Should personal statement include "Why D.O.?"

Started by danny89
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danny89

danny89

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Is it a necessity, or should I say, a competitive edge in explaining why I chose osteopathic medicine in my personal statement?
Thanks
 
Not a necessity at all. However, I did include 1 short paragraph talking about my time shadowing a DO and the reasons why I am interested in DO rather than MD.
Also, many schools will have a question similar to "Why DO?" on secondaries so you can explain that there.
 
No. Just why medicine. It is more meant for why that type of career, in general.
 
i did not necessarily come out and say, "i want to be a DO," but i did use a lot of the osteopathic catch phrases in my personal statement (i.e. "holistic", "like using my hands", "patient centered", "treating the person not the symptoms"). surprisingly, i received interviews/acceptances to MD schools as well.

...now that i think of it, i wonder how much time admissions committees put into reading those things...hm.
 
I think you should, but you don't have to. Just briefly explain why, in a couple of sentences, but make sure you go more in-depth for your secondary.
 
I definitely recommend talking about DO in your PS. Talk about why and how it fits with your goals. It will set you aside from the rest of the pack and it will show ADCOM you are applying because you want to, not because you can't get into an MD school. Also shows you have a good knowledge and understanding.
 
Yes you should. I didn't think it made a difference until I visited schools and a counselor said he's surprised so few people mention osteopathic in their PS. If you don't address it, they will think DO is just a fall back to MD for you.
 
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