Hello

[Pony46]

Hi, I am not yet pre-osteopathic but I want to be, I have not even started my post-bac yet, but I will. So here are my questions to all of you who have in fact done this-

I graduate this december with a B.A. and I have a semester and a summer to kill this winter/spring/summer before I start attending pre-med next fall.

I am either thinking HES of Tufts( it has linkage and joint to UNECOM - I am 27) but Tufts is exclusive(which is yucky) so even with my GPA of 3.8 in Democracy and Cultural Pluralism it is far from definate-I really like Tufts program though, but I will have to take my GRE's because my highschool /SATS were less than impressive( probably would have helped if I cared then, during high shcool)...
anyhow
I am wondering if you all might be able to think of anything really handy and useful that I might do to prep myself better for this 8-9 year commitment to more school ahead of me??

I have taken no sciences- I can not take the core sciences because in general they must be taken at the post-bac program to be evaluated by the board.

I have taken Statistics
and I will take pre-calc and maybe a Neuropsychology class this semester while studying for the GRE's- So I am just wondering what else I might do, what if anything might be really beneficial for me to attempt in prep? Any specific type of volunteering?? Anything that would help me in regard to becoming an osteopath that I may not know?

Also I am considering Psychiatry after D.O.(considering) and wonder if any of you have any thoughts on that as well-

Oh and just so you know Osteopaths ROCK!!
and much luck to you all

P

 

[laboholic]

I guess I dont really understand why you are graduating and then going to a post bacc. Why dont you just take the pre-med requirements at the school you are going to now and just graduate a 2 years later (it really wont matter that much as long as you get good grades and do well on the MCAT). you basically need a year of physical chem, a year of organic chem, a year of physics, and a year of biology with an upper level course or 2. you could do physical chem and biology all in one year while studying for and taking the MCAT... then the last year take your organic chemistry, physics and upper level bio course while applying to medical school.

or if you dont feel comfortable taking the MCAT before taking orgo or physics.. do it this way:
take your physical chem, biology and physics all your first year as a full time student... then the 2nd year take your orgo and upper level bio courses and study for the april MCAT... then take a year off while you are applying for Medical school and maybe dabble in some research.

Of course... while you are doing all of this you need to do some physician shadowing and get some volunteer time at a hospital or clinic.

 

[Pony46]

I guess I dont really understand why you are graduating and then going to a post bacc. Why dont you just take the pre-med requirements at the school you are going to now and just graduate a 2 years later (it really wont matter that much as long as you get good grades and do well on the MCAT). you basically need a year of physical chem, a year of organic chem, a year of physics, and a year of biology with an upper level course or 2. you could do physical chem and biology all in one year while studying for and taking the MCAT... then the last year take your organic chemistry, physics and upper level bio course while applying to medical school.

or if you dont feel comfortable taking the MCAT before taking orgo or physics.. do it this way:
take your physical chem, biology and physics all your first year as a full time student... then the 2nd year take your orgo and upper level bio courses and study for the april MCAT... then take a year off while you are applying for Medical school and maybe dabble in some research.

Of course... while you are doing all of this you need to do some physician shadowing and get some volunteer time at a hospital or clinic.

O.K. The reason that I am not staying in my school is because it does not offer the science classes needed for the pre-req for med school.

I know that I must take those science classes and I thought I knew in which order. I wish my lib art college did offer sciences but alas, that is not the case.
The problem is that most post-bacs want you to take all of your sciences there and so I am waiting to start at one of those to take my sciences. But what else can I do ?- what other classes are useful? - other than the obvious sciences, now that i repeat this question I realize that it is slightly obnoxious ... hmmm

I really wish my school offered science that would be recognized ...

SO thank you for your reponse, but I was asking a different question(sorta)
p

 

[FieldDoc]

I am not the most partial of people to be asking what you can do to volunteer, but I have found my EMT/Paramedic experience invaluable. Becoming an EMT is fairly easy (you can sometimes find a class that is “full time” and takes a month, or a “part time” class that lasts a couple of months). Requirements for the class vary by state, but you can get reciprocity for your certification between certain states, so check on that first if you are planning on moving around.

I know how to check basic vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, lung sounds), intubate, give drugs, start IVs, decompress a chest, and all kinds of cool stuff. Best of all, I am not afraid to touch patients. Working with doctors everyday also lessens the fear I had during my interviews since I was being interviewed by people that are in a profession with which I interact everyday.

Everyone loves a volunteer, ambulances are no different. Plus you can pick up a few bucks on the side if you want to get paid at a service or two.

Want more info, just ask.
J

 

[laboholic]

But what else can I do ?- what other classes are useful? - other than the obvious sciences, now that i repeat this question I realize that it is slightly obnoxious ... hmmm

Well, I think you need 1 advanced biology course on top of the Physics, Chemistry and Intro bio courses. Many people take a genetics course. It doesnt really matter though... you arent going to really learn much biology with just one course.

Make sure you get to know some of your professors on a personal basis and be scouting out possible references. (you might be able to volunteer in prof's lab or wash dishes just so they can get to know you better)

Next, you need to probably go to the local hospital or clinic and get some volunteer hours in...OR like FieldDoc said, you can get your EMT certification during one of the months that you have down time. (I actually really wanted to do this but I work full time doing research so there was really no time for me to do it.) You really have to have some clinical experience of some kind because the medical schools are going to want to know if you are comfortable working around sick people.

Other than this you cant do much... just make sure all your time is accounted for.. e.g. if you arent taking a full load of classes you better make sure you are working or doing something else to fill your down time or it will look as if you are lazy. You have some tough work ahead of you! As long as you are determined you will be fine. Good luck