What major should I select?While no specific major is necessary in order to apply to Chiropractic School, most schools require undergraduate preparation in the life sciences as well as other sciences. The USI Biology Program offers a 3+3 Dual Degree program with Logan University College of Chiropractic. This program allows you to complete 3 years at USI and 3 years at Logan University while earning both a BS in Biology and a DC degree. There is no choice of major with the 3+3 Logan program; the major must be Biology.
What classes do I need to take?Each Chiropractic School has different admissions requirements. Most schools require a minimum of 90 hours of undergraduate work with an emphasis on science courses with labs and life sciences courses, in particular. Therefore it’s important that you identify the school(s) that interest you in order to identify the exact requirements you’ll need to meet.
While many Chiropractic Schools don’t require a completed Bachelors degree, most advise that you do complete your undergraduate degree prior to application or as part of a Dual Degree program. This is due to some state licensure laws requiring an undergraduate degree. By earning a Bachelors degree, you’ll be eligible to apply for any Chiropractic School and to work in any state once you’ve completed your Chiropractic training.
Do I need a 4.0 GPA?No, you do not need a 4.0 GPA to get in Chiropractic Schools. The minimum required is a 3.0. You need to check with each school of interest to get the exact GPA requirements.
How do I apply?Chiropractic Schools do not have a centralized application system. Therefore, it's imperative that you research each school to which you'd like to apply. You should pay attention to pre-requisite coursework, GPA requirements, letters of recommendation, and interview processes.
Do I need shadowing experience?Shadowing experiences are an important part of your pre-chiropractic training. Exposure to your chosen field is an important way for you to learn what Chiropractic is truly like. While shadowing requirements vary at each school, many programs require a letter of recommendation from a Chiropractor which necessitates interacting with at least one individual in the field. Even if your program of interest does not require a letter from a Chiropractor, shadowing is a wise choice in order to know what to expect in your future career. Shadowing more than one, especially if each has trained at a different school, provides valuable insight into different training philosophies.
Tips to Remember
Be sure all of the information you enter on your application is accurate. This includes the grades of every course taken at the college level and any courses in which you plan to enroll within the year.
Request a transcript from all of your academic institutions and allow plenty of time for the institutions to process your request. Be sure to find out how and where transcripts should be sent for each school to which you plan to apply.
If a personal statement is required, it is important. This is your chance to begin to portray who you are and to distinguish yourself from the thousands of applications each institution will review.
Start the process early and be aware of when individual programs start incoming classes! Some schools start a class only in the fall while others may start a class in fall, spring, and even summer. Many schools have rolling admission policies, which means slots are filled as soon as the application opens, until the slots are filled. If you wait too late to complete your application, you have missed opportunities for several slots and might have to settle for starting later than you had planned. Programs typically recommend that students begin the application process a year before the anticipated start date.
Give careful consideration before asking individuals to write letters of evaluation. Then allow plenty of time for them to write the letters so you aren't waiting until the deadline to receive them. When you ask for letters of recommendation, provide a C.V. or resume so the person writing the letter can reference what you have done outside of their contact with you.
Knowing the specific requirements of the Chiropractic school(s) to which you plan to apply is also very important. Chiropractic schools profess that they want well-rounded individuals, not just one-dimensional students. That means get involved, balance school with other activities, because it is true that all work and no play makes you a dull individual!
