ATSU-KCOM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) is the founding osteopathic medical school in the world, with a legacy dating back to 1892 atsu.edu. It is renowned for its whole-person, community-oriented approach to medicine, emphasizing care for underserved populations and training students to become compassionate healthcare leaders atsu.edu atsu.edu. The interview process at ATSU-KCOM is traditional and conversational, typically consisting of multiple one-on-one interviews where applicants discuss their motivations, personal experiences, and understanding of osteopathic medicine. The school values innovation, leadership, professionalism, service, and cultural competence, and it assesses candidates holistically beyond academics atsu.edu atsu.edu. This guide covers the interview format, ATSU-KCOM’s mission and values, key program facts (with ideas for questions you can ask), relevant healthcare policy issues in Missouri and beyond, non-academic qualities sought by the school, competency frameworks to be aware of, common themes in past interview questions, timeline/deadlines for the 2025-2026 cycle, and a conclusion tying these elements together. By understanding each of these areas, you can better appreciate what ATSU-KCOM is looking for and prepare to present yourself as a fitting candidate in your interview.

ATSU-KCOM uses a traditional interview format rather than MMI. Understanding the structure and style of the interview day will help you know what to expect:

Structure

Interview days are typically held in-person on campus and include three separate one-on-one interviews, each about 30 minutes long, with different interviewers atsu.edu. According to the admissions office, candidates meet with a basic science faculty member, a clinician, and an admissions committee member, usually sequentially. This means you’ll have multiple chances to converse with interviewers from varied perspectives (academic, clinical, and administrative).

Style & Atmosphere

The tone of KCOM interviews is generally friendly and conversational, often described as low-stress by past applicants. Students on SDN have ranked KCOM’s interview experience highly, noting that interviewers “just want to chat” and get to know you as a person forums.studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. Many questions feel like a discussion rather than an interrogation, and interviewers might spend time talking about your life, interests, or unique experiences in your file. For example, one applicant reported that “combined, my two interviewers probably asked a total of 10 questions in 2 hours… just basic stuff”, indicating a relaxed, conversational approach studentdoctor.net. You should still be professional, but you can expect a supportive environment where interviewers are often trying to make you comfortable.

Open-File vs. Closed-File

Interviews at KCOM are typically open-file, meaning your interviewers have access to your application (personal statement, grades, activities, etc.). In feedback, candidates noted that interviewers referenced their academic history or personal stories studentdoctor.net. Be prepared to discuss anything you’ve included in your application. The advantage is you won’t need to re-introduce all your background; instead, you can expand on those experiences. An open-file format also means interviewers may probe gently into lower grades or gaps (one student mentioned being asked about earlier low grades in a conversational way studentdoctor.net), so be ready to address any potential red flags in a positive, reflective manner.

Day Schedule

ATSU-KCOM’s interview days often include additional activities that reflect the school’s osteopathic culture. For example, the schedule usually features a campus tour, a lunch with students, a demonstration of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), and even a visit to the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine on campus atsu.edu. These activities are not part of the formal evaluation but are chances for you to learn about the school and interact with current students. Take advantage of them by asking questions and observing the campus atmosphere – it shows engagement and gives you material to discuss when interviewers ask “Do you have any questions for us?”

Interviewers and Evaluation

You will likely meet a mix of faculty and possibly a member of the admissions staff. Each interviewer may have a different style – for instance, a clinician might ask about your patient exposure, whereas a science faculty might inquire about your academic preparation or interest in research. Despite slight variations, all interviewers are looking to evaluate your motivation for osteopathic medicine, personal attributes, and fit with KCOM. They will later report back to the admissions committee. It’s a closed-campus interview in the sense that you’re interacting only with designated interviewers (not a large panel). There is no formal test or scenario station as in MMIs; it’s purely dialogue-based. The evaluations are likely scored on various criteria (communication skills, maturity, fit with mission, etc.), though KCOM doesn’t publicly detail its scoring rubric.

Post-Interview Acceptance Rate

While official statistics are not published annually, historically a significant proportion of interviewed applicants are accepted. In an older disclosure, approximately "450 interviews were conducted for around 158 seats" in a class forums.studentdoctor.net. This roughly suggests about one in three interviewees may get an acceptance offer, though the exact figure can vary by year. KCOM, like most osteopathic schools, uses rolling admissions, so earlier interviewees might have a slight advantage as spots are filled. If you perform reasonably well and align with the school’s values, your chances after being invited to interview are quite favorable. In fact, seasoned applicants often say “if you get an interview [at a DO school], you have a strong chance unless you really flub it”. This should encourage you – the interview is more about confirming fit and enthusiasm. However, do not become complacent; it’s still crucial to prepare thoroughly. Treat the interview as your opportunity to personally showcase qualities that papers and scores cannot, and to leave the committee confident in your passion for ATSU-KCOM.

ATSU-KCOM’s mission and values are central to its identity, and understanding them will help you frame your answers and demeanor to resonate with the school culture. The mission of ATSU-KCOM is “to educate and train students to become highly competent osteopathic physicians and healthcare leaders”, providing a quality osteopathic education in a research-rich environment that prepares students for graduate training and service atsu.edu. In practical terms, this means KCOM isn’t just producing doctors with medical knowledge, but doctors who lead and serve in their communities.

Core Values

KCOM explicitly highlights a set of core values that define its approach: Innovation, Whole-Person Healthcare, Learning Centeredness, Scholarship, Leadership, and Professionalism atsu.edu. For interview prep, consider what these values mean:

• Innovation: They value forward-thinking improvements in education and healthcare. You might, for example, be asked about times you embraced innovation or your thoughts on new medical technologies (like KCOM’s use of ultrasound training).
• Whole-Person Healthcare: This reflects the osteopathic philosophy of treating the patient holistically – mind, body, and spirit. Expect that they appreciate answers or experiences where you considered a patient or person’s overall well-being, not just a symptom. Showing empathy and understanding of socio-economic or mental health factors in patient care will align with this value.
• Learning Centeredness: This implies a focus on continual learning and a student-centered approach. You can convey curiosity and a habit of self-improvement. Being open about lessons learned from challenges can demonstrate this value.
• Scholarship: KCOM is proud of its research environment, so intellectual curiosity and engagement in scholarly activity (research projects, publications, even rigorous scholarly approach to problem-solving) align well. If you have research experience, be ready to discuss it enthusiastically.
• Leadership: They aim to train healthcare leaders. Highlight times when you took initiative or led a team. Leadership doesn’t necessarily mean formal titles; it can be mentoring others, organizing a community project, etc. The school even celebrates alumni who become leaders (for instance, an alumna was named Family Physician of the Year, highlighting leadership in practice) atsu.edu.
• Professionalism: This encompasses ethics, responsibility, and service. Always communicate with honesty and integrity in your interview responses. Professionalism might also be evaluated in how you interact during the whole day – be courteous to student hosts and staff, arrive on time, dress appropriately, and treat everyone with respect. KCOM’s emphasis on professionalism means they seek students who will uphold trust in the community.

Beyond these stated values, service to the underserved and community impact are deeply ingrained in KCOM’s ethos. The university (A.T. Still) states that “we’re guided by our mission to serve underserved populations,” instilling compassion in students for those communities atsu.edu. In interviews, you might be asked directly why you’re interested in serving rural or underserved areas, or you may want to volunteer such motivations when appropriate. If you have volunteer experiences with marginalized groups, frame them as part of why KCOM’s mission appeals to you. Show that you share the altruistic and compassionate outlook – for example, talk about what you learned from helping at a free clinic or how you want to work in a primary care shortage area (if true for you). KCOM’s ideal is not just a high-performing student, but one with a heart for service and leadership in community health. Demonstrating authentic alignment with this mission will strengthen the impression that you’re a “fit” for the school.

In summary, make the school’s values your guiding points when you reflect on what stories and qualities to emphasize. If Innovation, Whole-Person Care, Leadership, etc., jump out at you from their mission, think of concrete examples from your life that showcase those. You need not overtly recite their values back at them (and definitely don’t sound scripted), but weaving the spirit of those values into your answers (and questions you ask) will subtly signal that you understand and share KCOM’s vision. This goes a long way in an interview setting.

ATSU-KCOM offers a program steeped in history but also focused on modern, innovative medical training. Here are key facts and features of the program, along with some potential talking points or questions you could raise at the interview to show your genuine interest:

• Historical Significance: KCOM was the world’s first osteopathic medical school, founded by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in 1892 in Kirksville, Missouri atsu.edu. This rich heritage is palpable on campus – there’s even a Museum of Osteopathic Medicine on site. Potential question to ask: “How does being the founding school of osteopathic medicine influence the learning experience here today?”
• Class Size and Community: Each incoming DO class at Kirksville is about 172 students atsu.edu. This is a mid-sized class, allowing for a tight-knit community. Students often describe the environment as cooperative and family-like, rather than cutthroat competitive studentdoctor.net. Potential question: “Can you tell me about the learning atmosphere and how collaboration is encouraged among students?”
• Curriculum Highlights: The first two years are campus-based in Kirksville focusing on foundational sciences and osteopathic principles, and the last two years are clinical rotations. KCOM’s curriculum is systems-based and patient-centered (integrating basic science with clinical applications), and it incorporates osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) training throughout. One distinctive feature is the fully integrated clinical ultrasound curriculum – KCOM was early to adopt ultrasound training across various courses atsu.edu. Potential question: “I read that KCOM has an integrated ultrasound curriculum – how do students use ultrasound in their training, and how does it benefit them in clinical rotations?”
• Clinical Rotations: In the clinical years, rotations are conducted at regional sites across the country. In fact, KCOM has core rotation partnerships in about 12 states (including Missouri and several others like Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, and more) atsu.edu. Students often get assigned to a regional hub and complete rotations in hospitals or clinics in that area. Potential question: “How are regional clinical rotation sites assigned, and can students express preferences for where they go in third year?”
• Primary Care Emphasis and Rural Health: Consistent with its mission, KCOM produces many primary care physicians. Over half of KCOM graduates enter primary care fields (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics) atsu.edu, which is higher than many medical schools. The curriculum and extracurriculars support this: for example, KCOM has a Rural Health Track/AHEC integration where students interested in rural practice get special opportunities (the Missouri Area Health Education Center program office is located on campus atsu.edu). Potential question: “Are there specific programs or tracks for students interested in rural or underserved medicine?”
• Research and Educational Resources: The campus features a state-of-the-art simulation center, human patient simulators, standardized patient labs, and an ultrasound lab for skill-building atsu.edu. There’s also the A.T. Still Research Institute which coordinates research (from bench science to community health projects). Potential question: “What research opportunities are available for students, and how do students balance research with the core curriculum?”
• Campus and Location: Kirksville, Missouri, is a rural town with a long history entwined with the school. Living in Kirksville provides a small-town feel; students often form tight social bonds and get involved in the local community. The campus itself has facilities like an on-campus clinic (the Gutensohn Clinic for osteopathic manipulative medicine), a fitness center (Thompson Campus Center), on-campus student housing, and is adjacent to Northeast Regional Medical Center (the local hospital) atsu.edu. Potential question: “What is it like to live and study in a smaller town like Kirksville, and how do students engage with the community here?”

By familiarizing yourself with these facets of KCOM’s program, you not only prepare yourself to answer “Why KCOM?” convincingly, but you also equip yourself to ask thoughtful questions when given the chance. Asking informed questions about the program signals genuine interest. Just be sure not to ask something that’s easily found on their website without acknowledging it – for instance, instead of “Do you have an ultrasound lab?” (which they clearly do), frame it as shown above: “I read about your ultrasound curriculum; how does that play out in training?” This shows you’ve done your homework.

Remember, an interview is a two-way street. Use your questions to figure out if KCOM is right for you as well, and to engage your interviewer in a dialogue. Enthusiasm and curiosity go a long way in leaving a positive impression.

Medical education and practice don’t occur in a vacuum – they’re influenced by broader healthcare challenges and policies. ATSU-KCOM’s mission to serve the underserved is a direct response to some of these challenges, particularly in its region. Here are a few policy and healthcare issues relevant to KCOM’s context that you should be aware of (and perhaps prepared to discuss if they come up in conversation):

• Healthcare Access in Rural Missouri: Missouri, especially the rural northern Missouri region around Kirksville, faces significant healthcare provider shortages. In fact, it’s reported that as much as 80% of Missouri lacks a primary care doctor, meaning many communities have no or too few primary care physicians kmuw.org. This leads to residents sometimes driving hours for basic medical care. Kirksville itself is relatively small, and the reason a school like KCOM exists there is to train doctors who might fill these rural gaps. An interviewer might casually bring this up (“Nearly all of Missouri’s counties are underserved in healthcare – how do you see your role as a future physician in addressing that?”).
• National Primary Care Shortage and Distribution: Zooming out, rural healthcare shortages are not unique to Missouri. Nationally, around 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, but only about 11% of physicians practice in those areas, resulting in roughly two-thirds of rural communities having a primary care shortage kmuw.org. This is a huge healthcare policy concern in the country: how to get more doctors into underserved areas. Federal and state policies (like loan repayment programs, rural training tracks, telehealth expansion, etc.) are all being tried to address this.
• Preventive and Whole-Person Care: Another “policy” or system-level theme is the emphasis on prevention and holistic treatment. The U.S. healthcare system is gradually shifting from a fee-for-service model to value-based care, focusing more on outcomes and prevention. Osteopathic physicians, with their whole-person philosophy, are well-suited to this shift. Issues such as obesity, diabetes, and opioid addiction are prevalent; community-based solutions and empathetic primary care approach are needed. KCOM’s curriculum (with community health outreach and OMM for pain management as an alternative to opioids) touches these policy issues.
• Osteopathic Medicine’s Role and Recognition: In the broader U.S. context, osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) are fully licensed doctors in all specialties, but the profession still sometimes faces questions or misconceptions. A relevant development in policy/education was the recent single accreditation merger of graduate medical education – now D.O. and M.D. graduates compete for the same residency programs (as of 2020). This means osteopathic grads have expanded opportunities but also face the challenge of standing out in traditionally MD-dominated specialties. KCOM has an excellent track record in the residency match (nearly 100% placement of graduates) atsu.edu.
• Missouri-Specific Healthcare Policies: If you have knowledge of local issues (like Missouri’s Medicaid expansion status, rural health initiatives, etc.), it’s fine to incorporate if relevant, but it’s not expected. One specific policy in Missouri is the creation of the “Assistant Physician” role (allowing unmatched med graduates to practice in rural settings under supervision). A more approachable angle: Missouri’s efforts in telehealth to reach rural patients – during COVID-19 and beyond, telemedicine policy expansions were crucial. KCOM being in a rural area, you might express interest in how technology can ameliorate rural access issues.

In summary, the big theme is underserved care. Policies and concerns about healthcare equity, physician distribution, and preventive health are not only topical but directly relevant to what KCOM stands for. You don’t need to be an expert in health policy, but having this context allows you to give richer answers. It also enables you to ask a thoughtful question like, “I know that nearly all counties in Missouri are medically underserved. How does ATSU-KCOM prepare its students to address healthcare disparities in communities like these?”

Like most medical schools, ATSU-KCOM uses a holistic review process – they “look at all aspects of an applicant’s file” atsu.edu. While meeting academic benchmarks (average MCAT ~503, GPA ~3.7 atsu.edu) is important, it’s often the non-academic qualities that distinguish who gets an interview and ultimately, an acceptance. Here are key attributes and experiences KCOM values and likely assesses in applicants:

• Service & Altruism: A strong commitment to serving others, especially underserved communities, is perhaps the defining trait KCOM seeks. Evidence of volunteering, community service, or advocacy – particularly work with populations who lack access to healthcare – will strongly support your application. Expect to be asked about your service experiences (e.g., “Tell me about a meaningful volunteer activity you did”).
• Leadership & Teamwork: KCOM values leadership – it’s explicitly one of their core values. They view physicians as healthcare team leaders and community leaders. Any leadership roles (club officer, team captain, project organizer, mentoring roles, etc.) you’ve held are worth highlighting. Equally, being a good team player is crucial in medicine.
• Shadowing & Understanding of Osteopathic Medicine: KCOM (and all osteopathic schools) want proof that you understand what being a D.O. means. This typically comes from shadowing a D.O. physician or other significant exposure to osteopathic practice. The secondary even prompts applicants to “read up on osteopathic medicine and be able to share how it relates to you and your professional goals” atsu.edu.
• Clinical Experience & Empathy: Hands-on clinical experience (working as a scribe, medical assistant, EMT, volunteering in clinics or hospitals, hospice work, etc.) is crucial to show you’ve tested your desire to be around patients. KCOM will look for evidence that you’re comfortable in healthcare settings and have developed empathy for patients.
• Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication skills are a must. The interview itself is a test of this, but they may also ask about times you had to communicate effectively or resolve a misunderstanding. KCOM values physicians who can connect with patients and colleagues.
• Cultural Competence & Diversity: ATSU-KCOM prides itself on a “collaborative and diverse educational environment” atsu.edu. They seek applicants who are culturally aware and respectful. If you bring diversity (ethnic, socioeconomic, unique life path, etc.), consider how to share that perspective as a strength.
• Research and Academic Curiosity: While not all D.O. schools heavily emphasize research, KCOM does highlight “scholarship” and has research opportunities. Demonstrating intellectual curiosity and an understanding of the scientific process is a plus.
• Personal Resilience and Character: KCOM’s holistic review will consider your personal journey. Overcoming challenges, balancing work and study, supporting family, etc., speak to your resilience, work ethic, and character. Expect questions like “What’s the most difficult situation you’ve faced and how did you handle it?”

In essence, KCOM looks for compassionate leaders – students with a heart for service, capacity for leadership, strong people skills, and a true calling to osteopathic medicine. As you prepare, reflect on your experiences that best showcase these qualities. During the interview, weave in those examples when appropriate. The goal is to paint a picture of someone who will not only excel in medical knowledge but also embrace KCOM’s mission and thrive within their community.

When preparing for any medical school interview, it’s useful to consider the official competency frameworks that admissions committees have in mind. In the U.S., the AAMC’s Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students provide a guideline for the attributes and skills a successful applicant should demonstrate hpa.princeton.edu. While ATSU-KCOM is an osteopathic school (under AACOM), these competencies overlap significantly with what KCOM looks for, and KCOM’s own values echo them.

AAMC 15 Core Competencies (Examples)

• Service Orientation: a desire to help others and society hpa.princeton.edu
• Social Skills: ability to communicate and interact effectively
• Cultural Competence: ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• Teamwork: collaboration skills
• Ethical Responsibility: honesty, integrity, ethical decision-making
• Resilience and Adaptability: staying effective under stress and adapting to change
• Reliability and Dependability: doing what you say you will
• Capacity for Improvement: taking feedback, self-reflection
• Critical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning: problem-solving abilities in science contexts
• Scientific Knowledge: a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, etc.

During your interview, KCOM’s interviewers will be (implicitly or explicitly) evaluating you on many of these competencies. Keep these competencies in mind as goals for what to convey: you want to demonstrate that you possess them through your stories and demeanor.

Osteopathic-Specific Competencies

• Treating the whole patient (mind, body, spirit) – value listening to patients and understanding their context (empathy and cultural competence).
• Health promotion and preventative medicine – examples may include involvement in public health campaigns or personal philosophy about healthy lifestyle.
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) – you’re not expected to know how to do it, but you should recognize its purpose and value as a hands-on technique D.O.s use to diagnose and treat.

CANMEDS or other international frameworks share similar roles (Communicator, Collaborator, Leader, Health Advocate, Scholar, Professional) which map well to what KCOM seeks. Use these frameworks as a checklist against your own experiences and prepare to give concrete examples that demonstrate these competencies.

Although each interview experience is unique, applicants over the years have reported a number of common themes and questions in KCOM interviews. Knowing these can help you prepare relevant anecdotes and thought processes (but remember not to script things too rigidly – flexibility is key in a conversational format). Here are some frequent themes and examples of past questions:

• Motivation for D.O. & Medicine: Expect “Why medicine?”, “Why osteopathic medicine (D.O.)?”, and “Why ATSU-KCOM?” Be ready with heartfelt answers and specific reasons tying you to osteopathy and KCOM.
• Personal Background and Experiences: Open-ended prompts like “Tell me about yourself”, “Walk me through your resume/activities”, or “What life experiences have been most important to you?” Interviewers often pick items from your application to discuss.
• Strengths and Weaknesses / Self-Reflection: Questions such as “What is one of your greatest weaknesses?” assess humility and self-awareness. Be honest and explain what you’re doing to improve.
• Understanding of Osteopathic Medicine: Direct questions like “What is your understanding of osteopathic medicine?” or “How do you explain the difference between a D.O. and an M.D.?” are common. Provide a concise explanation of holistic care and OMM.
• Ethical or Behavioral Scenarios: Traditional interview questions that probe judgment, communication, and professionalism (e.g., dealing with a difficult patient, witnessing cheating, or handling refusal of treatment). Use a structured approach to explain your reasoning.
• Healthcare Issues and Policy Questions: Interviewers may ask about a current issue or future challenge in healthcare (e.g., primary care shortages, rural health, cost of care). Be prepared to discuss one or two issues you’re comfortable with and offer solution-minded thoughts.
• Academic Readiness: Occasional questions about academic preparedness (e.g., “What course will you find most difficult?”) test self-awareness and study strategies.
• Miscellaneous Personal Questions: Casual “get to know you” questions like “What do you do for fun?” or “What was the last book you read for pleasure?” are common in conversational interviews.

Strategy for Handling Questions: Practice responding to each theme in a structured yet natural way. Use methods like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral examples, and be prepared for follow-ups or conversational tangents based on your answers. Prepare a few thoughtful questions to ask interviewers tailored to their roles.

Keeping track of the application timeline ensures you don’t miss any critical steps for ATSU-KCOM. Here are the key dates and what they mean for the 2025-2026 cycle (applying to join the class that would matriculate in 2026):

Application Cycle Recap: June 2025: AACOMAS opens; submit primary early. Summer-Fall 2025: Secondaries sent upon primary verification; submit ASAP. Oct 2025 – Mar 2026: Interviews conducted. Dec 2025 – May 2026: Admissions decisions rolling out. July/Aug 2026: Orientation and classes begin for matriculants. Confirm all dates on ATSU-KCOM’s admissions website as they can change slightly year to year.

Above all, be punctual with every deadline and communication. Everything from submitting your secondary promptly to sending a thank-you note after your interview (though not required, it’s a polite touch) reflects on your professionalism – one of those key competencies.

Preparing for an interview at A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine means preparing to show the best version of yourself as a future osteopathic physician who aligns with KCOM’s mission. We explored how KCOM’s interview format is structured (multiple one-on-one conversational interviews atsu.edu), and how you can anticipate a friendly, open-file discussion that delves into your motivations, experiences, and character.

We reviewed KCOM’s proud mission and values – from whole-person healthcare to leadership and service – which serve as a compass for how you should frame your stories and express your goals, demonstrating that you share the school’s ethos atsu.edu atsu.edu. We delved into the program itself, highlighting unique facets like its status as the first osteopathic school, the integrated ultrasound curriculum, and the strong emphasis on rural and community health, all of which can inspire thoughtful questions for you to ask interviewers and talking points to illustrate your interest atsu.edu atsu.edu.

We also connected the dots to broader healthcare issues – recognizing that KCOM’s focus on underserved communities is a direct answer to rural healthcare shortages in Missouri and nationwide kmuw.org kmuw.org. By understanding these policy concerns, you show interviewers that you’re not only passionate but also informed about the context in which you’ll practice medicine. Furthermore, we outlined the non-academic qualities KCOM looks for in candidates – compassion, leadership, teamwork, cultural competence, integrity – and how those mirror both the school’s core values and the AAMC’s recommended competencies atsu.edu hpa.princeton.edu.

Looking at past interview questions reinforced the importance of being prepared to talk about your journey (“Tell me about yourself”), your passion for osteopathic medicine (“Why D.O.?”), ethical situations (“How would you handle…?”), and your reflections on healthcare (“Where is healthcare headed?”) studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. The threads running through all these topics are authenticity and fit. KCOM wants to get to know the real you and assess if you will flourish in their community-oriented, student-centered environment.

As you approach the 2025-2026 interview cycle, make sure you’re also mindful of the logistics and timelines – submit applications early, practice for interviews well ahead of time, and plan your trip to Kirksville (if in-person) so that you arrive relaxed and ready to engage. When you’re in the interview, listen actively to your interviewers, respond honestly (it’s okay to take a moment to think if you get an unexpected question), and let your enthusiasm for KCOM and osteopathic medicine shine through.

In closing, ATSU-Kirksville’s interview is an opportunity not just for them to evaluate you, but for you to express why you belong at this unique institution. If you internalize the information synthesized in this guide – and more importantly, reflect on how your own story connects with it – you can walk into your interview with confidence. You’ll be ready to have a meaningful dialogue about your aspirations and values, and to show that you are exactly the kind of compassionate, committed future D.O. that Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine is proud to train. Good luck! forums.studentdoctor.net atsu.edu