To successfully submit your application, you must read all online application instructions.
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) is the centralized application service for U.S. osteopathic medical schools. AACOMAS enables applicants to complete one application and submit it with the required information to programs participating in the centralized service.
AACOMAS verifies your coursework for accuracy and sends the application and supplemental materials to the medical colleges you designate in the application. The service reduces the number of initial application forms, transcripts and fees required and streamlines the verification of your academic information.
Check out AACOM’s Choose DO Explorer to learn more about the participating medical colleges.
The Choose DO Explorer contains a profile of each osteopathic medical school, including a brief description of the campus and the curriculum, admissions criteria, minimum entrance requirements, class size and enrollment, supplemental application material requirements, application deadlines and information on tuition and fees.
As information in the Choose DO Explorer is subject to change, be sure to visit each college’s website to view the most details or contact the colleges directly. The colleges reserve the right to alter admission requirements at their discretion.
The AACOMAS online application is designed to easily guide applicants through the osteopathic medical school application process. It is located at https://aacomas.liaisoncas.com.
AACOMAS supports the latest versions of all major Internet browsers. To complete the AACOMAS application, you must review all online application instructions in addition to the content of this publication. View the application instructions.
Apply early and read all application directions carefully to avoid delays.
While application processing begins in June, colleges of osteopathic medicine make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. This means they review applications, conduct interviews, and make admissions decisions throughout the admissions cycle.
Remember that interview slots may be awarded and/or classes may be filled if you apply close to the deadlines. Submitting materials early and accurately will support timely processing and help avoid delays.
Your AACOMAS application must be submitted and all official transcripts for completed coursework must be postmarked on or before the college application deadlines.
The fee for using AACOMAS varies according to the number of colleges you designate when you submit your application. You may subsequently request that we send your application to more schools after initial submission.
Payment may be made by credit/debit card only. Application materials will not be processed until payment is received.
Currently, the application fee is $198 and includes submission to one designated college. Add $57 for each additional designation.
Colleges of medicine require official scores from the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). You must contact AAMC to have your official MCAT scores released to AACOMAS. MCAT scores are not released to AACOMAS automatically. Once released, MCAT scores are sent to AACOMAS electronically from AAMC and matched to your application using your name, date of birth, and AAMC ID. Paper copies are not accepted.
To forward your MCAT scores to AACOMAS
You are required to report to AACOMAS all institutions attended, including but not limited to college-level courses taken in high school, summer courses, community college courses, undergraduate institutions, military institutions, postbaccalaureate, graduate, and doctoral work, study abroad, foreign work, etc. Failure to report an institution or any courses taken at an institution runs the risk of your application being sent back to you by our verification staff who will require you to report and provide a transcript for the missing institution or course(s). This can significantly delay the processing of your application.
You must request the registrar of each institution you have attended to submit one complete set of official transcripts directly to AACOMAS. Include all institutions in foreign countries, U.S. territories, and possessions that are operated by U.S. institutions. Student copies of transcripts or copies sent by the applicant are not acceptable. Transfer credit(s) appearing on a transcript cannot be accepted in lieu of an original transcript from the institution where the coursework was completed. See the online AACOMAS instructions for more details on submitting Foreign, French Canadian, Study Abroad, and Overseas transcripts.
AACOMAS accepts transcripts electronically from a limited number of electronic transcript services. A list of these services can be found in the AACOMAS application instructions. If your school does not use these services, you must provide transcripts to AACOMAS via paper mailing. Transcripts should be sent (via U.S. Mail or expedited delivery service) to:
AACOMAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9137
Watertown, MA 02471
Applicants may apply to those osteopathic medical colleges that offer an Early Decision Program (EDP) and will be informed about the outcome of their application early enough to apply to other schools through the regular process. EDP applicants agree to apply to only one medical college through the process. If offered an EDP acceptance, they must attend that college.
The decision to apply through the EDP should be made carefully. While criteria vary among the colleges regarding their requirements, a frequent standard is that only those applicants who display exceptional credentials are admitted through the EDP process. Applicants considering an EDP application should contact the medical college admissions office for more specific information. The following colleges offer EDPs:
AACOM encourages each of its member colleges to conduct an application process that is inclusive and professional.
The purpose of these guidelines is to allow prospective students to explore their options with the osteopathic medical community and to give the colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) the ability to process, select and matriculate applicants in a fair and timely manner.
Starting April 1, osteopathic medical colleges are asked to report to AACOMAS the names and identification of candidates who have paid a deposit, hold a position at an osteopathic medical college entering class or both.
After May 1, AACOMAS reports to each institution the names and candidates for its entering class who hold an acceptance(s) at additional institutions.
An osteopathic medical college may rescind an offer of admissions to a candidate who has paid deposits to or holds positions at multiple institutions.
Therefore, prior to May 1, applicants need to withdraw from any college(s) which they do not plan to attend and only hold a position at one COM to avoid having positions withdrawn.
Prospective osteopathic medical students are expected to provide factual, accurate and complete information throughout the admissions process. AACOM believes that the process requires mutual respect, integrity, and honesty among the COMs, and between colleges and their prospective osteopathic medical students.
All colleges of osteopathic medicine require letters of evaluation/recommendation. Letters may be submitted electronically through the AACOMAS application or directly to the schools using alternative services indicated by each school in the Choose DO Explorer. Alternative services may include, but are not limited to:
Many programs have strict guidelines for submitting letters and requirements vary from school to school. Be sure to check with each osteopathic medical college before submitting letters of recommendation. For more information about submitting letters directly through AACOMAS, please refer to the online AACOMAS Application Instructions.
Applicants aspiring to become osteopathic physicians are expected to act professionally in their interactions with AACOMAS and with each college of medicine. Responsibility, respect, good judgment, professional communication, and cooperation are qualities that are valued by the osteopathic medical profession, and it is expected that applicants will demonstrate these qualities throughout the application process.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to meet compatibility requirements for computer systems involved in the application process. Requirements for AACOMAS online include Internet access and a web browser that is configured to allow pop-up windows and other features of the secure online application. (Pop-up blocking software must be properly configured or turned off.) In addition, the email address that you provide should not filter out communications regarding your application. (Spam filtering must be properly configured or disabled.) Please use a permanent email address, not one that will expire when you graduate.