Qualities of a Successful Osteopathic Medical Student

• Do you want to be the type of physician who sees patients 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, who 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 who has 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 nontraditional students. Typically, these students come to osteopathic medicine as a second career from an amazing number of backgrounds. 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 the list goes on. Many of these students have families, and some are single parents. Approximately 25 percent of students starting osteopathic medical colleges are age 26 or older.

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 has demonstrated academic excellence has the best chance for admission to osteopathic medical school.