Does
UWS help graduates set up their practices or find jobs?
UWS provides a list of available practice opportunities on the Web site
in the Professional Resources section. These practice opportunities are
submitted by DC’s in the field. In addition, students are required to
take four Patient and Practice Management courses that are designed to
help students begin the process of setting up their own practices. UWS
also hosts seminars that give students in the clinical phase of the
program specific information about starting a practice.
Can I do a preceptorship in a foreign country?
It is possible to do a preceptorship in a number of countries where
chiropractic has been established and in a few countries where
chiropractic is not yet a regulated profession. Student applications to
participate in an international preceptorship are addressed on a
case-by-case basis. The sponsoring chiropractic physician preceptor must
meet the same qualifying criteria required of licensed doctors of
chiropractic in North America. Also, individual preceptorship programs
must comply with regional accreditation standards and local
jurisdictional licensing regulations.
Are there opportunities for internships outside of the campus
clinic to fulfill the clinical reqs?
The UWS clinic experience includes internships in the on-campus out
patient clinic, in one of our 3 off-site clinics, and many community
based events UWS participates in. In addition, students in their final
(12th) quarter have the opportunity to complete a Community Based
Internship (CBI) in the office of an approved doctor of chiropractic in
the Portland area or a preceptorship in the office of an approved doctor
of chiropractic in another part of the US or Canada.
I heard that UWS teaches you how to deliver babies and how to
perform minor surgery. Is this true?
The chiropractic practice act in the State of Oregon includes obstetrics
(midwifery) and minor surgery. UWS teaches a lecture course in
obstetrics that does not include a lab requirement to either deliver a
baby or attend a live birth. UWS also offers a 2-hour didactic course in
minor surgery and a corresponding 1-hour elective lab. Minor surgical
procedures (laceration repair, removal of lipoma, removal of sebaceous
cysts, etc.) can be performed in the UWS outpatient clinic, and students
can observe and/or participate on a voluntary basis. Successful
completion of these courses would not qualify one to perform obstetrical
or minor surgical procedures. More detailed answers regarding the
chiropractic practice of obstetrics and minor surgery in Oregon can be
obtained from the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners (
http://www.oregon.gov/OBCE/index.shtml).
When do students get to start adjusting?
Biomechanics and palpation lectures and labs begin in the first quarter,
so students begin right away with hands-on instruction. The first
adjusting course, which includes a lecture and lab portion, is offered
in the third quarter.
Can I work and go to school at the same time?
Most of our students don’t work because the chiropractic program is full
time, about 35 hours a week, which doesn’t allow for much extra time for
a job. The majority of our students take advantage of the federal school
loan program, which generally provides them with enough money to cover
tuition, fees, and living expenses.
Is there on-campus housing? Where do most UWS students live?
There is no on-campus housing, but UWS is located in a pleasant
residential area with houses and apartments nearby. Many students are
able to live within walking or bike riding distance from the campus.
After I’m accepted, can I change my start date without having to
reapply?
If you decide to delay your entry date after being accepted, we can
usually accommodate you. If you do change the date, though, we will ask
you to submit an additional tuition deposit to hold your spot.
Can I be accepted to UWS without having completed all the
prerequisites?
It is possible to be accepted on contingency that you successfully
complete a small portion of the prerequisites before enrolling. Our
policy is that we evaluate each application as soon as it is complete
and notify a student if enough academic information is present to make a
decision or if more is needed. For example, it may be necessary for a
student to take additional courses before the admissions committee will
agree to offer acceptance. In general, if a student has completed all
but one category of the prerequisites (organic chemistry, for example),
the committee will offer a contingency acceptance.
Can incomplete prerequisites be completed during the first
quarter at UWS?
CCE requires that the prerequisite courses be completed before a student
enrolls in the DC program.
Can I test out of any of the prerequisites?
UWS will accept credits earned from tests, like the CLEP exams, for the
humanities and social science prerequisites. These credits must be
listed on a transcript from an institution that is regionally
accredited.
How do I know which science courses to take as prerequisites?
In order to prepare for admissions into the UWS chiropractic program,
you should take the science courses at your institution that are
specifically designed for pre-professional students, those intending to
continue in medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, or chiropractic
colleges. Most schools identify courses as pre-professional, but if your
school doesn’t, the admissions staff would be happy to look at course
descriptions to determine which ones are most appropriate.
Are any additional tests, like the MCAT, required for admission?
No. There are currently no tests required for admission into the UWS
chiropractic program.
Is there an interview process?
As of October 1, 2009, a personal interview is required of all
applicants.
When should I begin the application process?
We suggest that students begin the process about a year in advance.
Typically, if a student hasn't completed enough of the prerequisites for
the committee to make a decision, we send a letter asking that the
student provide us with an official, updated transcript at the end of
the next term.
Can I earn a bachelor’s degree at UWS?
You can earn a B.S. in Human Biology while you are enrolled in the
chiropractic program at UWS. The required course work for the B.S.
includes the prerequisite courses used for admission, the basic science
courses taken in the first two years of the chiropractic program, and 8
additional quarter credits of courses that prepare you to complete a
baccalaureate project. It is also possible to transfer basic science
courses taken in the chiropractic program to your undergraduate
institution to count toward a B.S. Ask an Admissions Office staff member
for details.
Does UWS require a bachelor's degree for admission?
Students do not have to have a bachelor's degree in order to be admitted
to UWS. However, some states require a bachelor’s degree before awarding
a license. You should check with the licensing board in the state where
you want to practice for specific educational requirements. As far as
UWS is concerned, the only advantage to having a degree might be that it
makes a student more competitive for scholarship awards; however,
degrees do not factor in to our decision to accept a student. Many of
our students, over 60%, do have degrees before they enter our program.
Who should write my letters of recommendation?
We require two letters of recommendation, which can be from a teacher,
an employer, or someone else with knowledge of your work habits and
character. It is best to avoid asking close, personal friends unless
they have knowledge of your academic or professional experiences and
abilities. We also ask that the recommenders not be members of your
family.
Besides GPA, what else do you consider important for admission?
Other criteria for acceptance include positive recommendations, strong
essays, and community involvement, all showing a good fit between our
program and a student's goals.
What is the average GPA for students being accepted into your
program?
For admission, we consider only the prerequisite GPA, which must be at
least 2.5 for students entering winter of 2012 and 3.0 for students entering fall 2012 or later; however, for scholarship awards, we consider the cumulative
GPA. The average cumulative GPA for our most recent entering class was
just over 3.00.
I would like to visit the campus. How do I schedule a tour?
Campus visits are scheduled throughout the week and appointments are
necessary. Typically a campus visit includes meeting with our Vice
President of Enrollment & Student Services or a faculty member, touring
the campus, visiting a class (depending on availability), and meeting
with an Admissions Coordinator. It is also possible to schedule advising
with an Admissions Coordinator to discuss prerequisites and entrance
into UWS. To schedule a tour or advising, please e-mail
admissions@uws.edu with contact
information as well as your dates of availability.