APPLICATION FAQS
How do I submit an application? Initial applications are submitted through AACOMAS at aacomas.aacom.org.

What are your application deadlines? The deadline for the 2012 AACOMAS application is March 15. The deadline for the 2012 supplemental application is April 15.

The Application Process

The following information describes the application process for those seeking admission into the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM):

Step 1 - Complete the AACOMAS Application
RVUCOM participates in a centralized application service, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). Through AACOMAS, applicants can file one electronic application. AACOMAS then verifies and distributes the information to each of the colleges designated by the applicant. AACOMAS can be reached at www.aacom.org or AACOMAS, 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 310, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231, (301) 968-4100.

Step 2 - Invitation to Complete the RVUCOM Supplemental Application
Applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be invited to submit a supplemental application via email.

RVUCOM's Minimum Academic Requirements:
Minimal requirements for consideration for admission have been established by the Board of Trustees as a science and cumulative GPA of 2.75.  It should be noted that the chances for admission for a student with minimal grades are limited. Admission would require outstanding achievement on the part of the student during his or her career or unique individual circumstances.

On average, students admitted to colleges of osteopathic medicine during the last three years had GPA's > 3.4.

MCAT Information
All candidates must submit their most recent scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) through AACOMAS. Scores older than three years from April of the anticipated year of matriculation will not be considered. For example, applicants for the class matriculating in 2011 must submit MCAT scores that are no older than April 2008.

Scores < 6 in any component of the MCAT are not acceptable for admission consideration.

Click here for additional MCAT information.

Applicants who initially do not meet the minimum academic requirements are welcome to resubmit updated information through AACOMAS. Applicants will be invited to procede through the process upon verification that the minimum requirements have been met.

Applicants meeting these minimum requirements will receive an email containing login information for the supplemental application. The supplemental application is returned electronically along with the non-refundable $50 processing fee. Applicants awarded an AACOMAS fee waiver will be granted a fee waiver for RVUCOM’s supplemental application. For submission instructions on the fee waiver visit: http://www.aacom.org/Infofor/applicants/Pages/FeeWaiver.aspx. The deadline for submitting a supplemental application for the class matriculating in August 2011 is April 15.

An applicant’s file is considered complete upon the receipt of the supplemental application and processing fee, a letter of evaluation from the applicant’s pre-professional committee or advisor (the applicant may substitute two letters from their science instructors), and a letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician (a letter from an MD may be substituted). The Office of Admissions reviews all completed files and notifies applicants of their interview status. All applicants invited for an interview are given the choice of several interview dates.

Early Decision Program (EDP):
RVUCOM will consider up to 12 applicants to be accepted via the EDP. This program is for exceptional applicants who have a strong interest in attending RVUCOM. Qualifications to be considered for the program include a minimum science and overall GPA of 3.5 and a minimum MCAT score of 28. Preference will be given to applicants from the Mountain West Region. AACOMAS applications must be received at RVUCOM by September 1 and files must be complete by September 21. Interviews will be conducted the week of October 12 with notification occurring on October 16. The full matriculation deposit of $2000 will be due within one week of notification. Applicants not selected for the EDP will be considered with the rest of the applicant pool.

Additional Information:
Applicants to RVUCOM must also submit a letter of recommendation from a physician and one from a premedical advisor/committee. If the student's undergraduate institution does not have a premedical advisory committee, the student may submit letters from two of their science professors. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly from recommenders on letterhead, must be signed and include an email address. Recommendations are also accepted via Virtual Evaluations and Interfolio.

Letters should be sent to:
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Office of Admissions
8401 S. Chambers Road
Parker, CO 80134

After review of the secondary application and letters of recommendation, those candidates who possess the skills, knowledge and personality that provide them with the opportunity for success and who, in the opinion of the college, are most likely to assist the college in fulfilling its mission and vision, will be invited to interview.

Interviews are conducted  beginning in September and will continue on a rolling basis until the class is filled. Those applicants selected for an on-campus interview will be contacted by telephone and/or email to schedule the interview. The applicant will be given pertinent information about the schedule of events for the interview day. The prospective student will meet with an interview team consisting of members of the faculty and staff.

Following the on-campus interview, recommendations from the interview team and the student's completed academic file will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee to determine acceptance, deferred action or denial. The committee meets monthly or more often as needed.

No one piece of evidence presented by an applicant will, in and of itself, determine whether or not the committee will extend an offer of admission. The decision to extend an offer of admission will be based on the totality of the evidence presented to the committee.

Matriculation Process:
After receiving the initial offer of provisional admission to the COM, applicants must fulfill the conditions set forth in the matriculation agreement including:

•Payment of two non-refundable deposits totaling $2000. RVUCOM follows the guidelines set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic
Medicine (AACOM) relative to deposit due dates. Deposits will be applied to tuition.

•Completion of all prerequisite coursework.

•Successful passage of a drug screen and background check. This screening must meet the COM standards, be conducted by an agency approved by the COM, and occur prior to the date specified in the matriculation agreement. An applicant who has a deficiency or abnormality discovered on either screening will be referred to a sub-committee of the Student Performance Committee for further investigation. The subcommittee will make a recommendation to the Dean as to whether the offer of admission should be maintained or withdrawn.
The Dean will make the final determination regarding the applicant’s status.

•Completion of required medical documentation sent to the Office of the registrar prior to the date specified in the matriculation agreement.

•Submission of a waiver demonstrating proof of medical insurance coverage or enrollment in the plan provided by the University.

•Submission of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. In the event of course work completed at foreign institutions, the applicant must submit official detailed course by course evalu- ations completed by an approved agency. A list of these agencies is available in the RVU Catalog & Handbook.

•Any other requirements set forth in the matriculation agreement.

Each year RVUCOM will enroll a class of approximately 150 students. The level of competition for these seats will be determined by the number of applications received during the admissions cycle and the academic competitiveness of the applicant pool.

We look forward to working with you in this process. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.

RVUCOM Admissions Office
phone: (720) 875-2800
email: admissions@rockyvistauniversity.org
fax: (720) 875-2897