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Preparing for DO Program Admission
To be considered for admission to one of the many osteopathic medical schools, applicants typically complete four years of undergraduate work culminating in a bachelor’s degree. Osteopathic medical schools require one year lecture and lab each of biological sciences, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and six semester hours of English.
Applicants are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT examines knowledge and skill in areas such as biology, math, reading, and problem-solving. A pre-medical advisor can assist applicants in scheduling and preparing for this examination.
Most applicants major in the sciences, such as biology or chemistry, in their undergraduate studies. However, applicants may major in any area as long as they meet the minimum course and grade requirements and demonstrate their potential for successfully completing an osteopathic medical curriculum.
Prospective KCOM students will be evaluated in three major areas: academic accomplishment, personal characteristics of a healer, and propensity to serve the underserved. Prospective students must exhibit a genuine concern for people. Osteopathic medicine is a people-oriented profession that demands dedicated and empathetic individuals. Osteopathic colleges require a personal interview during the application procedure. The applicant is strongly encouraged to have clinical exposure in a healthcare environment.
Pre-Requisites and Application Requirements
KCOM can only accept students who are US citizens or permanent residents.
Applicants must have completed the following courses with a grade of C or higher prior to matriculation (C- is not acceptable). For the application cycle opening in May 2023, AP credit will only be applied to three (3) credits of English in the pre-requisites. All other coursework must be taken at the college level. Dual credit is allowed:
- General Biology – one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- Physics – one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- General or Inorganic Chemistry – one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- Organic Chemistry – one year with laboratory or 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- English – 6 semester hours/8 quarter hours
The applicant must have achieved a minimum 2.8 cumulative grade point average overall and a 2.8 minimum science grade point average on a 4.0 scale. ATSU-KCOM follows the GPA calculation from AACOMAS, whereby all course grades are averaged, with no grade replacement for repeated classes. Applicants are required to submit scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The College requires MCAT test scores taken within three years of application.
Applicants must have completed 90 semester hours or three-fourths of the required credit for a degree from a college or university (30 hours of which must be at a four-year, degree-granting institution) accredited by a US Department of Education institutional accreditor or Canadian equivalent. Most of the candidates who are accepted for admission have earned a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation. It is recommended that applicants complete a bachelor of art or science degree from an institution accredited by a US Department of Education institutional accreditor.
Applicants are also required to have the following when applying to ATSU-KCOM:
- Primary AACOMAS application submitted by February 1; Secondary ATSU-KCOM application submitted by March 1
- Two letters of recommendation, one letter from a pre-medical committee/health professions advisor or science faculty member, and one letter from a licensed physician unrelated to the applicant (DO or MD).
- Significant clinical shadowing or experience (100 hours strongly recommended)
- Significant leadership and service to the underserved (100 hours strongly recommended)
Applicants seeking admission with the intention of not having a degree prior to matriculation are required to have a minimum of 90 credit hours and all pre-requisite courses taken at a regionally accredited college or university in the US, a 3.50 cumulative and a 3.50 science grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, and a composite MCAT score of at least a 504.
Application Tips
Avoid application mistakes and strengthen your personal statement by following these application tips.
Still Scholars & Early Decision Programs
The Still Scholars Early Acceptance Program is designed to provide admission opportunities to outstanding students who aspire to become osteopathic physicians.
The Early Decision Program is a service for the highly qualified medical school applicant who has made a definite decision that ATSU-KCOM is their first choice among medical schools.
