Prerequisite Courses Required by Most Medical Programs

• Biology with lab (1 academic year)
• Chemistry with lab (1 year of each): General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Physics with lab (1 academic year)
• Mathematics (one mathematics course, not including statistics). NOTE: statistics is highly recommended for many schools; check potential schools for specific math requirements and recommendations in advance of application.
• Humanities, Social Studies and English (2 academic years and/or social sciences to include one course in English composition or equivalent writing emphasis).
• AP and IB credit will be accepted to fulfill the above prerequisites. AP and IB credits must appear on your college or university transcript with the course name and number of credits awarded.
• An eligible MCAT is required, meaning one that is taken from one to three years prior to the year in which the applicant seeks matriculation to medical school. Many schools will base their decisions on the applicants most latest eligible MCAT.
• Citizenship status
• Other qualifiers: schools will require a cumulative total GPA, as reported by AMCAS, the minimum requirements vary and a cumulative MCAT score of the most latest MCAT, minimum requirements also vary with schools. NOTE: minimum qualifiers are subject to change from one admission cycle to the next. Some medical schools recommend courses in addition to the prerequisite courses listed here, so applicants should check potential schools for any additional recommended coursework as far in advance of application deadlines as possible.
• Additional requirements: BS or BA prior to matriculating in medical school, however, no particular major is required. NOTE: May not be required for D.O. but it is dependent on the school.

Application Process:

Students apply to medical school by completing and submitting a primary application through a central application service (AMCAS or AACOMAS). This service standardizes the information from the application and forwards it to the medical schools indicated by the applicant. The next step of the application process is the secondary application. In secondary applications, medical schools request additional information from students, such as letters of evaluation and responses to essay questions. Some medical schools automatically invite all applicants to complete secondary applications, while others only invite applicants who meet minimum GPA and MCAT score criteria to complete them. Interviews normally take place between September and February for acceptance the following fall (although some schools continue to interview into the spring). Most admissions offers are made during fall and winter terms but some schools, including OHSU, continue to make offers through spring term (and even later in some cases for applicants who are admitted from wait lists).

Want more information?

These sites include a wealth of information about all aspects of training and testing:

Getting into medical school is not easy. In 2018, only 41% of all applicants were accepted, with a low MCAT score listed as the “biggest application deal-breaker” in the application. For students who are applying to medical school with a lower-than-average GPA or MCAT score, they might be weighing their options to see if there are is another way to earn the title of “doctor.”  

There are dozens of medical specialties out there and various degrees associated with the medical field. There is more to the name “doctor” then you might realize. However, the terms “doctor” and “MD” are often used as synonyms, but this is not always the case. Licensed physicians can hold either an MD or DO degree. For students who are debating which path into medicine they want to take, they might be wondering why one is right for them and is one better than the other?

MD Vs. DO: Different Approaches

Both allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools instruct their students in the necessary scientific foundations to become licensed physicians. However, the approaches the two schools take are very different. To obtain your medical doctor degree (MD), you must attend an allopathic medical school. Allopathic medicine uses science to diagnose and treat any medical conditions.

Osteopathic medicine is a little less-known and takes a more holistic approach.  Doctors who receive their DO degree study something called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a method that involves moving muscles and joints to promote healing. When OMT fits within a patient’s treatment plan, it can be used to complement drugs or surgery, adding another dimension to medical care.

Physicians with both an MD and a DO are licensed in all 50 states to practice medicine, perform surgeries and prescribe medication.

MD Vs. DO: Education

There are more than 152 accredited U.S. allopathic colleges, whereas there are just 35 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine. Naturally, that means that there are more MDs than DOs, with roughly 25% of all doctors receiving their degree from an osteopathic medical school. The National Resident Matching Program surveyed all active medical school students who participated in the 2018 Main Residency Match. The number of seniors who attended allopathic medical school in 2018 numbered at 18,818 whereas the students of osteopathic medical schools numbered at just 4,275.

There is a stigma surrounding DOs and the level of work and academic success you must have achieved to be accepted. Years ago, it was believed that earning a degree in osteopathic medicine versus allopathic medicine was the more easily-accessible path to becoming a doctor.

As the gap has lessened, it can be just as difficult to be admitted into a DO program compared to an MD one. The average MCAT score for matriculants into a medical school was a 510.4, on the other hand, the average MCAT scores for matriculants into a college of osteopathic medicine averaged around 502.2.  

Once they enter into their respective medical schools, the path to becoming a doctor is very similar. Both MDs and DOs have earned bachelor’s degrees and then attend a four-year medical school. While in med school, they both learn the same basic knowledge regarding anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.

DOs spend an additional 200 hours learning about nerves, muscles, bones and how the connection between them will affect their patients’ overall health. When doctors of osteopathic medicine enter into the workforce, they can incorporate that training into their day-to-day patient interactions if they choose.

MD Vs. DO: Exams

The allopathic and osteopathic paths to becoming a doctor begin to split once the students take their licensing exams. Students at allopathic schools take the USMLE series, while osteopathic students often take the COMLEX sequence. Both of these exams are three-step exams and prospective doctors take them between the end of their second year of medical school and their first year of residency.

However, DOs can take the USMLE exam as well as the COMLEX sequence. While it does add considerably to the student’s workload, it is worth it if they are considering a residency program that requires the USMLE.

These two exams might cover similar topics, but they are a bit different in the testing style. In general, allopathic students are better prepared for taking the USMLE examinations and tend to do better than osteopathic students. The mean USMLE Step 1 Score for all matched U.S. allopathic seniors was 233 while the mean USMLE Step 1 Score for all matched US osteopathic seniors was 227.

Ultimately, the student needs to assess their own individual goals and interests when deciding if they should take the USMLE. The USMLE will increase the number of programs the student can apply to and will deliver them greater access to more specialized programs. However, depending on the residencies the student is interested in, the USMLE might not be necessary for an osteopathic student.

Osteopathic students should be confident that they will do well on the USMLE before committing to taking it. According to the 2018 NRMP (National Resident Matching Program) Program Director, of the 1,333 programs surveyed, only 2% said that the USMLE was not required. Thirty percent of the program directors said they would never admit a student who failed the USMLE on their first attempts, and 58% said they would seldom admit a student who failed.

Of those schools, 46% of programs said that they do use the COMLEX-USA exam when considering which applicants to invite for an interview. Taking the USMLE helps put the students on an even playing field; the directors can compare the students more easily if they have all taken the same exam.  

MD Vs. DO: Residency

According to the National Resident Matching Program, allopathic seniors preferred the specialties of radiology, neurological surgery, orthopedic surgery, and plastic surgery. They least preferred to match with a residency in pathology, family medicine, or internal medicine.

On the other hand, osteopathic medical seniors preferred family medicine, pathology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and psychiatry more than other specialties. They were less likely to apply for a residency in otolaryngology, plastic surgery, radiation oncology, and orthopedic surgery.

Overall, 91.8% of US allopathic seniors matched with their preferred specialty. 82.6% of US osteopathic seniors paired with their preferred specialty.

As of 2019, MD students could only match with programs that were accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and DO students could match with residencies that are accredited by either the ACGME or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). However, this is all about to change. In July of 2020, the accreditation councils will merge to form a single GME Accreditation system, allowing MD and DO students to apply to any residencies.

The purpose of this merger is to create a more consistent method of evaluating residencies. It will affect both current and future DO students, who no longer will have a safe haven of residencies that only DO students can apply to. That means that allopathic students will have more opportunities open to them, perhaps at the expense of weaker DO students.

When choosing between DO and MD, you should consider what you want your future specialty to be, as your chances of matching with your desired program can increase depending on if you go to an allopathic or osteopathic medical school. Being a DO does not make you any worse or better of a doctor. Your residency and your action will determine that, not what letters follow your name.

Research for this article was contributed by Moon Prep college counselor, Lindsey Conger.

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in the heart of the Southwest region of the United States. Nestled in the Mesilla Valley beneath the majestic Organ Mountains, the Las Cruces community is a culturally and socially diverse population with a unique set of healthcare needs.

Since opening our doors in 2016, our campus has been committed to improving healthcare for the people and the future of New Mexico, Southern Arizona, West Texas, and Northern Mexico through culturally respectful undergraduate, graduate, and continuing osteopathic medical education, research, and support of clinical service to the community.

At Burrell College, we have a vision to significantly impact the physician workforce needs in one of the most medically underserved areas in the country. We are dedicated to providing access for all to quality medical services and increasing diversity in the physician workforce, particularly among Hispanic and Native American populations.

Hundreds of students have already joined our program, which fosters a practice of life-long learning, compassion, respect, and excellence. Since graduating our first class in 2020, we have placed over 278 doctors across the nation, 86 of those staying to train in the Southwest. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the country, our students sprang into action, volunteering over 400 hours toward COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts.

Our evidence-based osteopathic medical education program enables students to demonstrate the knowledge and competencies required to enter graduate medical education and the practice of osteopathic medicine. Our medical students train in over 300 hours of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, in addition to standard medical training, to produce physicians as equally versed in preventative care as they are in treatment.

Our students have expressed a desire and dedication to serving the underserved, and they have embraced the Burrell College pledge to foster inclusiveness and cultural awareness among all learners and educators. These future physicians will enter the workforce prepared to effectively address the health needs of the diverse populations living in the southwest border region.

The city of Las Cruces is home to over 100,000 residents, with another 840,000 just down the road in El Paso County. This unique area is a hub for the industries of aerospace, agriculture, defense, education, filmmaking, manufacturing, and commerce. Sunland Park and Las Cruces are two of the fastest growing cities in New Mexico and, as our homeland continues to grow, Burrell College will continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs for competent, well-trained health care professionals.

Burrell College is building cooperative bonds all over the region, starting with our campus partner New Mexico State University. Our unique partnership with NMSU allows our students to enjoy the student life and campus community benefits that come with a major public university such as athletic events, health resources, intramural sports, recreational facilities, and transportation.

Burrell College also has signed collaborative agreements with over 500 physician preceptors and 80 hospitals and healthcare facilities, allowing our third- and fourth-year students to gain hands-on clinical training in a variety of settings, from the major metropolitan hubs of Albuquerque and Tucson to mid-sized cities like Las Cruces and Santa Fe, to the smaller, rural communities and pueblos that make up the state of New Mexico. Our commitment to graduate medical education and physician retention has also led to the creation of over 140 new residency positions, with many more in the works.

Burrell College supports faculty and students in their efforts to advance knowledge by creating an atmosphere of inquiry and discovery that inspires excellence in scholarship and medical practice. With an emerging research program and technologically advanced teaching tools, our campus is on the cutting-edge of medical and educational discovery. Burrell College is the future of healthcare in the Southwest.

The best free PDF editors allow you to quickly make changes to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file without spending a thing. While you won’t get all of the sophisticated features that come with a paid PDF editor, a free PDF editor should be more than enough to create PDFs and make simple edits to them.

The best free PDF editors provide basic editing and document-creation abilities but sometimes, they toss in a few surprising extras. Many free PDF editors allow you to annotate PDFs and some can even recognize scanned text - all at no extra cost.