Welcome to the VCOM Family

2024-2025

Welcome to the VCOM Family CARING. SUPPORTIVE. EMPOWERING.

What is a DO?

In the United States, there are two types of fully-licensed doctors: osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) physicians. In osteopathic medicine, the emphasis is on preventative, hands-on and patient-centered care. DOs are licensed to diagnose illnesses and conditions, prescribe medication and perform surgery. DOs enter all the same residencies as their MD counterparts and they work together with MDs at hospitals and clinics to provide healthcare to patients across the United States. DOs receive additional training to perform osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). With OMM, physicians can treat problems patients may have within their nervous, muscular or skeletal systems, often avoiding more invasive surgical treatments. Being a DO means thinking about patient care in a different way—a way that puts the patient first and centers medicine around prevention.

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The Medical School Where You Are Family

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) cares about the success of its students. Faculty, staff and other students will welcome you as part of the “VCOM Family.” As a future physician, you need an excellent medical education. At VCOM, you will learn to treat patients holistically, and our community will support you in the same way — by lifting lift you up in a collaborative family atmosphere as you pursue your dreams. In fact, that’s part of the osteopathic philosophy of body, mind and spirit. Find out more about the medical school that feels like home and where you are family.

VCOM felt like home from the moment I stepped onto campus. – Caitlin Weaver, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2028

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One College . Four Campuses .

Our Mission and Values VCOM was founded to help combat the physician shortage in the United States, especially in rural and medically

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underserved areas such as the Appalachian and Delta regions.

The success of the College and our students is truly a team effort that forms traditions, experiences and a network of support that lasts long after graduation. The VCOM community is known for its commitment to service and willingness to help others in need.

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VCOM’s mission is to prepare globally minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health.



Target states with primary & rural medicine shortages VCOM campus locations

Target Appalachian region Target Delta region

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< 10,000

2668 current VCOM students in the Classes of 2024-2027 making VCOM the 2nd largest medical school in the United States!

23%

>100,000

5650 VCOM alumni across all campuses

24%

Matriculated Students by Community Size Classes of 2024–2027

10,000- 29,999

50,000- 99,999

23%

15%

99 - 100 % match rate across all campuses in the Classes of 2020-2024

51 core clinical training sites 2024

30,000 49,999 16%

American Indian / Alaskan Native 0.5%

Native Hawaiian / Paci c Islander 0.1%

Black/ African

American 6.2 %

Hispanic 6.4 %

9 consecutive years recognized as an Institutional Role Model for Diversity by Minority Access, Inc.

VCOM earned the Higher Eduction Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award by INSIGHT into Diversity for the past three years

Matriculated Students by Diversity Classes of 2024–2027

Asian 20.3 %

White 66.5 %

VCOM by the Numbers

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Auburn Campus • Located in Auburn, Alabama, which is known as “the loveliest village on the plains” • Small-college feel while on the larger Auburn University campus • A walking trail with a pond is located directly behind campus • Research and interprofessional collaboration with Auburn’s schools of pharmacy, kinesiology, engineering and education • Chewacla State Park with swimming, fishing, hiking and biking trails nearby • Shuttles in the community available for rides to the Atlanta airport

Interview day made me more sure of VCOM than anything else. Aside from the impression that faculty and staff left on interview day, I was very excited about the connection to Auburn University and the potential for completing research during medical school. – Cecilia Eason, VCOM-Auburn Class of 2028

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Carolinas Campus • Nestled on the edge Spartanburg, South Carolina’s revitalized historic downtown • Part of a consortium of seven Spartanburg colleges • Supported by an academic health center partner, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System • College town atmosphere • Nearby parks, walking trails and lakes • Live music, festivals, cultural and arts events • Supportive, student-centered environment embraced by all faculty and staff • Named one of the most beautiful medical school campuses in the U.S.

From interview to acceptance, I’ve felt confident that VCOM will have my back during and beyond my time with the institution. The campus was also close to home, and I enjoy the small town feel of Spartanburg. – Kim Nguyen, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2028

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Louisiana Campus • Located in Monroe, Louisiana • Conveniently located on the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) campus, supporting a safe and fun environment • Collaborative programs for physical therapy and nursing schools • Kayaking, water skiing and a walking path on the Bayou DeSiard, which runs through campus • The local community provides gardens, museums, a zoo, shopping, a national wildlife refuge and many restaurants with the famous Creole and Cajun cuisine • Regional airport with Delta Airlines service interprofessional education and research with ULM’s pharmacy,

The faculty and staff were so welcoming and helpful, which made Louisiana feel like a second home! I felt the opportunities available to serve the community were unmatched. – Tori Cheng, VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2028

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Virginia Campus • Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in Blacksburg, Virginia • A collaborative partnership with Virginia Tech • Excellent student outcomes on boards and residency match (see Outcomes Report) • Outdoor recreation trails in Blacksburg and nearby New River Valley • Nearby lakes and Appalachian Trail • Virginia Tech amenities available to VCOM students • University community atmosphere

VCOM-Virginia is one of the best established DO schools in the nation. This, combined with great outreach programs, made VCOM my first choice of schools once accepted. – Jake Castle, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2028

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Innovative Environment and Faculty

State-of-the-Art Facilities Each VCOM campus features large, open classrooms with innovative resources, including VCOM TV, where lectures are recorded for later review online. Anatomy labs and skills labs are spacious and equipped with digital displays that provide students with a close-up view of the instructor. Simulation and Educational Technology Centers on each campus

offer cutting-edge technology and advanced training to prepare students for clinical rotations. Each campus offers creative spaces for students to collaborate together or spend quiet study time alone. Relaxing outdoor areas are available for exercising and hosting activities with classmates.

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This is a place where we are valued and where the faculty and staff have a vested and positive interest in our success, personal and professional. – Jordan Hartle, VCOM-Carolinas, Class of 2028

Dedicated Faculty Faculty and staff members work collaboratively for the success of each student in the VCOM family. The College culture advances the quality of education by providing faculty with resources, programs and support to champion excellence in teaching. Providing our students with resources for academic success is our number one concern.

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Curriculum Designed for Success

Student Support VCOM provides encouragement, counseling and support for student health and learning with additional resources to address issues that may be impeding their progress, including both academic and personal issues. Center for Institutional, Faculty and Student Success (CIFSS) The primary focus of CIFSS is to provide students with the tools necessary to be academically successful. Whether through academic counseling at VCOM focused on study skills or board preparation, or through mental health counseling, CIFSS takes a holistic approach to helping students perform to the best of their ability.

Years 1 & 2

Unique block-style curriculum focusing on core areas of medicine by system and faculty led clinical experiences

Year 3

Ten core clinical rotations at College affiliated hospitals and practices

Year 4

Rotations in specific areas of interest enable students to choose their career pathways

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VCOM has an environment different from most medical schools; it cares about students and isn’t cutthroat. – Austin Boyett, VCOM-Auburn Class of 2028

Big/Little Sibling Program The College fosters the close-knit atmosphere of the “VCOM Family” through the Big/Little Sibling Program to help incoming students navigate life in medical school. Each first-year student is connected to a second-year student who can answer questions and offer a wide range of tips and advice. Student Life VCOM promotes a healthy work/life balance, and there are many student organizations and activities to provide social interaction, wellness and community service. Visit the VCOM website for more information on student organizations.

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Opportunities Available

Research VCOM’s faculty and students conduct multidisciplinary biomedical, clinical and community-based research to improve human health. Such research is an integral part of the osteopathic medical education process during undergraduate and residency training. VCOM facilitates student research and helps students identify opportunities in their area of interest. Students can earn a Research Distinction designation on their VCOM diploma, increasing their

Sports Medicine The VCOM Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program was established to provide fellows with training to diagnose and manage medical illnesses and injuries of athletes in a Division I university setting and to serve all levels of athletes and patients with sports related injuries. VCOM partners with Virginia Tech and Auburn University to offer hands-on experiences to fellows on the Virginia and Auburn campuses.

competitiveness for residency programs. Students who pursue Research Distinction are encouraged and supported to advance hypotheses and publish peer-reviewed articles. There are research opportunities in several categories, including cancer, neuroscience, public health, osteopathic treatments and more. Our partnerships with Virginia Tech, Auburn University, the University of Louisiana Monroe and others allow VCOM to expand research beyond traditional practices. Whatever your reason for seeking out research experiences, VCOM has a place for you. Please visit www.vcom. edu/research to learn more about our research, our partners and faculty research interests.

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4000 patients received care during international outreach trips July 2023-June 2024 290 students attended international outreach trips July 2023-June 2024

Global and Community Service Students and faculty have the life-changing opportunity to participate in immersive international outreach experiences by choosing to travel to VCOM’s sustainable, year-round medical clinics in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. All students participate in community outreach service, where they gain hands-on experience and a practical understanding of patient care. These experiences include free clinics, health fairs, educational events and rural community outreach programs. While working with faculty both at home and around the world, students develop skills and cultural sensitivities that span borders and continents. Learning to address healthcare needs in the face of poverty, adverse environmental conditions and political complexity prepares future physicians to address the community health needs of rural and underserved areas where they will eventually practice.

The sports medicine opportunities at VCOM are, I think, the best in the country. – Tyler Maple, VCOM-Auburn Class of 2028 Current students have the opportunity to participate in sports-related outreach such as providing physicals for high school and other student athletes under the supervision of sports medicine faculty and fellows. The program fosters both academic and research growth to develop physicians who can competently serve as program directors and/or researchers in sports medicine.

8 week-long international

outreach trips July 2024-June 2025

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Requirements Required Coursework

Obtain an undergraduate degree and complete all required coursework before matriculation at VCOM. A recent MCAT score in a competitive range is required no earlier than four years prior to matriculation.

General and Inorganic Chemistry 6 credit hours

*Additional Upper-Level Biomedical Science 9 credit hours

Biological Sciences 4 credit hours

Organic Chemistry 6 credit hours

English Composition 6 credit hours

Physics 6 credit hours

* For the additional upper-level biomedical science, faculty recommend courses in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, virology or genetics.

I already feel extremely prepared and well-equipped to tackle my first year. – Johnathan Smith, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2028, and former MABS student

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Not a lot of other schools are as openly passionate about their students and potential applicants. I felt a part of the family even before I was accepted. – Tyler Maple, VCOM-Auburn Class of 2028

Matriculant Averages

Need to Improve Your Credentials? If you dream of becoming a physician and want to make sure you’re ready to excel in medical school, then the Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MABS) degree may be the perfect fit for you. VCOM partners with Bluefield University to offer the MABS program in person on our Virginia campus or online. Both formats provide a non-thesis master’s and a strong linkage to the DO program if you meet the benchmarks. These programs are particularly helpful for applicants with a GPA between 2.8 and 3.4. Please visit www.vcom.edu/ premedical_admissions for additional information, application cycles and start dates.

GPA OVERALL 3.67 AVERAGE

MCAT SCORE 502 AVERAGE

GPA SCIENCE 3.6 AVERAGE

— From the matriculated students from Classes 2023-2027

Non-Academic Factors • Work experience in the healthcare field

• Extra-curricular activities

• Community service, volunteerism and outreach

• Personal statement

• Letter of recommendation

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How to Apply Step 1 Submit your application. All applications must be submitted through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), which will verify your application for accuracy, process and send it with your materials to VCOM. You may submit one application to be considered for admission at any campus.

Step 2 If invited, complete the secondary application.

Step 3 Submit letter(s) of recommendation. VCOM requires a letter of recommendation from a pre-medical/ pre-health committee or science faculty member. An additional letter of recommendation from a physician is not a requirement, but is recommended if you have been able to acquire shadowing hours.

The secondary application is obtainable by invitation only. Not all applicants will receive the secondary application. If you apply to AACOMAS by September 1 and complete the secondary application within three weeks, the fee is reduced. Apply early!

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Step 4 Schedule your interview. Once your application is complete, you will be considered for an interview. If chosen, you will be notified by phone or email to schedule an interview with one of our VCOM campuses. Interviews are generally conducted September through March.

Step 5 Check on your application status. Once you have been invited for a secondary application, you can check your status at admissions.vcom.edu . Please allow two business days after submission to begin receiving application updates.

Scholarships and Grants VCOM has scholarships and grants available for accepted students based on Veteran status, diversity and many other factors. Scholarships and grants are the best options for financial aid if you can get them, but they’re often very competitive and don’t always cover your full cost of attendance. Check our database of scholarships available to VCOM students to find opportunities that might work for you.

Visit www.vcom.edu/ admissions/tuition and-fees/scholarships or scan the QR code on this page.

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READY TO APPLY? To find out more about VCOM and our admissions requirements, please visit www.vcom.edu/admissions

We Welcome Your Questions!

Auburn Campus 910 South Donahue Drive Auburn, AL 36832 (334) 442-4000 admissions-auburn@vcom.edu

Carolinas Campus 350 Howard Street Spartanburg, SC 29303 (864) 327-9800 admissions-carolinas@vcom.edu

Louisiana Campus 4408 Bon Aire Drive Monroe, LA 71203 (318) 342-7100 admissions-louisiana@vcom.edu

Virginia Campus 2265 Kraft Drive Blacksburg, VA 24060 (540) 231-4000 admissions-virginia@vcom.edu

©2024 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved. Visit www.vcom.edu/outcomes for our outcomes report.

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