Admission Requirements

Burrell College employs an individualized, holistic admissions process designed to evaluate each applicant based on a broad range of academic and non-academic criteria relevant to success in medical education and the osteopathic profession. Admissions requirements for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program are applied consistently across the New Mexico and Florida campuses, and applications are welcomed from both in-state and out-of-state candidates.

The College does not make admissions decisions on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, age, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Race, ethnicity, or national origin are not used as admissions preferences, quotas, set-asides, numerical targets, or substitutes for individualized review. Each applicant is evaluated on their own merits, qualifications, preparation, experiences, attributes, and demonstrated potential to succeed.

Initial application screening considers multiple factors, including academic achievement, MCAT performance, prior education, completion of prerequisite coursework, letters of recommendation, and relevant medical, service, leadership, employment, research, and community experiences. While the College does not establish minimum MCAT or GPA thresholds, all academic indicators are carefully reviewed as part of a comprehensive assessment of readiness for the curriculum. Applicant information is evaluated using verified materials submitted through AACOMAS and the College’s secondary application process.

Candidates who meet pre-screening criteria and complete the secondary application may be invited to interview. Following the interview, the Admissions Selection Committee conducts a comprehensive, individualized review of the applicant’s academic record, experiences, application materials, and interviewer evaluations before rendering an admissions decision. The purpose of this process is to admit students who demonstrate the academic preparation, professionalism, service orientation, resilience, communication skills, and commitment to osteopathic medicine necessary to become exemplary physicians.

Prior to progressing in the Admissions process, applicants will be pre-screened for the following minimum requirements:

  • Current U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident
  • Submission of a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Score

Applicants who meet the minimum pre-screening requirements will be invited to complete and submit a secondary application. Applicants must submit the supplemental application to become eligible for further review.

Additional information concerning some of the further requirements and application directives:

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Applicants who are legal, permanent residents of the U.S. will be required to provide a copy of their permanent resident card prior to progressing in the admission process. If permanent residency status is revoked, abandoned or otherwise lost following matriculation, Burrell College shall not be held responsible nor liable in any way for claims, damages, losses, expenses or liabilities whatsoever, related to or arising from such student’s inability to complete, or any delay in completion of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree program.

  • The minimum recommended cumulative science grade point average (GPA) for applicants is a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  • The minimum recommended Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score for applicants is 496 or higher with no subsections lower than the 15th percentile. While MCAT scores will not be considered expired, applicants are advised to have an exam date within the three years prior to matriculation.

While there are no set minimum requirements for an MCAT score, science GPA, non-science GPA or overall GPA, each will still be reviewed when evaluating an applicant’s academic record. Applicants are encouraged to review average scores for matriculating students published each cycle on the College’s website. The College will follow the calculated grade point averages submitted in the verified AACOMAS application. For detailed information on how AACOMAS calculates GPAs, please visit the AACOM website.

  • Prior to matriculation, applicants are required to show completion of a baccalaureate degree, or equivalent, from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. In-progress degrees must be conferred and verified by an official transcript by no later than July 1 of the year of matriculation.
    • Applicants with baccalaureate degrees completed outside the U.S. or Canada must provide evidence of their degree equivalence to at least a U.S. baccalaureate degree. Please see guidelines for submitting foreign coursework evaluations in the section below.

Applicants are required to complete the following prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of “C” or higher:

  • Biology with lab 8 credit hours (or equivalent*)
  • General/Inorganic Chemistry with lab 8 credit hours** (or equivalent*)
  • Organic Chemistry with lab 8 credit hours** (or equivalent*)
  • Physics with lab 8 credit hours (or equivalent*)
  • Science elective 3 credit hours***

*Or equivalent to one year with laboratory component.
**Biochemistry hours may count towards fulfilling hour requirements for General/Inorganic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry or the Science Elective.
***Recommended courses to meet Science Elective prerequisite include advanced courses in behavioral sciences, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, human anatomy, immunology, molecular biology, neurosciences, physiology.

Applicants are recommended to complete the following coursework with a minimum grade of “C” or higher:

  • English courses 6 credit hours

Test credits (e.g., AP, IB) being used for prerequisite coursework must be verified with an official score report, institutional transcript, or other official documentation which can provide the specific course completed and number of credits received.

  • Applicants to the osteopathic medicine program must provide at least two letters of recommendation. Letters from the following sources are strongly recommended:
    • Pre-health Committee/Composite Letter (can be used to fulfill the requirement for two letters of recommendation)
    • A science professor who has taught or advised the applicant within the past three years
    • A physician (DO or MD) who is not related to the applicant
  • Applicants can submit up to ten letters. Additional recommended sources for letters of recommendation include:
    • A research advisor
    • A premedical or academic advisor
    • An individual who has observed the applicant in a volunteer, service, or care setting
    • An employment supervisor
  • Letters should be formatted on letterhead and include credentials. Letters from relatives will not satisfy the requirement. All letters of recommendation should be submitted via AACOMAS.

Applicants are encouraged to not only provide an account of academic merits, but to also provide details on any extracurricular, medical, non-medical, and/or community volunteer experience hours they have accumulated prior to applying.

Applicants with transcripts submitted from institutions outside the United States of America (U.S.) or Canada are required to have those transcripts evaluated for U.S. below equivalence. An official report must be sent from the service directly to AACOMAS. More information on submitting foreign transcripts via AACOMAS can be found in the AACOMAS Applicant Help Center.

Applicants to Burrell College’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program should carefully read the Minimal Technical standards found in the Catalog. Specific questions concerning Admission requirements should be directed to the Office of Admissions by phone at (575) 674-2210, or by email at admissions@burrell.edu.

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