Apply | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove

Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry are recommended courses that may contribute to success in medical school.

Students seeking admission to CCOM must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Completion of the admissions course requirements

1. • Grades of C or better (grades of C- are not acceptable)
   • To be competitive, students should have minimum cumulative GPAs and science GPAs over 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
   • To receive a supplemental application, students must have minimum science and cumulative GPAs of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale

2. Completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to matriculation
3. Competitive test scores on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

1. • Average MCAT score for students entering CCOM in 2019 was 508
   • Only MCAT exam scores earned from tests taken no more than 3 years prior to the planned enrollment year are acceptable
   • Candidates can register for MCAT tests through the MCAT Program Office at 202/828-0600 or visit www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat for information

4. Two letters of recommendation
   • One letter from either a premedical advisory committee, prehealth advisor or basic science professor who has taught the applicant;
   • Second letter from either a U.S. licensed D.O. or M.D. Letters from osteopathic physicians are strongly recommended. Letters written by family members are not acceptable.

Technical Standards for Admission

The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the College.

The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the College with reasonable accommodation. Candidates must have abilities and skills in five areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) motor; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but candidates should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.

1. Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand, including those on a computer screen or electronic device. Observation necessitates the functional use of vision and sense of touch and is enhanced by the functional use of all of the other senses. [The candidate must be able to accurately auscultate lung/breath, heart and bowel sounds to complete the curricular requirement to individually complete physical examination of a patient/client]
2. Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate in English effectively and sensitively in both verbal and written form and be able to perceive nonverbal communication. 
3. Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine motor movements, maintain equilibrium and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks. Candidates must be able to lift 20 lbs.
4. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment and the consistent, prompt, completion of all responsibilities and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process. The candidate must agree to participate in touching/palpating on the skin and being touched/palpated on the skin by individuals regardless of gender in all academic settings, including osteopathic manipulative techniques.. These activities will take place in large or small group settings as defined in the College's curricular requirements.

Candidates are required to verify that they understand and are able to meet these Technical Standards at least 4 weeks prior to matriculation (or if admitted later, within 1 week of deposit). Candidates who may only meet Technical Standards with accommodation must contact the Disability Services Office to make a formal request for accommodation. The Disability Committee, in consultation with the College Dean/Program Director, will determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum.

Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the College. After matriculation, if a student fails to continue to meet the Technical Standards during subsequent enrollment, the student may apply for accommodation by contacting the Disability Services Office. If the accommodation needed to meet the Technical Standards alters the educational standards of the curriculum, the student’s ability to satisfactorily progress in the curriculum will be evaluated by the appropriate College’s Student Graduation and Promotion Committee.

If you need accommodations, you must contact the Disability Services Office to make a formal request within 2 weeks of signing this document or the acceptance will be withdrawn. For Downers Grove candidates, the contact person for Disability Services is Dr. Carrie Torgerson, Associate Dean of Students and Disability Services Coordinator, ctorge@midwestern.edu or 630-515-7142.

International Applicants

An international student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or from a recognized post-secondary Canadian institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation. Of the 30 semester hours, 15 hours must be in the sciences, 6 hours in non-remedial English composition, and 3 hours in speech/public speaking.

Applicants who wish to receive transfer credit for prerequisite coursework completed outside the U.S. or at a Canadian institution that does not use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation must submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation obtained from one of the following evaluation services:

• Education Credential Evaluators (ECE): 414/289-3400 (www.ece.org, e-mail: eval@ece.org)
• World Education Service (WES): 212/219-7330 (www.wes.org)
• Josef Silny & Associates International Education Consultants: 305/273-1616 or Fax 305/273-1338 (www.jsilny.com, e-mail: info@jsilny.com)

International applicants who do not provide documentation of acceptable US or Canadian course/degree equivalency will not receive credit, and will be required to complete all prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university in the United States, or at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada that uses English as its primary language of instruction and documentation.

For clarification about recognized post-secondary institutions in Canada that use English as a primary language of instruction and documentation, international applicants should contact the Midwestern University Office of Admissions.

International Applicant Packet

Application Deadline

The official AACOMAS application deadline is January 1st; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early in the cycle. Due to the large number of applications and the limited number of seats available, applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis only until all seats are filled. Typically, 50% of all admissions offers are made by the end of December.

Students seeking admission to CCOM must provide:

1. Demonstrate  understanding and interest in osteopathic medicine
2. Demonstrate service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities
3. Show motivation for, and commitment to, healthcare as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences
4. Possess verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues
5. Pass the Midwestern University fingerprint-based background check
6. Commit to abide by Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy
7. Meet the Technical Standards of the College

1. AACOMAS APPLICATION – JANUARY 1ST DEADLINE

To initiate the application process, all applicants must apply online via the centralized application service administered by AACOM at https://aacomas.aacom.org/. The AACOMAS application is typically available in May or June. As part of this process, students must submit official MCAT scores (for tests taken no more than 3 years prior to the matriculation date) and official transcripts to AACOMAS only. The Office of Admissions will not accept MCAT scores or transcripts submitted directly to Midwestern University. The deadline for submission of the AACOMAS application is January 1st.

2. CCOM SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION – MARCH 1ST DEADLINE

Upon receipt of the AACOMAS application from the application service, the Office of Admissions will e-mail supplemental applications to all applicants who have earned minimum overall GPAs and science GPAs of 2.75. Applicants must complete and submit their supplemental application forms with all required materials, including a nonrefundable/nonwaivable $50 processing fee, to the Office of Admissions. All supplemental application materials must be received in the Office of Admissions on or before the deadline of March 1st.

3. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION – MARCH 1ST DEADLINE

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. One letter must be written by a prehealth advisory committee, prehealth advisor or basic science professor who has taught the applicant. The second letter must be written by a physician, either a U.S. licensed D.O. or M.D. Letters from osteopathic physicians are strongly recommended. The required letters of recommendation must be received in the Office of Admissions on or before the deadline of March 1st. Letters must adhere to the following guidelines.

• The Office of Admissions will accept letters of recommendation received from AACOMAS or submitted directly to the Office of Admissions via Interfolio, VirtualEvals or U.S. Postal Service;
• The full legal name and AACOMAS ID number of applicants must be on the front page of the recommendation. The applicant must provide this information to the evaluators;
• Letters must be prepared on letterhead stationery, which includes the complete contact information for evaluators;
• The academic degrees of evaluators must be listed (e.g., Ph.D., D.O., M.D.);
• Applicants who have previously applied to CCOM must submit new letters of recommendation;
• Letters from family members will NOT be accepted.

Letters of recommendation mailed directly to the Office of Admissions should be sent to the following address:

Office of Admissions
555 31^st Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515

4. COMPLETED APPLICATIONS – MARCH 1ST DEADLINE

All application materials, including the AACOMAS application, MCAT scores (as reported to AACOMAS), two required letters of recommendation, and all supplemental application materials with the application fee must be received in the Office of Admissions on or before March 1st. Only completed applications received by the Office of Admissions on or before the deadline date will be reviewed for potential enrollment.

5. APPLICATION REVIEW AND INTERVIEW DECISIONS

CCOM uses a rolling admissions process to review completed applications and to make interview decisions. Applications will not be reviewed until all required application materials have been received by the Office of Admissions, including the AACOMAS application, official MCAT scores (as reported to AACOMAS), supplemental application materials, processing fee, and both required letters of recommendation. Students must complete their file as soon as possible to remain competitive in this process and to ensure full consideration of their applications.

Please Note: Applicants are responsible for tracking the receipt of their application materials and verifying the status of their required application materials on the University web site. Instructions for accessing application information on the University's web site will be sent by the Office of Admissions. Applicants should keep the Office of Admissions informed of any changes to the mailing address and e-mail address. All requests for application withdrawals must be in writing. Applicants are expected to act professionally in their interactions with AACOMAS and with CCOM. Candidates are expected to follow AACOMAS applicant protocol at all times.

Applicants must meet all of the admissions requirements listed previously to be considered for on-campus interviews. After the Office of Admissions receives all of the required application materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit interview invitations based on established criteria of the Admissions Committee. Applicants who are invited to interview will be contacted by the Office of Admissions and receive instructions for scheduling their interviews via the University's web-based scheduling system. Additional applicants may be placed on an interview "Waiting List" pending possible interview openings toward the end of the interview cycle. The on-campus interview process typically begins in September and ends in April.

When applicants come to campus for interview appointments, they join several other interviewees to meet with members of a three-person interview panel, which is selected from a volunteer group of basic scientists, current students, administrators, and clinicians. Panel members assess applicants for their academic and personal preparedness for medical school. They rate applicants on a standardized evaluation form relative to each variable. At the conclusion of the interviews, the panel members forward their applicant evaluations to the Admissions Committee. The Committee may recommend to accept, to deny, or to place the applicant on either the hold or alternate list. This recommendation is then forwarded to the Dean for final approval. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, notifies students of their status within three to four weeks of the interview.

After receiving either denial or end-of-cycle letters, applicants may reapply for the next enrollment cycle. Before reapplying, however, applicants should seek the advice of an admissions counselor.

To initiate the reapplication process, applicants must submit their applications to AACOMAS. Applications are then processed according to standard application procedures.

The matriculation process begins after applicants receive notification of their acceptance. To complete the matriculation process, applicants must:

1. Submit the matriculation agreement and required deposit monies by the date designated in the matriculation agreement. Deposits are applied towards the first quarter's tuition.
2. Submit official final transcripts from all colleges attended post-high school by the deadline of two weeks (14 days) prior to the first day of classes. Students who are accepted to MWU less than one month prior to the first day of classes will have 30 calendar days from the date of their acceptance to submit all official transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Any special circumstances or requests for exceptions to this policy must be sent to and approved by the Office of the Dean of the College. Students who fail to submit all official final transcripts by the stated deadline may jeopardize their acceptance or continued enrollment in the College.
3. Submit completed medical files documenting completion of a physical exam, immunizations, tuberculosis and titer blood testing as instructed by the Office of Student Services and detailed in the Student Handbook.
4. Meet the Technical Standards for the College.
5. Submit proof of medical and disability insurance coverage. Students may select either a plan offered by an MWU-approved carrier or a comparable plan offered by an outside carrier of their choice, as determined by the Office of Student Services. Insurance must be maintained throughout the entire period of enrollment.
6. Submit additional documents as requested by the Office of Admissions or College
7. Students who are requesting an F-1 visa or who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must prepay tuition and in some cases other mandatory program fees for the first year of their educational program 6 weeks before the first day of the first quarter of each academic year. Furthermore, the student must prepay tuition and in some cases other mandatory program fees for each successive year at the start of each academic year on the University's stated due date.
8. Submit a signed Credit Policy Statement.
9. Authorize and pass the MWU criminal background check and/or fingerprinting background check as required by the specific College/School/Program.
10. Submit a signed MWU Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy Statement.

Applicants who fail to satisfy these matriculation requirements or who omit or falsify information required on official admission documents automatically forfeit their seat in the program. Any individual accepted for admission to the College/Program who does not comply with stated timelines for submission of all required materials will be notified by the College/Program regarding missing materials and the potential forfeiture of his/her seat.

Dual Admission Program

A Dual admission program is currently in effect with the Illinois Institute of Technology. This is a post-baccalaureate agreement which does not involve transfer of credit. Details of this program are available through the Office of Admissions. 

Commitments Made Prior to Matriculation at CCOM

Applicants who have made commitments prior to matriculation at CCOM must be aware that there may be curricular priorities that are not compatible with their tentative schedules. Students who wish to fulfill prior commitments must request time off from each Course Director and Department Chair during the first week of the academic year. MWU does not guarantee that time off for prior commitments will be approved. Enrollment deferments are not offered for pre-matriculation commitments, nor for enrollment in other degree certificate programs.

Transfer Admission

CCOM may elect to accept transfer students from other U.S. osteopathic medical schools as long as these students remain in good academic standing and provide acceptable reasons for seeking a transfer. The American Osteopathic Association / Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA/COCA) standards require that the last two years of instruction must be completed within the college of osteopathic medicine granting the D.O. degree.

Currently enrolled students are not granted advanced standing for individual courses completed at another institution.  Full credit is granted for coursework completed by students transferring from another institution for the purpose of completing their course of study at CCOM.

Students requesting transfers must meet the College's general requirements for admission and follow transfer procedures:

1. All inquiries for transfer to CCOM must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.
2. The Office of Admissions will confirm the availability of rotation sites through the Office of the Dean.
3. Applications will be sent if the Dean designates that there are available transfer positions.
4. Students must return their completed applications to the Office of Admissions and must include:

• • Transcripts from the COM (must have no "F's" or repeated courses)
  • Class rank (must be in top 50%)
  • Dean's letter verifying "Good Academic Standing" and specifying that the student is eligible for readmission
  • A letter of reference from the Dean of Students indicating no professionalism concerns

5. CCOM Dean may require passage of COMLEX-USA Level 1 prior to transfer.
6. Completed applications are forwarded to the Office of the Dean.
7. The Dean reviews applications and the Dean or the Dean's designee conducts interviews with applicants.
8. Recommendations are forwarded to the Dean of CCOM for final approval.
9. Applicants are notified by the Dean, through the Office of Admissions, of the final transfer decision.

Related Links

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS)

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) Program Office