Is there a difference in extracurricular activity expectations between osteopathic schools and allopathic schools (such as the target range in hours to be competitive, for example)? Most of the threads about this appear to be on MD schools.
Extracurricular activities and DO schools
- Thread starter sixty8
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2019
- Messages
- 676
- Reaction score
- 1,294
Nope. DO schools are more forgiving academically, but still hold the same standards for extracurriculars (150+ clinical, 150+ nonclinical, shadowing, LoRs, etc.). One extra thing you might need for DO is a letter of rec from a DO physician, and DO shadowing (DO shadowing will also fulfill shadowing requirements for MD programs).
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2010
- Messages
- 72,623
- Reaction score
- 115,667
At my school, you'd better have clinical exposure and we do like nonclinical volunteering. We're rejected people who had < 100 hrs of clinical exposure and up until COVID, shadowing and a clinician LOR was a requirement.
I strongly suggest that you look at some DO school admissions sites to see what they're looking for.
Let's try two, for starters
ACOM:
Selection Process
The ACOM Admissions Committee will be responsible for reviewing and assessing the completed AACOMAS and supplemental applications with required support materials. The major criteria for rating applicants are academic and non-academic achievements.
Academic assessments include: the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores, grades, and grade point averages.
Personal characteristics include: the applicant’s ability and desire to fulfill the college’s commitment to the primary care and underserved needs of Alabama and the region, personal experiences with patient populations, physician shadowing, community/volunteer service, leadership positions, and honors received. Letters of recommendation play a major role in the assessment of applicants.
DMU:
EXPOSURE TO MEDICINE
All applicants should have exposure to medicine documented in a letter of recommendation from a health care provider. Exposure is strongly recommended so applicants will have already determined whether the osteopathic medical profession is right for them. This experience can be paid or volunteer.
I strongly suggest that you look at some DO school admissions sites to see what they're looking for.
Let's try two, for starters
ACOM:
Selection Process
The ACOM Admissions Committee will be responsible for reviewing and assessing the completed AACOMAS and supplemental applications with required support materials. The major criteria for rating applicants are academic and non-academic achievements.
Academic assessments include: the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores, grades, and grade point averages.
Personal characteristics include: the applicant’s ability and desire to fulfill the college’s commitment to the primary care and underserved needs of Alabama and the region, personal experiences with patient populations, physician shadowing, community/volunteer service, leadership positions, and honors received. Letters of recommendation play a major role in the assessment of applicants.
DMU:
EXPOSURE TO MEDICINE
All applicants should have exposure to medicine documented in a letter of recommendation from a health care provider. Exposure is strongly recommended so applicants will have already determined whether the osteopathic medical profession is right for them. This experience can be paid or volunteer.
