AACOMAS 2025 high stat applicant, school list/questions

[Premedhopeful2256]

Hello all! I was planning on applying DO this cycle along with MD and had a few questions that I would greatly appreciate any help on. I have put my school list, stats, and my questions below.
512 MCAT (129, 126, 127, 130), 4th retake (503, 504, 502), GPA 3.77/4.00
ORM Asian Female
Activities: Clinical Volunteering (Hospice volunteer) 200 hours
Nonclinical volunteering (Food Pantry volunteer, tennis camp volunteer, crisis text line counselor) 500 hours
Clinical work (EMT, ER Tech, Caretaker for grandmother) 3,000 hours
Nonclinical work (Tutor and Tennis instructor) 300 hours
Research (No pubs) 500 hours
DO letter of rec strong
Extras (D1 Athlete at a T20 ranked school) 2,000 hours
1. Can I use my AMCAS essay for AACOMAS, shortening it to fit the word limit? It currently is more about my experience in medicine and the importance of empathy in patient care. There is really nothing on osteopathic medicine but was wondering if this is okay, considering the main idea is still WHY medicine.
2. Can I apply to the "in-state" DO schools? It looks like the match rate for most of these schools are really good but acceptance rate for oos students are low.
School list
Alabama COM
Des Moines COM
Lake Erie COM
Philadelphia COM
Rocky Vista COM
Still thinking about Tuoro COM (Nevada) <-- hesitant on location and Midwestern <--- very pricey

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[CBass2288]

1. thats what i did, worked out fine. although i didnt have to shorten mine at all. i didnt mention osteopathic medicine at all in my PS, just medicine as a whole. but i felt like what i talked about fit the "osteopathic mission" so just make sure yours does too.
2. yes, of course. just like you could for MDs. better chances if you actually are in that state, but, your stats are really strong for DO, and definitely wouldnt be the reason you dont get into those schools. if the rest of your app is really strong, which is seems to be, you have a fantastic chance at the public DOs.
3. add MSUCOM, OUHCOM, Rowan, and TCOM if you happen to be from texas.

 

[Premedhopeful2256]

This is all amazing advice, and I really appreciate the feedback you have here. When you talk about the osteopathic mission, do you mean providing compassionate, patient-driven care? My PS really revolves around emotional connection with patients and understanding them beyond their illness which plays into that side of DO medicine but does not really highlight much else for DO-specific medicine. Once again, thank you for your help and congrats on your cycle!

1. thats what i did, worked out fine. although i didnt have to shorten mine at all. i didnt mention osteopathic medicine at all in my PS, just medicine as a whole. but i felt like what i talked about fit the "osteopathic mission" so just make sure yours does too.
2. yes, of course. just like you could for MDs. better chances if you actually are in that state, but, your stats are really strong for DO, and definitely wouldnt be the reason you dont get into those schools. if the rest of your app is really strong, which is seems to be, you have a fantastic chance at the public DOs.
3. add MSUCOM, OUHCOM, Rowan, and TCOM if you happen to be from texas

 

[CBass2288]

This is all amazing advice, and I really appreciate the feedback you have here. When you talk about the osteopathic mission, do you mean providing compassionate, patient-driven care? My PS really revolves around emotional connection with patients and understanding them beyond their illness which plays into that side of DO medicine but does not really highlight much else for DO-specific medicine. Once again, thank you for your help and congrats on your cycle!

that sounds to me like it would be totally good for the AACOMAS PS!

 

[chilly_md]

You can add KCU, NYIT and Campbell as well.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Looks like you’ll probably have a successful cycle.

You should apply to the state funded DO schools like OSU, MSU (very pricey when I applied), TCOM, Rowan, OUHCOM, etc and prioritize those schools.

After that, I’d prioritize schools with good track records in education in the “old 5” like PCOM, DMU, and KCU. CCOM is too expensive for what they offer IMO. ATSU is good but with your stats, you can get just as good of an education in a better location.

I’m a resident now but personally if I could do it all over again, I’d pick a state funded school if I could. If not, then I’d weigh the location I wanted (barring any red flags) vs Lecom for tuition depending on what’s important to you. Most private DO schools are more similar than different so no need to stress about which one too much like we all do/did on these boards.

 

[Premedhopeful2256]

Looks like you’ll probably have a successful cycle.

You should apply to the state funded DO schools like OSU, MSU (very pricey when I applied), TCOM, Rowan, OUHCOM, etc and prioritize those schools.

After that, I’d prioritize schools with good track records in education in the “old 5” like PCOM, DMU, and KCU. CCOM is too expensive for what they offer IMO. ATSU is good but with your stats, you can get just as good of an education in a better location.

I’m a resident now but personally if I could do it all over again, I’d pick a state funded school if I could. If not, then I’d weigh the location I wanted (barring any red flags) vs Lecom for tuition depending on what’s important to you. Most private DO schools are more similar than different so no need to stress about which one too much like we all do/did on these boards.

Thank you for this advice. During my research, I think state funded schools are better opportunity wise, but obviously, hard to get into if you are oos.