npdoc

[Toejam]

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Did they ask you if you applied to any MD schools during your interview? Western is the only DO school I'm applying to.

Also, if you don't mind my asking, what were your numbers like? How about your EC's??

Thanks.

 

[npdoc28]

No. However, because I listed all my DO schools I applied to they said, "I see here you applied to Ok. State - COM (I was still on Oklahoma resident at the time), wouldn't you rather go there because of the in-state tuition?". I of course told them Western was my first choice (it actually was, and I chose it over other acceptances), and I really didn't have a desire to go back to Oklahoma. I guess they bought it. 🙂

About my numbers. I graduated May 2001 with a double major in biology and spanish. I had a 3.6 gpa. I got a 23 on the MCAT. They did give me a pretty hard time about my MCAT, but I told them I still had skills. They even asked me if I didn't get in if I would retake the MCAT. I played basketball in college as well, and I was president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I also volunteered in an ER one summer. That's about all. I expressed a real strong understanding and interest in Osteopathic Medicine in secondaries and interviews. that's about all. If you have any other questions let me know.

 

[Toejam]

Thanks, npdoc.

I got a 23S, too and I'm a bit worried about it. My undergrad GPA (UCLA) was about a 3.2, but I also have a ton of EC's and solid clinical experience. I'm still studying for the August MCAT (and, I must say, just loving it!).

I'm a practicing podiatrist (3 years out), did my residency at Los Angeles County/USC (very intense) and finished podiatry school with a 3.53. Other than that, I have an interesting, varied work history, volunteer experience, etc., etc.. I have had a tremendous amount of relevant clinical experience and I'm hoping that this will be my golden ticket.

I did apply to other So Cal MD schools, but don't think I'll get in despite my DPM degree. I want to go into primary care, anyway, so I think I'd be better off at a DO school.

I do have a question for you. When they asked you about your interest and knowledge about osteopathic medicine, what did you tell them? I visited the campus twice (once this year and once 10 years ago) and have read a lot about the profession (but all on-line). I also worked with a DO ER doc at L.A. County when I was a resident and got some more info. I kind of want to know what I can say or what I can read other than the typical stuff they hear.

Thanks again.

 

[npdoc28]

Hey Toejam, sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you, I've been busy. To answer your question, I believe I told them that I desired to go into Osteopathic Medicine because of my strong desire to go into primary care. Because Osteopathy teaches to get to know the physical, emotional, and mental sides of your patients, I thought it would suit me the best as a primary care physician. That is the type of person I am. I told them that if you are familiar with the life that your patient leads in all aspects, it would put you in a better position to tailor a preventitive medical protocol for that patient. Although I know you can be that type of doctor as an allopath or an osteopath, those are the tenets of osteopathy. I also was able to share with them my exposure to DO's coming from the Midwest, and how positive an experience it was. To be honest, they didn't ask me a whole lot about Osteopathy other than why osteopathy. If I think of some more they asked me and other good stuff to say, I'll let you know. Take it easy.