9 Easiest Osteopathic Schools To Get Into (2023 Updated)
Osteopathic schools are not institutions where it is easy to get accepted. With 38 osteopathic schools in the United States, the demand can quickly become excessive to accommodate all students.
Also, according to the Report on the Osteopathic Profession, in 2019, there were 121,006 DOs (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) in the United States as well as 30,367 medical students.
For this reason, in this article, we’ve selected the best, most popular, and easiest osteopathic schools to get into and their admission requirements. Of course, the medical field is a complex and competitive one, but with a good and solid background, getting into one of these schools is certainly possible.
What Are Osteopathic Schools?
Osteopathic medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on preventive health care but that includes prescription drugs, surgery, medical technology, injury evaluation, and more.
In addition to a four-year degree from an accredited medical school, an MD has two years of post-graduate training at a hospital or other nationally recognized academic facility.
After graduating, an osteopathic medicine doctor must go onto an osteopathic school for 4 years to get specialized in the field.
The most common professions after graduation at an osteopathic school are the following:
- Physician
- Staff Physician
- Research Assistant
- Medical Director
- Clinical Instructor
- Physician Assistant
- Acute Care Physician
These are the most common ones, however, there are more job opportunities available after graduating from medical school.
Are Osteopathic Schools Easier To Get Into?
Osteopathic schools have received a record number of applications and, because of this, it has become more complex than ever getting into one.
According to a report by MedEdits, in 2017, only 7,200 out of the 21,000 applicants were matriculated. This is certainly a number to keep in mind and consider, however, getting into osteopathic schools is far from impossible.
In plain words, osteopathic schools are easier than some other types of schools to get into, but this doesn’t mean that you won’t need to work hard to get matriculated.
What GPA Do You Need To Get Into Osteopathic School?
The GPA is an important part of the admission requirements. It can never be too high and your application will certainly not make it to the top if you have a low GPA.
According to AAMC statistics, a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79 and an MCAT score between 30 and 32 will get you a 70% chance of acceptance rate.
For the applicants’ average, a GPA of 3.7 and 31 of MCAT score, your chances of acceptance are closer to 60%.
So, is a 3.75 GPA good for medical school? Absolutely, a 3.75 GPA is a good score. However, it doesn’t, unfortunately, guarantee that you will be selected on your first application.
Though, note that with these scores, you will have high chances to integrate and get into an osteopathic school as they’re great overall.
Easiest Osteopathic Schools To Get Into
As mentioned previously, osteopathic schools often aren’t easy to get into. For this reason, we’ve listed the most accessible and easiest osteopathic schools to get into without sacrificing the education quality.
If you’re looking to integrate an osteopathic school with a higher-than-average acceptance rate, these are the ones you should consider.
1. University of Mississippi School of Medicine, MS
Acceptance Rate: 37.07%
Minimum GPA Required: 3.0
- Applications only open to American citizens or permanent residents
- Completed MCAT within 3 years of the application
- A minimum of three years of college work with at least 90 semester hours
- At least 35 hours of shadowing in the United States
The University of Mississippi School of Medicine offers many different types of medical careers for students. There are degree programs in the fields of pediatrics, family practice, adult medicine, internal medicine, and many other specialties. The school has an undergraduate nursing program as well.
Last but not least, the University of Mississippi will charge you in total $256,802 for all 4 completed years, all costs included.
2. Central Michigan University College of Medicine, MI
Acceptance Rate: 21.91%
Minimum GPA: 3.25
- All applicants must be American or Canadian citizen or permanent residents
- Two semesters of biological science with sections in a laboratory
- Two semesters of organic chemistry with at least one laboratory
- One semester of biochemistry with at least one laboratory section.
- A minimum of 5 recommendation letters
If you are willing to join an easier osteopathic school with a higher acceptance rate, you might consider the Central Michigan University College of Medicine.
With a strong education, clinical rotations, and extensive hands-on training, students at the CMU College of Medicine can be confident that they will leave their mark on the medical world with an education that prepares them for greatness. From there, these graduates can go on to become highly-qualified physicians, scientists, and researchers.
The application fee will cost you back $100. Additionally, the total cost per year will set you back $66,096 for in-state students and $86,209 for the out of the state ones.
3. University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, PR
Acceptance Rate: 13.65%
Average GPA: 3.79
- Bachelor’s Degree in a college or university
- Minimum general grade point average of 2.50
- Minimum science grade point average of 2.50 on all courses in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Mathematics)
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine has been accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
The University offers degree programs in the fields of pediatrics, medical assistant, radiology, nursing, pharmacy, surgery, optometry, and medical terminology.
The University of Puerto Rico will cost you a total of $182,654 for all 4 years and all costs included.
4. University of Tennessee College of Medicine, TN
Acceptance Rate: 8.75%
Average GPA: 3.7
- Completed Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
- Ninety semester hours at an accredited American college or university (16 hours in Chemistry, 8 in Physics, 8 in Biology, 6 in English/Literature, and 52 Electives)
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine provides many resources for its students and high-quality education. While the acceptance rate is lower than other schools, it is certainly one of the best and easiest osteopathic schools to get into.
Lastly, the University of Tennessee is one of the most affordable osteopathic schools. With a cost of $34,566 per year for in-state applicants and $60,489 for out of state, it is another advantage to this school.
5. University Of Oklahoma College Of Medicine, OK
Acceptance Rate: 7.7%
Minimum GPA: 3.0
- All applicants must be American citizens or be permanent residents
- 3 faculty recommendation letters
- At least a grade of C in prerequisite courses
One of the many advantages of enrolling at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine is its ability to provide students with an extensive range of interdisciplinary programs that include the traditional areas of medicine.
According to the U.S. News report on the best medical schools in America in 2023, the University of Oklahoma is ranked #63 out of 188 institutions.
6. Medical College Of Georgia At Augusta University, GA
Acceptance Rate: 7.42%
Average GPA: 3.81
- At least 3 recommendation letters
- A completed MCAT exam – not older than 3 years
- A completed CASPer exam
- Completed semester hours in Biology, Chemistry, English, Physics, Statistics.
Ranked the 68th best medical school in the United States, the Medical College of Georgia offers medical education and research in several disciplines.
7. Mercer University School Of Medicine
Acceptance Rate: 10.07%
Minimum GPA Required: 3.0
- A minimum GPA of 3.0
- 2 reference letters
- A 750-word essay explaining your goals related to the osteopathic program
- One-year coursework with subjects – General Biology, General or Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics
Established in 1982, Mercer University School Of Medicine is one of the six regional medical colleges in Georgia, specializing in the education of several fields.
At Mercer University, you’ll be able to get into one of these academic programs:
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
- Preclinical Sciences, M.S.
- Biomedical Sciences, M.S.
- Family Therapy, M.F.T.
- Rural Health Sciences, Ph.D.
Not only is the University one of the easiest osteopathic schools to get into, but it is also one of the affordable ones. According to Mercer University’s tuition and rates page, they estimate the costs to be $27,450 the first year and $21,354 the second year.
However, the tuition and rates for the 3rd and 4th years aren’t mentioned.
8. University Of Kentucky College Of Medicine, KY
Acceptance Rate: 8.47%
Average GPA: 3.84
- A passed Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Two completed semesters in Physics, Biological Sciences, English with emphasis on communication
- Four semesters in Chemistry, including Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine offers a variety of programs to help you achieve your goals as a future doctor.
Also, medical students will have numerous specialties to study. Whether you want to study Primary Care, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, or even Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, the University of Kentucky has all of the education and training you need.
During your clinical training, you will learn how to assess patients for risk, develop diagnostic tests, design appropriate interventions, and give general medical advice to patients.
According to the U.S. News and World Report, the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital is the number 1 hospital in Kentucky as well as the number 1 in adult specialty and children’s specialties.
Needless to say, the University of Kentucky knows what they’re doing. Their acceptance rate is above the average which makes it one of the best and easiest osteopathic schools to get into.
9. The Brody School Of Medicine At East Carolina University
Acceptance Rate: 8.05%
Average GPA: 3.6
- A completed Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- No specific undergraduate major is required
- 3 recommendation letters
- One year of each of the following courses: General Biology or Zoology with laboratory, General Chemistry with laboratory, Organic Chemistry with laboratory, Physics with laboratory, English, Social sciences/humanities, Biochemistry, and Statistics/biostatistics
The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University was established in 1969 and is one of the oldest medical colleges in North Carolina. The number of matriculated students is less than 500 which makes it one of the most intimate medical schools.
The U.S News and World Report have ranked the Brody School Of Medicine number 62 in best medical schools: Primary Care.
While The Brody School Of Medicine is one of the easiest osteopathic schools to get into, it’s important to note that they only accept 120 students every year out of 1000 applicants. Also, 30% to 50% of accepted students are re-applicants from previous years.
Conclusion
These were the best and easiest osteopathic schools to get into. While most of them require a minimum GPA of 3.0, their requirements are limited compared to other schools.
Now that you know the best osteopathic schools you can join, make sure to prepare a good application, gather all the requirements, and give your best at the interview.
As mentioned previously, getting into osteopathic school is complex, but with hard work, you will certainly be successful.
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