DO Schools with the Best Match Rates

List of DO Schools with the Best Match Rates

The following schools listed are the DO schools with reported match rates of 99% or above. It is important to note that these numbers can vary from year to year, as each batch of students has a different composition, especially in terms of specialty choice. Some schools will also compile these statistics after a few years or lump multiple campus locations together to tally their results.

Wondering about how the residency match works? Watch this video:

1. Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California (TUCOM - CA) — Match rate: 100%
2. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU - COM) — Match rate: 99.8%
3. Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU - COM) — Match rate: 99.6%
4. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) — Match rate: 99.6%
5. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) — Match rate: 99.6%
6. Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) — Match rate: 99.5%
7. Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU - DCOM) — Match rate: 99.5%
8. Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Nevada (TUN-COM) — Match rate: 99.5%
9. Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) — Match rate: 99.3%
10. University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (UP – KYCOM) — Match rate: 99.2%
11. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Philadelphia campus (PCOM) — Match rate: 99.2%
12. Rowan-Virtua University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) — Match rate: 99.2%
13. University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC - TCOM) — Match rate: 99.2%

Introduction

When researching medical schools with the best match rates, you will find that some of the highest-ranked schools with positive reputations also produce the most matches. Osteopathic schools, on average, have lower match rates than their allopathic counterparts, although they each use the same residency match services. Despite this, DO school rankings show that a number of osteopathic schools have higher match rates than some of the lower-ranked or even top-ranked allopathic schools. That being said, there are many circumstances that can influence any given school’s match rates, such as the specialty choices of its students or its location.

Osteopathic schools focus on primary care specialties, such as a family medicine residency or internal medicine residency. These specialties lend themselves to better match rates, even for allopathic students. Due to a smaller osteopathic presence overall, many schools have pathways to support their students once they are ready to begin their careers as medical residents. DO schools also tend to have resources, specific connections with hospitals that lend themselves to osteopathic medicine, and research exposure for their students.

How to Improve Your Match Chances

The prospect of not receiving a match is scary for osteopathic students looking to start their residency. To become a doctor of any kind, there are no guarantees, even if DO school match rates are generally high. To have the best chance at success, you must put your best foot forward at every step of the process. Even with most medical students finding a match in the US and Canada, it is still important to do everything you can to stand out. Here are a few key aspects of your residency application that will improve your chances of getting a match:

Clinical Experience

Having quality clinical experience, especially if it is in your specialty, can show that you are the type of medical student that goes above and beyond. When you are figuring out how to prepare for your residency applications, it can be very helpful to plan to spend multiple hours working directly in the field you are pursuing. Understanding how to choose medical school electives is a crucial part of any med school experience. While you are going through your program, you should always be looking for opportunities to add to your residency CV and help secure your spot.

Clinical experience will grow your skills and help you gain knowledge as you prepare for the next stage of your career in osteopathic medicine. Search for available opportunities by reaching out to physicians you have shadowed or through faculty members at your school. Since DO schools are closely aligned with the osteopathic medicine facilities in their community, there are sure to be connections you can use to your advantage to identify some worthwhile professional opportunities. If you are an international medical graduate wanting to gain experience in the US or Canada, certain IMG electives and clinical experience can bolster your application.

COMLEX Scores

The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) is divided into three levels, all of which are important for becoming an unsupervised, practicing osteopathic physician in the United States. These assessments test science knowledge, safety measures, prognosis, and patient interaction, among other subjects, as well as legal and ethical issues related to the field of medicine.

COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2-CE must be taken first, typically during your medical school years. How you score on these exams is one of the main deciding factors for who residency program directors let into their programs. COMLEX Level 3 is usually taken during the first year of residency but can be completed once you have graduated from your MD or DO program.

The first two steps cannot be retaken. You cannot go back and improve your score, so it is important to do as well as possible. A great score on COMLEX Level 1 and 2 will definitely support your candidacy for residency. If you previously applied for residency but were not matched, acing Level 3 is one of your best shots at improving your residency application after going unmatched. Reading through case studies and taking multiple practice tests is the best way to study for these grueling examinations.

Conferences

Once you figure out how to choose a medical specialty, attending a conference about that particular discipline could be a worthwhile opportunity to immerse yourself in the professional community you wish to be a part of. When you participate in a conference, you benefit from the expertise of the top physicians in your field. By attending influential talks and presentations, you can learn about current research and innovation as well as significant debates. Familiarity with the main topics of discussion in your specialty underscores your dedication to the medical profession and to the patients you will eventually help. As a member of a profession having an impact on people’s lives on a daily basis, it’s essential to stay up to date as you transition to residency, and program directors will value your efforts if you include such experiences in your application.

During conferences, you can also network with other medical professionals, which may lead to observing and shadowing opportunities that you could list as part of your application. You might also get ideas about where to pursue your residency.

Note that conferences may not be feasible for every single medical student due to cost, travel, or other circumstances. However, virtual events are also worth considering.

Interview Skills

The residency interview is often one of the last milestones before being matched. According to data from the NRMP, it is also the most prominent factor that residency programs use to rank their applicants. Getting through to the interview stage shows that your ERAS or CaRMS profile has made a strong enough first impression, but prospective residents often make it or break it in the interview room. If you bomb the interview, your previous credentials and all the hard work you put in will not mean much. There is a lot of pressure to do well in this moment, but stress can be relieved with the right medical residency interview prep. Practicing the right techniques to properly address common residency interview questions you will face is key to your success.

While you will surely come across standard questions, such as the ever-present “tell me about yourself” question, what program directors really want to see are interpersonal skills that will translate well to the social demands of a residency placement. Half the battle is learning the proper strategies for how to articulate your candidacy during the interview. The right ERAS interview prep or CaRMS interview prep will raise your confidence and help to clinch that coveted residency match.

Conclusion

No part of medical school is easy, especially if you are worried about matching for residency. One way you can alleviate your stress is by being informed. If you are currently a student in osteopathic medicine or wish to go down this path, DO schools have generally high match rates to begin with. The schools listed above have the highest guarantee to get you matched to a residency program, but it is truly difficult to compare when the differences between DO school percentages are so miniscule. The discrepancies between most osteopathic medical school match rates are not enough to warrant a major shift in direction.

The important thing to remember is to follow your passion when choosing a school. Do not let match rates be the only factor in your decision. Deciding where you want to further your medical education is not to be taken lightly, so consider every aspect of that school before applying. Focus on creating a perfect application, rather than graduating from a school with the highest possible match rates. Doing well on exams and in coursework, as well as brushing up on your interview skills, will serve you better in the long run. You must still complete years of medical education before even getting to residency, so make sure those years are spent in a place where you and your enthusiasm for medicine can thrive.

If you need extra help, admissions experts are available to assist with any part of the medical school and residency process. At the end of the day, doing everything you can to succeed is the best match rate you can gift yourself.

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To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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