Congruent with the osteopathic medical profession’s philosophy, AACOMAS participating schools intend to adapt their application review process to allow for greater flexibility in accepting online coursework, accepting pass/fail/satisfactory/unsatisfactory coursework, and reviewing applications prior to receiving MCAT scores. Please refer to AACOM’s newly released letter to future applicants below for details regarding these changes. AACOM will continue to guide its osteopathic medical schools as the needs of prospective students evolve.

At AACOMAS, the well-being and safety of our teams and communities are our top priority. As we closely monitor the evolving impact of COVID-19, we are implementing ongoing measures to ensure the health and safety of our staff, while also maintaining the highest level of service to our applicants. Read more for the latest AACOMAS updates and FAQs regarding COVID-19.

As a premed student, I thought that if only I could get into medical school, I would be fine. Everything I had planned for my life depended on that pivotal achievement. I did all of the recommended things—good grades, volunteering, leadership, shadowing, even graduating a semester early from college. But as I applied to schools, the interview invites were slow to arrive. After interviewing at only a handful of schools, I was wait-listed and ultimately denied. I remembered my why. I remembered all the times growing up with a hereditary colon cancer syndrome when I was the patient. I remembered the mission work I did in Mexico. I remembered my fundamental desire to help people during their most vulnerable times. I knew that my passion in life was to be a physician—and nothing else.

I was trained to look at the person as a whole. It’s easy right now to see those affected by the pandemic as a “COVID-19” patient. But these patients have a home, a family, loved ones, and for some, even their pets’ lives have to be on hold for weeks while they’re in isolation. Patients that don’t get to see visitors or leave their hospital isolation room. Whenever they’re seen by a health care worker, they’re covered in protective gear. I’m glad we’ve all been trained to show compassion, empathy, and the ability to see outside of the disease. This is why I’m proud to be a part of the DO community. They trained me to be the type of health care worker we need the most right now.

For media inquiries please contact Joseph Shapiro, Director of Media Relations at jshapiro@aacom.org.