Chiropractor to Med school

[Checkraise]

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I am a 31 year old licensed Chiropractor living in Texas and I'm thinking of going to med school. I have a few questions and was hoping someone will be able to help.
1. Does anyone know of someone who has done this?
2. Can I expect to get any credit for any of the courses I took at Parker chiro school?
3. Any tips or suggestions about doing this would be great.

Thanks Checkraise

 

[Scottish Chap]

I am a 31 year old licensed Chiropractor living in Texas and I'm thinking of going to med school. I have a few questions and was hoping someone will be able to help.
1. Does anyone know of someone who has done this?
2. Can I expect to get any credit for any of the courses I took at Parker chiro school?
3. Any tips or suggestions about doing this would be great.

Thanks Checkraise

Welcome. I personally do not know of any chiropractors who have done this, but I know it has indeed been done. I've seen it posted on SDN several times.

I can say with fair certainty that U.S. medical schools won't grant advanced standing in any part of their curriculum based on your DC degree. My class has nurses, paramedics, and a PA and none gained advanced standing or obtained class exemptions. I think the subject emphasis in other branches of healthcare is often quite different, so they just make everyone start on the same page.

For initial screening purposes, medical schools care most about the undergraduate GPA and the MCAT score. For U.S. allopathic schools (M.D.), you're looking at an average GPA of around 3.55 and an average MCAT of around 29.5 for those gaining entry. For Osteopathic medical schools (D.O.), it's probably around 3.3 and 24, respectively. Keep in mind these are average numbers with a massive spread in the distribution (you’ll hear about people being accepted with GPA’s of quite a bit below 3.0 and MCAT in the teens (usually not both together!); granted they are not the general rule at all but know assuredly that anything can happen. All medical schools seek to enroll a diverse student body so also keep in mind that there is more to you as a person than numbers so don’t let anyone discourage you. Probably the most difficult part of your application may be explaining (convincingly) why you want to change from a very detailed branch of health care that required substantial training and sacrifice to more of the same.

Overall, make sure you have volunteer experiences and meaningful contact with physicans to make your application rounded. All U.S. medical schools require one year of general chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, and biology (all with lab) so check that you have all of those too. Your age and your previous endeavors matter less than your determination. The mean age of my medical school class is just shy of 24 (range: 20-51). We have ex-nurses, paramedics, Ph.D's, an ordained minister, a company CEO, and many other interesting accomplished individuals so you're in good company. Don't give up if this is what you really want to do. I, myself, was an imperfect applicant and I had a couple of red flags, but I worked with them as best as I could. You're no different. Good luck and, once again, welcome!

 

[wook]

I am a 31 year old licensed Chiropractor living in Texas and I'm thinking of going to med school. I have a few questions and was hoping someone will be able to help.
1. Does anyone know of someone who has done this?
2. Can I expect to get any credit for any of the courses I took at Parker chiro school?
3. Any tips or suggestions about doing this would be great.

Thanks Checkraise

1. Yes, he's graduating from my school this year.
2. Don't know. But at my school, I think the student I'm thinking of was able to waive a few classes.
3. You may want to contact the schools anonymously and inquire if some classes are waived with previous training/coursework. Also, I don't know if it cuts your tuition at all.


Wook

 

[burntcrispy]

1. Yes,we have an ortho surgeon at my institution who was a chiropractor.
2. You will most likely not get any credit for any previous course work. Even people with PhD in biochem must still take med school biochem. The coursework is just different from anything else out there. An ER doc that I know had a masters in Biochem and almost failed it in med school. They just stress differnt material.
3. Tips: If you're still in TX and around the Dallas area (you mentioned Parker) I would contact UT Southwestern's admissions office and TCOM's admissions office for some advice.

Good luck.

 

[Wifty]

I am a 31 year old licensed Chiropractor living in Texas and I'm thinking of going to med school. I have a few questions and was hoping someone will be able to help.
1. Does anyone know of someone who has done this?
2. Can I expect to get any credit for any of the courses I took at Parker chiro school?
3. Any tips or suggestions about doing this would be great.

Thanks Checkraise

Hi! I have a pretty good friend that was in his early 30s and a successful chiropractor before deciding to go back to school (KCOM) and is just about to graduate.
I seem to remember that he didn't get any credit for his courses, but it did make some of the classes easier.....especially anatomy and OTM classes.
As for tips....keep reading this site, know that you are young in the scheme of things, and follow your heart and have fun!

With smiles,
Wifty.....spouse to a 2006 KCOMer! whoohooo....almost done!

 

[Bandit]

my best friend in med school is a chiropractor. He is doing VERY well.

oh, there is no way of gaining advanced placement. do yourself a favor and get it out of your mind! Just get going and the first year flies. Hey--then all of a sudden you are in a 3 year program right?

 

[twiceadoc]

Checkraise,

I am a former DC currently in an MD-PhD program. It can be done, so go for it! Don't expect credit for previous work-they don't offer that to anyone regardless of their background. Get to know the folks at the school you want to attend-putting a face/attitude with an application is helpful. Once in, you'll probably find first and second year courses to be very familiar.

Good Luck!

I am a 31 year old licensed Chiropractor living in Texas and I'm thinking of going to med school. I have a few questions and was hoping someone will be able to help.
1. Does anyone know of someone who has done this?
2. Can I expect to get any credit for any of the courses I took at Parker chiro school?
3. Any tips or suggestions about doing this would be great.

Thanks Checkraise

 

[RxnMan]

The only program I've ever heard of with an abbreviated curriculum or that granted advanced standing was a few med schools that gave 2-year MD to people who had PhDs. There was also a program at Duke which allowed you to combine the first 2 years into one if you had a PhD. All of these programs have been closed down for some time - you're commiting to a 4-year hitch (plus financial payments) if you go MD/DO.

 

[the brown note]

Some med schools (UIC comes to mind) have proficiency exams that you can take just before your first year--if you can pass them, you don't have to take the relevant classes. So you might be able to decrease your courseload that way (though I'm not sure if that reduces your tuition). Since the courses are in a prescribed progression with the rest of your class, you probably wouldn't be able to shorten the time you're in school, but you might have a slightly lighter semester or two. Good luck!

 

[Raven Feather]

Welcome. I personally do not know of any chiropractors who have done this, but I know it has indeed been done. I've seen it posted on SDN several times.

I can say with fair certainty that U.S. medical schools won't grant advanced standing in any part of their curriculum based on your DC degree. My class has nurses, paramedics, and a PA and none gained advanced standing or obtained class exemptions. I think the subject emphasis in other branches of healthcare is often quite different, so they just make everyone start on the same page.

For initial screening purposes, medical schools care most about the undergraduate GPA and the MCAT score. For U.S. allopathic schools (M.D.), you're looking at an average GPA of around 3.55 and an average MCAT of around 29.5 for those gaining entry. For Osteopathic medical schools (D.O.), it's probably around 3.3 and 24, respectively. Keep in mind these are average numbers with a massive spread in the distribution (you’ll hear about people being accepted with GPA’s of quite a bit below 3.0 and MCAT in the teens (usually not both together!); granted they are not the general rule at all but know assuredly that anything can happen. All medical schools seek to enroll a diverse student body so also keep in mind that there is more to you as a person than numbers so don’t let anyone discourage you. Probably the most difficult part of your application may be explaining (convincingly) why you want to change from a very detailed branch of health care that required substantial training and sacrifice to more of the same.

Overall, make sure you have volunteer experiences and meaningful contact with physicans to make your application rounded. All U.S. medical schools require one year of general chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, and biology (all with lab) so check that you have all of those too. Your age and your previous endeavors matter less than your determination. The mean age of my medical school class is just shy of 24 (range: 20-51). We have ex-nurses, paramedics, Ph.D's, an ordained minister, a company CEO, and many other interesting accomplished individuals so you're in good company. Don't give up if this is what you really want to do. I, myself, was an imperfect applicant and I had a couple of red flags, but I worked with them as best as I could. You're no different. Good luck and, once again, welcome!

Those averages seem kinda low for both schools. I know for DO schools, those numbers you gave are averages of the entire applicant pool, not those gaining acceptance. I think the GPA is closer to a 3.5, with the MCAT being about right, at 24-25ish, on average for acceptees.

Anyway, I interviewed with an applicant who was a Chiropractor in his 40's at KCUMB. He was from Alabama. I don't know that he got in there (or any other school) or not--so if this particular person is on SDN say hi!

 

[eigball]

hey, i am weirdly similar to your situation---i thought i was writing the post---i'm 31, practicing chiropractor, but in Houston, went to TCC and a little further along in the process......I took my MCAT in April, just submitted my TDMSAS & AMCAS last week and i'm just waiting to hear back...

1. nobody I know personally has gone the route of US med Schools, I know of one DO but not personally and have heard many went by way of the Carrib.
2. no credits for your past courses, sorry..i've checked into it extensively...
3. you are just like any other non-trad going through the process

hope that helps, any more ???? i'll tell you what I know.

 

[Medical123]

There is a guy in my class who was a chiropractor before going to medical school. He has done very well and plans to pursue a career in Orthopedic Surgery.

He didn't get any credit for any of his previous coursework. However, he did say that he had forgotten so much that it helped him to go through the courses again. From what I hear, he did REALLY well on Step 1.

As for applying to medical school, he told me that he took the MCAT and made sure that he had completed coursework to meet the admission requirements for the programs that he was interested in. Not too much different from what anyone else does to gain admission to medical school.

He did say that he had to answer a lot of questions about why he changed professions while on the interview trail. Just be prepared for that.

 

[eigball]

r u in allopathic or DO???cause a lot of chiros are getting DO, but I really want allopathic, i don't want to go through manipulations studies anymore, got that down cold...i prefer a more mainstream method..having said that, i would truly go anywhere just to get in to med school.......

 

[Medical123]

r u in allopathic or DO???cause a lot of chiros are getting DO, but I really want allopathic, i don't want to go through manipulations studies anymore, got that down cold...i prefer a more mainstream method..having said that, i would truly go anywhere just to get in to med school.......

Allopathic.

 

[cfdavid]

My buddie's uncle was a chiro that went on to DO school. Then he did a fellowship as a nephrologist, so obviously he was a very successful student/resident. Now, he's making some pretty fat cash (according to my buddy.. lol)