Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Admissions
The University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) evaluates applicants for admissions on individual demonstration of scholastic abilities, motivation to practice osteopathic medicine in New England, and emotional intelligence necessary to study and practice osteopathic medicine.
Enrollment in the D.O. Program assumes certain essential cognitive, emotional, and technical skills. In addition to the academic admissions requirements, the Academic Policies and Technical Standards delineate the abilities and skills that degree candidates must possess to engage safely and competently in required learning activities.
Academic and Technical Standards
Student Rights and Responsibilities
As part of its review, the UNE COM Committee on Admissions evaluates each applicant in the areas of personal and academic integrity and personal values. An invitation to join the UNE COM community indicates that the institution believes that the applicant has a well-developed set of values and a high level of integrity. The faculty and administration are committed to fostering this integrity and to developing students' increasing awareness of the multifaceted demands of professionalism as student physicians who are ultimately responsible for their own learning, as people who need to reflect and reappraise themselves consistently and honestly, and as future physicians who must learn to cope with an ever-evolving set of demands.
Student physicians are expected to behave professionally and ethically with respect and integrity, to face new situations and people with open minds, to maintain their intellectual and personal curiosity, and to meet their obligations. These expectations form the basis of student responsibilities.
Likewise, student rights are based on the premise of reciprocity. Students should expect to be met with the same sense of integrity, respect, and openness.
Statement on the UNE COM Student Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Policy
The proper practice of medicine requires the physician to maintain an unwavering standard of professionalism and ethics. The medical student, by accepting the invitation to join the medical profession, acknowledges their responsibility to uphold these high standards.
Ethics are a body of moral values that govern a particular group. The terms ethical and unethical used in this document pertain to what is right and wrong.
Any violation of the UNE COM Student Ethics Code can result in referral to Committee on Student Progress (CSP) and may result in probation, course failure, and/or dismissal.
Professionalism is the behaviors and attitudes and individual exhibits within a particular profession. The UNE COM Student Professional Conduct Policy was designed to set a minimum standard of behaviors society should reasonably expect of a physician in training.
Professionalism is one (1) of the competencies assessed and graded in each course. Failure to learn and meet expectations for professionalism can lead to a grade of unsatisfactory (U) or failure (F). Details are provided in course syllabi. In some cases, including unprofessional behaviour outside of the curriculum, a referral to the Committee on Student Progress (CSP) will be made. CSP will recommend what actions should be taken. The appropriate Associate Dean will render a decision.
It is the responsibility of all UNE COM students to:
- Uphold and have knowledge of university policy including the Conduct Rules and Regulations as defined in the UNE Student Handbook
- Abide by the UNE COM Student Code of Ethics
- Abide by the UNE COM Student Professional Conduct Policy
- Abide by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Code of Ethics
UNE COM Student Code of Ethics
A UNE COM student will:
- Act honorably and honestly at all times
- Not tolerate dishonest or deceptive actions
- Confront or report any dishonest behavior
UNE COM Professional Student Conduct Policy
Satisfactory completion of the curricular requirements for graduation from the University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM), includes the demonstration of acceptable professional behavior and conduct. Students must meet the standards as outlined in the COM Student Handbook Supplement and uphold the Code of Ethics throughout all years of UNE COM training to maintain eligibility for graduation.
Registration
The University conducts a registration confirmation for students during the initial days of each term. Students are expected to have finalized payment of tuition and related fees, including filing appropriate documents and photos with the following offices: Registrar, Student Financial Services, Business Affairs, and Recruitment, Students & Alumni Services by their respective due dates.
Individuals who fail to confirm program registration by the established process and deadline may be administratively withdrawn from the program. Students may request special consideration, and if approved will be assessed a late registration fee and will not be allowed to participate in any learning activities until the requirement is completed.
Students must be cleared by a background check and immunization compliance prior to matriculation. Additional background checks will be required prior to the start of rotations and prior to certain clerkship rotations in year four (4). Students failing to comply may be administratively withdrawn from the program.
Academic Records
Complete records and related documents are maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Under the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students have the right to review and inspect all education records pertaining to their academic enrollment. However, letters of recommendation submitted on the basis of a pledge of confidentiality prior to January 1, 1975, need not be shown to students, and a student may be allowed but not required to waive their right of access to letters of recommendation received after that date. FERPA requires post-secondary institutions to provide students not only access to official records directly related to them, but also an opportunity for a hearing to challenge such records on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate. It is the right of students to file a complaint with the Department of Education concerning an alleged failure by an educational agency or institution to comply with Section 438 of the Act that guarantees such rights.
University students wishing to review their records may do so by providing a written request to the Office of the Registrar.
Student Access and Annual Notification
FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records, specifically the right to:
- Inspect and review the student's education records within forty-five (45) days of the day the University receives a request for access. The student should submit to Registration Services a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The office will notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
- Request the University to amend the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. The student should write to the University Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record they wish to be changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If it is determined not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding hearing procedures will accompany this notification.
- Consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One (1) exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff) ; a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, or assisting another school official in performing their task; or the Veterans Administration for students registered for various GI Bill programs. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibility.
- File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failure(s) by the University of New England to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 202024605
FERPA permits the University to disclose "directory information" without a student's consent. Directory information is defined as name, address, email address, telephone listing, photograph, date and place of birth, level of education, academic major, degrees, honors and awards received, and educational institutions in which a student was enrolled.
Active students who wish to have directory information withheld from release must do so in writing on a ‘per-academic-year’ basis. Request forms are available in Registration Services or Office of Recruitment, Student, and Alumni Services. Requests must be submitted prior to September 30 (if first-time enrollment for academic year is fall semester) or January 30 (if first-time enrollment for academic year is spring semester) to affect a "withhold" status.
Student Enrollment Status
The University of New England classifies student credit load status for the purposes of financial aid loan deferments. See enrollment classifications.
Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations (COMLEX-USA) are administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and are divided into three (3) levels. Levels one (1) and two (2) are completed during the predoctoral years and Level three (3) is given to qualified graduates during their first year of postgraduate (residency) training.
Details of student eligibility for the Level 1 examination are described in the COM Student Handbook Supplement. Students must pass COMLEX Level 1 as a condition to start core clinical rotations.
Students must take and pass the Level 2 CE examination as a condition of graduation.
Students are allowed a maximum of three (3) attempts to pass COMLEX-USA Level 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 2. Any student who fails to pass any individual component of the COMLEX-USA examination series after three (3) attempts will be recommended for dismissal from the college.
Students are allowed a maximum of six (6) years to complete all of the College of Osteopathic Medicine curriculum, including passage of COMLEX-USA Level 1, and Level 2 CE. At the conclusion of six (6) years, students who have not met all graduation requirements will be recommended for dismissal from the College.
Registration and scheduling of the exams is the responsibility of the student. Students should also plan to register and take the COMLEX-USA Level 1 and 2 (CE) with sufficient time allowed to receive exam results and be able to comply with any deadlines for clinical rotations or graduation. Students applying for residency should have registered for and taken COMLEX –USA Level 2 CE prior to the start of residency interviews. Students should plan on taking COMLEX-USA Level 2 no later than May 31st of their third year and COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE no later than July 31 of their fourth year. This timing should allow sufficient time to receive scores for residency interviews and allow time to meet graduation requirements. Students are responsible for being current in their knowledge of residency application guidelines and graduation requirements and take steps to ensure they meet all requirements in a timely manner. This may require registration and scheduling with NBOME up to twelve (12) months in advance. It is recommended that these exams be taken early enough to ensure that the exams are passed with sufficient time to allow for any necessary retesting.
Laptop Requirement
The College has instituted a mandatory laptop computer requirement. Specifics regarding the minimum configuration are updated and made available annually.
Course Grade Reporting
The process of determining grades and the criteria for passing a course are described explicitly in each course syllabus ratified by the Curriculum Advisory Committee (CAC) and posted prior to the beginning of the course.
A final course grade is determined by the course director and must comply with the standards and principles endorsed by the Curriculum Advisory Committee.
Important Application Dates
- For Program Starting: Summer 2025
- All applicants must apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS).
- AACOMAS Application Portal for summer 2025 admission open date: May 4, 2024
- Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Application process
- All verified applications submitted on or before the application deadline will undergo an initial preliminary review for minimum admission requirements.
- Qualified applicants will be invited to submit the UNE supplemental application fee.
- Applications will undergo secondary review upon receipt of the UNE supplemental application fee and required letters of recommendation.
- Highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a virtual interview. Interviews are conducted by invitation only.
- UNE communicates all status updates, notifications, and admissions decisions via email.
For specific academic dates, please view the UNE Academic Calendar.
Admissions Requirements
Application
The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine participates in the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOMAS) centralized application service. All applicants are required to apply online through this service.
Applications for admission are reviewed holistically by the UNE COM Committee on Admissions based on compatibility with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of UNE COM and a combination of GPA, academic record, MCAT scores, applicant interview, and lived experiences.
Degree Requirement
Completion of ninety (90) semester hours or 75% credit progress towards a bachelor’s degree, to be earned at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university, or international equivalent, at time of application. Undergraduate degree must be conferred with official transcripts submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment prior to matriculation.
- All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to AACOMAS. Please refer to the AACOMAS Help Center for additional information and instructions.
GPA Requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 at the time of application, as calculated by AACOMAS (inclusive of all coursework taken with no forgiveness for retakes)*.
- Minimum science GPA of 2.8 at the time of application, as calculated by AACOMAS (inclusive of all coursework taken with no forgiveness for retakes)*.
- All applicants must meet minimum GPA requirements to be considered for admission.
*The average GPAs for those offered admission to UNE COM are well above published minimums.
Prerequisite Coursework Requirements
Course Subject | Course Credits | Course Details |
---|---|---|
Biology | 8 semester or 12 quarter credits | Labs Required |
Inorganic Chemistry | 8 semester or 12 quarter credits | Labs Required |
Physics | 8 semester or 12 quarter credits | Labs Required |
Organic Chemistry | 4 semester or 6 quarter credits | Lab Required |
Biochemistry | 3 semester or 4 quarter credits | Lab Not Required |
English/Humanities | 6 semester or 9 quarter credits | UNE COM will only accept coursework in the following subjects, as classified by the UNE COM English Humanities Prerequisite Subject List (PDF) |
Additional Recommended Courses
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Cell/Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Math/Statistics
- Microbiology
- Behavioral Sciences
- Humanities
Other Prerequisite Coursework Considerations
- Pass/Fail courses are accepted for prerequisite courses taken in spring 2020 only.
- All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of C or better (C- grades are not acceptable).
- Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test credit can be accepted towards prerequisite requirements. To apply AP or IB test credits towards prerequisite requirements, the credits must be broken down by subject on the undergraduate transcript. An official letter from the University Registrar, including subject breakdown, is also acceptable.
- Prerequisite courses may be in-progress or planned at the time of application. However, all courses must be completed by January 1, 2025, with an official transcript submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment prior to the start of the program.
All planned or in-progress coursework must be listed on the AACOMAS application at the time of application submission; not doing so will result in the applicant not meeting all admissions requirements and therefore will not be eligible for admission review.
Online courses offered through UNE’s Online Science Prerequisites as well as online courses from other regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities are acceptable.
Standardized Tests
Completion of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required.
- Although UNE COM does not have a minimum score requirement, highly competitive applicants typically score in the 50th percentile or higher.
- Official MCAT score reports must be submitted directly to AACOMAS from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). MCAT Score Report
- The MCAT must have been taken between January 2022 and January 2025.
Letters of Evaluation
Three (3) letters of evaluation are required – submitted via AACOMAS
The UNE COM Committee on Admissions seeks evaluation letters that outline a holistic description of the applicant, including information on student engagement (especially teamwork within academic settings), interpersonal skills, character, and professionalism.
- UNE COM prefers that all letters of evaluation be submitted directly through AACOMAS.
- Evaluation letters from Interfolio are acceptable, as long as the letter is sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admission by the letter writer.
- Letters from friends or family members are not acceptable.
- Preferred sources of evaluations include Pre-Health Committee Advisor, Pre-Health Advisor, a faculty member with substantial knowledge of the applicant, a direct supervisor with substantial knowledge of the applicant, or a health care professional with substantial knowledge of the applicant (preferably physicians). Letters from an Osteopathic Physician (D.O.) are recommended but not required.
- Most successful applicants submit letters that characterize and reflect their most recent academic, clinical, and community engagement experiences.
Personal Statement
Please refer to the AACOMAS application for UNE COM-specific writing prompts and additional instructions.
Interviews
Interview sessions are held from September to March and are done by invitation only. Interviews are a required part of the application process.
UNE COM reserves the right to adjust interview dates, modalities, and processes as needed. Applicants will be notified immediately if changes to the format or timing of interviews occur at any point during the cycle.
International Applicants
International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:
- Official credential evaluation by World Education Service (WES), confirming degree and grade/course equivalency to that of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Please submit the WES ICAP course-by-course evaluation. The completed credential evaluation should be sent directly to AACOMAS. Please refer to the International Admissions section of the UNE website for more information on the type of credential evaluation required for admission review.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of an English language proficiency test.
- Applicants should refer to the English Language Proficiency page on the UNE website for specific information and minimum score requirements.
- Please refer to the AACOMAS application for test score submission instructions.
Other Requirements
Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following compliance requirements or may have their acceptance offer rescinded without return of deposit:
- Completion of physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to UNE’s Student Health Center for detailed information.
- Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by UNE COM and clinical training sites).
- All students must have the ability to meet all Academic and Technical Standards of UNE COM.
- UNE follows AACOMAS traffic rules, with notification dates and deadlines structured as such.
All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.
Policy Exceptions
- Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs
- All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements
- Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates
Transfer Credit
- Students in good standing at other Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine may apply for transfer admission into the third year of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at UNE.
- For more information on the transfer process please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment.
Advanced Standing
- No advanced standing placement is available.
Experiential Learning
- No credit is awarded for experiential learning.
Contact
Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment
Office Hours
Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Portland Campus for the Health Sciences
Girard Innovation Hall, room 254
716 Stevens Ave.
Portland, ME, 04103
(207) 221-4225
gradadmissions@bianlifan.com
D.O. Admissions FAQ
You will receive an email confirming receipt of your verified application from the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment. All communication from Graduate Admissions and Recruitment will be sent to the email address listed on your AACOMAS application. If you wish to check the status of your application please email the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment.
There are no quotas for Maine or New England students. Prospective students from all geographic regions are encouraged to apply for admission.
Yes, updates can be made post-submission. Experiences can be added, but edits of previously submitted information is not allowed. Coursework can be updated during the Academic Update Period(s) for GPA recalculation. Coursework added outside of Academic Update Periods will not affect GPA calculations. Applicants are encouraged to submit update or new MCAT scores to AACOMAS via AAMC. See more information about updating your AACOMAS application
Applicants reapplying to UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine need to resubmit all application materials for any new cycle in which they apply, including: primary CAS application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, written statements and responses, fees and payments, and any additional required documentation. Applicants should also actively update their experiences, extracurricular activities, clinical involvement, and volunteering each cycle as well, to reflect the most up-to-date engagement.