Pre-Chiropractic | Health Professions Advising | BYU-Idaho

# Pre-Chiropractic

Academic Preparation

Extracurricular Preparation

Application Preparation

International Students

Academic Preparation

Extracurricular Preparation

Application Preparation

International Students

Academic Preparation

Extracurricular Preparation

Application Preparation

International Students

## Academic Preparation Overview

For most accredited chiropractic schools, you must first complete a minimum of three years or 90 semester hours of college credit. However, we highly recommend that you complete a Bachelor's degree. Chiropractic schools do not have a preference regarding your choice of undergraduate major, so study something you love!

### Required And Recommended Courses

This guide is designed for applying to a range of chiropractic schools. ****It is not a comprehensive list.**** Requirements may vary by school. See a Health Professions Advisor if you have additional class planning questions.

Chiropractic School Prerequisites (PDF)

### AP and Community College Credits

Check with individual chiropractic schools directly to see if they will accept Advanced Placement (AP) credits earned in high school towards their prerequisites.

### Grading and Policies and GPA Requirements

****GPA****--Generally, the ****minimum****GPA required is 3.0 but may be higher or lower depending on the school.

****To be most competitive, strive to earn at least a 3.2-3.5 GPA.****

****Withdrawals****--W's should be used ****only**** for emergencies, although W's will not affect your GPA.

****Repeated/Retaken Courses****--Chiropractic schools take the most recent grade earned in a course.

****AP Credits****--Generally, students must take coursework beyond introductory classes waived by AP.

### Preparing For Letters Of Recommendation

Some, but not all schools, require letters of recommendation. Requirements for letters vary between schools, so research schools early and know what you need. Get to know people from these categories so they can write excellent letters for you. If a school requires letters, they will generally want 2-3 letters mainly from the following:

****Types of Letters Needed****

- ****A Doctor of Chiropractic****
- ****An academic professor****
- ****A work supervisor****

****Tips to Get to Know Your Professors/Mentors****

- Visit their offices regularly
- Look for mentors, not just letterwriters
- Be genuinely interested in those you seek as mentors
- Be humble and gracious
- Ask thoughtful questions
- Share your academic and career goals
- Inquire about their areas of interest and research
- After you have gotten to know professors, ask about further opportunities, e.g., teaching assistantships, individual research projects, etc.

****Collecting letters:**** As you prepare to collect your letters of recommendation, it is best to subscribe to a service like Interfolio.com. Interfolio.com allows you to collect all your letters in one place and have them sent to each application service when the application opens up. It is not best to wait until your application opens to obtain your letters of recommendation.

### Helpful Websites And Resources

- What is Chiropractic?
- Find a Chiropractic School

## Extracurricular Preparation Overview

Preparation for chiropractic school involves engaging in experiences that develop and demonstrate skills in communication, leadership, community service, research, and familiarity with the profession. ****What you do with your time helps define who you are in your application.**** Schools will learn what you care about and who are you through experiences that align with your interests and goals. Keep in mind that activities complement your coursework, but will not compensate for low grades. ****Both are important!****

- Keep a record of all hours and experience -- document contact information and reflections on each activity.
- All activities should ****be completed**** during your undergraduate study.
- Try to complete activities consistently throughout the school year.
- Be intentional and deliberate in planning your experiences, so you are prepared to apply when the time comes.

### Shadowing And Chiropractic Experience

Shadowing should be one of your first experiences as a pre-chiropractic student. Observing chiropractors in action will help you gather the information you need to commit to the profession fully. Shadowing requires professional dress and conduct.

Chiropractic experience is very important in your application. Most students gain this experience by shadowing a general chiropractor for more than a semester.

****Competitive applicants shadow at least 2 different chiropractors.****

### Community Service

Because you are preparing for a healthcare profession, it is important to have volunteer experiences that demonstrate a consistent and long-term commitment to serving others in your community. Look for service opportunities in your community, on campus, or in a humanitarian setting. Volunteer activities need not be related to the chiropractic field but should be meaningful to you. Quality of the experience is more important than quantity.

### Leadership Experience

As a chiropractor, you will be a leader in many ways. Professional schools admit students who have experience making and recognizing the consequences of their decisions. Leadership involves teamwork and builds solid communication skills. Examples of leadership could be mentoring, tutoring, society presidencies, student government, in a job, coaching, or church callings.

### Helpful Websites And Resources

- Chiropractic Q&A

## Application Process Overview

There are 15 Chiropractic Schools in the United States. Most admit students 2-3 times per year. Many follow a rolling admissions process, meaning they begin reviewing applications and admitting students before deadlines.

When you apply depends on when you will complete your degree and complete the necessary prerequisite coursework. Timing is sensitive, so you will want to plan well.

Apply ****early****in the cycle, but make sure your application is the best it can be. Chiropractic school requirements vary from school to school -- research schools early for specific information on their requirements.

Before submitting your application, have people with an unbiased eye go over each ****entire****application to catch any errors.

### Primary Application

It is important to check with each school so you are aware of their application requirements and deadlines.

****READ ALL INSTRUCTION MANUALS AND DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!****

### Letters Of Recommendation

Some, but not all schools, require letters of recommendation. Check application requirements for each school to know if they require letters, how many they require, and how to have them submitted. If you need letters:

- Ask if potential writers feel capable of writing a ****strong**** letter. If anyone is hesitant, you should probably try someone else.
- Ask if recommenders would welcome any written background material. You could include a brief biographical sketch or resume, your interests and activities, career goals, and motivation toward your intended profession.
- Always give recommenders ample time--two to three weeks at a ****minimum.****
- Make sure letter writers know their letters must be signed and on letterhead.
- Follow-up with your letter writers and be sure to send thank you notes.

### Preparing To Apply

It is helpful to create a timeline for yourself when applying to chiropractic school. Having an academic plan and a plan to complete extra-curricular activities all contribute to your timeline.

- Talk to the potential writers of your Letters of Recommendation. Give them plenty of time to write the letters.
- For specific application deadlines dates, you should always check the ACC Website.
- Always confirm school-specific requirements by checking each school's website directly.
- Continue to save money for the application process.
- Write a personal statement, if required.
- Order official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities that you have attended.
- Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, in October.
- Prepare for and attend interviews, if offered.
- Respond to admissions offers.
- When you make a final decision, withdraw from other admissions offers promptly.

## International Students Overview

International students are students who are not green card holders or permanent residents. A permanent resident is generally considered the same as a US resident for application purposes.

International students not holding a green card can be accepted to US chiropractic schools.

If an international student is accepted, schools have policies that may require a students to show evidence of their capacity to pay tuition above and beyond the INS requirement for an I20. Some schools may expect the student to ****pre-pay**** tuition for the entire four years or create an escrow account for these funds. Some institutions will accept loans co-signed by a US citizen.

### Research Schools And Plan Accordingly

Each chiropractic schools is different, and it is imperative that you check individual admissions websites to view policies regarding international applicants, coursework requirements, financial requirements, etc.

### Create A Financial Plan For Chiropractic School

Chiropractic school is an expensive endeavor. ****The average cost of attending a 4 year program can range from $40,000 to $120,000. International non-resident students do not qualify for Federal Financial Aid,**** so consider alternate options. For instance, some institutions offer ****school-specific loan programs****. Additionally, some major banks offer ****private student loans**** to international applicants, but you would need to have a co-signer who is a citizen of the US.

The key is to evaluate the available options and have a plan in place before starting school.