Preparing for Osteopathic School

[BryanEC07]

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Hi, I'm a freshman at Elmira College in upstate New York but my real home is on Long Island. I am hoping to go to Osteopathic School after my 4 years at Elmira but wasn't sure on a few things, like clinical experience and shadowing a DO. The Osteopathic degree seems pretty interesting and more appealing to me than the traditional MD degree. I'm majoring in biology and doing very well so far. I have a few questions:

1) I'm planning on taking Organic Chemistry I and II over the summer and volunteering at a hospital, both at Stony Brook University. What kind of volunteer work will give me clinical experience that will be beneficial to me? Also, Is it wise to take the orgo chem??? I heard from a few people on here that it isn't too bad. Also, when do I go about shadowing a DO and whatnot, maybe going into junior year? How many hours would I need? My mom is a nurse in the Delivery Room at St. Charles Hospital and she knows a few DO's so that would probably be pretty helpful. I'm planning on doing biology research at my school next term too.

2) Is it okay if I'm not planning on taking calculus in college? I was never too great at math to begin with but I am going to take Statistics. If I need a full year of math, I'll take college algebra or precalculus, something like that.

3) My school only offers calculus-based physics. That means I need to find a school that offers algebra-based physics as a summer course. As far as I know, Stony Brook only offers Physics for the Life Sciences, which is calculus based, during the summer. Could I try to take the course at the local community college? Any other ideas??? I would probably take this the summer going into junior year.

Any other help is appreciated,
Bryan

 

[mickdogg81]

Well, to start, definitely take orgo chem, you need them to get into medical school and a portion of the MCATS has orgo as well. Volunteer wherever you can, the fact that your mom is a nurse could open a variety of possibilities. Ask a DO if you can shadow them for a while to get a good taste of what your getting into. The ability to experience what a DO does is essential in applying to DO school. In terms of research, get to know a few professors, and ask if they need any help-I stress getting to know professors because you will need 2-5 letters of rec, depending on where you apply.
Finally, calc-based physics- YUK! I would try and attend a course, preferably not at a CC, with an algebra based concept. If that is not a possibility, calc based physics could be an advantage for you on the MCAT. Good luck,

 

[mamitch4]

Knowing what a DO does is very important... as is getting a letter of recommendation from one (required by most schools). Getting to know a DO is therefore a must. Getting to know your professors is also great advice. Find out what your school can do to help you. Many colleges have pre-med advisors and/ or committees that write letters of recommendation.
There are other classes that DO schools recommend like microbiology, cell physiology, immunology... as a bio major you are probably already taking many of these. Other classes that might be helpful include ethics, sociology, and psycology.
You might e-mail or call the addmissions office of some DO schools that you are interested in and see what they recommend, too.

 

[Amy B]

Originally posted by BryanEC07
1) I'm planning on taking Organic Chemistry I and II over the summer and volunteering at a hospital, both at Stony Brook University. What kind of volunteer work will give me clinical experience that will be beneficial to me? Also, Is it wise to take the orgo chem???

If you take classes over the summer keep in mind they move very quickly and some people have trouble absorbing the material enough to retain it for later. Since Organic is a major subject on the MCAT make sure you are able to retain a lot of material in a short time and have it stick in your brain until you take the MCAT. When do you plan on taking the MCAT? If it is not till the following year, why don't you take Organic during the regular school year and just take general required courses for your major during the summer?

Originally posted by BryanEC07
Also, when do I go about shadowing a DO and whatnot, maybe going into junior year? How many hours would I need? My mom is a nurse in the Delivery Room at St. Charles Hospital and she knows a few DO's so that would probably be pretty helpful. I'm planning on doing biology research at my school next term too.

You don't really need any research unlessyou really want to do it. Clinical experiences, however are VERY important. The hospital is an ok place as long as you can get direct patient interaction time. Do you have any free health clinics in your area, the ones that depend on volunteers to keep them running? That is what I did for 3 years and loved every minute of it. By the time I was done there I knew how to check in patients, take vitals, give immunizations, draw blood, draw blood for HIV testing, ran simple lab tests, and counseled pregnant patients. It was a rewarding place to be.

Originally posted by BryanEC07
2) Is it okay if I'm not planning on taking calculus in college? I was never too great at math to begin with but I am going to take Statistics. If I need a full year of math, I'll take college algebra or precalculus, something like that.

It is totally fine if you don't take calculus. Most DO schools do not require it and only some MD schools require it. You would be fine without it. You need a year of math and that's all.

Originally posted by BryanEC07
3) My school only offers calculus-based physics. That means I need to find a school that offers algebra-based physics as a summer course. As far as I know, Stony Brook only offers Physics for the Life Sciences, which is calculus based, during the summer. Could I try to take the course at the local community college? Any other ideas??? I would probably take this the summer going into junior year.

There would be nothing wrong with taking Physics at another location to get the non-cal course. Again, though... I would ask you to reconsider taking a major MCAT course in the summer. Unless again, you can retain a large amount in a short time and be able to recall it when you take the MCAT. Which again, I would ask when are you planning on taking it.

Alot of people take Organic I and Physics I with both labs during the fall of their junior year and then Organic II and Physics II plus both labs during the spring and then the MCAT that same spring. That way everything is still fresh in your mind.

As to shadowing and building a relationship with a DO, the sooner the better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BryanEC07]

Thanks for the responses so far! Volunteering at a health clinic seems like a really good idea, I'll be sure to check that out. Elmira College requires sixty hours communuty service and 240 hours of an off-campus internship, which I could at one of the two hospitals up there. I'm doing the community service with Circle K, a Kiwanis section thats pretty much a key club. We do many things for the town, like help out at the YMCA, animal shelters, and whatnot. Also, I'm Vice President of both Hillel and the Pre-Health club, President and co-founder the astronomy club, community involvement chair of Habitat for Humanity, and a few others. I enjoy these activites very much and they will most likely help out my applications in the future. Anyone have any tips to make me a more well-rounded individual???

1) Any feedback from members who took Organic Chem I and II with labs or algebra-based physics I and II with labs over the summer??? I think I would be able to focus and do well in orgo I and II this summer because that would be my only courses, plus volunteering.

Thanks, Bryan

 

[PTjay]

I took orgo I and II during summer sessions. I personally thought it was a great way to do it (the only way in my case due to my physical therapy curriculum). As long as you don't mind spending most of your summer doing this type of stuff you'll be ok. I thought it was great because this is information that you need to use or you will lose. Summer courses are much more compact since you'll have class most likely every day as opposed to 2-3 times a week.

If your school offers a watered down organic you may want to consider taking that as well before the real thing. My school had a class like this that was one semester and was for allied health majors (PT, OT, etc.) but it was a huge advantage to me when I took the real deal Orgos because I had a SOLID background in the basics.

Everyone else has above has given great advice and you are well on your way to getting where you want to be (very well rounded with all your activities and volunteer work HINT: consider residential life i.e. become a resident assistant IF YOU'RE INTERESTED - great way to help pay for school and a serious leadership opportunity). Remember to have fun and don't get too bogged down in planning for your future. Many have said it and I will repeat it, your life has no pause button - make sure you have fun in the present as well as planning to be where you want in the future!!

Good luck!