VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

• Physics: 6 credit hours • General and Inorganic Chemistry: 6 credit hours • Organic Chemistry (biochemistry may also be counted): 6 credit hours • English and Composition: 6 credit hours • A minimum of 9 additional biomedical science credit hours at the 200 level or above, which prepare the applicant for medical school. These include: o Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, virology, genetics, or other equivalent biomedical science courses as deemed appropriate by VCOM. Students should be aware that they must be able to use a keyboard at a reasonable speed for timed testing situations and data entry into the electronic medical record. If applicants are not proficient in typing, they should take a typing or keyboarding course prior to entry. Courses with equivalent content will be considered. When reviewing courses for course equivalency in the application, special consideration regarding required courses for interview may be considered for the following: practicing Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, and Doctors of Physical Therapy. For special considerations, a course review is conducted by the Director of Admissions and the Campus Dean. VCOM follows the AACOMAS definition of science courses to determine science GPA and science hours. See the AACOMAS website for more information. When required courses have been taken prior to the last five years, and the applicant has completed a recent biomedical or pre-medical graduate degree, the Dean and Director of Admissions will review the course equivalency for special consideration. 3. Must achieve a minimum of a 3.4 science GPA and cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 90 hours of their baccalaureate/master’s degree. VCOM places emphasis on the last 90 credit hours and the science GPA when reviewing competitive applicants. VCOM recognizes that some applicants have improved grades through additional coursework in the years since their initial degree. Students who have new academic history (i.e. those who have completed a pre medical science program and improved their science GPA), should notify the Director of Admissions (preferably by email) of this coursework as it may not be reflected in the AACOMAS database. Higher GPAs are generally required to be competitive, as the current average science GPA and cumulative GPA for accepted students is 3.6. Applicants who complete the Bluefield University-VCOM collaborative Master’s in Biomedical Sciences program receive an interview with the MABS to DO Admissions Committee at VCOM if they receive a 3.6 GPA in the Master’s program, regardless of prior GPA. 4. Must submit current scores from the MCAT that are less than four years old prior to the date of matriculation. For the current admissions cycle, the college will accept the most recent MCAT administered from up to four years prior to the date of matriculation. The applicant’s MCAT score is balanced with the applicant’s GPA and other factors as outlined by the minimum requirements for interview and admission.

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