Orlando COM (DO) Medical School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (Orlando COM) is one of the newest osteopathic medical schools in the United States, opening its inaugural class in August 2024 in Winter Garden, Florida (the Horizon West area of Orange County) within the greater Orlando healthcare corridor. The school was established to address Florida's growing physician shortage and Central Florida's rapid population growth. As an independent private institution, Orlando COM has a strong community health mission and has built clinical partnerships with Orlando-area health systems.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to Orlando COM (DO).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Applications via AACOMAS. CASPer requirement should be verified with the school — confirm current cycle secondary requirements. Healthcare shadowing with a DO physician expected. Competitive applicants demonstrate academic preparedness and genuine interest in osteopathic medicine.
MCAT median
504 (range 499–510)
GPA median
3.52 overall / 3.46 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
8.0%
Class size
115
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Osteopathic philosophy, community health commitment, DO shadowing, and academic readiness.
Notes
Estimates from publicly available Orlando COM and AACOMAS data; newer school — verify current cycle figures carefully.
Specialities offered
Primary Care, Community Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine
Interview Format
How Orlando COM (DO) interviews applicants.
Format
Traditional faculty and student panel interview
Interview window
September–March
Decision date
Rolling admissions
Post-interview chances
Approximately 25–40% post-interview (estimated; limited historical data for newer school).
What to expect at a Orlando COM (DO) interview
Orlando COM conducts traditional interviews at its Winter Garden, Florida campus, typically pairing a faculty/clinician session with a student panel segment, each approximately 30 minutes. The interview day includes a campus orientation, programme overview, and financial aid discussion. Questions focus on the applicant's osteopathic philosophy, understanding of Central Florida's healthcare landscape, commitment to community health, and readiness for a newer institution. Applicants should be prepared to articulate why they are drawn to a young, community-focused DO school.
What makes Orlando COM (DO) different
Applications via AACOMAS. Orlando COM is among the most recently established DO schools in the US, opening its inaugural class of 97 students in August 2024, offering applicants the chance to join an early class in a developing institution. Central Florida's enormous and diverse population base — including large Hispanic and immigrant communities — provides a rich community health training environment. Being a newer school means applicants should carefully research COCA accreditation status and clinical rotation infrastructure.
Tutor insight
Being a new school is both an opportunity and a consideration: interviewers will probe your comfort with an institution still building its reputation and clinical network. Demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for the school's mission and research its COCA accreditation status and clinical partners. CASPer requirements may vary — confirm before applying. Rolling admissions rewards early AACOMAS completion.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
595 medicine questions inside
Interview questions matched to Orlando COM (DO)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Orlando COM (DO)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Easy·PanelQ1
Holistic Review: Explaining a Gap Year to an Admissions Panel
You graduated with a biology degree, took one gap year to work as a medical scribe and prepare for the MCAT, and are now applying to medical school. Some of your peers went directly from undergraduate to application. How do you frame your gap year as an asset rather than a deficit, and what did you learn about medicine and yourself during that time?
Likely follow-up · How does the medical scribing experience — observing real patient encounters across specialties — compare to clinical volunteering in terms of preparation for medical school?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Hard·Panel · MMIQ2
Cultural Humility: Race-Based Medicine and Algorithmic Bias
Medical algorithms -- such as the kidney function estimation equation (eGFR) and the Vaginal Birth After Caesarean calculator -- have historically incorporated race as a variable. Research has shown that including race in these equations can systematically underestimate disease severity in Black patients, resulting in delayed specialist referrals and treatment. How do you think about the appropriate use of race in clinical medicine, and what does the removal of race from these algorithms mean for clinical practice?
Likely follow-up · What is the difference between biological race and socially assigned race, and why does that distinction matter for clinical decision-making?
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Applications via AACOMAS. CASPer requirement should be verified with the school — confirm current cycle secondary requirements. Healthcare shadowing with a DO physician expected. Competitive applicants demonstrate academic preparedness and genuine interest in osteopathic medicine.
Traditional faculty and student panel interview. Orlando COM conducts traditional interviews at its Winter Garden, Florida campus, typically pairing a faculty/clinician session with a student panel segment, each approximately 30 minutes. The interview day includes a campus orientation, programme overview, and financial aid discussion. Questions focus on the applicant's osteopathic philosophy, understanding of Central Florida's healthcare landscape, commitment to community health, and readiness for a newer institution. Applicants should be prepared to articulate why they are drawn to a young, community-focused DO school.
Orlando COM (DO) typically interviews in September–March.
Decisions are released Rolling admissions.
Applications via AACOMAS. Orlando COM is among the most recently established DO schools in the US, opening its inaugural class of 97 students in August 2024, offering applicants the chance to join an early class in a developing institution. Central Florida's enormous and diverse population base — including large Hispanic and immigrant communities — provides a rich community health training environment. Being a newer school means applicants should carefully research COCA accreditation status and clinical rotation infrastructure.
