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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

Western University COMP (DO) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Pomona, CA, United StatesEstablished 1977Interviews September–FebruaryDecisions Rolling admissions
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Full guide

How to get into Western University COMP (DO) medicine

Step-by-step: entry requirements, MCAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.

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Interview guide

Prepare for the Western University COMP (DO) interview

Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.

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Overview

About Western University COMP (DO)

Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (WesternU COMP), founded in 1977, is one of the only osteopathic medical schools on the US West Coast. Located in Pomona, California, it serves California's large healthcare workforce needs and has a campus in Lebanon, Oregon (COMP-Northwest). The school is part of Western University of Health Sciences, a health sciences university with pharmacy, dental, and other health professions programs.

What makes it different

Applications via AACOMAS. WesternU COMP is the primary DO pipeline for California — graduates frequently remain in California for residency, serving the state's large and diverse patient population. The interprofessional campus model is genuinely distinctive among DO schools.

Course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year DO program integrating OMM throughout. WesternU's interdisciplinary campus enables interprofessional education with pharmacy, dental, and physical therapy students. Clinical rotations in Years 3–4 at California community hospitals and affiliated sites.

Research strengths

Western University COMP (DO) has notable research strength in Osteopathic manipulative medicine, Geriatrics, Rural health, Interprofessional education.

Interview

Western University COMP (DO) interviews via Traditional one-on-one faculty interview.

Intake

Approximately 320 students per year across Pomona (~227) and Northwest (~95) campuses.

At a glance

Founded in 1977, based in Pomona, CA. Programmes offered: Primary Care, Family Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Rural Medicine, Geriatrics.

Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Western University COMP (DO)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. AACOMAS application. CASPer is not required. California location makes it highly competitive; strong GPA and MCAT expected. Healthcare experience and DO shadowing required.
MCAT median
507 (range 501–513)
GPA median
3.74 overall / 3.57 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
4.8%
Class size
322
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Healthcare experience, DO shadowing, osteopathic philosophy, interprofessional collaboration.
Notes
MCAT/GPA hedged estimates from publicly available WesternU and AACOMAS data.
Specialities offered
Primary Care, Family Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Rural Medicine, Geriatrics
Interview

How Western University COMP (DO) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional one-on-one faculty interview
Interview window
September–February
Decision date
Rolling admissions
Post-interview chances
Approximately 25–35% post-interview (estimated).
Tutor insight
California-based applicants who want to practice in California should prioritize WesternU COMP. Interviewers look for a mature understanding of osteopathic philosophy and specific healthcare experiences. Given the competitive California applicant pool, a strong MCAT and GPA is important — do not discount WesternU as a "safety" school.
Practice

Practise for your Western University COMP (DO) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to Western University COMP (DO)

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Western University COMP (DO)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

HardPanel · MMIQ1

US Healthcare Ethics: Physician-Assisted Death and Medical Aid in Dying

"Medical aid in dying (MAID) is now authorised in fourteen US jurisdictions: twelve states with statutes — Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Delaware, Illinois and New York — plus the District of Columbia, and Montana, where the practice is permitted not by statute but by the state Supreme Court's 2009 ruling in Baxter v. Montana. The three newest laws are very recent: Delaware (signed May 2025, in force 1 January 2026), Illinois (signed December 2025, in force September 2026) and New York (signed 6 February 2026, in force 5 August 2026), so the Illinois and New York statutes are enacted but not yet operative.", where a terminally ill, mentally competent adult with a prognosis of six months or less can request a lethal prescription. A terminally ill patient in one of these states tells you she is seriously considering requesting MAID. How do you respond clinically and as a matter of professional ethics?

Likely follow-up · What is the difference between medical aid in dying, euthanasia, and palliative sedation — and does the distinction matter morally?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
MediumMMI · PanelQ2

AAMC Core Competency: Teamwork and Interprofessional Collaboration

During a hospital volunteering shift, you observe a disagreement between a nurse and a resident physician about the dosing of pain medication for a post-operative patient. The nurse believes the prescribed dose is too low and the patient is in unnecessary distress; the resident insists the dose is appropriate and walks away without further discussion. You are neither a nurse nor a physician. What do you do, and what does this scenario reveal about the importance of interprofessional teamwork in patient safety?

Likely follow-up · How would your approach change if you were a medical student on that rotation rather than a volunteer?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
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FAQ

Western University COMP (DO) — frequently asked questions

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