admissions

The application cycle is now open for the Class of 2027! To apply to the CHSU-COM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, please visit www.choosedo.org

Minimum REQUIREMENTS

1. Baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education.
2. An overall cumulative and science grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
3. MCAT score of 498 or higher, with no subsection below the 15th percentile.
   • Scores from January 1, 2020 or later will be accepted
4. Provide 2 Letters of Recommendation.
5. Satisfactorily complete the prerequisite courses listed below prior to matriculation.
6. U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Permanent Resident, or DACA Recipient

PREREQUISITE COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements apply to all prerequisite coursework:

1. Must Be Taken at Accredited College or University
   All prerequisites must be completed at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For international students, please see separate provisions in the Admissions Policy applicable to international coursework.
2. Deadline for Prerequisite Completion
   Applicants must complete or plan to complete all prerequisites prior to July 1 preceding enrollment in the COM, unless an exception is approved by the Dean’s Office. If courses are not complete and shown on transcript at the time of application, please provide a plan for completing them prior to July 1.
3. Letter Grade of C or Better Required
   Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” or higher to satisfy completion of each prerequisite course. Grades of “C-”, pass/no pass, credit/no credit will not be accepted. CHSU-COM will accept a grade of PASS in a pass/no-pass grading system or CREDIT in a credit/no credit grading system, for courses taken during grading periods affected by COVID restrictions (beginning in Spring 2020).
4. Courses Must Be Taken within Ten (10) Years of Enrollment
   All applicants must complete all science prerequisite requirements ten (10) years prior to enrollment in the COM. Applicants who have taken science prerequisite courses more than ten (10) years ago may be required to repeat that coursework prior to matriculation.

Letters of Recommendation

There are 2 letters of recommendation required for admission to CHSU-COM:

1. One academic letter written by a college science professor who has instructed the applicant. The letter should detail the applicant’s aptitude in a challenging academic setting.
2. One additional letter. A letter of recommendation from a physician that details the applicant’s ability to be successful in a medical setting is preferred.

NOTE: A pre-med or pre-health profession committee letter that includes items listed above will satisfy the requirements for those items.

Additional Letter of Recommendation Criteria

Applicants are responsible for informing evaluators of these requirements when requesting letters.

• Letters from relatives, spouses, family friends, or the applicant’s family physician will not be accepted; authors should be as objective as possible.
• Letters are also expected to be written on the letterhead of the recommender’s university, company, organization, or practice, with credentials, date, and signature.
• Letters will only be accepted through AACOMAS or Interfolio. Applicants who wish to utilize Interfolio must coordinate to have their letters sent to AACOMAS. CHSU-COM does not accept paper letters of recommendation or letters sent directly from the evaluator or applicant via either mail or email. CHSU-COM reserves the right to refuse any letter that is not signed by the evaluator. Digital signatures are acceptable.

CHSU-COM is not responsible for receipt or processing of materials that do not conform to these guidelines. Letters of recommendation will be reviewed once the Supplemental Application is submitted.

Admissions Process

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for Making Your Application Stand Out

The CHSU-COM Admissions team receives many questions from applicants about what they can do to set themselves apart and make their application stand out. Generally, we have found that a competitive applicant will demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Experience in or understanding of a career in health care
• A commitment to or understanding of osteopathic medicine
• Service to the community
• Research and other scholarly activities

If you are able to clearly communicate one or more of these experiences, this may help you to stand out during the applications process.  For more information, visit choosedo.org/how-to-apply

How to contact admissions

We welcome all inquiries regarding applications. Materials pertaining to applications should be directed to the Admissions Office at 559-712-4222 or via e-mail at COMadmissions@chsu.edu.

Once applicants have been invited to complete a Supplemental Application, they will gain access to their CHSU-COM Application Portal. We encourage applicants to monitor their status through the CHSU-COM Application portal. Applicants should be sure to check for missing or incomplete items. Applicants will be notified via email if there is a change in their admissions status, or with a request to complete the next step in the admissions process.

When contacting the Admissions office, it is considered most professional to call once and leave a voicemail and/or send one email; repeatedly calling or emailing is unnecessary. Similarly, any type of direct communication to the CHSU-COM Deans or Admissions Committee members is prohibited, whether by the applicant, the applicant’s parents, employers/supervisors, faculty members or advisors. Any attempt to do so is considered “inappropriate communication” and unprofessional.

AACOM Resources

• What is Osteopathic Medicine?
• Osteopathic Medicine Fast Facts
• Roadmap to Becoming a DO
• Qualities of a Successful DO Student
• Consider a Career in Osteopathic Medicine

For more information, please email us at COMAdmissions@chsu.edu.