What is the AOA?

I don't remember what the letters stand for, but basically it is the people in the top 10% of the med school class. These people are invited to join the AOA. Some specialties are so competitive that the saying is "AOA or no way".

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Rob
http://views.vcu.edu/medimf/rob/greatpumpkin.shtml

 

AOA is Alpha Omega Alpha. It's the MD equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa for undergraduates.




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Tim Wu.

 

Yes, the AOA is the unfortunate abbrieviation of Alpha Omega Alpha, which is often misconstrued by DO students with the American Osteopathic Association. To be eligible, you must have a 95th percentile standing in your class. It is a tremendous bolster to your residency application.

Also, if you're a DO, (as far as I know), you're not eligible to be elected to AOA. However, you can be elected to SSP -- Sigma Sigma Phi, the analogous organization for DOs.

Scott Strom
MSUCOM2004

 

I dont' believe SSP is the exact equivalent of the AOA. At NSU-COM, anyways, its not the top 5% of the class, its more people who do community service, etc. I think the only GPA requirements are that you have above an 80% (B average).

 

American Osteopathic Association .. I get a newsletter from them. Dont know if thats what youre looking for.

 

The AOA is also the American Optometric Association. I had to fill out paperwork to become a member of the AOSA (american optometric student's association) for the Fall. So, now there's THREE things.

 

I just did a Yahoo search on the initials AOA.. I also found..

THE AUSTRAILIAN OLIVE ASSOCIATION (AOA)

 

Looks like we have some competition...

 

SSP invites the top 30% of the class to apply for membership. If you have a lot of extracurricular interests and activities plus good grades, you might get in. Some of the top students I know have not been accepted.

 

AOA is different at every school. In fact, some schools don't even have AOA (ie. Mayo Medical School). At some places, it is truly a kiss butt club that is not necessarily the top numbers people. At our medical school (which I think is a good representation) junior AOA is given to the top 3% of M3s bases solely on first and second year grades and board scores. Senior AOA encompasses the next 10% and puts more weight on the third year clerkship grades. They still look at first year, second year and board scores, but much less so. Needless to say, some people out there like to let you know that not only are they AOA, but JUNIOR AOA!