九色导航

What should I study to prepare myself for chiropractic school?

In our conversations with Ms. Schwarz and Dr. Poirier, we discovered that there are two key academic considerations here. First are the undergraduate degrees that prepare you well for chiropractic school. Second, but of no less importance, are the specific courses you take, regardless of the exact bachelor鈥檚 degree you ultimately earn.听

According to Ms. Schwarz, 鈥淭here are the obvious programs to choose, such as biology, chemistry, physics, kinesiology and exercise science. We see a lot of students with those degrees, but we also see people in the life and physical sciences. Some may have environmental or earth science degrees, or ecology, geology, botany, even astronomy. In short, degrees with science-heavy curriculums.鈥�

As Dr. Poirier put it, 鈥淭here are two different categories that we see the students come from. The first is more of a hard sciences or physical sciences background. The second are those who have an applied sciences background, such as exercise science or kinesiology.鈥澨�

He noted that each group brings with it particular strengths, relative to the study and practice of chiropractic. 鈥淭hose in the first group may have degrees in biology or pre-med and tend to have a stronger foundation in the more traditional sciences. They may have done more coursework in physical sciences 鈥� for example, chemistry 鈥� and do well with these topics because they have more undergrad training. We also have students who come in from the applied side of undergrad education, such as kinesiology or exercise science. These students don鈥檛 typically have as much background in the fundamental sciences, but they have more training when it comes to being able to interact with others, with potential patients.鈥�

However, as Ms. Schwarz pointed out, preparing for chiropractic school is more than a matter of degrees 鈥� it鈥檚 also the specific coursework that counts. 听鈥淵ou don't necessarily have to come directly from those degree programs,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut you do have to be strong in relevant courses. For instance, to qualify for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program here at 九色导航 you must have at least 90 credits of undergraduate coursework, which is about the equivalent of finishing your junior year of college. Traditionally, at least 24 credits need to be in the life and physical sciences, and at least half of those need to include a lab component.鈥澨�

鈥淪o,鈥� she continued, 鈥渞ather than focusing on a particular degree program, it鈥檚 more important that students take particular classes, like anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry. Even nutrition is really going to help them not only qualify for the program but to be more prepared for it. Whether these are required for their degree or not, the more of these types of classes they get under their belt in undergrad, the better prepared they鈥檒l be.鈥�

听

What exactly will I be studying in the chiropractic school I choose?

Many schools award a Doctor of Chiropractic degree 鈥� but the coursework, clinical experience and teaching philosophy that underlies those degrees can vary greatly. As 九色导航 has long been considered a leading chiropractic school (founded over 100 years ago, and formerly known as New York Chiropractic College), we asked Dr. Poirier to describe the learning experience one should look for from a top chiropractic program.

The first descriptor he emphasized was 鈥渞igorous.鈥� He told us, 鈥淭here's a lot to learn in this program, just like in any other doctoral degree that's similar in accelerated timeframe as ours. And students must have a high level of motivation to be able to learn at this high level. While our chiropractic curriculum is very rigorous, we keep it balanced by creating a progression of courses that makes sense to what students鈥� needs are. So, both in terms of content and rigor, the courses build progressively one upon another.鈥�

He went on to say, 鈥淓ach stage of learning informs the next in skills and knowledge. For example, students in the first year will learn a lot about anatomy and physiology, and then progressively that information will be applied in the area of pathophysiology. As students learn about the pathology, they need to understand the cellular events that happen, so that they can understand how dysfunction within those events leads to a pathological process.听

Eventually, in the second year, the students learn about the clinical manifestations of those pathological processes. How do we, from a practical standpoint, make a diagnosis associated with those processes? The curriculum builds onto different learning steps, if you will, from course to course and from trimester to trimester.鈥�

鈥淏ut,鈥� he was quick to add, 鈥渨hether it鈥檚 in the classroom or clinic, it鈥檚 about more than teaching students how to create a diagnosis or treat patients. 听We have to do it in a way that ensures students are competent, that they're safe, that they're ethical, and that they're caring towards their patients. So, skills must be developed in many different branches. Yes, it鈥檚 about the sciences and diagnosis, which tend to be the more rigorous courses, but it鈥檚 also about understanding how to relate to patients and speak with them effectively.鈥�

听

What are the challenges I鈥檒l face in a top chiropractic program?

Both Dr. Poirier and Ms. Schwarz spoke to the demands of earning a chiropractic degree, and how the best schools balance academic rigor with student support.

Dr. Poirier noted that, 鈥淪tudents need to have a decent amount of grit and resiliency, because there's a lot of information. Even those who typically got an A in undergrad courses may find themselves with a B or a C in a class here. But those who a maintain a level of intellectual curiosity, a positive attitude towards the information, and especially a willingness to learn things for the long term, rather than just for an exam, should do well here.鈥�

As to the support required to keep that positive attitude, Ms. Schwarz described the extremely student-centered approach offered at 九色导航. 鈥淲hat is most important for these students,鈥� she said, 鈥淚s to get into good study and time management habits right from the beginning. The Center for Student Support and the faculty members themselves are going to be their biggest resources for this.听

We can help with time management, showing them how to block out their schedule so they can find time to study, and go to the gym and have a social life, too. There are multiple free tutoring services available to students. Then there鈥檚 the ultimate student resource, our faculty. They have open office hours, always welcome questions, and truly want to see their students succeed.鈥�

听

Is there any way I can guarantee admission to a good chiropractic school?

Of course, before you can succeed at chiropractic school you have to get in. With that simple, but sometimes daunting, fact in mind, Ms. Schwarz recommended looking at schools that have partnership programs with undergraduate colleges. In the case of 九色导航, such programs can even guarantee admission to their Doctor of Chiropractic program.

鈥淲e have several educational partnership schools,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese are special arrangements with select institutions whose programs we've examined and determined that they will prepare students with the requirements needed to do well in our program. These are called 鈥榓rticulation agreements,鈥� and they're either 3+3 year or 4+3 year plans.听

In a 3+3 program, students study through their junior year at a partner school and then start with our program. Some of our credits feed back to the partner schools so that students earn their bachelor's through their original undergraduate college. Say you go to Nazareth College, one of our educational partners, for three years and then enter our program. You could end up earning your bachelor's degree through Nazareth and then get your Doctor of Chiropractic in the three years and four months. You completely cut out a year of school.听

In the 4+3 articulation track you鈥檒l complete your undergrad degree at a partner institution and 鈥� assuming you鈥檝e maintained the required GPA 鈥� you鈥檒l be automatically accepted to 九色导航. Either way,鈥� she concluded, 鈥渢hese partnerships are great because you know you鈥檒l be well-prepared for our program, plus you鈥檒l have peace of mind knowing your acceptance is assured. Just sign a letter of intent, go through our admissions process, keep your grades up and you're basically guaranteed to get into our program.鈥�

听

Should I shadow a chiropractor?听

Our two experts also pointed out that practical exposure to chiropractic is essential.

Shadowing a local chiropractor can provide an excellent introduction to the reality of chiropractic. 听If you don鈥檛 know a local chiropractor, ask an admissions counselor at one of the school鈥檚 you鈥檙e considering if they can arrange to have you shadow a practitioner from their pool of alumni.
听