Originally posted by DaveinDallas
Hi all,
Well, I'm about done with OChem II and new to the applications ballgame.
Are there any books/threads/resources to help get through this?
I'm thinking of taking the Kaplan review over the summer and then the MCAT in August. Depending on results, I'll be applying this November to TCOM Ft. Worth, among others, although that would be my first choice.
Anyone help a newbie out?
DaveinDallas,
I had to apply to med school several time before I could get in, so i could probably give you some suggestions.
First off, have you taken all your Physics and Biology prereqs prior to April 2004? If you just finished OCHEM II, then you have your general and organic prereqs. If so, you may want to consider taking the MCAT in April. I know you want to take the Kaplan review course, so I am guessing that is why you want to wait until august for the mcat. If you put the effort in, you will do very well on the MCAT after taking the review course.
Second, if you are going to take the August MCAT, You may start completing your application online through
www.aamc.org (for allopathic), or
www.aacom.org (for osteopathic) starting on or around May First. HAVE YOUR APPLICATION READY FOR SUBMISSION ON JUNE FIRST! I would submit the application on June 1st, mainly because the application process takes SO long to complete. You also get your name in the door at the school you wish to apply. They wont interview you until they have a set of MCAT scores, but you can be working on your interview strategies.
Third, START GETTING YOUR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION NOW! If the professors at your school are like some of the ones at mine, you will be waiting several months to get them in. That will also hold up your application process. Also, most of the DO schools require that an Osteopathic physician write a letter of recommendation. The doc that did mine took almost 4 months to complete mine after I initially asked him.
Fourth, if you have not shaddowed a DO, now is a great time to start looking. You need to get some experience seeing what a DO does in their practice. Knowing the DO philosophy is important too, because every school I applied to asked me to comment on what I thought osteopathic medicine was.
Fifth, if you have not done so, sometimes it helps to read a couple of booklets, books, papers, etc, on the DO history. I dont think it is absolutely necessary, but it helped me to decide why osteopathic medicine was a good fit for me. It can look good in interviews if it seems that you have a good knowledge of the history. But again, its your call.
Sixth, start researching ways to pay for osteopathic schools. They tend to be very expensive. Do a search in the Financial aid forum on this site and it has a great resource of knowledge in this area.
Lastly, I would apply to several osteopathic schools. TCOM is a great school from what I have been told. So if that is where you want to go, that is great. But, research other DO schools and try to find at least two others that you would be happy at. The more schools you apply to, the better your chances (in most cases). It does get expensive to apply to multiple schools, however.
I know that I have rambled here, but this is some stuff that if I would have known ininitially, my peptic ulcers would not have been so bad
I would be happy to answer any additional questions or chat some more with you if you need. Feel free to PM me or email me. Good luck in your application process.
Aaron
