Questions to ask at a Open house for a D.O. school

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

Hi everyone,

I live near a D.O. school that's having a open house for prospective D.O. students in about 3 weeks. I have the ability to ask questions and just see what it's like.

Here's part of the write up: (edited of course to exclude any identifying info)

"(Initial part of the sentence was cut out) viewing an osteopathic manual medicine demonstration, taking a campus tour and asking a panel of current students your pressing questions. This event is meant for prospective applicants, along with their families and friends, to learn more about (this school), the osteopathic curriculum, and life as a student. Prospective medical students can use this opportunity to gain valuable information on what (this school) looks for in future candidates through the admission process, as well as the educational experience provided through graduation. Admissions staff, administration, faculty, some campus offices, and current DO students will be on hand to answer questions."


-I'm somewhat aware of what a D.O. is. Is there any questions I should keep in mind?
-We'll have a campus tour and a student panel discussion with current students, among other events during the 3 hours I'll be there.

Is there anything I should avoid saying as well?
Also, I assume what I can learn here is limited to this one D.O. school?


Thanks for any responses!

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[baxt1412]

Ask why students choose their school

 

[DrMaximus]

Ask why students choose their school

Yep. The most honest opinion of the school you'll get is from it's students. Find out what they like and especially what they dislike.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I asked why the faculty chose the particular school in all of my interviews.

 

[DrMaximus]

I asked why the faculty chose the particular school in all of my interviews.

I did this, too.

 

[crossfit4lyfe]

There are so many questions you can ask: what are the most common types of residencies their students match to, what kind of teaching method do they use, testing schedules, clubs and extracurriculars, clinical experience throughout year 1 and year 2, and absolutely you can ask them about osteopathic concepts, why they chose DO vs. MD? Good luck!

 

[MightBeACylon439]

The questions I like to ask physicians when I get a chance are clinical applications of things I am learning in my undergraduate class. My Physiology and Histology instructors like to mention a lot of clinical applications in passing, but since they are not practicing physicians they aren't completely sure about treatment and prognosis options.

Go with specific things in mind, it will show your already blooming curiosity and desire to start in the medical field.

 

[235009]

The questions I like to ask physicians when I get a chance are clinical applications of things I am learning in my undergraduate class. My Physiology and Histology instructors like to mention a lot of clinical applications in passing, but since they are not practicing physicians they aren't completely sure about treatment and prognosis options.

Go with specific things in mind, it will show your already blooming curiosity and desire to start in the medical field.

If you do this prepare to get laughed at or ridiculed (they'll likely be nice to your face though). Be a normal human and not a robot with a one track mind.

Ask about clinical experience during third and fourth year: where do students go, are there residents to learn from, any tertiary referral hospitals where you can see diverse/rare pathology, do the attendings have academic affiliations or an academic title, how much inpatient vs outpatient time do you get third year…

I can go on and on but odds are there won't be any clinical students around/available and the admissions staff won't know the answers to most of these questions as their main task is to market the first two years which is what premeds tend to focus on.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

If you do this prepare to get laughed at or ridiculed (they'll likely be nice to your face though). Be a normal human and not a robot with a one track mind.

Ask about clinical experience during third and fourth year: where do students go, are there residents to learn from, any tertiary referral hospitals where you can see diverse/rare pathology, do the attendings have academic affiliations or an academic title, how much inpatient vs outpatient time do you get third year…

I can go on and on but odds are there won't be any clinical students around/available and the admissions staff won't know the answers to most of these questions as their main task is to market the first two years which is what premeds tend to focus on.

So you laugh at undergraduate students who have sincere clinical curiosities based on what they are learning? Is this how you and other students are treated where you are a resident? Please let me know where you are a resident so I can avoid such a stifling learning environment in the event that I am admitted into medial school.

 

[JPickos9989]

So you laugh at undergraduate students who have sincere clinical curiosities based on what they are learning? Is this how you and other students are treated where you are a resident? Please let me know where you are a resident so I can avoid such a stifling learning environment in the event that I am admitted into medial school.

Well I'm not sure what medial school is, but those questions are absolutely pointless at an open house for a school. You want to find out details about the atmosphere , the clinical experiences, volunteer opportunities, research, and faculty approachability.

Your approach is brutal for the situation the OP is in and would do him/her no good.

There's a difference between genuine curiosity and trying to impress people with fancy questions because you paid attention in physiology class in undergrad. Calm down sparky and find out what your looking for in a school, leave the clinical questions for during your actual classes in medical school.

 

[Roxas]

Hi everyone,

I live near a D.O. school that's having a open house for prospective D.O. students in about 3 weeks. I have the ability to ask questions and just see what it's like.

Here's part of the write up: (edited of course to exclude any identifying info)

"(Initial part of the sentence was cut out) viewing an osteopathic manual medicine demonstration, taking a campus tour and asking a panel of current students your pressing questions. This event is meant for prospective applicants, along with their families and friends, to learn more about (this school), the osteopathic curriculum, and life as a student. Prospective medical students can use this opportunity to gain valuable information on what (this school) looks for in future candidates through the admission process, as well as the educational experience provided through graduation. Admissions staff, administration, faculty, some campus offices, and current DO students will be on hand to answer questions."


-I'm somewhat aware of what a D.O. is. Is there any questions I should keep in mind?
-We'll have a campus tour and a student panel discussion with current students, among other events during the 3 hours I'll be there.

Is there anything I should avoid saying as well?
Also, I assume what I can learn here is limited to this one D.O. school?


Thanks for any responses!

If you're only "somewhat" aware of what a DO is and planning on going to a DO school, I would get that figured out quickly. It's not that difficult. A dude from my UG went off to a DO school and didn't learn until after starting that DOs must take the COMLEX.

Other than that I regret not asking more questions about the clinical years of the schools at which I interviewed. I get that DO schools are different because most don't have a teaching hospital, so they might not be able to keep as close of an eye of their rotation quality, but schools handle things differently. It's something I would just have liked to be more aware of. Granted you might have to ask someone besides M1/M2s about that.

 

[67552931811]

If you're only "somewhat" aware of what a DO is and planning on going to a DO school, I would get that figured out quickly. It's not that difficult. A dude from my UG went off to a DO school and didn't learn until after starting that DOs must take the COMLEX.

Other than that I regret not asking more questions about the clinical years of the schools at which I interviewed. I get that DO schools are different because most don't have a teaching hospital, so they might not be able to keep as close of an eye of their rotation quality, but schools handle things differently. It's something I would just have liked to be more aware of. Granted you might have to ask someone besides M1/M2s about that.

Wow.

At one of my interviews I had a student ambassador who didn't know what the USMLE was..... Obviously not AS bad, but still.... just, like, how?

 

[medickdb]

How much free food is given out per week? Kidding.

 

[235009]

So you laugh at undergraduate students who have sincere clinical curiosities based on what they are learning? Is this how you and other students are treated where you are a resident? Please let me know where you are a resident so I can avoid such a stifling learning environment in the event that I am admitted into medial school.

There's a time and a place for everything and as an earlier poster said an open house is neither the time nor the place to ask academic questions. In fact it would come off as extremely insulting… as if you're quizing the doctors. You'll find out soon enough as you get older that self awareness and social tact are way more important than showing off infront of others.

Also I'm a resident not a student… you obviously don't know the difference.

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

Great, thanks for the responses guys!

So far the list I've made:
-Ask why student/faculty chose the school.
-One thing I'm interested about though is how much one on one time the students have with the teachers (it's a large school in relation to any m.d. program out there)
-What an average day consists of and maybe what the homework workload is like (projects, research, etc.)

Also, it says business attire, not business casual. You guys think I should wear a suit and tie or is this overreading things? After all it's just an open house and I rather not be the only guy in a suit.

 

[JPickos9989]

Great, thanks for the responses guys!

So far the list I've made:
-Ask why student/faculty chose the school.
-One thing I'm interested about though is how much one on one time the students have with the teachers (it's a large school in relation to any m.d. program out there)
-What an average day consists of and maybe what the homework workload is like (projects, research, etc.)

Also, it says business attire, not business casual. You guys think I should wear a suit and tie or is this overreading things? After all it's just an open house and I rather not be the only guy in a suit.

Nothing wrong with wearing a full suit, but you're not gonna be looked down upon for just doing shirt and tie, either/or will be fine. Don't overthink it. Better to save the suit for interview time if you only have one suit for instance.

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

Well, tomorrow's' the day. After a quick phone call, I was told I can go in business casual. Good because this isn't the south. Guess, I'll learn and see all about what a D.O. is now.