Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Admission Application Policy

DO Admission Application Policy 1

Effective Date: March 16, 2023

Revised: September 9, 2023

Approval Signature: __________________________________________

Dean and Chief Academic Officer

Purpose..................................................................................................................................... 2

Process ...................................................................................................................................... 2

Duration of Policy ................................................................................................................... 3

Policy Review ........................................................................................................................... 3

Changes to this Policy ............................................................................................................. 3

DO Admission Application Policy 2

Purpose

The Policy outlines the steps required to formally submit an application for admission

to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program at CUSOM.

Process

Step 1: AACOMAS Application

CUSOM 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 must be submitted

online at https://choosedo.org.

Detailed instructions can be accessed through and questions can be answered by

contacting:

AACOMAS

aacomasinfo@liaisoncas.com

Telephone: (617) 612-2889

To initiate the application process, applicants must apply directly to AACOMAS.

AACOMAS is available to the students for the entering class from May through

March of the year applying.

Applicants must request all official transcripts from all colleges and universities

attended to be mailed directly from the institution(s) to the AACOMAS office.

Students should also ensure all MCAT scores are forwarded directly to AACOMAS

from the AAMC.

Applicants who have taken course work and/or have earned a degree from a foreign

institution must also submit to AACOMAS an evaluation of their transcripts in a

course-by-course fashion from one of the AACOMAS-approved evaluation

services. The evaluation service must verify course work completed at an institution

outside of the US is comparable to a regionally accredited US college or university

in a course-by-course fashion.

Step 2: CUSOM Secondary Application Process

After receipt of the AACOMAS application, CUSOM performs an initial screening

of the application. Applicants determined to be eligible for a Secondary

Application based on criteria established by the CUSOM Admissions Committee,

may be invited to submit a Secondary Application and supporting documents.

Please note, CUSOM screens all primary applications, and not all applicants will

receive an invitation to submit a Secondary Application.

DO Admission Application Policy 3

Applicants invited to submit a Secondary Application will receive an email

notification. This email will contain information and instructions on how to

complete the Secondary Application and submit the processing fee. A non-

refundable fee of $50.00 is payable upon submission of the Secondary Application

for admission. CUSOM waives this fee if the applicant has an approved

AACOMAS fee waiver document.

In addition to the Secondary Application and non-refundable processing fee or

AACOMAS fee waiver, applicants must submit two required letters of

recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be originals on professional or

college/university letterhead and signed by the evaluator. Letters of

recommendation may not be written by a relative, including relatives through

marriage. CUSOM accepts letters through AACOMAS, Interfolio and mail.

Letters of recommendation which are included as a part of a pre-health committee

packet or letters from an official evaluation collection service (AACOMAS or

Interfolio) recognized by CUSOM as a part of their official application packet and

are accepted without signature or letterhead, as long as the letters are sent directly

from the authors to the pre-health committee. If the applicant’s school does not

utilize a pre-health committee, a letter must be from a science PhD faculty member

familiar with the academic work of the applicant. A second letter of

recommendation must be from either an osteopathic physician (DO) or an allopathic

physician (MD). Although a letter from an osteopathic physician is not required, it

is strongly recommended.

While shadowing experience with a DO is not required, applicants who have

shadowing experience with an osteopathic physician demonstrate commitment to

the profession and understanding of the practice of osteopathic medicine.

CUSOM welcomes additional letters of support or recommendation from those who

are acquainted with the student’s academic or professional ability. CUSOM

receives additional letters of recommendation via AACOMAS, Interfolio, and mail.

Duration of Policy

This Policy is effective as of the date identified above and shall remain effective until

amended or recommended to be terminated by the Dean and Chief Academic Officer

of CUSOM.

Policy Review

This Policy is reviewed and revised as needed.

Changes to this Policy

CUSOM reserves the right to make changes to this Policy at any time.