I need the basics

[fulakim]

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So, I am a 2nd year at Cal Berkeley, recently decided want to persue DO degree. When should I take the MCATS? Do a lot of people take a year off before med school? Do you recommend it? Is the DO timeline comparable to the MD timeline?
Also, any good resources on DO internships? I have done different programs under MD's but want to experience DO practice firsthand.
Thanks to whoever has the patience to answer my possibly really stupid questions.
Kim

 

[EMTLizzy]

So, I am a 2nd year at Cal Berkeley, recently decided want to persue DO degree. When should I take the MCATS? Do a lot of people take a year off before med school? Do you recommend it? Is the DO timeline comparable to the MD timeline?
Also, any good resources on DO internships? I have done different programs under MD's but want to experience DO practice firsthand.
Thanks to whoever has the patience to answer my possibly really stupid questions.
Kim

Not a slam...just an honest question...

If you don't know that much about being a DO, how is it you decided you wanted to become one?

A good book is "The DO's in America". Also, check out the AACOM web site. Lots of resources and information there. Do some google searches also.

You'll also find a resource on the web site about how to contact a DO in your area for shadowing experience.

 

[DORoe]

You should take your MCAT in April of your Junior year. IMHO that is the best time to take them to allow yourself to get your application in early. I don't know about a lot of DO's taking a year off before medical school, but there are a lot of non-trad's in my class. I did not take a year off, but that was really out of being lucky enough to gain acceptance my first application cycle. This is going to be a personal decision that you are going to have to make. I wanted to get started so taking a year off was not something I was interested in. The DO timeline is pretty much the exact same timeline as MD. The best way to experience a DO in practice is to call one up and ask them if you can come shadow them a little. If you don't know any DO's look in the phone book and start calling until you find one willing to talk with you and let you follow him/her around.

 

[DORoe]

Not a slam...just an honest question...

If you don't know that much about being a DO, how is it you decided you wanted to become one?

A good book is "The DO's in America". Also, check out the AACOM web site. Lots of resources and information there. Do some google searches also.

You'll also find a resource on the web site about how to contact a DO in your area for shadowing experience.

The questions that he/she asked were not about what a DO was, but about the application process. These are prefectly fine questions to ask so that you can get clarification.

 

[UNE2009LMD]

So, I am a 2nd year at Cal Berkeley, recently decided want to persue DO degree. When should I take the MCATS? Do a lot of people take a year off before med school? Do you recommend it? Is the DO timeline comparable to the MD timeline?
Also, any good resources on DO internships? I have done different programs under MD's but want to experience DO practice firsthand.
Thanks to whoever has the patience to answer my possibly really stupid questions.
Kim

You should take the MCATS summer of your Junior yr if you're planning on applying senior year. More and more people are taking a year or 2 off before heading straight to med school. Some people do a year of service or pursue other graduate studies...masters..PhD etc. The DO timeline is similar to the MD timeline...COMLEX instead of USMLE, same classes with additional OMT classes...I suggest shadowing a DO. Most DO med schools require a letter from a DO and some schools don't even require it. I was accepted to UNECOMw/out one so ya never know. 🙂

 

[dr.z]

Apply as early as possible. This will help you whether you apply DO or MD schools.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I definitely recommend shadowing a DO, even if you are confident that you want to pursue this route. Initially I was interested because of the philosophy and approach of osteopathic medicine (I got really tired of seeing MD's write Rx's to treat symptoms without addressing the core of the problem) as well as the potential utility of OMM. However, it wasn't until after seeing a DO in action in the ER as well as shadowing a DO FP that I really, "connected" with the field and felt that it is where I belonged.

You need the letter anyways, as it will be a HUGE benefit if you get a good one.

Most people take the MCAT in August of their junior year before applying, or in April of the year they are applying. Taking in in August the year before allows you three opportunities to retake the exam. I waited until August the year of because things came up in April and I had to play the waiting game a lot longer as a result.

Don't bother with review courses such as TPR or Kaplan. It's really hit or miss whether or not you get a useful instructor and any benefit from the course. Instead, save all your textbooks and buy an ExamKrackers study set. This is all you need to do well on the MCAT. You probably don't really even need the textbooks, but they're fun to burn once you get your acceptance letter. I would offer you my EK set if/when/after I'm accepted, but I plan on sacrificing it as a gift to the admission gods.

Give yourself more time than you think you will need. I allowed myself two solid weeks of preperation, as I am a pretty good test taker and have a good memory. However, something drastic came up during that period and I only managed to get in 3 days of studying, so my PS and BS sections suffered tremendously as a result.

Good luck in your endeavor.