When researching a chiropractic college, you’ll want as much inside information as possible. After all, navigating more than 4,800 hours of class and lab time and learning to diagnose and treat patients in as little as 3.3 years will challenge even the best of students. However, when you’ve never been to chiropractic college, how do you know what to expect from the school you have in mind?
One thing is for sure. The chiropractic college where you’ll do your best will be the one that meets the majority of your needs. Finding the best fit for you…will be up to you.
There are, however, seven aspects of chiropractic college you should investigate. Being aware of these seven success indicators will ensure you’ll become the doctor of chiropractic any community will be proud to have.
7 Things to Expect from Your Chiropractic College
1. Legacy of Success
It’s always good to see that your chiropractic school has a history of success. Ways to evaluate this include when the college began, program graduation and retention rates, and the percentage of graduates passing all parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exam within six months of graduation.
2. Student-focused Services
Yes, every college and university promises an emphasis on students. It’s the quality of services and their fit for your situation that can be the difference between “I can make it work” and “I love it here.”
If you believe your academic preparation for chiropractic college is a bit shaky, be sure to find out about the availability of tutoring services. Talk to advisors about how willing faculty members are to meet with you. Make sure the library has best-in-class resources.
Check for plenty of study rooms, computer labs, and on-campus dining options. Look for extras, such as recommendation services to help you find a place to live not too far from campus.
3. Faculty Knowledge/Teaching Experience
Chiropractic college instruction combines classwork and lab exercises with one-to-one and small group scenarios. Ask questions about the chiropractic faculty during your campus visit.
Faculty with experience in a practice setting and an effective teaching style will go a long way to making you the best chiropractor you can be.
4. On-campus Facilities
With an education covering more than 4,800 total contact hours, (similar to a medical school education), every minute you’re in school is precious. To enrich the learning experience and reduce student stress, having classrooms, study centers, biology/anatomy labs, and technique labs close by is an added benefit.
5. Shadowing and Internship Opportunities
When chiropractic college students graduate with their doctor of chiropractic degree (D.C.), they are confident, prepared healthcare professionals. One way students get ready for graduation is by the chiropractic college encouraging and supporting shadowing opportunities and internships.
Faculty and administrators should have excellent relationships with alumni and chiropractors in the immediate area so students can see how experienced chiropractors care for their chiropractic patients.
6. Chiropractic Degree Program Options
Most chiropractors earn their degree in less than four years. There are, however, other approaches to the D.C. degree for different situations.
Highly disciplined students may want a combined degree that reduces the amount of time in school by up to a year. In a combined degree plan (also called a concurrent degree plan), the student earns a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree on the way to earning the doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Here’s an example of a B.S./D.C. concurrent program.
7. Compatible Living/Learning Location
The right chiropractic college for you should feel like a good fit for your non-school time, too. Look for a chiropractic college campus that’s close to available homes and apartments, plus has easy access to shopping, recreation, and restaurant choices.
Becoming a Chiropractor at CUKC
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university specializing in the chiropractic and health sciences. Our chiropractic history started in 1922, and today, more than one out of every 10 U.S. chiropractors have earned the Doctor of Chiropractic degree from our College of Chiropractic.
The CUKC campus is in Overland Park, Kansas, a Kansas City area suburb of 190,000 people. Overland Park is recognized for its livability, family friendliness, and affordability.
CUKC also offers the B.S. in Human Biology degree, which you can use as a springboard into the College of Chiropractic. This bachelor’s degree coursework is tailor-made for those who plan to pursue the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Some CUKC students even choose a concurrent B.S./Chiropractic degree (Doctor of Chiropractic) program that can reduce the amount of time in school.
Learning about becoming a chiropractor starts with good information, so get connected with a CUKC advisor. You can also download a free ebook right now: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
