Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 32% of interviews, indicating it is moderately regarded. They found the interview mixed with a moderate stress level, and felt they did okay.
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as average stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about the applicant's interest in osteopathic medicine, study habits, leadership experiences, community involvement, handling stress, and ethical scenarios. Many responses also allude to an MMI format, suggesting that respondents may have been under a nondisclosure agreement regarding specific questions asked during the interview process.
Why do you want to be a doctor? What areas of medicine interest you and why? Tell us about when you first decided to become a physician. Tell us about your research/clinical significance. Did you receive any publication credit? Were you a coauthor?
Students said most interesting question asked at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a wide range of topics including personal motivations for pursuing medicine, handling ethical dilemmas, addressing opioid overprescription, managing time, and scenarios related to professionalism and patient care. While the responses varied, some may have been related to an MMI format, and respondents might have been under a nondisclosure agreement due to the nature of the questions asked.
All of them were interesting. It was very conversational, so questions really just naturally flowed.
As a new physician how will you go into an office full of nurses with 20+ years of experience and treat them with respect as well as asserting yourself as a leader?
Students said the most difficult questions asked at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine discussed a range of topics, including future goals, ethical dilemmas in medicine, leadership style, overprescribing opioids, vaccination decisions, academic readiness, and reasons for choosing osteopathic medicine. Some respondents noted challenges in explaining academic weaknesses, experiences with ethical/unethical situations, discussing personal weaknesses, and elaborating on controversial healthcare topics. Additionally, responses varied from specific academic difficulties to broader questions on the Affordable Care Act, influencing factors, and the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment in future practice.
Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Most applicants prepared for the interview by researching the school extensively through its website, talking to current students, and using resources like Student Doctor Network (SDN) for interview feedback and practice questions. Additionally, many applicants reviewed their applications, practiced common interview questions, and engaged in mock interviews with friends, family, or current medical students to prepare effectively.
SDN, review primary and secondary applications, review school website
I checked the last two years of the SND school-specific forums for other students' experiences, held 2-3 mock interviews with current medical students.
Applicants were consistently impressed by the friendly and supportive atmosphere at the school, the genuine personalities of staff and students, the extensive resources available, and the emphasis on student success. They also appreciated the welcoming and conversational interview process, the dedication of faculty, the quality of clinical rotations, and the overall positive environment of the campus. Suggestions were made to maintain the strong focus on student support and success, as well as to continue fostering a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for all.
The genuine personalities of everyone encountered. The campus as a whole.
What impressed me the most was the people. Everyone was so nice, and they took the time to explain several aspects of the school and curriculum. Being the planner that I am, I appreciated that. The school is beautiful (looks like a fancy hotel inside), and the simulation center is also very cool.
The clinical education, the fact that faculty are devoted to the school (undivided attention), their sim instructor is an MD, they were open to students applying to specialties outside of primary care, they design their curriculum for high board scores. Compared to other schools with high mandatory attendance, theirs is only 60% mandatory attendance. Faculty were extremely welcoming and knew my application extremely well.
The facilities, faculty, and students. Faculty were extremely supportive of students and really seemed to care about them. Current students were very friendly and honest.
Administration, student services, facilities, student body and general atmosphere, curriculum/testing schedule, cheap cost of living, structure of Interview Day
The atmosphere, friendly students and staff, open welcoming environment, OMM lab, anatomy lab, large amount of "extra" costs covered in tuition (laptop and tablet, ACOM pays for first attempts at boards, large electronic library, etc.).
Almost every detail of the school exists as a result of well-thought out decision and for the sake of the students. Truly no greed here, practice what they preach in regards to their mission (learner-oriented, community oriented)
All faculty are certified to write for COMLEX, so the class exams reflect COMLEX difficulty. Faculty extremely responsive to student feedback. Building is open 24 hours.
The facilities, the faculty, the seemingly polished process considering it was the first interview session of only the second interview season. Students will not be allowed to skip OMM Lab because of religious views.
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the lack of personal connection in interviews, feeling rushed, and the school's location in a remote area. Suggestions included improving interviewer engagement, providing more time for interviews, and addressing concerns about the school's location.
The interviewer had a lack of emotion and seemed annoyed with giving the interview to begin with. He didn't have anything good to say about Dothan either
The interviews jumped immediately into the interview without much of an introduction and at the end we had to cut off our conversation so they could begin another interview.
The location of the school (Dothan) is cute, but remote. Montgomery is two hours away! The match list was not great (matching students to a lot of community programs, whereas I am interested in academic programs). They only have an internal medicine program associated with the school right now. Also, during the presentations one of the presenters tended to make big claims about ACOM ("ACOM is the only school that..."), which was mostly crap because I have interviewed at several other schools which have similar features. Research facilities seemed small. Also, the first-time COMLEX pass rates were a bit below average. To me, that is a huge deal. Board scores are incredibly important to be competitive for residency.
Interviews were pushed forward unannounced to first thing in the morning due to a scheduling conflict, but ended up working out for the best, got it out of the way and enjoyed the rest of the interview.
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interview would be conversational and relaxed, with a low-stress atmosphere. Some mentioned specific details such as the school's history, the emphasis on OMM, and the need to eat before the interview due to the timing of lunch.
Know a few of the standard questions, but be prepared to just have a great conversation with your interviewers. Bring up information during questions that you would like to talk more about
Applicants generally had positive experiences with ACOM, mentioning great interview experiences, supportive faculty, top-notch facilities, and a strong sense of community. Some feedback included suggestions to improve personal interview skills, be prepared to discuss red flags on applications, and learn more about OMT.
I had a great interview. It was very conversational and not as stressful as I made it out to be. The post-interview presentation was great and it seems like the school/admin really care about their students.
From faculty to students everyone was incredibly nice and open. The school seems to really have everything together and has support processes in place right from the start of your matriculation.
Based on the numbers, the likelihood of getting an interview at the school is pretty low at between 12-15% but the chance of acceptance after interview is 25%. So, if you’ve got an interview scheduled be happy because you’re in the 85%.
Overall I love the school and think they are molding some great students! Dothan seems to be a great place and the updated technology and building where students learn seem to greatly benefit them.
Overall the interviewing experience was good. It was high stress for me personally, but my interviewers tried their best to make me feel comfortable. It was less conversational than I had expected based on prior feedback
I was really impressed with ACOM overall. The faculty and staff genuinely seem interested in developing their students and helping them succeed when in medical school and beyond. The facilities are top-notch and they have excellent rotation sites throughout Alabama and Florida that captured my attention.
Overall, definitely an up-and-coming DO school. They have some seriously impressive aspects of their program and they are heavily involved in the surrounding community.
The OMT professor gave a fantastic presentation/talk before interviews. His enthusiasm really sold me on this school, as well as the faculty members who interviewed me.
I was very surprised by ACOM. The facilities and program structure exceeded what I have seen at multiple MD schools. Board scores and preceptor feedback support the program's lauding its strengths, not to mention the medical program is connected well and appreciated by the Dothan community. In time, ACOM will be considered a top DO program.
As others have said, very impressive school. The only downside to the school is location. Dothan is nice filled with nice people. That being said, you won't find much else besides restaurants/some shopping/medical establishments. Fundamentally not too different from major cities but stark rural contrast just 1-2 miles away makes it seem like an odd place with not much else going on.
Perhaps the best part of the interview process is that it seems particularly concerned with the individual as a whole, and not just their academic prowess. Rightfully so, GPA and MCAT can be screened ahead of time, so quizzing on minutia during an interview seems rather pointless. Getting a few for a candidates personality and drive is a much more important piece of the puzzle in my opinion, and this interview focused on that.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants generally praised the admissions office for their efficiency and friendliness, with a few suggesting longer interview times and more communication after acceptance. Some also mentioned a desire for confirmation emails for deposits to avoid the need to follow up.
None! Everything and everyone was absolutely fantastic!
My only complaint was the lack of time allotted for the interview. 30 minutes is not enough time to adequately be questioned by the interviewer AND have time to ask questions and get a feel for the interviewer/s. I had several questions prepared for the interviewers but only two minutes left once I was allowed to ask them.
They get back to you very quickly. Since being accepted, I have had constant communication from the admissions office on the process between now and matriculation.
One small thing I would suggest is to receive an email confirming the successful deposit. I know most students email Admissions to make sure the money went through.