The AACOMAS (AACOM Application Service) is the centralized online application service used for applying to osteopathic medical schools in the United States. The 2015 AACOMAS opens May 3, 2014, and is used for students applying for the Fall 2015 entering class. Although the AACOMAS opens in May, 2014 and this is when you can begin filling out the application, you will not be able to submit your application for verification until June, 2014. All of the US osteopathic medical schools use the AACOMAS as a component of their admissions review process except for the University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Osteopathic Medicine, which instead uses the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
For a list and map of the osteopathic medical colleges in the US and each medical college's profile, visit the "Osteopathic Medical Colleges" page.
To begin your application or view more information regarding applying to osteopathic medical school, click the link below, which will direct you to the AACOMAS website:
For AACOMAS application instructions, click the link below:
http://www.aacom.org/Documents/AACOMASInstructions.pdf
APPLY EARLY!
It is encouraged that applicants apply early and submit all of the required materials in a timely manner for best consideration for admission to an osteopathic medical school. Medical schools will typically send out their unique secondary applications (also referenced as supplemental applications) after your AACOMAS application is verified, however, some will send their secondary applications to you immediately after you submit your AACOMAS (before it is processed and verified). It takes approximately 2 weeks for the AACOM to process and verify your AACOMAS application, so having your application completed before you are able to submit is advantageous. Additionally, completing and submitting your secondary applications within 2 weeks of receiving each is also a wise strategy, so start filling them out as soon as possible after you receive them!
APPLICATION FEES
The current (2014) fee schedule for the AACOMAS is described below with specific examples to clarify potentially confusing descriptions. Applicants demonstrating financial need are eligible for a fee waiver through the AACOMAS Application Fee Waiver program. For more information regarding this program, please visit the "Financial Aid" section of the document on the "Osteopathic Medical Colleges" page. In addition to the AACOMAS, each osteopathic medical college has individual secondary applications that they distribute to applicants (some distribute their secondary applications to all applicants, some to only selected applicants). The fees for secondary applications vary from college to college, but are typically range from $50-100. Secondary application fees for specific colleges can be found in each college's specific profile found within the AACOM document on the "Osteopathic Medical Colleges" page.
AACOMAS APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE
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$195 for the first college selection at the time of AACOMAS original submission
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$35 per college for each additional college selection at the time of AACOMAS original submission
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$50 for the first college selection after AACOMAS original submission (adding colleges after your AACOMAS submission)
NOTE: This $50 fee for the first college selection after AACOMAS original submission applies to each separate time you go back to your AACOMAS application to add additional colleges
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$35 per college for each additional college selection (after the first college selection at $50 for each separate sequence of adding colleges to your application) after AACOMAS original submission
Example 1
Student 1 submits his/her original (first) AACOMAS application, selecting 7 colleges in which he/she will apply to, and does not select additional colleges after this original submission. Student 1 pays a total of $405 ($195 for first college, and $35 for each of the six additional colleges).
Example 2
Student 2 submits his/her original (first) AACOMAS application, selecting 3 colleges in which he/she will apply to. After his/her original submission, Student 2 decides that he/she will apply to 4 additional colleges and goes back to his/her original AACOMAS and adds these 4 additional colleges to his/her application all at one time. Student 2 pays a total of $420 ($195 for first college and $35 for each of the 2 additional colleges at original submission, PLUS $50 for the first college and $35 for each of the 3 additional colleges at the first sequence of adding colleges after original submission).
Example 3
Student 3 submits his/her original (first) AACOMAS application, selecting 2 colleges in which he/she will apply to. After his/her original submission, Student 3 decides that he/she will apply to 2 additional colleges and goes back to his/her original AACOMAS and adds/submits these 2 additional colleges to his/her application. A few days later, after hearing from a friend how awesome osteopathic medical school XYZ is, Student 3 adds/submits college XYZ to his/her application. The next week after submitting college XYZ to his/her application, Student 3 decides that 2 more colleges are beneficial to add, so he/she adds these 2 colleges to his/her application and submits them thereafter. After the addition of these 2 colleges, Student 3 runs decides that he/she is satisfied with his/her selections and does not add any colleges thereafter. Student 3 pays a total of $450 ($195 for first college and $35 for the one additional college at original submission, PLUS $50 for the first college and $35 for the one additional college at the first sequence of adding colleges after original submission, PLUS $50 for the first college at the second sequence of adding colleges after original submission, PLUS $50 for the first college and $35 for the one additional college at the third sequence of adding colleges after original submission).