3. If invited, complete the secondary application
The secondary application is obtainable by invitation only. Not all applicants will receive the secondary application. Once VCOM receives your AACOMAS application, your file will undergo an initial screening. Eligible applicants will be invited to complete a secondary application. Only one secondary application, along with a $30 application fee*, is necessary regardless of whether you apply to any VCOM campus. Whether you apply to only one or all four campuses, you will be given the opportunity to add additional campus preferences to be located at the Virginia, Carolinas, Auburn, or Louisiana campuses.
4. Submit letters of recommendation
VCOM requires a letter of recommendation from a pre-medical/pre-health committee or science faculty member who is the designated pre-medical advisor and/or who has taught the student and who is familiar with the academic work of the applicant. VCOM welcomes additional letters of support or recommendation from those who are acquainted with the student’s academic or professional ability.
If an applicant has worked with a physician in their volunteer or previous work experience, then a letter of recommendation from that physician is strongly recommended. Letters of recommendation from other volunteer or shadowing experiences are a plus.
VCOM will accept a personal letter of reference from a physician who is a family member; however, such letters will be counted as a personal reference and not as a formal physician letter of recommendation.
Letters of recommendation submitted directly to VCOM from the author, must be written on professional letterhead and signed. Letters of recommendation that are included as part of the pre-medical/pre-health committee packet or from an official evaluation collection service recognized by VCOM (Interfolio, AACOMAS letter service, an official college/university service) will be accepted without signature or letterhead as long as the letters are sent directly from the author to the pre-med advisor or evaluation service and they accept them as authentic.
VCOM provides evaluation forms as a courtesy for the osteopathic/allopathic physician, pre-medical/pre-health committee or science faculty member. Applicants are welcome to submit letters of recommendation in lieu of the evaluation forms. The forms are provided as a resource and are not required.
Osteopathic/Allopathic Physician Form (PDF)
VCOM will accept letters through:
- Interfolio
- AACOMAS letter service
- An official college/university service
- USPS
Please mail letters of recommendation (regardless of campus preference) to:
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Attn: Office of Admissions
2265 Kraft Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24060
5. Schedule your interview
Once your application is complete you will be considered for an interview. If chosen, you will be notified by phone or email to schedule an in-person interview at one of our VCOM campuses. Interviews are generally conducted August through April.
The Interview Day schedule typically includes:
- Greeting & Orientation Session about VCOM
- Admissions Interviews – Interviews with VCOM faculty or administration members
- Financial Aid session
- Tour of VCOM campus (typically by current VCOM students)
- Lunch with current students
- Tour of local area
- Admissions Wrap-Up
6. Check your application status
Once VCOM receives the AACOMAS application, the secondary application, a $30.00 processing fee, MCAT score, a letter of recommendation from a physician, and a letter of recommendation from a pre-medical/pre-health committee or science faculty member, your application is considered complete. VCOM will send you an electronic notification indicating the application is complete. If you feel your application is complete and you have not received this notification, once you have been invited for a Secondary Application you can check your status at https://admissions.vcom.edu using the temporary password that was sent to you in your invitation for secondary email. Allow two weeks from the date information is submitted to VCOM to be available online and inform us of any discrepancies.
NOTE: In the event you are applying to VCOM while completing coursework in summer or fall, please provide both VCOM and AACOMAS an updated transcript at the conclusion of each semester/trimester.