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Q: Is the MCAT required for acceptance?

• A: No, the MCAT is not required for admission to either program. Many students enter the program having never taken the MCAT. Others enter with a lower MCAT score and improve their score while enrolled in the program. However, students who enter the program having already obtained the benchmark MCAT score are at a distinct advantage in that they can focus solely on course grades. Therefore, it is strongly advised that students at least attempt the MCAT prior to matriculation into the program.

Q: Is there an MCAT preparation class within the program?

• A: Neither program contains an MCAT preparatory class. However, personalized advice for MCAT study is provided. In MABS, a Thanksgiving to New Year break provides optimal time for MCAT preparation. Since no such break exists in OMABS, students have 90 days from completion of the program to submit a benchmark MCAT score.

Q: I have taken the MCAT multiple times. Which MCAT score do you consider?

• A: Your most recent MCAT is the score that will be counted toward the benchmarks for the programs. Scores greater than 3 years old will not be considered.

Q: I have taken the MCAT multiple times and if you pick my highest score in each section over the multiple exams, these numbers add up to a 496. Will this count toward my benchmarks?

• A: What you are describing is known as a composite MCAT score and this does not count toward meeting the MCAT benchmark for the programs.

Q: What type of academic support is available for students?

• A: All program faculty are available to help students be successful in the programs. The program director acts as the primary academic advisor and is also well versed in the GPA and MCAT score needed to successfully apply to several other D.O. programs. There is also a learning specialist who is available by appointment to meet with students.

Q: What type of support is available for applying to medical schools?

• A: There are staff associated with the programs that will provide coaching for application essays and interview skills. However, staff will not review AACOMAS or AMCAS applications.

Q: What percentage of your students are accepted into medical school?

• A: Between VCOM and other medical schools, in a typical year 70% of MABS students who complete the program earn acceptance. This number is closer to 50% for OMABS.

Q: Does the program accept students interested in other health professions, such as Pre-Dentistry or Pre-Pharmacy?

• A: Applicants interested in health professional programs other than medicine will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Bluefield has a strong relationship with Appalachian College of Pharmacy who regularly accepts MABS students. Multiple podiatry programs have accepted MABS students. However, the only program that has benchmarks for acceptance is the VCOM D.O. program.

Q: Are your students accepted into medical programs other than VCOM?

• A: Yes, we routinely have several students accepted at other medical schools; in fact, there are multiple medical schools that routinely accept multiple MABS or OMABS students each year.

Q: Can I hold a job while in the program?

• A: Both programs are intense and will require your maximum effort to be successful. Therefore, employment during either program is strongly discouraged. On the other hand, the OMABS program can be completed over two years and maintain eligibility for the benchmarks. Students who hold part-time employment are strongly encouraged to use this option.

Q: Is an interview required?

• A: An in-person interview is not required for acceptance to the MABS or OMABS programs.

Q: My overall or science GPA is below 2.8. Can I still be accepted to the program?

• A: The 2.8 science GPA is an absolute requirement. We routinely consider an applicant’s science GPA over their last 90 credit hours in borderline applications. Borderline students often take or repeat multiple science classes to raise their GPA.

Q: Do I need to have completed all prerequisites before entering the program?

• A: Yes, this is an absolute requirement and it includes any prerequisite classes taken during the summer in which you enter the program.

Q: How much does the program cost?

• A: Tuition is currently $28,000 per year for MABS, and $28,800 for OMABS. This equates to $800 per credit hour.

Q: What is the cost to apply to the program?

• A: The cost to apply to either program through PostBac CAS is $145. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required upon acceptance into the program. The deposit will apply toward the program’s tuition.

Q: I am not certain if I want to apply to MABS or OMABS. Will I need to submit two applications?

• A: No. The application asks if you want to apply to MABS, OMABS or both. If accepted to both programs, you will need to make a decision between the two by June 25.

Q: Are scholarships available?

• A: We have a generous donor who has given three $10,000 scholarships for the MABS or OMABS program. The scholarships are need-based and are restricted to students from a specific geographic location. Awardees are determined during the Fall Semester; there is no special application to be considered for these scholarships.

Q: Are loans available to cover the cost of the program?

• A: Yes. Students will need to apply for federal financial aid and can be awarded grants and loans based on their eligibility. Search this topic on the ³Ô¹ÏÉç website to learn more.

Q: Is on-campus housing available?

• A: No. The program is offered on the VCOM campus in Blacksburg, and VCOM does not have student housing. However, there are many apartment units within a short distance to campus and Blacksburg, being a college town, has an abundance of other housing options as well.

Q: How large is your class?

• A: The MABS program is expecting 45-60 students in this upcoming academic year. OMABS course sections are capped at either 25 or 30 students.

Q: How many applications does the program receive each year?

• A: We expect to receive over 300 applications for the current application cycle.

Q: Is the MABS Program offered at all four VCOM campuses?

• A: No. It is currently only offered at the Virginia campus, but successful students may gain acceptance to the other VCOM campuses.

Q: Do I have a choice of which VCOM campus I attend for medical school?

• A: VCOM will assign a campus for each student who meets benchmarks. While campus consideration may be given based on the permanent address as given on the application, VCOM’s needs and desire to spread accepted MABS and OMABS students across all four of its campuses take precedence.

Q: Do you accept international students?

• A: Foreign students living within the U.S. are eligible for acceptance into the MABS and OMABS programs, but they are not eligible for the benchmarks as VCOM does not accept foreign students. In order to be eligible for the benchmarks, students must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.

Q: Do you accept students who have previously matriculated at another medical school?

• A: Yes, students who have previously matriculated at another medical school are eligible for acceptance; however, such students are not eligible for the benchmarks. In times past, virtually no U.S. based medical school would consider such students, but we have seen some change in this in recent years.

Q: Can I begin classes in the spring semester?

• A: For the MABS program, no. All MABS students take the program as a cohort and must begin in July. For OMABS, Bluefield has both July and January cohorts. Course sequence is important, so students cannot begin in the middle of a semester.

Q: Can I choose to only take some of the offered classes each semester and extend the MABS to last for two full years? Can this be done in OMABS?

• A: No. Students within the MABS program are required to enroll in all classes and complete the program in a single academic year. One of the goals of the MABS is to mimic a medical school curriculum and this cannot be accomplished without carrying the full class load of the program. On the other hand, students enrolled in OMABS may complete the program over two years and still remain eligible for the benchmarks.

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