As an osteopathic physician, the goal is to make life easier or more comfortable for the patient by removing disease and enabling functional health. Optimal health encompasses the mind, body, and spirit; a daily activity includes engaging with patients socially in order to partner with them to move from their current condition to a state of optimal health.
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Typical Responsibilities• Diagnose and care for people of all ages who are ill or have been injured
• Take medical histories
• Perform physical examinations
• Conduct diagnostic tests
• Recommend and provide treatment
• Advise patients on their overall health and well-being -
Preparing for Admission• Resources for researching schools: View list of osteopathic schools on the AACOM website.
• Prerequisite coursework: varies by school. Use the AACOM CHOOSE DO to find individual school websites to explore prerequisites.
• Standardized Tests: Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
• Experience/Exposure: Helpful resources for gaining the necessary hands-on experience can be found on the AAMC website (Experience Resource Guide)
• Letters of Recommendation: Varies by school. Schools generally prefer a committee or composite letter.
• Roadmap to Becoming a DO -
The Admission Cycle• There is a Centralized Application Process (AACOMAS) that most D.O. schools participate
• Application opens and can be submitted in early May
• Application deadlines: Deadlines vary. The earliest AACOMAS deadline is December; the last AACOMAS deadline is April 1.
• The fee for submitting the first application is $196. Each additional application submitted at the time of the first submission is $46.
• AACOMAS has a fee waiver program for eligible students. Fee waivers run out quickly, so apply by August for best consideration.
• AACOM has created a thorough instruction manual and FAQ which is helpful for students in the application process.
