What does AOA mean?

[Aloha Kid]

Maybe a stupid question but what's the hype about being AOA? Better question, what is AOA? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

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[Floyd77803]

american osteopathic association

 

[AJM]

AOA stands for Alpha Omega Alpha, and is the medical school honor society. I don't know the exact cutoffs, but at med schools that participate in it, somewhere around the top 10% of med students in a class get named to it. Most med schools name their students to AOA sometime during 4th year, typically before the match, and very competive residencies often pay close attention to who has AOA. Some schools wait until after the match occurs to name their students to AOA to minimize competition between students, and to try not to put their students who would not receive AOA at a disadvantage. There are also a handful of schools that do not have AOA chapters.

 

[Orthodog]

AOA isn't always based on your grades. Many other factors play into your selection for AOA. At many institutions in the country (including my med school) it is 60% academic and 40% political. If you fit the right "profile", and know the right people, AOA is pretty easy to get. It's hard to believe, but that "Good 'ole boy" mentality still exists. However, at other institutions, I believe honesty in the prcess still exists and academics, volunteerism, and your overall accomplishments actually contribute to your acceptance into AOA.

 

[Hannibal Gabriel]

What does AOA mean?

Well, let me tell a rambling story. Once, when I enjoyed life, I went to see Don McLean play live at the Paramount Theater in Ashland, Kentucky. And he said that people often asked him, "Don, what does 'American Pie' mean?" And he replied, "Well, it means I never have to work again if I don't want to."

That's about what AOA means. It means you get to do whatever you want to and everyone else has to kiss your ass.

 

[godfather]

if your AOA in years 3 and 4 it mean All Out Asskisser. in years 1 and 2 AOA often indicates All OUT ASSWHOLE. All though it does help for competitive residencies don't ever tell another student you AOA because you sound very braggadocious and your the type of student that virtually everbody in the class can't stand. A second rule for MS in lecture don't ever answer more than 1 or 2 questions that are addressed to the whole class and don't ever butt in and answer a question that's addressed to another person because you simply look like the biggest jackass in the world when you do this. Ie if your a gunner be quiet about it.

 

[mdphd2b]

It may be hard to keep AOA a secret. I know at my school they email the list of both nominees and recipients to the whole school.