Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

College of Osteopathic Medicine
Office of Admissions
8401 S. Chambers Rd.
Parker, CO 80134
Phone: (303) 373-2008 Fax: (720) 875-2875
E-mail: admissions@rockyvistauniversity.org
 
Description
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) was founded to educate osteopathic physicians and prepare them to meet the diverse needs of their patients. It is our goal and standard that upon graduation, our students will be qualified to enter any medical specialty. Our emphasis, however, is the training of students who are committed to entering community-based and primary care disciplines to meet the needs of those who are underserved or disadvantaged in Colorado and the Mountain West Region. We are committed to producing graduates who are not only knowledgeable and skilled, but who also are ethical, compassionate, holistic and patient-centered. It is our goal that all RVUCOM students will respect the traditions of osteopathic prin-ciples, philosophy and heritage and will become well-rounded physicians equipped to meet the needs of patients today and into the future.

Mission Statement
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine College of Osteopathic Medicine is committed to the education of osteo-pathic physicians who are dedicated to excellence in the practice of medicine, and demonstrate integrity and professionalism in their lives while providing ethical, compassionate, holistic and culturally competent osteopathic medical care to their patients.
Setting: Parker, Colorado; Suburban
Date Founded: 2006; Private

Accreditation
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine College of Osteopathic Medicine holds provisional accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
2009-2010 Enrollment
Total medical school enrollment: 312 Total male: 158
Total female: 154 First-year enrollment: 162 First-year male: 84 First-year female: 78
Total enrollment affiliate institutions: N/A
Curricular Offerings
•    Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Degree.
 
•    RVUCOM has a dedicated faculty; established affiliations with medical centers, hospitals and health care systems; a structured and supported rural medicine program; and a mission to edu-cate the finest osteopathic physicians possible.
 
•    The design of the curriculum is based on suc-cessful integrated academic models. It empha-sizes interdisciplinary collaboration, guiding students to develop a holistic, and more impor-tantly, an osteopathic approach to medicine. In utilizing a systems approach to medical education, basic biomedical science disciplines are integrated with clinical sciences in a fashion that reflects clinical relevancy, rather than bro-ken down artificially into individual disciplines. RVUCOM continually correlates basic scientific information and methodology with fundamen-tal clinical application. Students are exposed to clinical settings in their first semester, which gives them the opportunity to prepare for the “real world” of medicine. We believe that by adding early clinical exposure and active learn-ing in a team or small-group setting early in the curriculum, we will strengthen the students’ ability to think critically, solve clinical prob-lems and develop the skills they will require
 
to continue to learn throughout their career. Professionalism and ethics are key components for a physician and are emphasized throughout the entire curricular experience at RVUCOM.
 
•    Students are placed at one of our regional cen-ters throughout the state to ensure continuity and coordination of clinical education within RVU’s vast and growing clinical training net-work. The innovative curriculum is designed to fulfill our mission of training students who are competent and ready to enter graduate medical education and training, with an emphasis on preparing students to become primary care physicians.
 
•    A notable aspect of the clinical program is a required two-month rotation in a rural practice setting. RVUCOM students participate in providing health care to medically underserved and indigent patients in rural clinics through-out the state of Colorado and the Mountain West Region. RVUCOM students learn to treat various patients whose lifestyles, practices and attitudes toward health care differ from those seen in more traditional training sites.


Combined Degree Programs
Baccalaureate/DO: No
DO/MA: No
DO/MS: No
DO/MPH: No
DO/MBA: No
DO/JD: No
DO/PhD: No
Special Programs
•    International Medicine Programs: Being developed
Preparatory Programs
Post baccalaureate program: No
Summer program(s): No
Facilities
A state-of-the-art 145,000 sq. foot educational facil-ity has been constructed to advance the education of RVUCOM students and graduates. RVUCOM has designed and equipped a standardized patient lab that is based on the requirements established for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners as well as the United States Medical Licensing Examination. An extensive simulator laboratory and computer graphics programs are available to provide students with the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, competencies and confidence. The auditoriums, laboratories, study and learning areas of the college have been engi-neered to develop a positive learning environment.

Application Information
Primary application service: AACOMAS
Earliest filing date: Opening date of AACOMAS
Latest filing date:* 3-15-2011
*For best consideration, applicants should submit their AACOMAS application at least four weeks prior to this school’s latest filing date.
Academic year/orientation for first-year students start date: 8-1-2011 (tentative)
International students (non-US citizens or temporary residents) eligible: No
Supplemental Application
Supplemental application required: Yes
Sent to: Screened Applicants
Supplemental Application Fee: $50 Fee waiver available: Yes
Waiver conditions, if offered: AACOMAS waiver. A letter of verification from AACOMAS will be
required.
Supplemental app. earliest filing date: 6-1-2010 Supplemental app. latest filing date: 4-15-2011
Supplemental Application Requirements
•    To be eligible to receive a supplemental ap-plication, candidates’ AACOMAS application must reflect a minimum 2.50 science and over-all GPA. MCAT scores cannot be lower than 6 in any category.
 
•    The supplemental application fee is $50. The fee is non-refundable and non-waivable (except if the applicant provides documen-tation that they have been awarded an

AACOMAS waiver).
•    Prerequisite information, by subject in semes-ter hours: A minimum of 90 semester hours of accepted coursework is required. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university is preferred.
 
•    To complete their file, applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from a pre-health advisor or committee. In the event the ap-plicant attends a university which does not have an advisor, two (2) letters from science instructors may be substituted. Applicants are also required to provide a letter of recommen-dation from a physician (a letter from a DO is preferred).
 
•    All candidates must meet health and techni-cal standards as outlined in the university catalog to be admitted and to participate in the medical education programs of RVUCOM.
 
•    Criminal background check and a drug screen are required for accepted students.

MCAT
Oldest MCAT considered: April 2008 Accept September 2010 MCAT Scores: Yes Accept January 2011 MCAT scores: Yes
Additional Comments: In the event of multiple scores, the highest composite score will be considered provided no individual scores are below a 6.
Send Letters of Recommendation by:
Virtual Evals: Yes Interfolio: Yes Paper: Yes
Regular Acceptance Notice
Applicants will be requested to submit necessary
matriculation documents, including a deposit, according to the following AACOMAS traffic guideline schedule:
•    Those accepted prior to November 15 will have until December 14
 
•    Those accepted between November 15 and January 14 will have 30 days

•    Those accepted between January 15 and May 14 will have 14 days
 
•    Those accepted after May 15 may be asked for an immediate deposit
 
•    Earliest acceptance date:  8-1-2010
 
•    Latest acceptance date: Until class is filled
 
•     Maximum time for applicant to accept offer:
 
AACOMAS traffic guidelines.
 
•     Requests for deferred entrance considered: Yes
Early Decision Program (EDP)
EDP available for: Both residents and non-
residents
EDP applications due (must be received  from
AACOMAS): 9-1-2010
Supplemental materials due: 9-15-2010 Applicants notified: 10-16-2010
COM Interview Format
Low-stress, 25-minute interview with two - three member panel. Interviewers have access to personal statement, supplemental application and letters of recommendation. Academics have been prescreened and will be evaluated post interview by the admissions committee.
First-Year Class Matriculants’ Selection Factors
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent resi-dents. Supplemental applications will be sent only to candidates possessing a minimum of 2.5 science and overall GPAs and no individual score lower than a 6 on the MCAT. A letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician is required along with a committee/advisor letter (two letters from science instructors may be substituted in the event the university does not have a pre-health advisor or committee). RVUCOM seeks well-rounded, service-oriented individuals who can complete an academically rigorous curriculum and will help the college fulfill its mission.
RVUCOM assures equal opportunity to all students and applicants, regardless of sex, age, race, color, non-disqualifying disability, religion or creed, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and does not discriminate in administration of its educational policies, ad-missions policies, scholarship and loan programs or other school-administered programs.

First-Year Class Matriculants’
Self-Reported Race/Ethnicity:
Percentages are based on self-reported data and
therefore may not equal 100%.
American Indian or Alaska Native: 3% Asian: 5%
Black or African American: 4% Hispanic/Latino: 2%
White: 84%
Pacific Islander: 0%
First-Year Class Matriculants with:
Science Majors: 89% Non-Science Majors: 11% Baccalaureate degree: 100% Graduate degree(s): 13%

Premedical Coursework

Science
Course	Req.	Rec.	Lab	Sem. Hrs
Biology/Zoology	X		X	12
Biochemistry		X		3
Molecular
Biology		X
Genetics		X
Inorganic
Chemistry	X		X	8
Organic
Chemistry	X		X	8
Physics	X		X	8
Non-Science
Course	Req.	Rec.	Lab	Sem. Hrs
College

Financial Information

 

English

X

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