Hello Pre-Medical Students!
I formally invite you to join osteopathic medical students from around the country to our Annual SOMA Fall Convention from October 24-25 in Seattle, WA. Our mission at Pre-SOMA, the undergraduate division of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association, is to promote the option of osteopathic medical school and to discover if it is the right career path for you.
As part of the convention, where medical students around the country gather to improve leadership and clinical skills, you will get the opportunity to attend the Pre-SOMA Meet and Greet, held on Oct 25th, from 1-3 pm, where you can interact with the Admissions Directors of 17 different colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Please see below for the most frequently asked questions.
For a short time, registration for Pre-SOMA members (free membership at studentdo.com/join) is free until October 18th for the first 100 registrants!
FAQs:
What will I do when I am there?
You will be able to attend a community service event and workshops. These workshops include CV/resume writing, the application process for medical school, interviewing patients, suturing (surgical knot-tying and stitching), communication, policy, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and more! Perhaps the most exciting event is the Pre-SOMA Meet and Greet. You can also attend the SOMA Foundation Awards Dinner on Saturday. Please see the attached agenda for more information.
Are SOMA Convention and the Meet and Greet two different events?
No- All you have to do is register for the SOMA Fall Convention. With the $40 dollar fee, you will get meals (at least three) and get to attend BOTH medical and pre-medical workshops (See agenda). You will also get to attend the Pre-SOMA Meet and Greet, where you can meet the ADMISSIONS DIRECTORS and medical students. You may attend both days if you want (we would love that!), or attend just Saturday, which is the day of the Meet and Greet. The $40 flat fee includes the entire convention, and reduced for you as a pre-medical student. Medical student registration is $100, but well worth it. *Remember- registration is free for the first 100*
Seems expensive… do I really need to attend the Pre-SOMA Meet and Greet?
Absolutely. The admissions directors, when they get to know you and know you are committed (such as attending national events and going to places to get face time with them), speak on your behalf to the admissions selection committee. These are the kinds of events where you can get personal attention to your application and can put on your resume. It is definitely a great conversation topic during interviews. You also get suturing workshops and a convention full of medical students ready to mentor you and talk to you about different campuses and our personal experiences. We have a lot of advice to give! *Remember- registration is free for the first 100*
I have never been to a convention/conference. What is expected of me?
All we want is business casual dress, professional behavior, and enthusiasm. We want you to know what it is like to be an osteopathic medical student, and so there will be a lot of teaching and mentoring going on. Lastly, we want you to have fun! National Pre-SOMA works very hard to make sure this will be a memorable event for you. We remember what it was like being in your shoes!
What is OMED?
OMED is the Osteopathic medical convention, sponsored by the AOA, for practicing DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine). SOMA hosts their events (and Pre-SOMA events) right before the start of the AOA convention. That is a different registration. You may attend if you like, but we believe the most relevant things for you will be during the SOMA convention.
What about travel and housing?
Unfortunately, as Pre-SOMA builds, we ask that you cover your travel and housing. Getting a large group and carpooling and/or sharing rooms helps quite a bit. You can find discount hotels using hotels.com or booking via websites like expedia or obritz.
Please let me know if you have any more questions or concerns by contacting me at presomadirector2@studentdo.com.
Sincerely,
Devangi Patel, OMS IV, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, presomadirector2@studentdo.com
