LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

The following information describes the application process for those seeking admission into the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM):

Step 1 - Complete the AACOMAS Application

LMU-DCOM participates in a centralized application service, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) offers prospective students a convenient, centralized on-line application service for accredited osteopathic medical schools. Through AACOMAS applicants can file one electronic application. AACOMAS then verifies and distributes the information to each of the colleges designated by the applicant. AACOMAS can be reached at www.aacom.org or AACOMAS, 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 310, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231, (301) 968-4200.

Step 2 - Complete the DCOM Supplemental Application

After submission of the AACOMAS application, the applicant should then immediately complete the LMU-DCOM Supplemental Application and submit it to the Office of Admissions by mailing to LMU-DCOM, Attn: Admissions, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752.

The supplemental application should be returned with a $50.00 non-refundable application fee.

Applicants are required to write two short essays addressing the following questions:

1) What personal qualities do you believe you possess that will make you a successful
osteopathic physician?

2) Which experiences and people have inspired you to become an osteopathic physician?

Applicants are also required to submit the required letters of reference: one letter from an osteopathic physician (D.O.) and one from a premedical advisory committee. If the student's undergraduate institution does not have a premedical advisory committee, the student may submit letters from two science professors. Information on contacting an osteopathic physician in your community is available at http://www.do-online.osteotech.org/ or your state's osteopathic association. Letters of reference should be submitted to the Office of Admissions by mailing to LMU-DCOM, Attn: Admissions, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752.

Step 3 - Submit Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores

All candidates must submit their most recent scores on the Medical College Admission Test
(MCAT). Scores older than three years will not be considered. These scores are generally reported on the AACOMAS application.

Applicants with Foreign Coursework

Applicants who wish to use coursework completed outside the United States must submit their transcripts for evaluation to one of the following services:

World Education Services
P. O. Box 745, Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0745
212.966.6311
www.wes.org

Josef Silny & Associates
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
305.273.1616
www.jsilny.com

A course-by-course evaluation is required and all course work must be designated as undergraduate, graduate or professional. LMU-DCOM will only honor evaluations from one of the above services. The evaluation must be included with the supplemental application.

One final note: review of the application file by the Admissions Committee

Following receipt of the applicant's AACOMAS application, supplemental application with supportive documents and MCAT scores, the Admission Committee will then review the application file. The Admissions Committee is composed of members of the faculty and the Director of Admissions. The committee will decide which applicants to invite to campus for an interview.

Interviews are conducted between late-September through early-May. Those applicants selected for an on-campus interview will be contacted by telephone and/or email to schedule the interview. The applicant will be given pertinent information about the schedule of events for the interview day. The prospective student will meet with an Interview Panel which is composed of members of the Admissions Committee.

Following the on-campus interview the applicant's file will again be reviewed by the Admissions Committee to determine whether or not to extend an offer of admission. The committee will convene once a week. Applicants will be notified in writing of the decision of the committee. Applicants who are offered admission will be notified of the deadline for accepting the offer of admission and other pertinent information.

The Admissions Committee will select students for admission based on a variety of factors. When reviewing application files the committee will consider the applicant's overall grade-point average (GPA), grades in individual courses, undergraduate curriculum, prerequisite courses, any advanced-level laboratory science courses taken, exposure to osteopathic medicine and its practitioners, employment in the medical field, participation in volunteer experiences, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, background, MCAT scores and any other pertinent information. The committee will also consider the applicant's desire to practice medicine in underserved areas of the southern Appalachian region and personal connection to this area. The preceding factors are not and should not be considered exhaustive.

No one piece of evidence presented by an applicant will, in and of itself, determine whether or not the committee will extend an offer of admission. The decision to extend an offer of admission will be based on the totality of the evidence presented by the applicant to the committee.

Some factors will carry more weight than others, e.g. overall GPA, MCAT scores, grades in the prerequisite courses, etc. Currently, the national average MCAT score for all test-takers is 24. We anticipate that applicants with scores in this range will be competitive for admission.

Obviously, LMU-DCOM seeks to attract and retain the best and brightest applicants whose career goals are consistent with the mission and purpose of the college. We seek to enroll students who are inquisitive, intuitive, compassionate, possess a passion for the science and art of medicine and desire to serve others in underserved areas.

Each year LMU-DCOM will enroll a 1st-year class of 150 students. The level of competition for these seats will be determined by the number of applications received during the academic year and the academic competitiveness of the applicant pool. The admissions process is fluid and changes from year-to-year. No college knows with certainty how many applications for admission it will receive in a given year, and LMU-DCOM is no different. Thus, it is impossible for us to give exact figures for GPAs or MCAT scores which would make one competitive for admission.

We look forward to working with you in this process. Please feel free to contact us, should you have any questions.

LMU-DCOM Admissions Office
phone: 1.800.325.0900 ext. 7090
email: dcomadmissions@lmunet.edu
fax: 423.869.7172