Application Process
Begin the D.O. Program Application Process
To apply to the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, you must begin by completing the application found at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Services site. The application deadline for the entering class of 2023 is Feb. 1, 2023.
Primary Application
The medical school application process consists of two parts, the primary and the secondary applications.
Once you have submitted your primary application, you will need to arrange to have official transcripts from all institutions attended and official MCAT scores sent directly to AACOMAS. DO NOT send this information to Heritage College. All primary application information goes directly to AACOMAS for processing. Remember to include course information on all postsecondary work you have completed. Even if you only took one course from an institution, you will need to record it on the application and arrange to have a transcript sent to AACOMAS. MCAT scores must be electronically submitted to AACOMAS. Please note that MCAT scores more than three years old at the time of enrollment are considered invalid. For example, if you are applying for the entering class of 2023, valid MCAT scores would include anything from January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2023. Please note that a January 2023 MCAT score will only be considered if another score from a valid test date range is on file.
It generally takes AACOMAS two to four weeks to process your application once they have your official transcripts and MCAT scores. Missing information will delay the processing of your application. You can check the status of your AACOMAS application online any time after submission.
Check the status of your aacomas application
The Office of Admissions will be using the email address that you provide on the AACOMAS application for all correspondence. Please remember to set your email permissions to accept correspondence from ohio.edu addresses. Ensure that your email address appears on the primary application correctly and that you continue monitoring your account for important messages from Heritage College.
Secondary Application
The Heritage College will receive your primary application electronically from AACOMAS and determine if you are eligible to receive a secondary application. If eligible, you will receive an email with information on how to set up your Heritage College application portal via the email address listed on the primary application. If you are notified that stronger security is required when attempting to log in to your secondary application portal, please make sure you are running a modern operating system with an updated browser (e.g., Chrome version 38 or higher, Firefox 27 or higher, Safari 7 or higher, Microsoft Edge).
To be considered for a place in the entering class of 2023, all secondary application materials must be received by March 15, 2023.
The secondary application allows applicants to designate preferences for our Athens, Cleveland, and Dublin campuses. A separate essay is required for those ranking the Dublin and Cleveland campuses. Ranking all three campuses does not improve your chances of an interview or admission.
If you are selected to receive a secondary application, you will need to do the following:
- Arrange to send your letters of recommendation/evaluation to Heritage College.* Letters may be sent through regular U.S. mail, Interfolio, or the AACOMAS application site.
- Non-Ohio residents will need to sign a contract of admission
* We require either a letter from a premedical/health professions advising committee OR two letters from natural science faculty who taught you in class.
A committee letter is preferred, but if your institution does not have a committee, you must submit two letters of recommendation/evaluation from natural science faculty who taught you in class. Examples of natural science courses include biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, genetics, etc. Social sciences DO NOT count toward this requirement (i.e. sociology, psychology, etc.). There are no substitutions for this requirement.
- 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.
Once all the secondary application materials have been received by the Office of Admissions, your file will be considered complete and will be eligible for further committee review.