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Heritage College Admission Requirements

Just as osteopathic physicians treat patients in a holistic manner, the Heritage College admissions selection committee reviews applications through a holistic perspective. This means that everything on your application is important to us, from science grades to community service and everything in between.

Our first priority at the Heritage College is student success. For us, the best predictors for your future success in our program is to begin with a solid natural science GPA and MCAT score. Competitive applicants typically have at least a 3.6 natural science GPA and a 125 or above on each subsection of the MCAT.

For the entering class of 2024, the average science GPA was 3.6; non-science, 3.78; and overall, 3.68. The average MCAT score was 503.49, with a range of 490 to 520.

View our COCA-approved Admissions Policy.

Prerequisites

If you plan to apply to the Heritage College, you will need:

  • A baccalaureate degree or exemplary performance in at least 90 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited U.S. institution
  • U.S. citizenship or a permanent visa
  • A full academic year with a grade of C or better (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) in each of the following:
Course RequirementsSemester HoursQuarter Hours
English69
Behavioral Science
(e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology)
69
Biology/Zoology812
General Chemistry812
Organic Chemistry812
Physics812
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the following coursework before enrolling at OU-HCOM:
    • Anatomy & Physiology
    • Biochemistry
    • Immunology
    • Pharmacology
  • For fall 2025 entry, only MCAT tests taken in 2022, 2023, and 2024 will be considered valid.  
  • Letters of recommendation from either a premed committee OR two letters from natural science faculty who taught you in class.
  • The ability to meet Health and Technical Standards.
  • Although not a requirement, an additional letter from a D.O. or other health care professional who can speak to your suitability for osteopathic medicine is strongly encouraged.
 

D.O. Application Deadlines

  • AACOMAS application (primary application) opens annually in early May.
  • Primary (AACOMAS) Application — Feb. 1
  • Secondary (Heritage College) Application — March 15


Please note that the HCOM selection committee offers seats to the incoming class on a WEEKLY basis once interviews begin in September. We highly encourage you to submit your application materials well before the application deadlines.


1st Non-refundable Deposit - $100 - due from the acceptance date as follows:

  • Those accepted prior to Nov. 15 will have until Dec. 14
  • Those accepted between Nov. 15 and Jan. 14 will have 30 days
  • Those accepted between Jan. 15 and June 14 will have 14 days
  • Those accepted on or after June 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit


2nd Non-refundable Deposit - $500 by May 1

  • Those accepted on or after May 1 may be asked for an immediate deposit


Deposits are credited to your first-year tuition and fees.

Transfer Applicants from other D.O. Programs

The 51ÉçÇø Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine will consider transfer applications from students at other accredited U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine after completion of his/her second year and prior to the start of his/her third year if capacity exists in our clinical campus system, based on the discretion of the associate dean for clinical education.

Transfer applicants must provide the following information in time to allow appropriate committee review proceeding the Heritage College term of intended enrollment:

  1. A completed secondary application with the respective application fee.
  2. Official copies of all postsecondary school or college transcripts.
  3. Official copy of the current osteopathic school transcript.
  4. A letter from the dean of the current college of medicine verifying good academic standing.
  5. Proof of successful completion of COMLEX Level 1
  6. An essay regarding the candidate's rationale for a transfer.
  7. A copy of the course catalog from their initial osteopathic medical school.
  8. Two letters of recommendation from current osteopathic medical school faculty.
  9. All MCAT scores.

Transfer candidates must appear on the Athens campus for an interview and, in an effort to assess the candidate’s clinical acumen, a prospective transfer student must also participate in a clinical skills examination prior to any final admission decision.

Transfer Applicants from other Accredited Domestic or Foreign Medical Schools

Potential transfer applicants from other accredited domestic or foreign medical schools must apply through standard AACOMAS procedures for admission as year one students. If accepted, they will be required to complete four years of medical study at this institution.

View our COCA approved Transfer Policy.

International Applicants

Applicants to the Heritage College must be either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident and must also hold a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.

We have collected our most frequently asked questions about the Heritage College to make sure you are well informed before you start the application process.

What are the minimum MCATs and GPAs needed to apply?

We take more than just MCAT scores and GPAs into account when evaluating applications.

All Ohio residents will receive a secondary application. All other applicants will receive a secondary application if they have a 490 MCAT and 2.75 science GPA.  However, to be considered a competitive applicant, students should have metrics closer to a 3.6 science GPA and a 504 MCAT.

For the entering class of 2024, the average science GPA was 3.6; non-science, 3.78; and overall, 3.68. The average MCAT score was 503.49, with a range of 490 to 520.

What are some of the other factors you consider in addition to grades and test scores?

Clinical experience, volunteer activities, demonstrated leadership qualities, strong letters of recommendation, grade trends, strength of curriculum, maturity and dedication to osteopathic principles and practices are just some of the other attributes that we look for in our candidates.

What are the demographics of your entering class?

For the entering class of 2024:
Class size – 252
First-generation college – 17%
Female – 59%
All Minority - 33%
Out-of-state – 8%
Age – ranges from 20-45

Do I need to have completed my prerequisite courses before applying to the Heritage College?

No, but you must have completed your prerequisite courses prior to matriculating to the Heritage College.

What are your tuition and fees?

This information changes annually, and all rates are subject to change by action of the 51ÉçÇø Board of Trustees. For 2023-24, Ohio resident tuition and fees were $41,142 and non-resident tuition and fees were $58,862.

Is the 51ÉçÇø Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine a state-supported medical school?

Yes. Because we are a state-supported school, we give preference to Ohio residents in our application process. However, we encourage applications from all candidates who feel they can contribute to the dynamic learning environment and mission of the Heritage College.

What types of research opportunities are available?

The Heritage College faculty, staff and students on each campus engage in a wide variety of research. From diabetes research and the Virtual Haptic Back project to our annual Research Day showcase, we are committed to trying to understand the mysteries of science and health so that we can improve the lives of our patients.

Check out more information about research opportunities at the Heritage College here.

Where do your students complete their clinical rotations?

In summer term of year 3, students move to one of the teaching hospital sites located throughout the state of Ohio for their structured ambulatory family medicine clerkship. Students enter the final one and one-half years of clinical training at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics and private practitioners' offices throughout the state.

Generally, Cleveland campus students will complete clinicals in northeast Ohio; Dublin campus students will complete clinicals in central Ohio; and Athens campus students will complete clinicals throughout the remainder of the state.

Check out more information about our clinical education sites here.

What about residencies? Where do your graduates go?

In a word – everywhere! Through our statewide clinical campuses, our students have a wide variety of residency opportunities available right here in Ohio. From Level 1 trauma centers to community hospitals and from metropolitan and suburban areas to rural regions, our statewide clinical education network offers it all. Graduates completing residencies outside of the clinical campuses have gone to Cleveland Clinic, the Dallas/Forth Worth Medical Center and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, just to name a few.

Check out more information about the Heritage College and graduate medical education here.

Is there any opportunity to earn a dual degree?

Yes. One of the many advantages of being part of a major university is the opportunity to earn dual degrees. Through 51ÉçÇø, you can earn the following degrees in addition to your D.O.: Ph.D., M.B.A., M.G.H. and M.B.M.E. These dual-degree programs can add two to three years to your undergraduate medical education.

Find out more about the dual-degree programs

Where do the medical students live?

Medical students typically reside within a community closest to their campus location. We encourage medical students to find roommates, as sharing housing expenses can help keep your educational budget in check. Accepted students will be invited to join the incoming class GroupMe, where housing opportunities will be posted. The Office of Admissions can also be a resource to find housing.

What types of support can I expect as a Heritage College student?

We take very seriously our attention to students here at the Heritage College. You will be able to find support through many avenues. Faculty/staff mentors, COMrades, learning specialists and tutors, embedded mental health counselors, and diversity and inclusion officers are just a few of the ways in which we provide support. The Office of Student Affairs provides many services to our students -- everything from financial aid counseling to facilitating workshops about how to live on a tight med student budget. They also keep our students informed about current medical and legal issues. You may not find a more student-centered medical school anywhere in the nation.

What if I have more questions?

Please contact the Office of Admissions - we are happy to help guide you through this process!

Email: ou-hcom@ohio.edu

Phone: 800-345-1560