The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Athens, Ohio. The college’s core mission is to put patients at the heart of their medical care. OUHCOM is focused on research and strategic initiatives to further push their mission and values forward.
The overarching goal of the university is to train the next generation of indispensable physicians to provide high-quality healthcare in Ohio.
Be an Informed Applicant
OUHCOM has school-specific requirements and criteria that applicants must meet to be considered for admission in the upcoming academic year. Taking the time to thoroughly research the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s requirements will help students better tailor their med school application.
This article covers:
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Rankings
- Medical Programs at OUHCOM
- Selection Factors: What OUHCOM Looks for in an Applicant
- Academic Requirements
- OUHCOM Acceptance Rate, Class Profile, and More
- OUHCOM Tuition and Cost of Attendance
- AMCAS Primary Application and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application
- Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine Secondary Application: Essay Prompts, Sample Answers, and Advice
- Medical School Admissions Consulting
- Voluntary Healthcare Internships Abroad
Personalized Help
At International Medical Aid, we understand how tough it can be to begin navigating through the med school application process. Students often feel stressed and overwhelmed as each college has different applications and academic requirements. If you begin to feel overwhelmed by the application process, consider seeking the professional aid and guidance of our trusted medical school admissions consulting service.
Our medical school admission consultants are here to help aspiring medical professionals navigate the application process, curate a competitive application, and offer constructive feedback on areas for potential improvement.
Why Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine?
OUHCOM is a university dedicated to helping better the quality of medical care available to Ohio residents. Through their mission of training osteopathic primary care providers, they seek to make the healthcare landscape in Ohio better for future generations.
The college has several campuses across Ohio, with the primary one being in Athens, a well-known college town within the state. The other two campuses are located in Cleveland and Dublin. In recent years, the college has improved upon the medical education facilities at their Athens campus to further better the education of their students. Beginning in 2018, the university began implementing their new curriculum which is part of their strategic initiative plan. This strategic plan sets key milestones for the college for the next 5 years with the goal of bettering the entirety of the university and curriculum by 2030.
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Rankings
- #95 Best Medical Schools: Research
- #78 Best Medical Schools: Primary Care
- #94 Most Diverse Medical Schools
- #131 Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
- #14 Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields
- #21 Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas
Medical School Programs at OUHCOM
If you are considering applying to the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, it is essential that you do your due diligence and research all of the available programs they offer.
The university offers an array of medical and clinical education programs including DO programs and dual degree options.
For this guide, we are going to focus on the variety of dual degree programs offered by the university and briefly discuss the undergraduate DO program offered too.
Undergraduate Medical Education (DO)
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a wide range of DO programs, including an undergrad DO program. This undergrad DO program may be an ideal option for students who have yet to attend undergrad and feel they are likely to select OUHCOM for grad school as they can receive all of their medical education from one institution.
The majority of a student’s education during years 1 and 2 of this program takes place in the classroom at one of the 3 available campus locations. During years 3 and 4 students relocate to clinical campus sites. Classroom learning emphasizes authentic learning experiences in which students can apply concepts learned through self-directed and lab-based study.
Students enrolled in the program follow the Pathways of Health and Wellness Curriculum which is a 4-year osteopathic curriculum. The curriculum fosters both vertical and horizontal integration of foundation concepts and content. To learn more about the DO undergrad program, check out the OUHCOM website.
Dual Degree Programs
Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine offers 5 different dual degree programs. It is important to note that all dual degree programs offered through OUHCOM are DO not MD programs.
DO/PhD – The DO/PhD trains students to become physician-scientists, and combines training in both research and medicine. This program typically takes 7 years to complete.
DO/MBA – A DO/MBA program is best for students who want to combine medical education with training in managerial and financial expertise. This allows them to navigate the business side of the healthcare world and effectively operate medical practices.
DO/BME – Also referred to as a DO/MS, the DO/BME program is a dual degree program that leads to a master of science in biomedical engineering. This program takes approximately 5 years to complete.
DO/MPH – The DO/MPH program can be completed within 5 years and combines medical education was a master of public health degree.
DO/MGH – This program, similar to the DO/MPH combines a standard medical education with a degree in a broader context of health, with the MGH being a master of global health. Those who graduate from this program can often acquire positions with Doctors Without Borders, the CDC, and WHO.
Selection Factors: What the Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine Looks for in an Applicant
Students often want to know what a college is looking for in their ideal applicant. What a university wants to see on an application is going to vary from institution to institution, especially in terms of non-academic requirements.
For the vast majority of DO schools, the AOA Seven Core Competencies will be used as a guideline during the application review process. The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine states on their admissions website that the committee follows a holistic approach to reviewing applications. This means they look at a student’s application as a whole and try to view the big picture of who the student is both as a person and as a candidate for OUHCOM.
Application Requirements for Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
OUHCOM provides a list of all academic requirements for students who are hoping to apply for the upcoming school year.
GPA and MCAT Requirements for OUHCOM
The university states that the best predictors of an applicant’s future success in their program are a solid MCAT score and natural science GPA. Ideally, they like applicants to have a minimum score of 125 in each subsection of the MCAT and a natural science GPA of at least 3.6.
For the most recent class of matriculants, the average MCAT score was 504.50 with an overall range of 490 to 520. The matriculants had a cumulative GPA average of 3.68 with a science GPA average of 3.62 and a non-science GPA average of 3.77
Please keep in mind that Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine does not accept MCAT scores older than 3 years. If you have not taken an MCAT exam or will need to take the exam again due to the amount of time that has passed since you last took the MCAT, consider viewing upcoming test dates and registering as early as possible.
OUHCOM Letters of Recommendation
The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine recommends that applicants provide a letter of recommendation, but it is not required as part of the college’s application process. The university strongly encourages students to provide a LOR written by a pre-professional committee, DO, or another healthcare professional who is accurately able to speak to their suitability for the osteopathic medicine program.
Required Coursework for Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
OUHCOM provides a full list of their academic requirements for acceptance into one of the college’s DO programs. In addition to prerequisite courses, applicants must also have a baccalaureate degree or 90 semester hours of coursework from an accredited university and have a full academic year with a C or (2.0 to 4.0) in the following courses.
English – 6 Semester Hours or 9 Quarter Hours
Behavioral Science – 6 Semester Hours or 9 Quarter Hours
Biology/Zoology – 8 Semester Hours or 12 Quarter Hours
General Chemistry – 8 Semester Hours or 12 Quarter Hours
Organic Chemistry – 8 Semester Hours or 12 Quarter Hours
Physics – 8 Semester Hours or 12 Quarter Hours
Does Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Require the CASPer exam?
The CASPer exam is an online test provided by Altus and is an open-response situational judgment test. The exam is required by some colleges similar to how the MCAT is required.
As of 2022, OUHCOM does not require applicants to complete the CASPer test.
OUHCOM Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics
The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has an overall acceptance rate of 7% which is higher than the average med school acceptance rate. Let’s review some of the stats for the most recent class of matriculants.
- 4,944 Students Applied
- 348 Were Accepted
- 249 Enrolled in a Program at OUHCOM
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Tuition and Cost of Attendance
Aside from the standard fees and tuition associated with medical school, students will need to budget for incidental expenses, living expenses, and various other miscellaneous costs. The financial aid office of OUHCOM has provided the estimated 2022-2023 tuition cost.
Keep in mind that non-resident students have to pay an additional tuition fee of $8,056 on top of the $18,905 tuition cost.
Year 1:
- $40,366 Tuition Cost
- $34,370 Living Costs, Personal, and Miscellaneous
- $74,736 Total for Ohio Residents and $90,848 for Non-Residents
Year 2:
- $40,366 Tuition Cost
- $31,964 Living Costs, Personal, and Miscellaneous
- $72,330 Total for Ohio Residents and $88,442 for Non-Residents
Year 3:
- $60,166 Tuition Cost
- $39,534 Living Costs, Personal, and Miscellaneous
- $99,700 Total for Ohio Residents and $123,710 for Non-Residents
Year 4:
- $60,166 Tuition Cost
- $44,511 Living Costs, Personal, and Miscellaneous
- $104,677 Total for Ohio Residents and $128,687 for Non-Residents
AMCAS Primary Application and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application
An AMCAS application is the primary application you will be sending out to medical schools. The AMCAS application is accepted by most med schools within the United States, and it typically takes 4 to 6 weeks for each college to review your primary application.
Once a university has reviewed your primary application, they will determine if they’d like to invite you to complete a secondary application. Secondary application typically contain essay prompts and questions that help a college determine if you are a good fit for the school.
If you fail to meet any of a college’s requirements, you will not be invited to complete a secondary application.
OUHCOM Secondary Application: Essay Prompts, Sample Answers, and Advice
When applying to any medical school in the United States, you will likely be asked to complete the school’s unique secondary application. This application helps the school’s admissions committee develop a better understanding of who you are as a candidate. While the questions on secondary applications are highly individualized to each university, we can offer some general tips to help you perfect your essay responses.
- Thoroughly read all prompts and be sure to address all parts of the prompt if it asks more than 1 question.
- Support your answers with a variety of concrete evidence from your extracurricular, professional, and academic experiences.
- Provide unique information that you did not previously state in you AMCAS application.
- Edit and proofread all of your answers.
- Be sure to write in a clear and concise manner.
- Consider using IMA’s medical school admissions consulting services.
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s secondary application includes 3 short answer prompts (250 words or less) and instructs you to choose one of the 3 prompts to answer. The application also requires you to complete an essay (no more than 500 words).
Essay #1
Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?
This is one of the 3 short answer prompts and focuses on helping the committee learn more about you in terms of your morals and values.
Here is a sample short answer response:
I spent the majority of early development years in my small hometown which has a population of roughly 400. The primary demographic of those who reside there are those in their 30s and 40s with young families and older couples who are now empty nesters. As most can imagine, the demographic of this town lends itself to creating a very family oriented environment. In addition to holding family in high regards, the majority of those who live here are blue collar workers and instill their strong work ethic into their kids.
The primary core value I received while growing up here was an exceptional work ethic and strong commitment to one’s chosen career path. These values correlate to what I hope to bring to the table as a future primary care physician as I want to dedicate myself and my passion to helping those in need, in both my professional and personal life.
Essay #2
There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?
This short answer prompt is an excellent way to make a personal connection with the admissions committee and further discuss your motivations for pursuing the medical career.
Here is a sample short answer response:
My path to medical school has been quite the unique journey and is one I am very passionate about. Starting at a young age I was very adamant about helping my peers and fostering as many animals as I could. Initially, my compassionate spirit towards animals led me to want to pursue vet med, but my plans shifted when my sister became ill during my high school years.
She had unexpectedly became very sick and we spent months bouncing from hospital to hospital, with many doctors not knowing what was wrong with her or how to help ease her symptoms. Seeing my sister in such tremendous amounts of pain, led me to want to help her in any way I could. I tried to research as much as possible about her symptoms and possible home remedies to ease her struggles. Even though I didn’t have the medical knowledge needed to help her, I knew that one day I would obtain that knowledge and help others.
Essay #3
Part of OUHCOM’s mission is to embrace diversity and public service and improve the health and wellbeing of underserved populations. Describe what that means to you and how you would contribute to that mission as a student and as a future physician.
The final short answer prompt on the secondary application asks you to share what it means to embrace diversity in healthcare and how you intend to do so in your career and as a student.
Here is a sample short answer response:
Embracing diversity and improving the health and wellbeing of underserved populations to men means doing whatever necessary and within one’s power to make the lives of those who are part of marginalized populations better through the healing power of medicine and public service.
As a medical student, I aim to do so by partaking in as many volunteer and community service experiences as possible, whether the experience in medical based or something as simple as working in a soup kitchen for the day. Upon becoming a physician, I will continue to help improve the lives of underserved populations by continuing to volunteer my free time and by setting up a primary care practice in a rural area where there is not currently many medical care options.
Essay #4
Please submit a short essay (500 words or fewer) describing how this path would support your career goals. Please name this file using the following format: “last name, first name, dual degree essay.
This short essay is required for all applicants. Your response should focus on how receiving an education from OUHCOM will help you achieve your career goals.
Here is a sample essay answer:
Attending the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is the education path that will best help me achieve my career goals as many of my goals align with the teachings and mission of OUHCOM. The college’s commitment to the TOUCH Program is exceptionally inspiring to me, and I want to help better the lives of others by taking part in the TOUCH Program as well.
Ultimately, my goal for my career is to work in or run my own OMM clinic. The values that OUHCOM instills in its students supports what these clinics are all about, and to work at or run a successful OMM clinic, you must recieve a top-notch osteopathic primary care education.
After learning more about the curriculum of Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, I believe the college offers the best of the best in osteopathic medicine, and I can not see myself fulfilling my career goals without study at OUHCOM.
Medical School Admissions Consulting
One of the hardest parts of medical school is actually applying to medical school. Students must learn how to navigate various exams such as the MCAT and prep their primary application, then fill out secondary applications. Not to mention interviewing for a spot in the program. At IMA we understand that this process is tough and time consuming, so we want to help ease the burden through our medical admissions consulting services.
Students who need some additional guidance applying to medical schools or just want constructive feedback on their applications can benefit from the help of a medical school admission consultant. To learn more about our medical school admissions consulting, visit our website.
Voluntary Healthcare Internships
Are you looking to add some additional internships and shadowing experience to your application? We recommend participating in one of our pre-med shadowing study abroad programs. These programs take place in various medically underserved locations across the globe and give you the chance to gain some hands-on experience to your med school applications.
In addition to sprucing up your application, you will receive a wealth of knowledge, memories, and insights that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.
Good Luck!
We want to wish all of you the best of luck as you navigate the medical school application process and eventually achieve your goals of becoming a physician, whether you choose an Ohio Osteopathic career, Ohio State Dermatology, Ohio State Orthopedic career, or any of the other medical specialties. Remember to be strategic about your applications, take your time, and do no hesitate to reach out for help if you feel you may need it.
If you want to learn more about Ohio medical schools and various programs like Ohio State Dermatology and Ohio State Orthopedics or you just want to know “what are the best medical schools near me” remember to check out our other ultimate medical school guides.
- Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- University of Toledo College of Medicine
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
- Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM)
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS)
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU)
- A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- University of Missouri Medical School
- Kansas City University (KCU)
- UMKC School of Medicine
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- Case Western Medical School
- University of North Carolina Medical School
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- Emory University School of Medicine
- Boston University College of Medicine
- California University of Science and Medicine
- UC San Diego Medical School
- California Northstate University College of Medicine
- Touro University of California
- CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
- UC Davis School of Medicine
- Harvard Medical School
- UC Riverside School of Medicine
- USC Keck School of Medicine
- UT Southwestern Medical School
- Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio
- University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
- UT Austin’s Dell Medical School
- UTMB School of Medicine
- McGovern Medical School at UT Health
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- McGovern Medical School at UT Health
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
- UNT Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
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- Texas A&M College of Medicine
- Johns Hopkins Medical School
- Baylor College of Medicine
- George Washington University School of Medicine
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- St. George’s University School of Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (in Pennsylvania)
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- Western University of Health Sciences (in California)
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Yale School of Medicine
- Perelman School of Medicine
- UCLA Medical School
- NYU Medical School
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- Brown Medical School
