Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What Is an Osteopathic Physician?

Learn more about being an osteopathic physician .

Q: How Do I Begin the Application Process?

Visit our How to Apply page . Applications are initially processed through AACOMAS and application instructions are available online at aacom.org .

Q: Which Admission Test Is Required for Entrance Into the College of Osteopathic Medicine?

All applicants must supply results of the MCAT , taken within three years of the date of the desired matriculation year. Test scores should be released directly to AACOMAS, not Des Moines University.

Q: What Letters of Recommendation Are Required?

For information on letters of recommendation, see How To Apply .

Q: Where Do I Send My Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation?

Letters of recommendation and transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted to AACOMAS. Transcripts must be from a regionally accredited college or university from within the United States. Please do not send transcripts directly to DMU.

Q: What Are the Minimum Academic Standards to Apply?

The minimum GPA recommended for admission consideration is 2.8, both cumulative and science. Our average GPA of recently admitted students is 3.65 cumulative and 3.58 science while the average MCAT is 508.

Q: What Is the Academic Profile of Current D.O. Students?

View our class profile for details about our students.

Q: How Much Does It Cost To Attend the College of Osteopathic Medicine?

See our cost of attendance budget for the D.O. program, which includes information regarding tuition, fees and payment schedules, educational costs and living expenses.

What Is an Osteopathic Physician?

How Do I Contact AACOMAS?

How Do I Begin the Application Process?

When Should I Apply?

We have a “rolling” admission policy. We begin accepting applications through AACOMAS in May. We schedule interviews beginning in late August and continue until the class is full. We encourage students to apply early – ideally, during the summer one year before they anticipate entering medical school. The deadline for the application and supporting materials is the AACOMAS application closing date. It will take AACOMAS approximately four to six weeks to verify your application before it will be sent to DMU for consideration.

Which Admission Test Is Required for Entrance Into the College of Osteopathic Medicine?

When Should I Take the MCAT?

Applicants should plan to take the MCAT by the end of the year prior to planned matriculation (at the latest). Results from January MCAT exams will be considered. Please note that due to our process of rolling admission, applicants completing their file with later MCAT scores may not be as competitive as those completed earlier in the cycle. Our interview schedule tends to fill quickly; therefore, we cannot guarantee the availability of interview space for applicants completing their files into February.

What Letters of Recommendation Are Required?

Where Do I Send My Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation?

How Will I Know if My File Is Complete?

Will DMU Contact Me if I Am Missing Application Materials?

What Are the Minimum Academic Standards to Apply?

What Is the Academic Profile of Current D.O. Students?

How Much Does It Cost To Attend the College of Osteopathic Medicine?

What Kind of Scholarships Does DMU Offer?

DMU has a small number of merit-based scholarships for incoming students. Full- and half-tuition scholarships are available. Candidates are reviewed during the admission and interview process, and will be notified if they are awarded a scholarship. There is no additional application required for consideration for incoming merit-based awards.

See more information about scholarships for the D.O. program.

What Are the Board Pass Rates for D.O. Students at DMU?

How Long Does It Take To Complete the D.O. Program at Des Moines University? What Happens When I Graduate?

Students complete four years of basic medical education. The four years of study are divided into a pre-clinical and a clinical phase, resulting in a “two plus two” curriculum that combines lecture and laboratory studies with clinical experiences in teaching hospitals, University and private clinics, and community service agencies. After medical school, DO graduates will complete a residency in the field of specialty of choice, including family medicine, surgery or psychiatry. Residencies typically range from three to six years of additional training.

How Do Students at Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Get Residencies? What Are the Match Rates for DMU?

Students graduating from colleges of osteopathic medicine currently have the opportunity to apply to residency programs through the American Osteopathic Association, as well as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at DMU are highly recruited into a wide variety of graduate medical programs throughout the country. Nearly 90 percent of each graduating class receive their first or second choice of residency programs.

See where our graduates are training on the Residency Match List.

How Can I Schedule a Campus Visit?

Does DMU Accept Transfer Students?

All students requesting a transfer from another medical school, whether allopathic or osteopathic, must apply through the dean. In general, transfers are not allowed after the clinical years have begun (third and fourth years). A letter of support from the dean of the institution currently being attended, along with all transcripts, must be included with the request.

Transfer requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Because of the unique system-based pre-clinical curriculum, it is difficult for the college to accept transfer students from other medical schools that have more traditional programs. Therefore, students are discouraged from transferring unless they are prepared to complete the entire 4-year program at DMU.

Learn more about our transfer student requirements.