ATSU-SOMA Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) is a mission-driven institution with a unique community-based training model. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect in the ATSU-SOMA interview and the program itself. It covers the interview format and style, the school’s core mission and values, key features of the curriculum and program, and important healthcare policy issues relevant to ATSU-SOMA’s focus. It also outlines the non-academic qualities the school looks for in applicants, the competency frameworks that shape the program’s training, common themes from past interview questions, and the timeline for the 2025–2026 application cycle. Together, these insights will help paint a clear picture of ATSU-SOMA and inform how you prepare for your interview.

ATSU-SOMA’s interviews are conducted in a traditional format. Most candidates have one-on-one interviews (rather than multiple-mini interviews), and the process is generally closed-file, meaning interviewers have not reviewed the applicant’s academic file beforehand studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. This setup encourages a conversational evaluation of the candidate’s motivations, experiences, and personal qualities beyond grades and test scores. Past interviewees have described the atmosphere as moderately low-stress and found the experience fair and welcoming studentdoctor.net, indicating that while questions are substantive, the tone isn’t overly intimidating.

In recent years many interviews have been held virtually via Zoom studentdoctor.net, although historically the school hosted interview days on campus in Mesa studentdoctor.net. The interview day typically includes orientation activities that set a collegial tone. For example, ATSU-SOMA holds a Dean’s Welcome social and provides presentations on its community health center model, curriculum, and osteopathic training before the formal interviews begin atsu.edu. These sessions give candidates context about the program’s approach and allow interactions with students and faculty, complementing the formal one-on-one interview with a broader, more interactive experience.

ATSU-SOMA’s mission is to prepare compassionate osteopathic physicians who will serve medically underserved populations, with a focus on community-oriented primary care and research atsu.edu. This mission reflects the founding ethos of A.T. Still University (established by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1892) and its dedication to whole-person healthcare and community outreach studentdoctor.net. In practical terms, the school emphasizes developing students’ empathy, social accountability, and commitment to practicing where the needs are greatest. ATSU’s broader vision instills in students the “compassion, experience and knowledge” required to care for the whole person and improve health in communities with significant need atsu.edu.

Core values such as service, leadership, diversity, and interprofessional collaboration are woven into the school’s culture atsu.edu. ATSU-SOMA explicitly encourages a spirit of community service and public health awareness in its students. The university’s not-for-profit, community-oriented mission inspires students to become health leaders who are mindful of the societal context of care. As a result, ATSU-SOMA graduates are expected to be “compassionate, community- and research-minded physician leaders” focused on whole-person healthcare atsu.edu. These values are likely to come across during interviews – interviewers often seek to understand an applicant’s alignment with the school’s service-driven, holistic philosophy.

ATSU-SOMA offers a four-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program distinguished by its community campus model. Students spend the first year at the main campus in Mesa, Arizona, focusing on foundational medical sciences and clinical skills. For years 2–4, students are assigned to one of eleven partnered community health center (CHC) sites across the country studentdoctor.net. This innovative distributive model immerses students in real-world clinical settings serving diverse underserved populations early in their education studentdoctor.net. By training in community health centers (from urban clinics in Washington, D.C., to rural health centers in states like Arizona, Hawaii, and Oregon atsu.edu), ATSU-SOMA students gain extensive experience with primary care and public health issues. The class size is approximately 160 students per year, and the school’s applicant-to-seat ratio (around 36:1) reflects competitive admissions for a limited number of spots atsu.edu.

The curriculum integrates osteopathic principles with modern technology and small-group, collaborative learning. ATSU-SOMA’s Mesa campus features state-of-the-art facilities – including an Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) lab and medical simulation center equipped with ultrasound and HoloLens anatomy technology – to enhance hands-on learning aacom.org. Students also have access to an on-campus OMM clinic that serves the community, allowing them to practice osteopathic skills in a supervised environment aacom.org. A dual-degree DO/MPH option is available, reflecting the school’s emphasis on public health and prevention atsu.edu. Throughout the program, there is a strong focus on primary care: students are mentored to become “community- and research-minded” physicians who can address health needs at the population level atsu.edu. Notably, ATSU-SOMA boasts a near-100% residency placement rate (a ~99% postgraduate placement average) for its graduates atsu.edu, underscoring the program’s effectiveness. The student body is diverse in background – for instance, roughly 16% of incoming students come from non-science majors atsu.edu – which enriches classroom discussions and mirrors the diverse communities the school serves.

Potential Questions to Ask at the Interview

• How are students assigned to the different community health center sites for Years 2–4, and what support does the school provide to ensure a quality experience at these community campuses?
• What opportunities do ATSU-SOMA students have to engage in research or community health projects during their training, given the school’s focus on community-oriented primary care and research?
• How does the DO/MPH dual-degree program work alongside the DO curriculum, and in what ways do students apply public health principles during their medical education?

ATSU-SOMA’s mission and educational model naturally connect to broader healthcare policy issues. Interviewers may explore an applicant’s awareness of challenges and trends in healthcare, especially those impacting underserved communities in Arizona and across the U.S. Understanding the context of healthcare delivery – from local public health concerns to national policy debates – can help candidates demonstrate informed enthusiasm for ATSU-SOMA’s mission.

• Primary care physician shortages in underserved areas: Arizona and many other states face a significant lack of primary care providers in rural and low-income communities (Arizona ranks 40th nationally with only about 74 primary care doctors per 100,000 residents) healthsciences.arizona.edu. This shortage underlines the importance of programs like ATSU-SOMA that aim to produce physicians for high-need areas, and it’s a topic that might arise when discussing the school’s social mission.
• Community Health Centers (CHCs) and healthcare access: Since ATSU-SOMA’s clinical education is based in community health centers, policies affecting CHC funding and the healthcare safety net are very pertinent. Candidates should be aware of how federal and state support for CHCs impacts care for uninsured and underserved populations. Discussions might include the role of CHCs in providing primary care, how they are adapting to changes in healthcare law, and how medical education at ATSU-SOMA is designed to meet the needs of these community settings.
• Public health challenges and preventive care: The school’s focus on underserved communities brings certain public health issues to the forefront. Topics like the opioid epidemic, chronic disease management, and health disparities may come up. (For example, ATSU-SOMA has highlighted community interventions to reduce opioid overdoses and improve outcomes for chronic conditions atsu.edu.) Interviewers could probe your thoughts on preventive care strategies, health education, or other policy measures that relate to improving community health.
• Osteopathic medicine in the healthcare system: As a DO school, ATSU-SOMA trains students in holistic care and OMM, which ties into larger discussions about the role of osteopathic medicine today. Policies regarding equal recognition of DO and MD physicians (such as the unified residency accreditation system) and the integration of osteopathic manipulative treatment into mainstream care are relevant. A candidate might be expected to understand how osteopathic principles (like treating the whole person) align with current healthcare trends and policies (for instance, the emphasis on integrative and preventive care in value-based health models).

Beyond academics, ATSU-SOMA places significant weight on personal qualities and experiences that resonate with its mission. In fact, prospective students are explicitly evaluated in “three major areas: academic accomplishment, personal characteristics of a physician, and propensity to serve the underserved” aacom.org. This means the admissions committee looks for evidence that an applicant not only can handle the medical curriculum, but also embodies the compassion, leadership, and service ethos of the school. Key non-academic criteria include:

• Commitment to service: A strong record of volunteerism or work with medically underserved populations is highly valued atsu.edu. ATSU-SOMA specifically seeks students who are “community service- or public health-minded” and who show a desire to eventually practice in underserved or primary care settings aacom.org. Experiences like free clinics, global health outreach, or community service projects can demonstrate this commitment.
• Understanding of osteopathic philosophy: The ideal ATSU-SOMA candidate appreciates the tenets and holistic philosophy of osteopathic medicine. Shadowing or working with a DO physician is one way applicants show this understanding (and the school strongly encourages obtaining a letter of recommendation from a physician, preferably a DO) atsu.edu. Interviewers may look for your insight into what makes the osteopathic approach unique – such as a focus on preventive care and treating the whole person – and whether you’ve actively sought out exposure to it.
• Leadership and teamwork: Given the school’s small-group, learning-centered curriculum, having experience in leadership roles or collaborative teams is important studentdoctor.net. ATSU-SOMA’s admissions process values examples of initiative and teamwork – whether through leading a student organization, coordinating a community project, or participating in team-based healthcare environments. Such experiences suggest you’ll thrive in the school’s cooperative learning format and later as part of healthcare teams.
• Research and extracurricular involvement: While not required, involvement in research or other substantial extracurricular activities can strengthen an application, especially if aligned with the school’s mission. ATSU-SOMA’s mission includes a focus on research and innovation in community health, so an applicant who has pursued scholarly work (for example, a public health study or clinical research project) signals a “research-minded” perspective studentdoctor.net. Similarly, meaningful extracurriculars – like advocacy work or medical missions – can highlight your passion and well-roundedness. These experiences can be great talking points during an interview, demonstrating personal drive and alignment with the program’s values.

ATSU-SOMA’s program is aligned with the broader competencies expected of medical students and physicians. Being familiar with these frameworks can give insight into how the school shapes its curriculum and what qualities it expects students to develop:

• AOA Core Competencies: The American Osteopathic Association outlines seven core competency domains for osteopathic physicians – including Osteopathic Principles and Practice, Medical Knowledge, Patient Care, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Professionalism, Practice-Based Learning, and Systems-Based Practice clinicaldistinctioncom.wordpress.com. ATSU-SOMA’s curriculum incorporates these competencies, ensuring that students not only gain medical knowledge and clinical skills but also learn to apply osteopathic principles (like the mind-body connection and OMM) and uphold professionalism and systems thinking. During interviews, you may not be asked directly about these domains, but questions will often indirectly assess areas like communication skills, ethical judgment (professionalism), and understanding of healthcare systems.
• Unified UME Competencies (2024): In late 2024, AACOM (for DO schools), the AAMC (for MD schools), and ACGME (for residencies) jointly released a set of unified foundational competencies for undergraduate medical education aacom.org. This new framework creates common standards for all medical students in areas such as patient care, knowledge for practice, interpersonal skills, professionalism, and personal development. ATSU-SOMA, like other colleges, is expected to train students in line with these national competencies, which underscore attributes like ethical responsibility, teamwork, resilience, and lifelong learning. Awareness of these can help applicants understand the expectations of modern medical training – for instance, why an interviewer might probe your teamwork experience or ethical reasoning.
• Pre-professional competencies: Many of the competencies valued by medical schools before admission (as described by the AAMC) are reflected in ATSU-SOMA’s selection criteria. These include traits such as service orientation, cultural competence, adaptability, and social skills. The school’s emphasis on diversity, community service, and whole-person care aligns with these competencies atsu.edu. While not an official list from ATSU-SOMA, understanding these qualities is useful: interview questions will frequently target areas like your ability to work with diverse populations, handle stress, or demonstrate empathy – all of which map to common competency expectations for entering medical students.

Past ATSU-SOMA interview questions reported by applicants tend to mirror the program’s mission and the qualities it seeks. While specific questions can vary year to year, common themes have emerged. Being mindful of these themes can help you prepare relevant experiences and reflections (though the school may explicitly forbid sharing of actual questions, these general areas are well-known):

• Motivation & “Why DO?”: A frequently cited topic is your motivation for choosing osteopathic medicine and ATSU-SOMA specifically. Many candidates have been asked questions like "Why DO and not MD?" or "Why did you apply to ATSU-SOMA?" studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. These questions gauge whether you understand and truly resonate with osteopathic principles and the school’s mission. In responding, successful interviewees convey a clear desire to be a DO physician (perhaps citing the holistic philosophy or OMM) and a genuine interest in ATSU-SOMA’s community-focused approach.
• Ethical & healthcare issues: ATSU-SOMA interviews sometimes include questions about ethical dilemmas or current healthcare topics. For example, past applicants have noted scenarios involving how to allocate a scarce organ transplant or opinions on pharmaceutical advertising in medicine studentdoctor.net. Such questions assess your critical thinking, moral reasoning, and awareness of challenges doctors face in practice. The key isn’t to have a “right” answer but to demonstrate thoughtful reasoning, empathy, and an understanding of the broader implications for patients and communities. It’s wise to stay informed on basic bioethical principles and healthcare debates (especially those relevant to underserved care) so you can discuss these kinds of topics cogently if they arise.
• Personal & behavioral questions: Interviewers want to get to know you as a person, so many questions delve into your background, experiences, and personal reflections. You might be asked about your inspirations or values (e.g. "Who is your hero?") studentdoctor.net, about challenges you’ve overcome (such as "What is your biggest regret or a major adversity you have faced?") studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net, or to highlight activities you enjoy outside of medicine (hobbies, interests, etc.). These questions allow you to showcase qualities like resilience, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills. When answering, successful candidates often tell genuine stories from their lives that illustrate growth or character – the kind of depth that doesn’t show up on a transcript. The overall theme is demonstrating that you are a well-rounded, reflective individual who is prepared for the personal and emotional rigors of a career in medicine.

ATSU-SOMA uses a rolling admissions process, which means early applicants have a better chance while later applicants risk fewer remaining interview spots. Staying on top of deadlines is crucial. The key dates and timeline for the 2025–2026 cycle are as follows:

• May 5, 2025: AACOMAS primary application opens – this is the first day you can submit your application for the 2025–2026 cycle aacom.org. Applying early (in summer) is advantageous due to rolling admissions.
• March 1, 2026: Primary application deadline – this is the final date by which ATSU-SOMA will accept primary applications via AACOMAS aacom.org. For best consideration, however, the school recommends submitting at least eight weeks before this deadline (i.e. by early January 2026) to ensure ample time for processing and to avoid seats filling up aacom.org.
• Secondary Application: After the primary is submitted, ATSU-SOMA screens applicants and sends out secondary application invitations to those who meet minimum criteria (notably a 2.80 science and cumulative GPA) aacom.org. The secondary application typically includes additional essay prompts (often about your experiences and fit with the mission) and a $70 fee. The secondary application deadline is March 15, 2026 aacom.org, but again, early completion is encouraged. It’s worth noting that a letter of recommendation from a physician (preferably a DO) is strongly encouraged and can be submitted with the secondary atsu.edu.
• Interviews: Interview invitations are extended on a rolling basis starting as early as late summer or early fall 2025, continuing into spring 2026. ATSU-SOMA conducts interviews most weeks during this period (often scheduling several weeks in advance). The interviews may be held in-person on campus or virtually via Zoom, depending on the cycle’s logistics studentdoctor.net. The interview season generally wraps up by March or April 2026, or once the class has been filled. It’s beneficial to submit applications early not only to secure an interview slot but also because earlier interviewees may receive admissions decisions sooner while more seats are available.
• Admissions Decisions: Acceptances are issued on a rolling basis after interviews, typically within a few weeks. If you are accepted, you will be expected to submit a deposit to hold your seat. ATSU-SOMA follows the AACOMAS traffic guidelines for offers and deposits aacom.org – for example, candidates can hold multiple acceptances until a certain date in the spring, after which they must commit to a single school. Make sure to pay attention to any response deadlines in your acceptance letter. The incoming class (ATSU-SOMA Class of 2030) will matriculate in July 2026, with orientation and classes starting soon thereafter.

In summary, preparing for an ATSU-SOMA interview involves a holistic understanding of the school and the context in which it operates. The interview is not just a test of your credentials, but an opportunity to demonstrate alignment with ATSU-SOMA’s mission to serve the underserved and its osteopathic philosophy of whole-person care. By familiarizing yourself with the format (and being ready for a conversational, closed-file discussion), reflecting on how your experiences tie into the school’s values, and staying informed about relevant healthcare issues, you will be well-equipped to engage thoughtfully during the interview. This guide’s overview of ATSU-SOMA’s program, values, and expectations is meant to help you connect the dots – from the curriculum’s unique community health center model to the qualities the school cherishes – so that you can approach your interview with confidence and authentic insight.