2024-2025 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM)

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Hello everyone, I’m a 2nd year at ACOM. I applied and was accepted out of state from Indiana in January of 2023. Feel free to ask me anything.

I saw some questions about research. There’s plenty of research to be found at ACOM. For example I’m a part of a “pyramid scheme” of students doing osteopathic research as well as doing my own project with southeast health where I have access to their patient data. On top of that we do a research project as part of a class project where we can do a poster presentation or a podium presentation.

I heard a lot of concern about the waitlist. I would not freak out until maybe March if you’re on the waitlist. I personally got “soft accepted” in December of 2022. And they told us we would most certainly get off the waitlist following the deadline for the previous month’s acceptance deposits.

I personally love the school. There are plenty of opportunities if you decide to take them. I love Dothan (my friends from bigger cities say it’s boring but I came from a small town so I like it). Ask me anything 🙂
 
Is there a GroupMe or discord for accepted students / students that have made the down deposit already? Trying to start making some plans / getting to know others!
 
Anyone interviewing next week? I need some clarification on the presentation time.
 
Grifalicious said:
Research opportunities are plentiful at ACOM! As part of our Foundations of Modern Healthcare (FMHC) course, every student will get a public health poster (that you present at our in-house poster day), so you're guaranteed at least 1 poster and presentation during pre-clinical. Many core sites also have research requirements (mine requires 2 case reports/presentations during third year), and our rural health rotation also provides a presentation. We also have a student organization dedicated to research opportunities, as well as a research department that regularly sends out opportunities for students. During the summer between first and second year, there is a summer research program at ACOM for which you can apply, but they will also work with you if you'd like to do research at another institution.

I was never big on research (I came into med school with none), and I'll be leaving with 4 "research experiences" on my ERAS and 6 presentations, and my specialty barely even cares about research. We had an alum a few years ago who left med school with north of 40 pubs (matched neurosurgery), so you can definitely pump your numbers far above my rookie ones.

Unfortunately, most of your rotations will not be with residents. At my site, I've had 2 rotations with residents, but most have been 1-on-1 with preceptors. Should you choose one of the bigger sites, you'll likely have more opportunities to work with residents before you get to your 4th year audition rotations. For what it's worth, I didn't feel like I had any trouble swapping from working directly with attendings to working with residents. To be honest, this is one of the biggest downsides for most DO school rotations, and I'm not aware of many that have tons of opportunities to work directly with residents.

I hope this helps! Best of luck with the rest of your cycle and your school decision!
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Just to touch on G’s experience here since I was more into the research side of things. I ended up leaving with like 12-15 pubs and 30+ presentations and am currently working on 5 more papers that we are hoping to be accepted.

Research opps will be similar at all DO schools. You have to make the best of it and be a go getter if you want to be like that guy who matched neurosurgery. You can also always find a mentor to help pump your skill and numbers up. That person who matched neurosurgery was a mentor of mine for a little and they really helped get my mind right with the processes of finding research and how to really knock out a great paper.

Good luck!
 
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Calizboosted76 said:
Just to touch on G’s experience here since I was more into the research side of things. I ended up leaving with like 12-15 pubs and 30+ presentations and am currently working on 5 more papers that we are hoping to be accepted.

Research opps will be similar at all DO schools. You have to make the best of it and be a go getter if you want to be like that guy who matched neurosurgery. You can also always find a mentor to help pump your skill and numbers up. That person who matched neurosurgery was a mentor of mine for a little and they really helped get my mind right with the processes of finding research and how to really knock out a great paper.

Good luck!
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Did you end up matching into something competitive?
 
I'mJustCurious said:
The most recent email is the right time? Bc the first email when you sign up for the interview has a diff time
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Yea so i just pulled up the emails again. the first one says you will be assigned a time between 8:30-1:00 CST. Then the new one says the overview presentation is at 12:00-2:00 pm CST and interviews are a 30 minute block at 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, 2:30pm, or 3:00pm CST. Look up which block is yours by your AACOMAS ID last 5 digits.
 
Hello! I want to apply this month (i know I'm super late in the cycle). My stats are 3.0 sgpa and 3.3 cgpa and an MCAT of 509. Is there any chance I can make and is it still worth applying? I really want to start this fall, so looking for any advice especially from current students who may know the landscape.
 
Most used apartments are summerfield and magnolia preserve. I’ve also heard of people staying at Arborgate estates.
 
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Billy4810 said:
Hello! I want to apply this month (i know I'm super late in the cycle). My stats are 3.0 sgpa and 3.3 cgpa and an MCAT of 509. Is there any chance I can make and is it still worth applying? I really want to start this fall, so looking for any advice especially from current students who may know the landscape.
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I would recommend trying for it. You have a shot.
 
Hi guys! I was wondering if the turnabout time for in person is the same for online. I currently have an online interview scheduled for March but an in person slot opened up for this Friday.
What would you guys recommend in this situation? Thank you!
 
duistar said:
Hi guys! I was wondering if the turnabout time for in person is the same for online. I currently have an online interview scheduled for March but an in person slot opened up for this Friday.
What would you guys recommend in this situation? Thank you!
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I would recommend taking the earliest interview since it's rolling admissions
 
I have an interview coming up here, any tips from those who got the A?
 
Has anyone with an interview last week heard back?
 
Have any 1/10 ppl got their decisions yet? I wonder when the 1/21 ppl will hear back.
 
LunarEcho27 said:
anyone know how many students they take per year?
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ACOM interviews approximately 800 to 1000 students per year and enrolls approximately 200 to 210. You can likely assume that the school accepts somewhere between 2 to 3 times the number that enroll, so probably 400 to 600 acceptances. I hope this helps!
 
Grifalicious said:
Hey y'all! I'm a rising OMS-4 at ACOM. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have about ACOM, Dothan, or HPSP. Wishing you all the best of luck this cycle!
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Do they screen applications based on subsection cutoffs on the MCAT, or do they consider the overall MCAT score?"
 
babySimba said:
Do they screen applications based on subsection cutoffs on the MCAT, or do they consider the overall MCAT score?"
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Typically the overall score is more important, but it also depends on how balanced or unbalanced your score is. ACOM's average MCAT is ~504, and I've seen people get accepted with as low as ~120/121 in individual subsections, but their overall score was at that average. Ideally, try to keep all of your subsections over ~124/125 and your overall score north of ~501/502 to have the best shot. Hope this helps!
 
babySimba said:
Do they screen applications based on subsection cutoffs on the MCAT, or do they consider the overall MCAT score?"
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I don't think they have a hard cutoff b/c I had a very low subsection CARS in one of my score attempts. I got the A before my 504 was posted, so I know they didn't screen me out with the 122 CARS.

Below are my MCAT attempts if that helps you give an idea:
  • 496 (8/20/22): 123/124/125/124
  • 501 (1/13/24): 125/122/126/128
  • 504 (8/02/24): 128/120/127/129
 
Got the A earlier this week, my very first one. The interview was very casual and friendly, and I cannot emphasize enough how AMAZING the faculty is here. I can't go into the details for anonymity, but they moved mountains to help me with a personal concern when I was merely an interviewee. Not to mention, they have VERY fast turnaround (I applied very late), just unprecedented. Thank you ACOM!

Edit: parenthesis
 
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A on 7/30/24, will be withdrawing my seat, hopefully it goes to one of you!
 
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