AACOMAS Application Guide: How to Complete Every Section Right

What Is AACOMAS?

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) is the primary application system for students applying to DO programs in the U.S. It allows you to apply to multiple osteopathic schools through a single platform. Unlike AMCAS, which is used for MD programs, AACOMAS caters specifically to osteopathic schools and has a few key differences in how applications are structured and evaluated.

For instance, AACOMAS calculates GPA differently, and it does not include sections like the "Most Meaningful Experiences." Instead, it focuses on giving applicants flexibility in how they present their academic history, experiences, and personal motivations for pursuing osteopathic medicine.

AACOMAS Application Timeline

The AACOMAS application cycle spans over a full year and follows a rolling admissions format, meaning schools review applications as they receive them. Here’s an expanded month-by-month timeline of important dates and actions for applicants:

Tip: Submitting in May or June significantly improves your chances due to rolling admissions. The longer you wait, the fewer interview slots remain.

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Before You Start: What You’ll Need

You’ll need a complete inventory of your academic history and extracurricular experiences. That includes:

• Copies of all college transcripts (even for dual enrollment or community college)
• A list of every course you’ve taken, with credits and grades
• Contact info for your letter writers
• A polished draft of your personal statement
• A detailed record of your work, volunteering, research, and leadership experiences

Create a spreadsheet to track deadlines and requirements for each school. AACOMAS doesn’t autosave content in all fields, so draft key entries (like your personal statement and experiences) in a Word document first.

How to Complete Each AACOMAS Section

1. Personal Information

This section covers your name, contact details, background information, and other demographic data. It’s important to make sure your contact info is current, especially your email address—this is how schools will get in touch with you.

Some sections, like citizenship and language proficiency, may seem straightforward but are essential. Be accurate and complete. Any inconsistencies between your AACOMAS and secondary applications may raise flags for schools.

2. Academic History & Transcripts

Here you will enter every institution you've attended after high school. Even if you took just one summer class or dual-enrollment course at a community college, it needs to be included. You must also request official transcripts from every institution.

Use the Transcript Request Form provided by AACOMAS for each school. This form ensures your transcripts are matched correctly with your application.

Key Detail: AACOMAS only includes the most recent grade for repeated courses when calculating your GPA. This can significantly raise your science GPA if you improved on a retake—unlike AMCAS, which averages all attempts.

Transcripts can take time to be processed, and delays are common if a transcript is missing a signature or if it’s sent to the wrong address. Monitor your AACOMAS status portal after submission to make sure transcripts are received and verified.

3. Supporting Information

This section includes your experiences, achievements, licenses, and the all-important personal statement.

Start by entering your experiences. AACOMAS allows for multiple categories, such as:

• Research
• Volunteer
• Leadership
• Employment
• Extracurriculars

Each entry should include your role, the organization, dates of involvement, hours, and a description. Be honest with time estimates, and use this space to reflect on your growth and learning, not just duties.

Keep descriptions concise and specific. Here’s an example of how to format a well-written AACOMAS experience entry:

The goal is to tell a mini-story that reflects your role, responsibilities, and the personal or professional growth that came from the experience.

Achievements and Licenses: This is where you list awards, certifications (like EMT or CNA), and any publications.

Personal Statement: This essay has a 4,500-character limit. It's your chance to explain why you want to become a DO, and what experiences have led you to this path. Avoid generic answers. Focus on moments that shaped your interest in osteopathic principles, holistic care, and community medicine.

4. Program Materials

Each school has its own tab in the Program Materials section. This is where you'll:

• Upload additional documents (if requested)
• Answer school-specific questions
• Check secondary essay requirements

Read carefully. Some schools require prerequisite checklists or supplemental forms. Others might not review your application until you complete their secondary materials.

You can apply to multiple schools at once, but tailor your answers to each. Don’t copy and paste generic responses across programs.

AACOMAS Personal Statement: What to Write

This is your core narrative. Use the 4,500 characters to explain who you are and why you want to pursue osteopathic medicine.

Unlike AMCAS, AACOMAS does not allow multiple personal statements for different schools. You have one shot, so your statement needs to:

• Show clear motivation for pursuing DO vs. MD
• Include specific experiences that shaped your decision
• Demonstrate your understanding of osteopathic philosophy

Avoid abstract statements like "I want to help people." Instead, show how you’ve already helped people, or how you discovered what kind of doctor you want to be.

Structure your essay like this:

1. Hook: Start with a moment or scene that captures attention.
2. Motivation: Describe the journey that led you to medicine.
3. Development: Discuss key experiences that reinforced your path.
4. Insight: Reflect on what kind of physician you aim to become.

Don’t forget to proofread. Read it out loud. And ask someone unfamiliar with medicine to give feedback—if they don’t understand something, an admissions officer might not either.

Don't forget to practice for DO school interview questions!

Letters of Recommendation on AACOMAS

AACOMAS allows you to submit up to four letters of recommendation. Each school may have specific requirements—some want a committee letter, others prefer individual letters from science faculty or healthcare professionals. Check each program’s requirements early to avoid scrambling later.

Ask your recommenders at least 4–6 weeks in advance. Provide them with a summary of your academic and extracurricular activities, a copy of your resume, and your personal statement draft. This will help them write a more personalized and supportive letter.

Tip: Don’t just ask someone who has a big title. Ask someone who knows you well and can speak to your growth, integrity, and commitment to medicine.

AACOMAS Verification and GPA Calculation

This table highlights one of the biggest advantages of AACOMAS for reapplicants or anyone with an upward grade trend—your improved grades won’t be pulled down by earlier attempts.

After you submit, AACOMAS reviews your transcripts and verifies the accuracy of your entered coursework. This process is called verification and typically takes 1–4 weeks, depending on the time of year and how complete your application is at submission.

GPA Recalculation: AACOMAS uses a unique method. If you retake a course, only the most recent grade is counted in your GPA. This can be a major advantage if you've improved over time.

AACOMAS breaks your GPA into multiple categories:

• BCP (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• AO (All Other)
• Overall GPA
• Post-baccalaureate and graduate GPAs

If your GPA has a strong upward trend, AACOMAS’s system will reflect that more clearly than AMCAS.

Verification Delays: The most common delays happen when:

• Transcripts are missing or sent late
• Coursework is entered incorrectly
• The name on your transcript doesn’t match your AACOMAS account

Monitor your application portal closely after submission. You’ll receive updates as each transcript is received and as verification progresses.



Common Mistakes on AACOMAS

Transcript Errors: Always use the Transcript Request Form. Confirm the registrar sends transcripts to the right place and that they match the name on your AACOMAS account.

Misclassified Activities: Be careful when categorizing your experiences. Shadowing should not be labeled as clinical experience. Use the provided definitions in the AACOMAS help center if you're unsure.

Personal Statement Pitfalls: Avoid clichés. Don’t write what you think admissions officers want to hear. Focus on real experiences that shaped you. Generic statements about “passion” don’t show depth.

Submitting Too Late: DO schools use rolling admissions. Applying in September might already put you at a disadvantage. Submitting in May or June increases your chances of an interview.

How to Stand Out in the AACOMAS Application

Tell a Real Story: The most memorable applications are honest and specific. Talk about the real moments that made you choose medicine—especially osteopathic medicine. Avoid sounding rehearsed.

Align with the DO Mission: Schools want to see that you understand and value the DO philosophy—preventative care, holistic medicine, and serving underserved populations. Reflect those values in your activities and essay.

Keep It Consistent: Your personal statement, experiences, and even your letters should tell a unified story. If you're passionate about rural health or primary care, that should come through clearly in multiple parts of your application.

What Happens After You Submit

Once submitted, your application will go through these stages:

• Processing: AACOMAS receives and queues your application.
• Verification: Staff match your transcripts and coursework.
• Transmission: Once verified, your app is sent to schools.

Each school may take a different approach after that. Most will review your primary application and then send a secondary, which includes school-specific essays and sometimes additional documents.

Tip: Don’t wait to receive secondaries. Start drafting common essay topics as soon as you submit AACOMAS. Topics often include “Why this school?” or “Describe a challenge and how you handled it.”

Final Checklist Before You Submit

Before clicking “Submit,” review everything. Are your transcripts requested and pending? Are all your courses correctly entered? Did you hit the character limit in your personal statement without going over?

Check that:

• Each experience entry is proofread
• Your letter writers have confirmed submission
• You haven’t miscategorized any activities
• School-specific requirements in Program Materials are complete
• Your personal statement is cohesive, honest, and free of fluff

Once you submit, changes are limited. Take your time to review every section before moving forward.

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