616: Inside DO Admissions: What the Osteopathic World Wants You to Know

(00:00) — Welcome and origin story: Kyle’s path into med ed without being a physician (00:46) — Early admissions work and philosophy: get students into—and out of—med school (02:58) — What AACOM’s VP of UME Services does: support across 71 DO locations (04:48) — Admitted-to-M1 is hard: student services and reps supporting the transition (05:12) — Time in the DO space: Marian start and osteopathic focus since 2018 (06:38) — Biggest shift: single match and what’s improved (and what hasn’t) (10:07) — USMLE vs COMLEX: bias, requirements, and what applicants should weigh (12:33) — Data points: general surgery study, plus primary care ~55% context (16:51) — Advocacy update: the FAIR Act and reporting for federally funded programs (20:17) — The DO deposit debate: amounts, rationale, and potential changes (25:32) — Should you apply to DO schools? Choose by fit, curriculum, and support (31:01) — AACOMAS streamlining: 700-character experiences and tech to cut tedium (33:56) — Personal statements: copy/paste and when to add DO-specific experience (38:03) — Financial aid shift: Grad PLUS elimination and new student resources (40:19) — School-backed loans and lender partnerships: protecting students (43:40) — Final takeaways: faculty support, fit, and thriving as a DO or MD Dr. Ryan Gray welcomes Kyle Hattenberg, AACOM’s VP of Undergraduate Medical Education Services, for a practical look at DO admissions, advocacy, and student support. Kyle explains his new role supporting 71 osteopathic locations, including work on AACOMAS and student services to smooth the admitted-to-M1 transition. They unpack the single match era, persistent USMLE/COMLEX bias, and how AACOM is pushing for equal consideration—highlighting the FAIR Act, which would require federally funded programs to report on accepting and reviewing both DO and MD applicants. They tackle hot-button issues like nonrefundable deposits ($1,500–$3,000), why schools use them, and ongoing conversations about change—plus Kyle’s advice to contact schools for hardship considerations. Kyle previews AACOMAS streamlining, including aligning the experience section to 700 characters and leveraging technology to reduce tedious data entry. He clarifies personal statement strategy and when DO-specific experiences belong. Finally, they address the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan, with AACOM building financial wellness resources, hiring dedicated support, and exploring partnerships, while noting that some schools already offer school-backed loans. The episode closes with guidance to choose schools based on fit, curriculum, and support—because thriving in medical school comes first. What You'll Learn: - How AACOM supports applicants and 71 osteopathic locations - What the single match means for DOs and where bias persists - FAIR Act goals and what programs may need to report - Upcoming AACOMAS tweaks, including 700-character activities - Deposit realities, Grad PLUS changes, and funding options