Prospective students often ask what they can do to prepare for OCOM’s rigorous academic program.

Traditional Oriental medicine is based around cultural practices handed down through generations. If you are considering enrolling at OCOM, we suggest any self-study that provides context and background for what you will learn:

- The Web That Has No Weaver, Understanding Chinese Medicine (by Ted Kaptchuk) and Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine (by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold) are two comprehensive guides to the theory and philosophy behind acupuncture and Chinese medicine we highly recommend.
- Explore classes in conversational Mandarin, Chinese culture or natural medicine at your local community college.
- Shadow an acupuncturist.
- Get acupuncture!