC, MD, PhD.

 

[Goro]

Yes; Adcom member with > 10 years experience.

Goro - are you an interviewer?

Lack adequate patient contact, feeling that Medicine was their real calling, desire to want to do "more' for patients than, say, dentistry or pharmacy; wanting to help people (although this by itself is not enough).

What, in your opinion, would you say are good reasons as to why one would be switching professions?

 

[ISUCY]

@Goro, thank you.

 

[kraskadva]

There was this thread not too long ago... The OP was also a chiropractor. Don't know how things have turned out for him/her, but you could always ask.

 

[DocWinter]

Use your interest and appreciation in the human body/manual adjustment as a springboard to doing much more (becoming a DO). Do not attempt to correlate OMT to chiropractics. Beyond acknowledging the similarities (fixing peoples bodies to relieve pain), let your understanding show that they are not the same.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

I have a classmate that was a chiropractor. I don't see my school discriminating based on that. I wouldn't sweat it if you have the right numbers, experiences and a decent excuse for going into DO.