Lynchburg, VA

Mission Statement

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) exists to educate osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment.  LUCOM prepares physicians who dedicate themselves to excellence in osteopathic medicine through service toward their fellow man, lifelong learning, and the advancement of medical knowledge.  Instilling the Christian values of integrity and professionalism, LUCOM trains physicians who will provide ethical, compassionate, competent, and patient-centered osteopathic medical care.

College Description

Liberty University is a private, not-for-profit, faith-based, co-educational institution of higher education located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The University was founded by the late Dr. Jerry L. Falwell. Dr. Falwell’s vision was to build a comprehensive educational institution through which students could receive a high quality education in a Christ-centered academic community. That vision continued under the leadership of Dr. Falwell’s son, Jerry L. Falwell, Jr., who became President of the University in May 2007 following the death of Dr. Falwell.

Campus setting:
In a rural setting approximately 3.5 hours southwest from our nation’s capital, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is located on Liberty Mountain overlooking the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Lynchburg, VA, with a 2017 census population of 80,995.

Year founded: 2012

Type: Private, non-profit

Accreditation:
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Institutional affiliation:

• Liberty University

Facilities:

Atop Liberty Mountain and clearly visible from U.S. Highways 460 and 29, the Center for Medical and Health Sciences consists of approximately 140,000-square-feet across four floors. It is designed as a state-of-the-art modern learning environment with a fully equipped Center for Research and an innovative Center for Standardized Patient and Simulation. Expansive, technologically advanced Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), Clinical Medicine, and Anatomy Labs are provided for LUCOM student-doctors to acquire knowledge and skill through observation, participation, practice, and hands-on applications, and cadaveric dissection.

A modern Learning Resource Center and Library in the building are augmented by the Jerry Falwell Library on campus and provide educational, research and scholarly support for the student doctors of the college.

Sixteen small group study rooms and 12 conference rooms provide for the active learning curriculum with full electronic capability and interface within the labs, library, and auditoriums of the facility described above. LUCOM’s high-end, sophisticated technology also supports two modern auditoriums that each seat 203 student doctors and provide lecture-demonstration and interactive learning.

The interaction with and professional service for patients of the region is provided by the extensive Liberty Mountain Medical Group (LMMG), down the road from the Center. The LMMG supports sports medicine, student, faculty, and staff health needs of Liberty University, as well as provides osteopathic health care to the Lynchburg metropolitan area. A primary emphasis is placed on providing service for those otherwise underserved.

Student residence options:
Affordable housing, private apartments, and townhome complexes with amenities desirable to students and young professionals are conveniently located close to LUCOM.

2018-2019 Enrollment

• Total medical school enrollment: 633
• Total male: 339
• Total female: 294
• First-year enrollment: 159
• First-year male: 81
• First-year female: 78
• First-year in-state: 34
• First-year out-of-state: 125
• Total enrollment affiliate institutions: 92,600

LUCOM utilizes a spiral, triple-helix curriculum with an emphasis on active learning and problem solving to prepare its students to meet the competencies established by the profession, and to provide the opportunity for students to obtain the level of professional, ethical, medical knowledge, and skills required of osteopathic physicians. Early clinical experiences and medical outreach opportunities during the first two years of medical school integrate the student into the professional atmosphere and facilitate the development of professionalism through:

• • classroom lecture-demonstration
  • active and team-based learning presentations
  • hands-on laboratory sessions
  • small-group, case-based learning episodes
  • the use of standardized patients and simulation
  • guided independent study opportunities

The goals of the curriculum are to foster not only the acquisition of knowledge and skills, but also the assessment, evaluation, and application of this factual knowledge in a clinical context. LUCOM strives to produce graduates who can pursue graduate medical education in any discipline of medicine but places an emphasis on community-based medical specialties to meet the needs of underserved populations. LUCOM seeks to teach students the techniques they will require to continue to learn and grow professionally and personally throughout their lifetime.

None Offered

None Offered

Special Programs

None Offered

Admissions Process

LUCOM begins reviewing AACOMAS applications when they are available approximately in mid-June. The Admissions staff reviews the applications to verify that applicants’ GPA and MCAT minimums are met. Those applicants who meet those minimums will be offered a secondary application. The secondary applications are reviewed and those applicants who meet the minimum criteria and appear to meet the mission and vision of LUCOM are invited to interview.

Once applicants have interviewed, their application packets are reviewed by the Admissions Committee members who vote on the outcome for each applicant (Accept, Waitlist, Reject). Applicants are then notified either by phone or email regarding the Admissions Committee’s decision.

Application Information

• Primary application service: AACOMAS
• Earliest application submission date: Opening Date of AACOMAS (5/2/2019)
• Primary application deadline: 3/1/2020
• Supplemental application deadline: 3/15/2020
• Submission timing for best consideration: For timely consideration, applicants should submit their AACOMAS application as early as possible and 4 weeks prior to the latest filing date. LUCOM strives to have the majority of the class filled by December.

First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors:

It is the policy of Liberty University and all of its affiliated colleges and organizations to not unlawfully engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion or creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, non-disqualifying disability, age, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, political beliefs, or affiliations.

All qualified candidates are considered for admission. International students are eligible to apply. LUCOM endeavors to recruit and admit students from the Southeast region of the United States who are committed to serving in the rural and medically underserved areas of the region.

Admission to LUCOM is competitive, selective, and designed to advance LUCOM’s mission and vision. Any undergraduate major is acceptable as long as prerequisites are completed and taken for credit at an accredited college or university.

Completed applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee to evaluate a candidate’s academic ability, knowledge of and commitment to the tenets of osteopathic medicine, community service, professionalism, communication skills, and personal integrity. Competitive candidates are scheduled for an on-campus interview.

Admissions Committee decisions are made at various intervals during the admissions cycle. Candidates who submit an application early and return all required documents promptly will be at an advantage in the admissions process.

Within approximately 21 days of the interview, the recommendations of the Admissions Committee are approved by the Dean; phone calls of acceptance are provided, and written confirmation is sent to the candidate. Candidates receive a formal letter of acceptance through the Dean’s office.

International students (non-U.S. citizens or temporary residents) considered: Yes
The country from which the international student applicant is from must recognize the DO degree.

MCAT

• Oldest MCAT considered: May 2016
• Accept September 2018 MCAT scores: Yes
• Accept January 2019 MCAT scores: Yes

Accepted Sources for Letters of Recommendation

• AACOMAS
• Virtual Evals
• Interfolio
• Paper

Supplemental Application

• Supplemental application required? Yes
• Earliest supplemental application submission date: 6/15/2019
• Supplemental application deadline: 3/15/2020
• Supplemental application requirements:
  The Admissions staff reviews the applications to verify that applicants meet the minimum GPA and MCAT scores. Those applicants who meet those minimums and are felt to advance the mission, vision, and goals of LUCOM will be offered a secondary application. Each secondary application is then reviewed to determine who will be offered an interview. LUCOM receives thousands of applications, and interviews are offered to the most competitive applicants. Success in medical school is highly dependent on academic ability, but LUCOM also looks for men and women of high character and strong motivation. Not all applicants who meet the preferred academic measures are offered an interview.The secondary application is returned electronically along with payment of a non-refundable application fee of $50 and submission of three required letters of recommendation. One recommendation must be from an osteopathic physician (DO) or an allopathic physician (MD). One of the other required recommendations must be from a premedical advisory committee or science faculty member. LUCOM welcomes additional letters of support or recommendation from those acquainted with the student’s academic or professional ability.
• Fee waiver available: Yes
• Waiver conditions:
  AACOMAS waiver
• Supplemental application sent to the following prospective students:
  Screened applicants: Students must have obtained not less than a 3.0 GPA overall and 3.0 GPA in sciences to be considered for admission. Applicants must have a cumulative score of at least 501 on the MCAT and have no score less than 123 to be considered for admission.
• Supplemental application fee: $50, non-refundable

Interview Format

LUCOM schedules interviews from August through April. The schedule includes interviews with faculty, administrators, or community physicians. Prospective students will receive information about LU campus life, curriculum, financial aid resources, research opportunities, medical outreach programs, clinical rotation sites, and residency programs affiliated with LUCOM. Applicants also receive a tour of the Center for Medical and Health Sciences.

Science Courses

Required:

• Biology/Zoology, 8 semester hours with lab
• Organic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
• Inorganic Chemistry, 8 semester hours with lab
• Physics, 4 semester hours with lab
• Biochemistry or Cell Biology, 3 semester hours

Recommended:

• Immunology, 3 semester hours
  
• Epidemiology, 3 semester hours
  
• Genetics, 3 semester hours
  
• Human Anatomy and Physiology, 3 semester hours

Non-Science Courses

Required:

• College English, 6 semester hours

Recommended:

• Behavioral Sciences, 3 semester hours
  
• Math/Statistics, 3 semester hours
  

Applicants will be requested to submit a $2000.00 confirmation deposit, according to the following traffic guideline schedule:

• Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14
• Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 45 days
• Those accepted between January 15 and March 1 will have 30 days
• Those accepted between March 2 and May 14 will have 14 days
• Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit

Applicants will be requested to submit the necessary matriculation items, according to the following schedule:

• Those accepted prior to January 1 will have until March 1
• Those accepted after January 1 will have until May 1
• Maximum Time for Applicant to Accept Offer: 75 Days
• Earliest acceptance date: 9/1/2019
• Latest acceptance date: 7/15/2020
• Deferred entrance requests considered: Yes
  Requests to defer to the following academic year must be submitted to the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Services and to the Dean for consideration.
• Orientation / start date for first-year students: 7/21/2020

Early Decision Program

Early Decision Program (EDP) offered: No

Tuition and Fees

• 2018-19 annual resident tuition: $47,000
• 2018-19 annual non-resident tuition: $47,000
• 2018-19 annual resident fees: $2,779
• 2018-19 annual non-resident fees: $2,779
• 2018-19 annual health insurance fee: $0
• Fees include:
  • Lab
  • Computer
  • Student Activities
  • Health Service
  • Other
• Estimated annual room, board, books and living costs: $28,649
• Average 2018 graduate indebtedness: $239,336

Deposit

• Amount of deposit to hold place in class: $2,000, non-refundable
• Additional deposit amount: $0
• Deposit applied to tuition: Yes

Financial Aid

• Financial Aid Website
• Enrolled students with federal financial aid: 82.6%
• Scholarships: Yes
• Average scholarship/grant: $7,978

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine LUCOM

Address:
306 Liberty View Lane
CMHS 1007
Lynchburg, VA 24502

Main Phone: (434) 592-6400
Website

Admissions office
Email: lucomadmissions@liberty.edu
Phone: (434) 592-7444
Admissions Website