Newbie Needs Advice

[EHallberg]

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Hi, everyone. Longtime reader, first-time poster. Please pardon the long first note, but hey-- this is my life story, here.

Here's my story, as brief as I can make it: 32 years old. Graduated high school in 1988, and immediately went to work. Enjoyed being independent (and overpaid) in the world of home mortgages; service stuff, lots of problem-solving and advocacy, and eventually training. Went back to finish my BA in 1995... in Theatre Arts. (I know, I know... about as un-science as one can be.)

Finished the BA in 1998, while simultaneously dealing with divorce; not a pretty picture, and I have the 3.02 GPA to prove it. Then back to work, again doing fancy-schmancy service stuff, now in the world of higher education. Finally, FINALLY, 5 years later, I figure out what I'm supposed to do when I grow up. And I feel sort of hosed. Like the kid who wakes up 20 minutes after the midterm test has started.

But I'm volunteering in the local county hospital's ED; I'm researching post-bacc pre-med programs; and I'm sponging up all the info and guidance I possibly can. Based on my ideas about the role of physicians in communities and society, my motives for going into doctoring, and the kind of doc I'd like to be (and the kind of patient I've been all my life), the DO philosophy really appeals to me.

It doesn't hurt that my 'real-life' experiences might count for perhaps more than they would in the allopathic world... I hope. Maybe. The way I look at it, I spent my 20's becoming the man I want to be, and now it's time to put him to work. Had I gone to med school at the age of 22, I would have had a very different experience than the one that faces me now, and I doubt it would have been better in any meaningful way. This will be Herculean, but that in itself doesn't intimidate me. Much.

My questions, then:

1) I live in Minnesota, where DO's seem to be just a touch rare. I'd love to find several docs to shadow, and I'd love to build a rapport with at least one DO among them. So where do I find such a person willing to be a mentor?

2) How else do I best use this time? I just missed a bunch of app deadlines for post-bacc programs, which means I have about 9 mos to get in shape for those. The ED volunteering will continue, and I'm looking for evening classes in EMT. Ideally, I'd be able to make the leap from my present job to something in healthcare (maintain that all-important health insurance), such that I'd have at least a few months of experience before shipping off to post-bacc.

3) Does anyone have experience with post-bacc programs? Any insights on how they're viewed by COM adcoms?

4) Anything whatsoever you'd like to add, or you think I should know, fire away.

... 4a) I need a cool nickname, don't I?

 

[sacroiliac]

EHallberg... tell you what, you can do it.

I'm 38, just accepted at UNECOM. These days, there is no "mold" for becoming a physician. Sure, we all need the GPA, MCAT, letters of rec etc., but in my mind, these are things that are in your control with enough desire, determination, and plain old hard work.

I graduated BA in Psych. 1987, unimpressive GPA of 3.02. Worked as substance abuse counselor then as a foster care counselor for abused kids. This took me to the age of 26-27 and knew I had to do more. Took anatomy, physiology, micro, and entry level chem. Then took algebra, pre calc, and calc knowing I had to get ready for the sciences. Then did a MA in Psych with an emphasis in neuropsych with some clinical, developmental,and psychopharm exposure. Why the MA? To boost my GPA and to take me into medical realm of education. Worked on clinical trials for ALS and diabetic neuropathy, worked inpatient psych as counselor. Took all pre-requs as part time student. Volunteered with a year with DO about 10-16 hr/week then started working with him and his son (also a DO) over the last year about 10-20 hr/wk. My MCAT was marginal, however, during my interview, I emphasized 3-4 times my desire, attraction, and compatability with UNECOM. It worked out fine. It was the only school I applied to.

I've told you all this for one reason, I was in your shoes about 5-6 years ago. Everything I did from that point on was calculated with "the big picture" in mind. These forums kept me going at times and I'm blessed with a wonderful wife. However, this was my personal plan in which I felt most likely to succeed, however, everyone is different. I've talked to and have met 45 year old med students, and the variety of backgrounds are as variable as you can imagine.

Best of luck to you, hope to hear back soon.

MS

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

Originally posted by EHallberg
My questions, then:

1) I live in Minnesota, where DO's seem to be just a touch rare. I'd love to find several docs to shadow, and I'd love to build a rapport with at least one DO among them. So where do I find such a person willing to be a mentor?

Start with www.aoa-net.org Go to the find a do by state link at the top. Start making cold calls. Tell the receptionist your story (short version). There should be at least one who is open to a bit of mentoring/shadowing.

2) How else do I best use this time? I just missed a bunch of app deadlines for post-bacc programs, which means I have about 9 mos to get in shape for those. The ED volunteering will continue, and I'm looking for evening classes in EMT. Ideally, I'd be able to make the leap from my present job to something in healthcare (maintain that all-important health insurance), such that I'd have at least a few months of experience before shipping off to post-bacc.

Start taking your prereqs at a local Junior College. Postbacc programs are REALLY expensive. Do as much of your prereq work as you can at a CHEAP community college. In the opinion of most DO adcoms, genetics is the same whether you take it at Podunk Junior College, or Yale (and they would be right most of the time).

3) Does anyone have experience with post-bacc programs? Any insights on how they're viewed by COM adcoms?

I think postbaccs are for mostly people who didn't do well on the mcat, or didn't get into med school on the first go around. Usually they consist of taking the same classes as the first year med students (though the standards for passing are higher for the postbacc students). Many require a 3.5 gpa to stay in the program. If you are just going after med school prerequisites, then do it at a JC or at a local univ (the latter is actually better if they have a pre med advising department).

4) Anything whatsoever you'd like to add, or you think I should know, fire away.

Ease back into school. Don't start back with a full load.

... 4a) I need a cool nickname, don't I?

not really...


Good luck!

 

[EHallberg]

Thank you both. Sacro, you're an inspriation. And Wannabe, you've given me some food for thought.

I've been told -- and okay, I've been told this by a good friend who's a fourth-year MD student -- that what I'm trying to prove is that the mature, dedicated dude the committee sees before them can also handle a rigorous course load in math and science.

This is why post-baccs look good to me; they're structured, they're densely packed, and therefore they will demonstrate that there's more to me academically than a lazy progression through the liberal arts degree, with a low GPA. Supposedly, med schools in general tend to be more impressed by a tough program than a slow, part-time, night school junior college progression.

So, that's the bias that's already been built into me: that 3 nights a week at Podunk JC can't possibly convince them the way 14 months at Fancy Post-Bacc can. I appreicate evidence to the contrary, though.

Oh, and the post-baccs I'm looking at specifically state that they're not for those who need to bolster low GPA's in math & science, because to qualify you must have never had most of the courses in the cirriculum. Also, they state that they're not for those who have already applied to med school.

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

I get the feeling that you have a handle on what you are doing. My advice for easing back into school was just to ease the shock of reentering academic life. You know yourself, though. If you think you can handle jumping back into school full speed, then who am I to stop you.

And yes, I agree that if you have finished all or most of your prerequisites (I wasn't sure if you had), then a postbacc would be a good idea. They can be awfully pricy, so that was the reason for the JC or the State Univ. idea. A full course load at your state university (with upper division science courses) will be as challenging and will demonstrate your abilities to the adcoms much the way that a postbacc will. Sometimes you can parlay your achievements into another BS. You could even go for a master's degree in something that would fulfill any missing prerequisites. Both of these options would surely convince the adcoms of your abilities. Don't think that a postbacc is the only way. There is a large community of non-traditional students on SDN, so do a search and find out what some of them did to get back into the mix.

Whatever you decide, I applaud your decision to go after your dream, and I wish you the best of luck.

Russell

 

[EHallberg]

Thank you kindly. I'll have another look around, but maybe I'll need to start a new thread just about post-bacc stuff.

In my case, I already have a BA; it's just devoid of math or science. I'm not thrilled about the idea of another BS degree, but maybe that's just my impatience showing. Now that I'm on this track, I want to move, y'know?

So post-bacc just happens to look good because it seems built for me. Plus the good ones look loaded with tutoring and MCAT prep, which is a plus. Still, I'm open to better ideas, and I appreciate your perspective.

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

You may find that you will have to go to a JC or univ full time for a semester to qualify for a postbacc. But what do I know? I never did a postbacc. Try to find a program at a public university in your home state. The ones at private medical schools often cost the same as a year of medical school (OUCH). But you may need to take your intro biology, math, chem, etc before they will accept you.

 

[Renny]

Call the Osteopathic schools in your area and ask for practicing DO's in Minnesota or call NYCOM in NY. Its a really big school and their new Dean is from the Midwest.

 

[ussdfiant]

Here's my 2 cents. I completed the same type of post bac that you are researching back in 2001. I started in May 2000 with nothing and by May 2001 I had completed everything required for med school including the MCAT. I did my post bac at Temple, which was a bargain at $10,500. I don't know if you are in a position to relocate, but if cost is a factor then you definitely could do worse than Temple. As you can see by my sig, the program did its job because I am now at Temple Medical school. My advice to you is apply to a variety of schoosl, including allopathic schools which can also "look past the numbers." One quick story: you may not know this, but I often joke about interviewing at PCOM on 10/31/01 and still not receiving correspondance from them. This is true, but I did call the admissions office after about a month and found out that I was rejected. I had a good working relationship with the admissions person and asked what the problem was, and she had commented on a D that I had received in a class in 1991! She them proceeded to give me a pitch about PCOM's post bac program (the type where you take the first year med classes with the med students). At the time I had already received an acceptance so I told her where she could stick the program, but I always felt that PCOM was trying to squeeze an extra year of tuition from me (I say this because I had received acceptances from other schools comparable to PCOM). Look past the numbers, my ass! The moral of the story: apply everwhere!

 

[EHallberg]

Great suggestions, all around.

I guess at this point, I have two things to do: find a doc to shadow (a DO if I can), and determine whether the schools I'd want to go to have an opinion on the post-bacc thing.

Crap. I mean, three things. I need to figure out - roughly - which med schools I'm aiming at... don't I? Variations in pre-reqs mean, for example, I might not have to worry about Calculus. (mmmm, happy thought.)

Cold calling has commenced. Awaiting voice mail messages.

 

[Dagny]

Here is a link to a thread I wrote a while ago comparing different post bac programs.http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23057&highlight=post

Having said that, however, I strongly suggest an alternative and unfortunately, I am attacking your "bias." Rather than emphasizing that you can do a rigorous work load, your focus should be doing as well as you can on the important pre-requisites and science courses. You will find out that the work load idea is a myth.

You do not need another bachelor's degree, post-bac certificate, etc. You need to take about two years worth of science courses that are prerequisites for the school and the MCAT. Do you want me to specify which courses to take to give you "structure?" A good pre-med counselor can tell you the same.

You do not need to wait around 9 months for a post-bac program to take these courses. Enroll in a college and get started on the first year science courses soon. Taking one class with a lab at a time will help you do better in both and save you time vs. waiting to take several labs at once next semester or quarter.

Hope that helps. Good luck either way.

 

[Plinko]

I agree with the previous poster. Volunteering is great, but at your age I think you need to start making greater leaps in the application process. It is a stated fact, in the MSAR, that the older you get, the more difficult it is to obtain admission to medical school. I happen not to agree with this, but that's the way it is. I attend a DO school, so it accepts slightly older applicants more regularly that its allopathic counterparts, but the mean age for our class is still 26.

You certainly don't need to attend a formalized postbacc program to get into medical school, but the bottom line is that there are a number of postbacc programs that have a proven track record of getting there applicants in. And when I say postbacc, I mean programs that cater to those individuals that have not yet taken any science/premed prereq classes. Going to a community college or a JC will not exclude you from being admitted, but it will not help your chances all that much either. It is no secret that the undergraduate college attended is a MAJOR factor in how medical schools percieve your GPA. For example, the MIT advisor in his book, "Medical School Admissions," claims that he has never had a student not get into medical school. I personally know that a friend of mine was accepted into medical school out of Harvard with a lowly 2.6 GPA. Putting it simply, where you take your classes counts a great deal, especially when you consider postbacc work, which represents the most important coursework in so far as adcomms are concerned. If you are able to relocate, take a look at the postbacc programs at Tufts, Georgetown, and Columbia. I did Columbia's postbacc program. Nine out ten students there are admitted into medical school. Not sure about the other programs I listed, but I would think they are not too far off that mark. I was in your shoes about two years ago, and will say choosing the right postbacc program made all the difference in getting me to where I am now.

 

[Elysium]

Hey EHallberg! Welcome to the wonderful world of med school admissions!

My story? I went to Boston University and graduated with a BS in film (!) production in 1996. I worked on several movies in Boston ("Good Will Hunting", "Amistad", and several indies) and was all set to become an independent film producer when I had an epiphany. I was 25 and realized that I just couldn't see myself doing the film thing at 40. I had grown up around medicine (my dad is an MD), so I was pretty familiar with that. But I had absolutely NO science (save a statistics course) from undergrad. Since I had spent so much money on undergrad and knew that I was going to have to take out loans for my pre-reqs, I decided to go to a public university. I had a good GPA from BU (3.5), so I could have done the Tufts or Columbia program probably. I just didn't want to shell out the $20,000 to do their program. Anyway, I ended up moving back to fabulous Texas to go to University of Texas-Austin to do my pre-reqs. Let me tell you, it was hard as hell. Not being a science person is a bitch! But it can be done. You'll probably love Biology and Physiology and hate Physics (but maybe not, who knows?). The point is to get through the classes and do as well as possible, obviously. Try to find a school with relatively small class sizes so that you can know your profs and form study groups with the other people in your class. Don't take Calculus if you don't have to. Lots of schools don't require it and it's a nightmare class. Don't let it wreck your GPA (a story from personal experience).

In my opinion, I would only do a post-bacc program if you had the cash to spend on it. A lot of those programs have a killer workload and it's rather difficult. Also, as someone else pointed out, I would start on these classes ASAP. Waiting another year sucks. It'll take 2 years to get these classes done and to take the dreaded MCAT. Plus the year to apply. When you're old like us (I'm 29) those years start to add up.

I really think the clinical experiences are rather important. I have spent a total of 3 years working in a medical field and it has come up a lot in interviews. It's great if you could actually got a job in some kind of medicine (some entry level positions require little to no medical experience) so that you can have more access to the field. I worked at Planned Parenthood and had a good experience.

To make a long story short, it can be done. I remember the first time I came to this site was in 1999 when I first was thinking about medicine. I received invalable information and support. It's a great resource - and will serve to strengthen you when times get tough (and they will!)

The results? My CUM GPA is a 3.4, Science is a 3.0, Non science is a 3.6. MCAT is 23S (10-VR, 6-PS, 7-BS S writing). I applied to 8 DO schools and have interviewed at LECOM and Western-COMP. I have an interview scheduled at TUCOM 4/9. I've been accepted to LECOM and don't know about Western yet (interviewed 3/4).

I am going to be a doctor. It's still unbelievable that someone is going to let a former associate film producer practice medicine, but there it is. Have faith and hang on for a wild ride!

Tiffany

 

[EHallberg]

Wow, thanks to all for another round of support and excellent feedback. I've got specific questions for a few, but all of this is aimed at everyone, too. Okay, I'll try to make this organized:

Defiant: I'm checking out Temple now. I like that their post-bac is less expensive, but can you tell me more about what it offers? One of the things I like about, say, Goucher's super-$$ program, is that they all but state it's their mission in life to help people like me crush the MCAT. I like the idea of weekly MCAT prep sessions, and access to the sorts of heavy tutoring resources I just might need (...and am now old and wise enough to use properly).

Dagny: Can you say more about why you feel the emphasis on workload is a 'myth?' I should say some more about how I got the impression I need that... I had a conference with a dean at the U of MN med school, in January. He said that based on my history (graduated HS in '88, didn't graduate college til '98, sort of took my time going from A to B to Z), the perceived flaw in my record is that I "drifted" for a while, with no particular long-term plan. (Which is, in a sense, somewhat true.) He said that, hypothetically, an adcom might wonder if this guy really has what it takes, or if medicine isn't just the latest fascination.

He said I'd need to show I'm not just a "shooting star." One good way to do that would be to lay down a track record of experience (but of course that takes time, which several people have pointed out I don't have tons of). Even better would be to show I can tackle something structured, with the same kind of workload as med school, and follow through on it.

Another point is that I'm working full-time. One advantage to post-bac over part-time for me is that as a FT student, I could get health insurance -- this is a deal-breaker. I've got severe psoriasis, and Enbrel ain't cheap. I could do one class a week at night, with a Saturday lab, but it would take forever to do all my sciences.

So that's all in there as well. Should have mentioned those, too. I totally agree, though, that I don't need a second BS, or the certificate part of a post-bacc; I just need the speed and the benefits of the structure. The cost does give me pause, but it may be worth it.

- more (for Plinko and Elysium) in next note -

 

[EHallberg]

Plinko: I'm a bit confuddled: do you agree with Dagny, or do you advocate the post-bac angle? I think I missed something, and I could use clarification. I do agree with both of you (I think) that establishing a track record is the key. All the volunteering in the world won't help me unless I get in gear academically. The way I see it, that's one factor in favor of a post-bac, as opposed to limping through classes PT at night, while I work, or even when compared to quitting my job and being a FT undergrad again for a year or two. But if I'm missing something, I'd love to know about it now.

Elysium: It's GREAT to hear from someone with an arts background! Thanks for chiming in, and congrats on LECOM! w000t! I think we have some similarities, though I'm a bit older. My whole tale is in my first post, but I'll add that while I always sort of had medicine in the back of my mind, I never seriously thought of it as an option until recently. I'm the only one of my siblings to go to college, even. The priority was always on paying bills, not planning a path, so I sort of found myself without one. I'd love to hear about how you went about 1) deciding you were sure enough to embark on the Long Road, and 2) how you articulated this desire and this plan in your personal statement and at interviews. I think it's starting to come into focus for me, but I know a lot of what makes or breaks me will be how I explain all this. Obviously, it has to get a lot shorter!

I guess another reason I'm leaning toward post-bacc is as Defiant says: there's a track record of success for people who come out of them, and I feel like I might need that extra ammunition. I wonder if I'd feel a little more alien, if I went back to the University now, on my own, an arts kid taking science classes, without 20 other people doing the same thing as me. How did you do it?

 

[EHallberg]

...actually, sorry... typo there, it's PLINKO who was the advocate for the right post-bacc, based on the success rate of post-bacc grads. As you were. 🙂

And here's something interesting: I just got off the phone with an admissions pre-screener at CCOM. He told me that, all things being equal, he'd rather see someone who was working in a healthcare field while completing pre-req courses (and getting decent grades) than someone who did a post-bac and had less experience.

 

[Dagny]

EHallberg, I'm glad you stated the conversation you had with the Dean of the University of Minnesota. I'm also glad you called CCOM. Both will help me answer your question to back up why I think heavy workload is a myth.

First let me explain about the conversation with the Dean of Univ. of MN. Proving you are motivated to enter medical school is the big question most admissions committees will have with you, not whether you are capable to obtain the degree. The Dean of the Univ. of MN was wondering, as will any school you apply to, whether you, at this age, are really interested in becoming a physician, or whether your interest will wane and you'll figure it is easier to do something else. You require a huge dedication to get through medical school, and many people decide that it just isn't worth it, and quit medical school half way, the first year, the first quarter, etc. Medical schools lose money on those people, and do not want to risk that you will be one of those that decide to quit early. That is lost tuition.

You truly need to have a passion for serving people in order to get into medicine. If you do not have that, you will be disappointed either in medical school or later. If you do have that passion, you need to answer why to the admission's committees. If you have clinical experiences that moved you, state it. Prove that there is no other thing you want in the world than to become a physician. It isn't for everyone. That is why the CCOM counselor's answer makes sense.

My opinion is based on several interviews or conversations with deans of medical schools (MD and D.O), admission's counselors, physicians, and medical school admission members, etc. I have interviewed with several D.O schools, and through the interviews, you begin to understand what they think is important. Most importantly, you understand all of this once you are in medical school.

As a premed, you need to show that you are competent by doing well in your various classes. Almost all of us figure out how to balance the full workload. Even if you don't, you can decelerate and still obtain your degree in medical school. Medical schools do not want to lose you. You have to prove that you are committed to medicine, distinguish how this is different from your past, and do well on your premed prerequisites, whether you take them one at a time, or all at once. In the meantime, if you are really as interested in medicine as you will tell the committees, show them by your actions: volunteer or be involved in the medical field to show how you are fueling your passion for medicine. If you don't, they will question whether you are really interested in medicine, or have a realistic understanding and committment.

Hope that helps.

 

[EHallberg]

Thanks, Dagny. It does help.

Part of my trouble is, this is still really early in my process. I'm diving in, I'm learning, I'm collecting info and doing research. My friends who've been through med school say I can do it, and I'd be a great doctor. I'm starting to believe it myself. But as you all know, this is a huge undertaking, maybe even a little moreso when it's a second career. The idea is one that I always assumed just wasn't feasible, so there's a sense of adjustment. I don't have that sense a lot of people seem to have, where I've known since I was five years old that I HAD to be a doctor someday. This is something I'm coming to only now, as a grownup. Which in a way is good, but it's different.

I'm still getting to the point where I can confidently say, "I really want this. I know exactly why. I'm totally sure. And I won't give up." That day is just around the corner, though. 🙂

... Oh, and just to show that there are indeed two legitimate schools of thought on the post-bac issue, I also called KCOM (just got off the phone with them, in fact). They say the opposite of what CCOM told me: they (KCOM) would rather I do the post-bac program, in addition to having good clinical experience, because my undergrad was less intense, and a 15- or 18-month postbacc would prove I won't crumble under the workload.

I think you're on to it, though: one way or another, the goal is to demonstrate that I've thought this out thoroughly; I know what I'm getting myself into; I'm capable of doing the work; and I'm going to stick with it to the bitter end.

In a funny way, I feel as though my age works in my favor. If I were 22, it's possible I might think, "well sure, I can always try it, quit, and go sell aluminum siding, and still be making a comfortable living before I'm 30." For where I am and what I've got going on, this is big stuff. It's not for money, and it's not for chicks. I've been a corporate trainer with nice suits and an expense account, I've been a paid playwright, I've been in a garage band, and I've been a dedicated non-profit service person.

For me, right now, medicine is something I'm pursuing because it's literally the best way I can possibly think of to put myself to work, maybe even the only way that really seems worthwhile. It's the best way I can think of to use my brains and my talents; the best way I know to have the sort of effect I want to have in the world.

That's the stuff that's coming out of this discussion, and that's why I so appreciate all the comments and observations. Keep 'em coming, everybody, and thanks!

 

[Dagny]

Ehallberg,

You are doing the right thing by calling to get opinions. Perhaps there is no ONE right answer to the post-bac question. Admissions' committees may differ. Through your research, you're getting ideas of what to emphasize, however, so you'll be okay, whichever way you go.

One more thing I want to emphasize. Myth # 2: You are too old for medical school. Your family, friends, non-physicians will question the wisdom of dedicating so many years to education. Yet once you enter medical school, you see that there are many people that are older than the "typical" out-of-college medical student - both MD's and DO's. Do not let age discourage you. You will be 40 one day either way. You can be 40 doing what you want to do, or be 40 wondering what if.

Yes, you are right. Age will work for you in medical school. Your maturity will make you more of a pleasure to work with, both from your professors' standpoint, your colleagues, and eventually your patients.

St. George in the Caribbean had a student apply to their medical school at 67. He was accepted! He now is practicing psychiatry. Don't let age every dissuade you from your goals.

 

[EHallberg]

Bumping this, because there are some newer people than me already (!), and because the post-bacc thing came up in another thread, and I directed someone here.

Also just to add a little update for anyone who's curious. In the last couple of weeks, I:

* Attended a lecture on renal anatomy and function... then gloved up and held cadaverous kidneys in my hands, absolutely fascinated by them

* Cold-called many of the DO-schools I'm interested in

* Made arrangements to shadow a local DO, next month

* Talked at length with an MD friend who went to med school at the age of 36, with two kids in grade school. She was encouraging, to say the least.

Not that I'm any sort of expert, but this process is fresh in my mind and in living color right now, so if I can help anyone, let me know.

 

[Adcadet]

EHallberg -

Few things:

I have found a few DOs in Minnesota - at Boynton Health Service at the U of M, and I know there are at least a few at Hennepin County Medical Center.

I know a very nice guy, currently a medical student (U of MN), who is older (late 30's - married, kids, a few careers before medicine). He applied to DO and MD schools, and was accepted to both. PM me if you want an introduction - I'm sure he'll be more than happy to talk with you about anything.

I'm not convinced that life experiences can't be a significant factor in admissions to MD programs (note my friend above). There are always a few example of people with lower stats but great stories who get into the best schools. As DO programs tend to have lower stats (GPA, MCAT), your 3.0 undergrad GPA may not be as much of a problem than if you applied to MD schools. BUT, you still have your pre-reqs to do - if you do well in a post-bacc program, grad program, or just whatever and do very well on the MCAT, I'm sure you'll have your pick of schools - both DO and MD.

I'm also not convinced that the attitude of DO schools/students can't be found in MD schools/students. You can find MDs who hold dear every bit of the DO philosophy (except for maybe OMT).

Goodluck!
Adcadet

 

[EHallberg]

Adcadet, the PM feature has been extremely hinky for me, so instead, please feel free to email me directly at

faustbite [at] yahoo [dot] com

When I move into my next phase, trying to make myself as strong an applicant as possible, having some advice from your friend (and heck, from you as well) will be really helpful. Thank you.