One calling. Two paths. The difference is in the philosophy.
Do you want to be the type of physician who sees the patient as more than a symptom or disease? Do you want to be the kind of physician who gets involved in his or her community and who spends time getting to know his or her patients as people? Are you the kind of person who is compassionate and enjoys meeting and getting to know a diverse range of people from many different backgrounds and socioeconomic groups? Are you the kind of person who has solid communication skills and a healing touch? If you answered “yes” to some or all of these questions, osteopathic medicine may be a good career option for you.
Generally, osteopathic medical schools are looking for a variety of personal qualities in the applicants they admit to their schools and, ultimately, to the osteopathic profession. Osteopathic medical schools admit many students from nontraditional backgrounds. Many of these students come to osteopathic medicine as a second career from a diverse set of experiences.
Osteopathic medical schools have admitted students who have been administrators, managers or executives in business; attorneys; professional musicians; newspaper reporters; allied health care providers; and many others. Many of these students have families, and some are single parents.
Admission to osteopathic medical school is competitive and selective. A person who is well-rounded, has a broad background, demonstrates the qualities listed above, and who has demonstrated academic excellence has the best chance for admission to osteopathic medical school.