Admissions

VCOM considers applicants who possess the academic, professional, and individual promise to become exemplary osteopathic physicians. VCOM seeks to admit a portion of the class from applicants based in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the Appalachian region. The Appalachian Region consists of rural and underserved areas of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Please refer to the recruitment section of the catalog to learn more about VCOM student recruitment. Although VCOM seeks students from these geographical areas, all applicants are considered and students are accepted from all areas throughout the United States.

Admissions Process

Within its competitive framework, VCOM uses multiple criteria to select the most promising candidates from an applicant pool which exceeds the number of seats available. Since a rolling admissions process is used, applications are reviewed and interview decisions are made at regular intervals during the admissions cycle. After an interview is conducted and the committee meets, students will be notified of their status.

Applications Deadline

The official AACOMAS application is available online at www.aacom.org. The deadline for VCOM students generally falls on February 1, but is subject to change annually. Students should consult the website. The last day for students to submit their Secondary Application and supporting materials is March 15, but should be done much earlier in order to be competitive. VCOM begins reviewing applications as early as July of the year preceding admission.

AACOMAS Application

VCOM participates with other osteopathic colleges in a centralized application processing service called the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). An application may be submitted online at: www.aacom.org. Or may be obtained by contacting:

AACOMAS
5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231
(301) 968-4190

To initiate the application process, prospective students must apply directly to AACOMAS. Students who have taken course work and/or have earned a degree from a foreign institution must also submit to AACOMAS a World Education Service (WES) evaluation of their transcripts.

Foreign Institution Coursework—Students who have taken course work and/or have earned a degree from a foreign institution must also submit to AACOMAS a World Education Service (WES) evaluation of their transcripts.

VCOM Application Process

Students who have their application sent to VCOM through AACOMAS may apply to both Virginia or Carolinas campus or only one campus. Students who meet all admissions requirements will be invited to submit the Secondary Application and supporting documents to the site their first choice. Students may request those documents be sent to both campuses.

Contact Information
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Director of Application Services
2265 Kraft Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Phone: (540) 231-3636 • Fax: (540) 231-5252 • email: admissions@vcom.vt.edu

Secondary Application

The Secondary Application is available in the admissions section of prospective students www.vcom.vt.edu/admission.

The Secondary Application process consists of the VCOM Secondary Application, a non-refundable processing fee, waiver/non-waiver statement, and two required letters of recommendation. Two evaluation forms and/or letters of recommendation not written by a relative (by blood or through marriage) are required to complete the application for admission. The first evaluation must be from an osteopathic physician (D.O.). A letter from an allopathic physician (M.D.) in lieu of a recommendation from an osteopathic physician is not accepted; however, a letter(s) of recommendation from an allopathic physician(s) in addition to your evaluation form/letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician is acceptable. The second required evaluation must be from a premedical advisory committee or science faculty member familiar with the academic work of the applicant. VCOM welcomes additional letters of support or recommendation from those who are acquainted with the student’s academic or professional ability. All letters of recommendation must be originals on professional or college/university letterhead, signed by the evaluator and mailed directly to the Office of Admissions.

Once the Office of Admissions receives the Secondary Application and supporting materials, the applicant’s file is reviewed to determine eligibility for an interview. If the applicant accepts the interview, he/she is brought to the campus where he/she meets with several members of the faculty and administration. The applicant also joins other applicants in this process. Information sought during the interview includes not only the applicant’s academic history and knowledge, but those attributes that demonstrate the potential to become a quality osteopathic physician. These include such areas as personal record of accomplishment, health care experience, rural or underserved orientation, community service, volunteering for compassionate and altruistic care service, personal goals, and other information that reflects his/her preparedness for professional training and a medical career.

At the conclusion of the interviews, the interviewers forward their recommendation to the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee may make any of the following recommendations: to accept, to deny, or to place the applicant on an alternate or hold list.

Early Decision Admissions Track

The Early Decision Admissions Track is an admissions option for students who identify VCOM as their first choice for pursuing a medical education amongst both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools. For more information visit: www.vcom.vt.edu/admission.

Professionalism in the Process

An applicant aspiring to become an osteopathic physician is expected to show integrity and professionalism throughout the application process, in his/her interactions with AACOMAS, and with each college of osteopathic medicine. The applicant’s interactions with the medical college faculty and staff during the interview process as well as the post-interview process will be considered in the acceptance process as well. Applicants must familiarize themselves with the admissions requirements and procedures, meet all deadlines, report and update any changes to the application, attend all interviews, be accurate and complete in their application, disclose all information requested, and withdraw from all other medical schools when they have made a final decision on the medical school they plan to attend.

Minimum Requirements for Admission¹

Students must complete courses in biology, physics, inorganic chemistry, English, and demonstrate the ability to master the subject matter of those courses. The student’s grade point average (GPA) in required courses weighs heavily in the admissions consideration. Applicants are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). In addition to demonstrated knowledge, acceptance is also based on the interview process. The applicant’s ability to demonstrate a history of compassion, empathy, dedication and interest in patient care, an orientation to a rural or primary care medicine, and/or to research is considered in the admissions process. Other qualities that reflect the student’s ability to adapt to a rigorous academic environment and to a future as a professional provide an advantage in the application process.

Applicants for admission must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation:

Applicants must have completed 90 hours or three-fourths of the required credits for a degree in a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting body in order to be considered for an interview. In addition, the candidates must earn a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation. The only exception to the 90 hour requirement is where the college has a formal articulation agreement with VCOM for a combined studies program, and the candidate must receive a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation and continue to do well in all the required courses until they matriculate.
GPA: To be considered a competitive applicant to VCOM, candidates should have achieved at least a 3.2 science and cumulative grade point average, on a 4.0 scale. The minimum overall GPA for acceptance is 3.00 in the last 120 hours; however, students with a GPA less than 3.2 are rarely accepted. The admissions process is competitive, and a higher grade point average (above 3.4) results in improved chances for acceptance. VCOM places emphasis on the last 120 credit hours and on the science and required courses when choosing between competitive applicants. VCOM also places emphasis on the applicant’s interview. The average GPA for acceptance is 3.5 to 3.6.
The required undergraduate courses for entry are:
- Biological Sciences: One year (8 credit hours/12 quarter hours)
- Physics: One year (6 to 8 credit hours/9 to 12 quarter hours)
- Inorganic Chemistry: One year (6 to 8 credit hours/12 quarter hours)
- Organic Chemistry: One year ( 6 to 8 credit hours/12 quarter hours)
- English: One year (or 6 credit hours/8 quarter hours)
- A requirement for 6 additional biomedical science hours at the 300 level or above are required for matriculation (Faculty recommend courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology, Virology, or Genetics to enhance the student’s success in medical school).
Note: Courses with equivalent content will be reviewed. VCOM follows the AACOMAS definition of science courses to determine science GPA and science hours. See AACOMAS website.
MCAT: Applicants must submit scores from the MCAT. For the current admissions cycle, the College will accept the April MCAT administration from up to four years prior to the date of matriculation. A competitive MCAT score usually begins at 24; however, at VCOM the MCAT is weighed in connection with GPA and other personal qualities we see in each applicant. The overall GPA and the interview are considered of the most importance.
VCOM offers special consideration for practicing Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Pharmacists, in reviewing courses for course equivalency for required courses. This is performed by the Associate Dean for Medical Education, the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, and the Vice Dean.
In rare circumstances a degree from a national accreditor recognized by the Department of Education (i.e., a religiously based institution) may be considered by VCOM. Contact the Office of Admissions in advance of applying.
Students who have taken coursework and/or earned a degree from a foreign institution must submit an evaluation of their transcripts to AACOMAS from World Education Service (WES) or Silny and Associates.
All students are required to meet the Technical Standards for Admission and Continued Enrollment (see catalog for technical standards). All students must affirm that he or she meets the standards. Any falsification or misinformation regarding the ability to meet technical standards is a reason for dismissal.
Students must submit all required paperwork and deposits per deadlines. If paperwork is not submitted as required, the offer of admission may be retracted.

¹This information is subject to change at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. The VCOM website provides the most up to date information.

Selection Process

To be considered for an interview, an applicant must meet all the preceding admissions requirements and technical standards for admissions, have a complete file, including the AACOMAS application, a Secondary Application, a form/letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician, a recommendation form/letter from a pre-medical or pre-health committee, the waiver/non-waiver statement, and the processing fee. After the Office of Admissions receives these materials, the applicant’s file is reviewed to determine eligibility for an interview, based on the established criteria of the Admissions Committee. Each applicant who interviews with VCOM will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. An admissions decision, based on academic performance, professional experience, and interview, will be provided to the applicant usually within two weeks of the interview date.

Intentional misrepresentation or omission of information on any form relevant to admissions or records will subject the student to dismissal. The College reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant for any reason it deems sufficient. Matriculation will be denied to applicants who have failed to maintain a good record of scholastic performance and/or good record of personal conduct between the time of their acceptance and their matriculation at the College.

Transfer Applicants

VCOM accepts transfer applicants in rare circumstances only.

The Admissions Office will determine eligibility of the transfer applicant and the Associate Deans will determine placement in the curriculum. However, the Dean and Executive Vice President makes the final approval about the admission of the transfer student.

To be eligible for consideration, the student must complete VCOM’s application for transfer (see below); have achieved passing grades in all subjects at the time of transfer; have an overall 3.2 GPA or higher; show extreme need for the transfer; be eligible for continued enrollment or readmission to their current college of medicine; and the VCOM Dean or VCOM campus Vice Dean must also have spoken with a member of the administration to confirm the student’s eligibility to transfer and to discuss courses taken and/or in progress to assure course equivalency. A recommendation form (see below) from the Dean and Associate Dean at the prior college of medicine attended must also be completed.

Successful transfer students will be required to complete at least the last two years at VCOM prior to graduation. Students are not accepted to transfer in the middle of an academic year.

Transfer of Credit - Credits may only be transferred from COMs accredited by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) or from schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Transfer credits are only given if the student is eligible for readmission to a previously attended COCA accredited COM or LCME accredited school of medicine or is currently an osteopathic medical student or allopathic medical student with overall good standing at the institution from which they are transferring.

Credit (or Waivers) - Credits may only be transferred from COCA accredited COMs or LCME accredited schools of medicine. If the student wishing to transfer has completed all course work and has at least a 3.2 or greater GPA, all course work from the transferring school will be eligible for credit to the student. Each course will be evaluated as to its course content, equivalency, and credit hours prior to any credit being awarded or waived. This evaluation will be conducted by an ad hoc committee that is appointed by the campus appropriate Vice Dean.

Courses not taken at the previous academic institution must be successfully completed at VCOM prior to third year rotations. Regardless of credits, the last two years of instruction must be completed at VCOM in order for the student to be eligible to receive the D.O. degree.

VCOM does not hold any articulation agreements with other educational institutions for the provision of transfer of credit.

Transfers from LCME Accredited Schools of Medicine - For students who are transferring from an LCME accredited school of medicine at least the last two years of instruction must be completed at VCOM. In addition, transferring students will be required to complete a minimum of 200 additional contact hours in training for osteopathic manipulative medicine, physical diagnosis, and osteopathic philosophy of care. A letter delineating the course equivalency for transfer courses accepted will be placed in the file of the transfer applicant as a part of the permanent record. The courses will be listed on the transcript however, and designated as transfer credits from the original institution. These requirements will be determined by the Dean and Executive Vice President and Vice Dean.

Transfer Application Form
Transfer Application Form (see instructions on the form and additional requirements on the form)

Transfer Recommendation Form
Transfer Recommendation Form

Attrition, Retention, Transfer, and Graduation Rates

The VCOM retention rate for the time period of 2005 through 2010 ranges from 95 to 98 percent. No students have transferred out to another medical school during this time period. Those students who have been unable to complete the curriculum for a multitude of reasons including medical, family, personal or academic reasons are included in the 95 to 98 percent retention. Each class' graduation rate for completion of the D.O. degree during this five year period was between the 95 to 98 percentiles.

Post-Baccalaureate Program - Attrition, Retention, Graduation and Placement Rates

2009-2010 was the first year of the VCOM Pre-Medical Post-baccalaureate Program. 28 students began the program and 25 students successfully completed the program. (89% retention, 11% attrition)

Placement of the 25 graduates who successfully completed the program were as follows: 22 graduates entered medical school. Three students were given a conditional offer of admission with completion of further requirements. Three students were given recommendations to masters degree programs.

International Student Applicants

Applicants who will require F-1 Visa should contact the Associate Vice President for Student Services for requirements at the time of application. VCOM does not accept transfer students from international schools.

¹This information is subject to change at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. Please refer to the VCOM website at www.vcom.vt.edu for the most up-to-date information.

VCOM College Catalog