Are you interested in attending the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM)? This guide can help you understand what to expect and how to prepare. Located in Lewisburg, West Virginia, WVSOM has been providing quality medical education since its founding in 1974.
The school is well-known for its commitment to providing outstanding education and a supportive learning environment for its students. It offers a variety of programs in osteopathic medicine, including a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, as well as residency and fellowship programs.
With its excellent faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative curriculum, WVSOM is an excellent choice for those looking to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine. In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of what you can expect from WVSOM and how to prepare for your studies.
Overview of West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
WVSOM is a state-owned, public institution located in Lewisburg, West Virginia. It is one of two osteopathic medical schools in the state and is also the only fully accredited osteopathic medical school in the state. The school’s mission is to prepare students to become competent physicians who are committed to serving the needs of their community in a caring and compassionate way.
WVSOM is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). WVSOM also participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) program and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
The school offers a four-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree program and a two-year Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (M.S.B.S.) degree program. The D.O. program prepares students to become general practitioners while the M.S.B.S. program prepares students to pursue research and education careers.
WVSOM also offers several post-doctoral programs, including Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Family Medicine/Internal Medicine Combined Program, and a Pediatric Rotation Program.
Admissions Requirements
As with all medical schools, WVSOM has certain requirements for applicants. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Because osteopathic medicine is a practice of holistic medicine, WVSOM also looks for certain personal qualities in its applicants, including empathy, compassion, commitment to community service, and a strong desire to help others. In terms of academic requirements, WVSOM’s acceptance rate for the class of 2022 was 61%.
The average GPA and MCAT scores for these students were 3.61 and 31, respectively. While WVSOM does not have a minimum GPA requirement, they do encourage applicants to have a GPA of at least 3.0.
WVSOM recommends that applicants have a minimum score of 21 on the ACT and at least 1100 on the SAT. Most importantly, WVSOM advises that applicants become familiar with their application requirements as soon as possible.
Academic Programs
As part of WVSOM’s commitment to the education of osteopathic physicians, they have developed an innovative curriculum that prepares students to become competent and compassionate doctors. Students in the D.O. program complete a curriculum that consists of a total of 134 credit hours.
The first two years of study are spent primarily on developing the basic medical sciences necessary to understand the human body and its diseases. In the third and fourth years, students build on this foundation by specializing in a primary care field of their choice, such as family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and internal medicine.
WVSOM’s M.S.B.S. program also consists of a total of 134 credit hours. However, it has a more flexible curriculum that is designed to accommodate students with an interest in research and/or education. The program curriculum consists of three main areas of study: core courses, graduate-level courses, and research.
Student Life at WVSOM
WVSOM prides itself on being an excellent learning environment for its students and encourages them to become involved in extracurricular activities that can help them become better physicians.
Because osteopathic medicine emphasizes the importance of treating the whole person, WVSOM encourages students to participate in activities that promote and develop their interdisciplinary skills.
Some of these activities include the Student Government Association, the Public Health Club, the Osteopathic Physicians’ Assistants Club, and the Student Sports Club.
On-Campus and Online Learning
WVSOM offers both on-campus and online learning opportunities. In the D.O. degree program, students have the option to complete their community service requirement by working in a health profession.
This is one of the few programs in the country that offers such an option. Students in the M.S.B.S. program have the option of completing the comprehensive exam and thesis research via an online format.
Cost of Attending WVSOM
The cost of attending WVSOM will depend on whether you attend full-time or part-time, the type of degree you pursue, and whether you attend the online program. For the 2019-2020 school year, the estimated full-time cost of attendance is $39,801 for in-state students and $66,841 for out-of-state students.
The estimated part-time cost is $14,730 for in-state students and $25,090 for out-of-state students. The estimated online cost for the same periods is $9,211 for in-state students and $20,212 for out-of-state students.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
WVSOM offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship opportunities to students. These include federal and state grants and loans, WVOM state tuition assistance, federal and state-sponsored scholarships, and institutional funds. WVOM encourages students to apply for these types of funds as early as possible.
Preparing for Medical School
As you prepare for medical school, it’s important to start taking the necessary steps as soon as possible. This includes making sure that you are meeting WVSOM’s admissions requirements, maintaining strong academic performance, and participating in extracurricular activities that can help you develop your personal and interdisciplinary skills.
Beyond this, you must take advantage of all the resources that are out there to help you prepare for medical school and become a better physician. For example, the Association of American Medical Colleges has created a website that provides helpful information for aspiring medical students, including advice on the application process and the academic requirements.
The Medical School Admission Council (MSAC) is the organization that administers the MCAT, which is required for admission to most medical schools in the U.S. It has created a website that provides information on studying for the MCAT as well as tips for applying to medical schools.
Applying to WVSOM
When applying to WVSOM, make sure that you carefully follow each application requirement. Some of these include submitting official transcripts, submitting an application fee, providing a personal statement, and completing an interview.
Applying to medical school is a long and demanding process. Therefore, you must start preparing for the application process as early as possible. This will enable you to become familiar with the application requirements and give you ample time to ensure that your application is as strong as possible.
Conclusion
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is an excellent choice for prospective students interested in pursuing a career in osteopathic medicine and becoming a physician.
In this guide, we’ve provided an overview of WVSOM and what you can expect from the school as well as what you can do to prepare for your studies.
With its exceptional faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and innovative curriculum, WVSOM is an excellent choice for those looking to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine.
Joan Seifert es una educadora experimentada con más de 10 años de experiencia en enseñanza/educación. Con una profunda pasión por capacitar a los estudiantes de todas las edades y orígenes, ha dedicado su carrera a crear entornos de aprendizaje innovadores que fomenten el crecimiento personal, el pensamiento crítico y el éxito académico.
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