KCOM and "DO experience"

[laboholic]

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I am filling out my KCOM secondary and am working on the question about my experience with osteopathic medicine. I didnt really consider the osteopathic route until after i graduated and now that I work full time it is kind of hard to do any meaningful shadowing. After reading about osteopathy online and reading all of these countless posts on SDN, i feel like I am pretty knowledgable about the profession. But, somehow I dont think that KCOM will see that. Anyone else applying without shadowing a DO? What are you saying? I wish I would have done some shadowing but now its kind of late..

Give me some advice SDN! Pretty please

 

[Archer14]

I never had the opportunity to shadow a D.O. I had however shadowed several M.D. doctors. For the most part I think they only want to know that you know what the profession entails. I really don't think they have a problem with students not having shadowed a D.O. afterall I was accepted there without having done so. Just apply, in my opinion they have the nicest and most reasonable admissions staff of all the schools I have interviewed at.

 

[smc927]

I would tell them what you've posted here. No need to emphasize that you haven't shadowed, although they'll know and you'll answer if they ask. But tell them what you know, why it appeals to you, and how you intend to use the DO philosophy in your education and practice.

 

[fitnessexpert]

I agree with all of these posts. Yes, I have shadowed a D.O. but I didn't even start considering osteopathic medicine until my Senior year of college. My degree prepared me for lab work and research the rest of my life. So, I just started calling D.O.s , right out of the phonebook, and asked to interview them or discuss with them their profession. I even offered lunch or dinner but very casual. This led to me shadowing. I would recommend this approach. Most DOs are more than happy to help out. At least that is what I found. I think when you get your interviews you will be able to discuss this even though it is not in your secondary application. It shows that you are trying to understand the osteopathic profession. Some people think that after the application is into the schools that they don't have to continue learning and growing as an individual.

One of my questions had a similar dilemma. I had one question from MSU that said: "What ethical or personal issue have you experienced that has shaped your character?How has this prepared you for Osteopathic Medicine?" I thought to myself: "I am a lower-middle class white girl who has been pretty lucking in life." I wanted to say I had an ethical issue with this essay and what ever happened to just a passion for helping people (I know it is cliche). Why do we all have to have some huge thing happen in our lives to make us better physicians? (Rhetorical question) That was just my beef.