The Application Process

The Application Process

Thank you for your interest in Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM)!  The below instructions are for those interested in applying for admission to our Harrogate or Knoxville locations for fall 2024.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HARROGATE AND KNOXVILLE LOCATIONS SHARE THE SAME DESIGNATION ON THE AACOMAS APPLICATION.

 

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. Applicants can reach AACOMAS at www.aacom.org or AACOMAS, 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 310, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231.

For fall 2024 entry, the AACOMAS application cycle opened on May 4, 2023.

For AACOMAS application questions or assistance, please view application instructions which includes contact information, instructions, and other important details.

 

STEP 2 - COMPLETE THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FOR LMU-DCOM:

When we receive your AACOMAS application, we will email you a link to our supplemental application.  We will start emailing links to our supplemental application after July 1, 2023. 

When you complete the supplemental application, you will need to pay the LMU-DCOM $50 supplemental institutional processing fee.  The deadline for the AACOMAS application, supplemental application, supplemental institutional processing fee, and supporting documentation is March 15, 2024. 

We will waive the LMU-DCOM $50 supplemental institutional processing fee for LMU Master of Science students and applicants who qualify for an AACOMAS fee waiver.


Because we interview and admit on a rolling basis, we strongly encourage applicants to submit their completed application packages at least four weeks prior to the March 15 deadline.

STEP 3 - SUBMIT MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST (MCAT) SCORES

All candidates must submit their official scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Scores must be from test dates after May 2020. These scores need to be reported and verified on your 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 coursework must be designated as undergraduate, graduate or professional. LMU-DCOM will honor foreign coursework evaluations from only the above services. The evaluation must be included with the supplemental application.

Changes due to COVID-19

LMU-DCOM will accept pass/fail credits for prerequisite coursework completed during the spring and summer of 2020.

 

Review of the application file by the Admissions Committee

INITIAL REVIEW

Following receipt of the applicant’s completed application, a member of the Admissions Committee will holistically review the file and decide which applicants to invite for interviews.  Interview invitations are sent via email. 


INTERVIEWS

The DCOM interview cycle starts in September and concludes in April.

Each applicant participates in one interview with two faculty/staff. The interview is closed-file and lasts up to 30 minutes.

 

POST-INTERVIEW DECISION

Following the interview and receipt of all necessary information, the Admissions Committee will review the applicant’s file and assign it to one of the following categories: 1) Accept, 2) Alternate/Hold, or 3) Reject. Applicants will be notified in writing as soon as possible following the committee’s decision.

Prior to matriculation as a first-year DCOM student, the applicant must supply DCOM with official undergraduate transcripts to confirm the grades, coursework, and degrees as reported by AACOMAS.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Admissions Committee will select students for admission based on a variety of factors.

  • Academics
  • GPA
  • Individual course grades
  • Rigor of undergraduate/graduate curriculum
  • Grades in prerequisite coursework
  • Upward trends in grades
  • MCAT scores
  • Experiences
  • Exposure to osteopathic medicine
  • Employment in the medical field
  • Volunteer experience (especially in the medical field)
  • Leadership
  • Research
  • Other
  • Mission-fit
  • Interests in rural health and/or underserved communities
  • Passion, motivation, and maturity

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 inquisitive, intuitive, compassionate students who are passionate about the science and art of medicine and who desire to serve others in underserved areas.

AVERAGE STATS

LMU-DCOM does not have minimum requirements for MCAT and GPA.  However, please keep the following averages from the Class of 2027 in mind:

  • MCAT: 499
  • Science GPA: 3.5

Please note that AACOMAS no longer uses grade replacement in GPA calculations; if an applicant has repeated courses, the grades for all course attempts will be factored into the GPA calculation

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

 

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