Edward Via College of
Osteopathic
Medicine–Virginia
Campus
Office of Admissions
2265 Kraft Drive
Blacksburg,
VA
24060
Phone:
(540) 231-6138
Fax:
(540) 231-5252
E-mail:
admissions@vcom.vt.edu
Description
Edward Via College of
Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is committed to serving the rural and
underserved areas of the Appalachian Region, providing international medical
service, enhanc-ing diversity and advancing medical research.
Mission
Statement
The
Mission
of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is to provide medical
edu-cation and research that prepares global-minded, community-focused
physicians and improves the health of those most in need. VCOM faculty,
staff, and students value: professionalism, integrity, duty, compassion,
altruism, knowledge, and criti-cal thinking.
Setting: Blacksburg,
Virginia;
Rural college town
Date
Founded: 2003; Private
Accreditation
Edward Via College of
Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College
Accreditation (COCA).
Institutional affiliation
Virginia Tech
2009-2010 Enrollment
Total medical school enrollment:
691
Total male: 343
Total female: 348
First-year enrollment:
189
First-year male:
111
First-year female:
78
Total enrollment
affiliate institutions: 30,000
Curricular Offerings
The curriculum at VCOM is
innovative and modern. The faculty of VCOM recognizes that students learn in
a number of ways. Students generally assimilate a knowledge base through
instruction, reading and experience. VCOM developed a hybrid curriculum
consisting of lectures, computerized case tutorials, laboratory experiences,
clinical skills laboratories and clini-cal experiences throughout the four
years.
Combined Degree Programs
Baccalaureate/DO:
No
DO/MA: Yes
Five-year program with
Virginia Tech
DO/MS:
Yes
Five-year program with Virginia Tech or Duke
University
DO/MPH:
Yes
Five-year program with Johns Hopkins
University
DO/MBA:
Yes
Five-year dual degree
program with
Virginia
Tech
DO/JD:
No
DO/PhD:
Yes
Program with Virginia Tech.
Students with a strong GPA
are eligible to apply for a combined degree program during their third year.
Special Programs
•
Medical Missions at VCOM
provides care to underserved and disadvantaged populations throughout rural
Virginia,
the Appalachian region, and globally in developing countries.
•
Global
Medicine Programs:
Essential to the
practice of
Osteopathic Medicine is the belief that people are healthy only when they
are healthy in mind, body and spirit. Around the world, VCOM partners with
many organiza-tions to improve the spiritual and social well-being of a
community as well as its physical and mental health care needs. VCOM
students and faculty provide year-round clinics in
El Salvador,
Honduras
and the
Dominican Republic.
Guatemala
is our next frontier.
http://www.vcom.vt.edu/
Preparatory Programs
Post baccalaureate
program: Yes
Special tracks for
entrance are available for Nurse Practitioners and Masters-level Physician
Assistants. Transcripts will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine
a fast track for
completing the prerequisite
courses.
Summer program(s):
No
Facilities
•
The primary VCOM-VC
academic building is approximately 60,000 square feet and is situ-ated on a
nine-acre campus.
•
VCOM-VC offers a
state-of-the-art anatomy lab with plastinated specimens and a ventila-tion
system that allows the air to circulate 15 times per hour.
•
Wireless campus.
•
Two theatre classrooms
seat 190 each. Sixteen moderately sized rooms are avail-able for small group
learning. Clinical Skills Laboratories are interconnected using modern video
computer technology and net meeting. VCOM-VC provides a classroom
environment that affords optimum learning conditions while demonstrating
respect for students and faculty alike.
•
The 22,000 square foot
state-of-the-art Center for Simulation and Technology houses simu-lated
patient and treatment rooms including surgery, pediatrics, geriatrics,
obstetrics and gynecology and intensive care unit.
•
Osteopathic manipulation
labs provide an intimate educational environment.
•
The Institute for
Biomechanical and Sports Medicine Research houses a deceleration sled that
simulates car and small plane crashes, en-abling researchers to understand
the mechan-ics of bone trauma.
•
An 11,000 square foot
research laboratory houses seven biomedical research laboratories.
Residence
The town of
Blacksburg
and the
New River Valley
provide an array of housing opportunities for VCOM-VC students. Private
apartment and town-home complexes catering to graduate students and young
professionals are conveniently located across the street, throughout
Blacksburg,
and in neighboring communities. VCOM-VC students also enjoy the serene
environment of the sur-rounding rural areas.
Application Information
Primary application
service: AACOMAS
Earliest filing date:
Opening date of AACOMAS
Latest filing date:*
2-1-2011
*For best consideration,
applicants should submit their AACOMAS application at least four weeks prior
to this school’s latest filing date.
Academic year/orientation for first-year students start date:
mid-August 2011
International students (non-US citizens or temporary residents) eligible:
In select
cases.
Applicants should select
VCOM on the AACOMAS application. While a drop down box will appear for
applicants to specify their first choice of preferred campus, note that
responses at this stage are for AACOMAS data collection purposes only. Upon
receipt of the AACOMAS application by VCOM, eli-gible applicants will be
invited to submit a second-ary application where the applicant may designate
he or she wishes to be considered for one or both campuses. Students who are
invited for interview will interview on the campus of first choice. See
VCOM’s website for more information.
Supplemental Application
Supplemental
application required: Yes
Sent to:
Screened Applicants
URL:
http://www.vcom.vt.edu/admissions/
application.html
Supplemental Application Fee:
$85
Fee waiver available:
Yes
Waiver conditions, if offered:
AACOMAS waiver
Supplemental app. earliest filing date:
7-1-2010
Supplemental app. latest filing date:
3-15-2011
Supplemental Application Requirements
In order to be considered
for a Secondary Applica-tion, candidates must present a minimum overall and
science GPA of 2.75. Competitive applicants present a minimum overall and
science GPA of 3.3 and MCAT at or above 25. Two letters of recom-mendation
are required: one from a premedical advisor or science faculty member and
one from an osteopathic physician. Additional letters of recommendation are
accepted.
Applicants will have the
opportunity to rank VCOM campus preference on the Secondary Application.
Once the campus location is selected and, if eligible, the applicant will be
invited for an interview on that campus. Candidates will not
interview on both campuses.
See VCOM’s website for more information.
MCAT
Oldest MCAT considered:
April 2007
Accept September 2010 MCAT Scores:
Yes
Accept January 2011
MCAT scores: Yes, Considered
Additional Comments:
Although VCOM is willing
to consider the
January MCAT score, candidates who apply with the January MCAT may be placed
on a Waiting List.
Send
Letters of Recommendation by:
Virtual Evals: Yes
Interfolio: Yes
Paper: Yes
Regular Acceptance Notice
Applicants will be
requested to submit necessary
matriculation documents, including a deposit,
according to the following
AACOMAS traffic guideline
schedule:
•
Those
accepted prior to November 15
will have
until December
14
•
Those
accepted between November 15 and January 14
will have 30 days
•
Those
accepted between January 15 and May 14
will have 14 days
•
Those
accepted after May 15
may be asked for
an immediate
deposit
•
Earliest acceptance date:
10-1-2010
•
Latest acceptance date:
Until class is filled
•
Maximum time for
applicant to accept offer:
AACOM traffic guidelines.
The maximum time for applicant to accept offer of admission is 2 1/2 months.
This applies to candidates who receive an offer of admission on or around
October 1 and will not be required to send a deposit until December 14.
•
Requests for deferred
entrance considered: Yes
Early Decision Program (EDP)
EDP available for:
Both Residents and
Non-Residents
EDP applications due:
7-1-2010
EDP
supplemental materials due:
8-15-2010
Applicants notified:
10-1-2010
COM
Interview Format
The interview day at
VCOM-VC is scheduled from
8:30 a.m.
to
3:00 p.m.
Candidates will at-tend a VCOM-VC information session, par-ticipate in three
one-on-one interviews, tour the VCOM-VC campus, dine with at least two
VCOM-VC students during a confidential lun-cheon session, tour
Blacksburg
and the Virginia Tech campus and meet with a representative of the financial
aid office. Each candidate will interview with at least one biomedical
science faculty member and one physician for 30 min-utes in the faculty
member’s office.
First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors
VCOM seeks to admit a
portion of the class from qualified applicants based in
Virginia,
North Carolina,
South Carolina
and the Appalachian Region. (The Appalachian region consists
of rural and underserved
areas of
Alabama,
Georgia,
Kentucky,
Maryland,
Mississippi,
New York,
Ohio,
Pennsylvania,
Tennessee,
and
West Virginia).
Although VCOM seeks students from rural and Appalachian regions, all
qualified applicants are considered and students are
accepted from areas
throughout the
United States.
VCOM screens all AACOMAS
applications within two weeks of receipt. Candidates who present a strong
science GPA and MCAT score are invited to submit the Secondary Application
and letters of recommendation. Completed applications are reviewed by campus
ranked number 1 on the Secondary Application for academic prepared-ness,
health care experience, volunteer outreach, and commitment to the
osteopathic profession. VCOM utilizes a rolling admissions process. Thus,
candidates who submit an application ear-ly and return all required
documents promptly will be at an advantage in the admissions pro-cess. VCOM
recognizes, values and affirms that diversity contributes richness to the
college and enhances the quality of education
First-Year Class Matriculants’
Self-Reported Race/Ethnicity:
Percentages are based on self-reported data
and
therefore may not equal
100%.
American Indian or
Alaska
Native: 1%
Asian: 12%
Black or African American:
9%
Hispanic/Latino:
9%
White:
70%
Pacific Islander:
1%
First-Year Class Matriculants with:
Science Majors:
85%
Non-Science Majors:
15%
Baccalaureate degree:
100%
Graduate degree(s):
12%
Premedical Coursework
Science
|
|
|
|
|
Course
|
Req.
|
Rec.
|
Lab
|
Sem. Hrs
|
Biology/Zoology
|
X
|
|
X
|
8
|
Biochemistry
|
|
X
|
|
|
Molecular
|
|
|
|
|
Biology
|
|
X
|
|
|
