OCOM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) interviews are typically low-stress and conversational, focusing on getting to know the applicant. This guide summarizes key aspects of OCOM – from its interview format and admissions timeline to its mission, program features, and values – that are important for interview preparation. It highlights the school’s open-file one-on-one interview style studentdoctor.net, the community-oriented mission and holistic selection criteria of OCOM ocom.org aacom.org, and the unique elements of its program (such as a modern curriculum and local clinical partnerships ahu.edu). In addition, it discusses relevant healthcare issues in Florida (like physician shortages) ocom.org, outlines the core competencies guiding osteopathic medical education aacom.org, and reviews common themes from past OCOM interview questions studentdoctor.net.

OCOM conducts a traditional interview (not an MMI), generally with a panel of two interviewers in a one-on-one conversational setting studentdoctor.net. Interviews typically last around 30–40 minutes studentdoctor.net, allowing ample time for discussion of the applicant’s background and motivations. The format has been mostly open-file, meaning interviewers have access to the candidate’s application during the interview studentdoctor.net. In its first cycles, OCOM offered many interviews virtually (online) studentdoctor.net, though in-person interviews at the campus have also been available. As a new school with about 90 seats per class, the post-interview selection is competitive – not every interviewee is accepted, and a waitlist is utilized – but specific acceptance rates have not been published. Anecdotally, the school continued interviewing and making offers late into the cycle, indicating that final admissions decisions were made on a rolling basis as they worked to fill the class forums.studentdoctor.net.

OCOM’s mission is "to train caring and competent osteopathic physicians who will have an impact on the Central Florida community, our nation, and our global community" aacom.org. This mission underscores a commitment to compassionate care and service on local, national, and international levels. The college explicitly "lives by the values of service, caring, wellness, integrity, inclusivity, diversity, innovation and continuous improvement" aacom.org. These guiding principles suggest that OCOM seeks students who align with a humanistic, service-oriented approach to medicine. An understanding of the school’s values – such as prioritizing wellness and diversity – can help applicants frame their experiences in a way that resonates with OCOM’s overarching goals.

The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine, established in 2024, is a private for-profit osteopathic medical school located in Winter Garden (Horizon West area of Orlando), Florida studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. It is the first osteopathic medical school in Central Florida and welcomed an inaugural class of 90 students in August 2024 ocom.org. At full enrollment, the school plans to educate about 180 students per class, doubling its size to meet future demand ocom.org ahu.edu. OCOM’s campus is brand-new – a 25-acre modern facility designed as a “medical school of the future,” featuring advanced technology, simulation centers, and spaces for collaborative learning aacom.org. The curriculum is an innovative, systems-based program that is largely lecture-less, instead incorporating case-based learning, small-group discussions, clinical simulations, and standardized patient encounters aacom.org. Students spend the first two years on foundational biomedical and clinical skills courses, followed by third- and fourth-year clinical clerkships at affiliated hospitals and clinics in the region aacom.org aacom.org.

Notably, OCOM has partnered with local healthcare institutions to enhance clinical training and physician workforce development. For example, the college has a collaboration with AdventHealth University: qualified undergraduates from AdventHealth’s pre-med programs are guaranteed an interview at OCOM, and OCOM students will complete rotations at AdventHealth hospitals starting in 2026 ahu.edu. Many AdventHealth physicians also serve as OCOM faculty, integrating the medical school with the region’s healthcare system ahu.edu. In addition, OCOM is involved with community health outreach – there is an affiliated free clinic (Shepherd’s Hope) and plans for students and faculty to engage in local health fairs and service initiatives ocom.org. These program features reflect OCOM’s focus on producing physicians who are connected to the community and trained in a holistic, patient-centered manner.

Given these distinctive aspects, applicants should be prepared to discuss what appeals to them about OCOM’s program and how they would take advantage of its offerings. This can also guide thoughtful questions to ask interviewers. For instance, one might inquire about the “lecture-free” curriculum and how self-directed learning is supported at OCOM aacom.org. Asking about clinical rotation sites and partnerships (such as experiences at AdventHealth hospitals or the free clinic) is another way to show interest in the school’s training environment ahu.edu ocom.org. Candidates could also ask about new student initiatives, research opportunities, or how the school fosters mentorship and community among its inaugural classes. By engaging interviewers on such topics, applicants demonstrate that they have done their homework on OCOM and are enthusiastic about its program.

OCOM was founded in response to broader healthcare needs, so certain policy and healthcare topics are especially pertinent. One major issue is the physician shortage in Florida and nationally – OCOM explicitly aims to help address the shortage of doctors in Central Florida ocom.org. Interviewers might discuss how a new medical school can improve healthcare access in the region, for example by supplying more primary care physicians to underserved areas. In fact, an independent study projected that OCOM’s graduates (many expected to enter primary care) will help reduce strain on emergency rooms and save millions in healthcare costs by 2030 ocom.org. This ties into policy themes of strengthening primary care and preventative medicine. The school’s emphasis on wellness and community health aligns with public health priorities such as preventive care and managing chronic diseases, which could be a talking point during interviews.

At the state and regional level, Florida’s growing and diverse population brings up topics like cultural competence and healthcare disparities. OCOM values inclusivity and diversity aacom.org, suggesting that awareness of how to care for various communities (for instance, the large elderly, Hispanic/Latino, and rural populations in Florida) is important. An applicant might be expected to have some perspective on serving underserved or uninsured patients – something OCOM already contributes to through its faculty’s involvement in free clinics ocom.org. Additionally, since OCOM is an osteopathic institution, broader national issues related to osteopathic medicine could arise. For example, the role of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in today’s healthcare (such as offering non-pharmacologic options for pain management amid the opioid crisis) is a topic that highlights how DO-trained physicians can contribute unique solutions. The unification of residency accreditation (ACGME) for DO and MD graduates is another contemporary development that an informed candidate might be aware of, as it reflects how osteopathic graduates like those from OCOM integrate into the national healthcare system. Being conversant about these kinds of policy and system-level topics – from local healthcare needs to national medical education trends – will help candidates demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the context in which OCOM operates.

OCOM employs a holistic admissions process, looking beyond grades and test scores to the personal qualities and experiences of applicants. As stated on the school’s site, “the competencies and accomplishments we seek go well beyond grades and scores” ocom.org. OCOM considers many aspects of an applicant, including "the whole person, interest in serving the regions included in OCOM’s mission, potential for success in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, commitment and aptitude as a future practicing osteopathic physician, and their compassion, knowledge, and commitment to health care" ocom.org. In practice, this means the admissions committee values traits such as dedication to service, leadership, teamwork, ethical character, and genuine motivation for medicine. An applicant’s background in volunteerism or community service, leadership roles, research involvement, and clinical exposure (shadowing or work in healthcare) can all demonstrate these non-academic strengths.

Notably, OCOM places emphasis on alignment with osteopathic medicine’s principles and the school’s community-focused mission. For example, while a letter of recommendation from an osteopathic physician (DO) is not strictly required, it is strongly recommended and serves as evidence of an applicant’s exposure to and understanding of osteopathic practice ocom.org. Shadowing a DO or otherwise showing commitment to the osteopathic approach indicates to the committee that the candidate is making an informed career choice and fits with the school’s philosophy. Likewise, expressing a sincere desire to serve Central Florida (or similar communities) can be an advantage, as OCOM explicitly looks for interest in serving its mission regions ocom.org. Overall, qualities like compassion, cultural humility, resilience, and strong communication skills – often highlighted through anecdotes in one’s application or interview – are part of the non-academic criteria that OCOM values in selecting future students.

As a medical school, OCOM’s program is designed around key competencies that students must develop to become competent physicians. The curriculum is structured to ensure students acquire “the knowledge and competencies required to enter graduate medical education and the practice of osteopathic medicine” aacom.org. Like all osteopathic colleges, OCOM adheres to the Osteopathic Core Competencies outlined by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and assessed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. These include seven fundamental domains: Osteopathic Principles and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Medical Knowledge, Patient Care, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, and Systems-Based Practice dcomcme.lmunet.edu dcomcme.lmunet.edu. In practical terms, this means OCOM’s training emphasizes not only medical knowledge and clinical skills, but also the distinctive osteopathic approach (integrating structure and function in patient care) and habits of reflective, evidence-based practice and continual improvement.

OCOM’s competency expectations align with national standards for medical education. In fact, a recent collaborative initiative by AACOM, AAMC, and ACGME has established a common set of foundational competencies for all U.S. medical students aacom.org. These emphasize areas like interprofessional collaboration, cultural responsiveness, patient safety, and systems thinking, alongside clinical knowledge and skills aacom.org. OCOM’s 2012 Osteopathic Competencies framework (developed by AACOM) even integrated the AOA’s seven competencies with public health priorities such as clinical prevention and population health aacom.org – reflecting the “whole-person care” philosophy. An applicant should be aware that the program will expect proficiency in these competency areas. This is relevant to interview prep because the school may probe an applicant’s experiences in teamwork, ethics, communication, or understanding of osteopathic practice, all of which tie back to the core competencies that the student will be expected to develop. Being conversant with terms like “systems-based practice” or knowing that professionalism and integrity are formally evaluated competencies can help a candidate frame their answers in a way that aligns with OCOM’s educational framework.

Given that OCOM only recently started interviewing applicants, there is limited public data on its interview questions. However, the feedback from early interviewees suggests that the questions have been straightforward and personalized. Common themes include motivations for choosing OCOM and commitment to attending, as well as questions aimed at understanding the applicant’s character. For example, candidates have reported being asked, “What excited you about OCOM/why OCOM?” and even a direct question about OCOM being a new school: “As a new school how do we know you’ll be coming here and not going elsewhere?” studentdoctor.net. These questions indicate that the admissions panel wants to gauge an applicant’s genuine interest in the program and likelihood to enroll if accepted. They may be looking for reassurance that the candidate has specifically thought about OCOM and is not treating it as a backup option.

Another type of question that has appeared is the classic “How would your friends describe you?” studentdoctor.net, which is aimed at uncovering personal attributes and soft skills. This aligns with OCOM’s focus on the whole person and interpersonal skills. So far, there haven’t been reports of complex ethical scenarios or clinical case questions in OCOM interviews, and the stress level has been noted as low studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. Nonetheless, it’s wise to be prepared for a range of question types that are common in medical school interviews broadly. These might include “Why osteopathic medicine?” (to assess understanding of the DO philosophy), hypothetical ethical or teamwork situations, or questions about current healthcare issues (to see if the applicant stays informed and can think critically). Overall, the early trend at OCOM skews toward getting to know the applicant’s motivations, fit with the school, and personal qualities, rather than putting them on the spot with high-pressure scenarios.

1. AACOMAS Primary Application opens: May 5, 2025 ocom.org. This is the start date when applicants can begin submitting their primary application via AACOMAS for the 2025-2026 cycle.
2. Interviews begin: August 2025 ocom.org. OCOM uses a rolling admissions process, so interview invitations are extended starting in late summer and continue through the cycle.
3. Primary application deadline: April 11, 2026 ocom.org. This is the last date to submit the AACOMAS primary application to OCOM. Submitting well before this deadline is recommended due to rolling admissions.
4. Secondary application deadline: April 18, 2026 ocom.org. Once a primary application is verified and if an applicant is invited, the secondary (supplemental) application must be submitted by this date (including all supporting materials and fees).
5. Interview period ends: June 2026 ocom.org. The final interviews of the cycle will be conducted by June. OCOM interviews through late spring/early summer to fill any remaining class spots.
6. All admission requirements completed by: June 1, 2026 ocom.org. Accepted students must have fulfilled all requirements (such as transcript verification, immunizations, etc.) by this date.
7. Matriculation: August 3, 2026 ocom.org. This is the expected start date for the incoming class (orientation/beginning of classes) for those accepted in the 2025-2026 cycle.

In conclusion, thorough preparation for an OCOM interview involves understanding the program’s format, values, and expectations and being aware of the context in which the school operates. By familiarizing themselves with OCOM’s mission and emphasis on community impact aacom.org, as well as the non-academic qualities the school looks for ocom.org, applicants can better tailor their discussions to demonstrate fit. Knowledge of the school’s curriculum and partnerships, along with insight into relevant healthcare issues (like Florida’s physician workforce needs) ocom.org, will allow a candidate to speak thoughtfully about why they want to join OCOM and how they plan to contribute. Overall, showing that you have done your research on the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine – and that your personal goals align with its mission – will help convey your genuine interest and preparedness during the interview.