Sarah’s Nontraditional Path to DO School: From Humanities Major to Med Student [Episode 630]
In this episode of Accepted’s Admissions Straight Talk, Dr. Valerie Wherley speaks with Sarah Shirley, now an osteopathic medical student at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, about how she moved from English and comparative literary studies to book publishing, premed coursework, and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) school. Her journey is especially useful for career changers, humanities majors, and applicants who are trying to build an application that feels both strategic and true to who they are.
Table of Contents
Use Experience to Test Your Interest in Medicine
Sarah did not grow up surrounded by physicians. When she began considering medicine, she had to build her own evidence. Hospital volunteering became a way to observe the field closely, learn from staff and patients, and understand whether she wanted to be in that environment day after day. Over time, the small moments mattered: patient conversations, surgical-unit routines, and the feeling that she wanted to be in the room where care was happening.
Build a Story, Not a Checklist
For medical school applicants, activities matter, but Sarah emphasizes that the narrative behind them matters just as much. She encourages applicants to research each school’s requirements but also to choose experiences that connect to authentic interests. Her work with The Trevor Project, for example, reflected her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, gender-affirming care, advocacy, and the kind of physician she hopes to become.
Make Your Recommendation Asks More Reflective
Seeking letters of recommendation can feel especially intimidating for nontraditional applicants. Sarah’s approach was to be fully present while shadowing or working with potential letter writers and then refer back to specific moments when asking for a letter of recommendation. She kept a journal of what she observed, how she felt, and what she learned, which helped her ask for letters in a way that showed attention, gratitude, and maturity.
This episode also offers a practical look at osteopathic medicine. Sarah explains how the DO philosophy, osteopathic manipulative medicine, patient narratives, and the tenets of osteopathy helped her see a fit between her humanities background and her future in medicine. For applicants considering DO programs, her advice is clear: learn the DO philosophy, shadow a DO if you can, attend webinars when needed, and speak from a place of real understanding.
Related Resources
- Accepted’s Medical School & Healthcare Programs Consulting
- Med School Admissions Advice for Nontraditional Applicants: The Experts Speak
- How to Get into Medical School for Non-Science Majors
- Med School Applications Kick Off: Ten Tips to Get You Through the Season
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