BUCOM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (BUCOM) in Memphis, TN, launched in 2024 as a new osteopathic medical program to address physician needs in the Mid-South aacom.org. It is a faith-based institution with a mission to serve diverse underserved communities in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi baptistu.edu. The interview process at BUCOM uses a live multiple mini-interview (MMI) format that candidates have found to be low-stress and conversational forums.studentdoctor.net, aligning with the school’s emphasis on getting to know applicants holistically.

BUCOM’s curriculum and values highlight primary care, holistic patient-centered training, and community service, guided by the osteopathic philosophy and core competencies baptistu.edu. The admissions approach is similarly holistic: BUCOM evaluates not only academic performance but also “noncognitive” traits and experiences outside the classroom aacom.org. Students who demonstrate a commitment to the college’s mission and values (such as intent to work in underserved areas) receive added consideration in admissions aacom.org. Applicants should also be mindful of the broader healthcare context—like physician shortages in the Mid-South that underscore BUCOM’s mission apnews.com—as these issues can inform interview discussions. Finally, understanding the rolling admissions timeline – from early primary applications in May to final submission deadlines in spring – is crucial for navigating the 2025–2026 cycle successfully baptistu.edu.

BUCOM conducts in-person interviews using a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format aacom.org. In this format, applicants rotate through a series of short, structured interview stations rather than a single panel interview. Despite the structured nature of MMIs, students report that BUCOM’s interview day feels welcoming and conversational forums.studentdoctor.net. Interviewers tend to be friendly and aim to put candidates at ease, focusing on getting to know each applicant. Interviews are held on campus (no virtual option) in small group cohorts, typically scheduled on Wednesdays or Thursdays baptistu.edu.

Notably, the 2024–2025 cycle was BUCOM’s first year implementing the MMI, after using traditional interviews in the inaugural cycle forums.studentdoctor.net. With this change, the interview procedure is likely closed-file, meaning interviewers have minimal information about the applicant beforehand and base their evaluation on the interview performance studentdoctor.net. This approach allows the school to assess personal qualities and problem-solving skills in real time through scenarios. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis: after the interview and a final committee review, candidates are notified of acceptances via phone call or email aacom.org. As a new school ramping up its class size (from 81 students initially to 121 in 2025 and 162 by 2026) baptistu.edu, BUCOM extends a significant number of offers to fill its seats – but the process remains competitive due to the volume of applicants.

BUCOM’s mission centers on educating physicians who blend excellent medical practice with compassion, faith, and service. The official mission statement calls for “an exemplary model of education that prepares physicians who integrate the art and science of healing with their faith, calling, and pursuit of excellence” baptistu.edu. A key focus is on improving health outcomes in the Mid-South region – Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi – particularly by training doctors to serve in primary care roles within underserved urban and rural communities baptistu.edu. BUCOM strives to develop clinicians who are clinically skilled, culturally competent, and grounded in osteopathic principles to meet these community needs baptistu.edu. This mission-driven emphasis on service and primary care is a guiding force in the school’s admissions and training priorities.

As part of Baptist Health Sciences University, BUCOM inherits a strong set of values rooted in a Christian ethos. The college’s vision is to be distinguished for excellence and innovation in osteopathic medical education, preparing graduates to transform healthcare through exceptional patient-centered care baptistu.edu. Core values like integrity, professionalism, continuous improvement, and service are emphasized as an expression of the university’s Christian principles baptistu.edu. BUCOM fosters an environment of servant leadership, where faculty and students are encouraged to lead and serve in accordance with faith-based ideals baptistu.edu. The school is also committed to diversity and inclusion – for example, 28% of the inaugural class comes from underserved backgrounds and 58% are women baptistu.edu – reflecting its goal to train a healthcare workforce that mirrors the communities it serves.

Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is a private, nonprofit medical school that welcomed its first class in 2024 aacom.org. Located in the heart of the Memphis Medical District, BUCOM operates on a 21-acre urban campus. Its primary academic building is a newly renovated, 97,000-square-foot facility equipped with state-of-the-art features – including an anatomy lab (with both dissection and high-tech visualization), a simulation center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine lab, and team-based learning classrooms aacom.org. The campus also provides amenities such as on-site housing, fitness facilities, ample parking, and a large auditorium, creating a comprehensive learning environment for students.

A defining strength of BUCOM is its partnership with Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest healthcare networks in the region. Through this affiliation, BUCOM students gain clinical experience across a wide network of hospitals and clinics – a Baptist network of 22 hospitals, plus numerous urgent care centers, specialty clinics, and ambulatory facilities in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi aacom.org. During third and fourth years, students rotate at these sites, exposing them to diverse patient populations and healthcare settings. Baptist Memorial’s established residency and fellowship programs (and its Clinical Research Institute) further enhance the learning opportunities, offering mentorship and research prospects for osteopathic students aacom.org. This integrated system helps connect students to potential residency placements and practice opportunities within the Mid-South.

As a newer school, BUCOM is rapidly expanding its class size to meet regional needs. The inaugural class matriculated 81 students, the second class grew to 121, and by the entering class of 2026 the school plans to reach full capacity with 162 students baptistu.edu. BUCOM has deliberately recruited a student body aligned with its mission: 40% of the first class hailed from the Mid-South region and 28% of students came from underserved or underrepresented backgrounds baptistu.edu. The college hopes many of its graduates will remain in the area to practice – in fact, BUCOM’s leadership has set a goal of retaining about 60% of graduates to work within the Baptist health system and surrounding communities baptistu.edu. This focus on local impact underscores many aspects of the program, from admissions preferences to the design of clinical rotations.

Given these distinctive features, applicants may want to ask targeted questions during the interview to learn more about BUCOM’s program and opportunities. For example:

• How does BUCOM integrate its Christian faith-based values into the medical curriculum and student life?
• What opportunities do students have to serve or work with underserved communities in the Mid-South during their training?
• How will the partnership with Baptist Memorial Health Care influence my clinical rotations and hands-on learning experiences?
• What research or scholarly opportunities are available for students (for example, through the Baptist Clinical Research Institute or other initiatives)?
• As a newer medical school, what support systems (mentoring, tutoring, wellness resources) are in place to help students succeed throughout the program?

BUCOM’s mission and location tie it closely to pressing healthcare policy issues in its region. The Mid-South faces significant physician shortages and health disparities, particularly in rural and low-resource communities. For example, Mississippi has a severe deficit of medical professionals, which has impacted its ability to improve outcomes in areas like maternal and infant health and chronic disease management apnews.com. Arkansas likewise anticipates a looming physician shortfall that could escalate into a crisis without intervention axios.com. In response to such needs, institutions like BUCOM (in partnership with Baptist Memorial) are working to expand the pipeline of doctors; the college is actively building clinical education capacity with the goal of improving access to care across Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi baptistu.edu. BUCOM’s leadership even aims for at least 60% of its graduates to remain in the region, indicating a strategic effort to address local healthcare shortages baptistu.edu.

On a national level, the school’s focus on primary care and community health aligns with broader healthcare trends and policies. The United States is facing a projected physician shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 doctors by 2033, with rural and underserved areas (especially in the South) being disproportionately affected time.com. This has led to policy discussions about expanding medical education and residency positions. In Tennessee, for instance, Meharry Medical College has advocated for funding and created partnerships to fast-track training for students committed to practicing in rural areas axios.com. Osteopathic schools like BUCOM contribute to these solutions by training physicians oriented toward holistic, primary care practice and encouraging service in communities with the greatest needs. Awareness of these policy contexts – from state-level healthcare access initiatives to national workforce projections – can help applicants frame their motivation to attend BUCOM and serve its mission.

In its admissions process, BUCOM looks beyond grades and test scores to identify well-rounded future physicians. The school employs a holistic review, considering each applicant’s personal attributes, experiences, and alignment with BUCOM’s mission in addition to academic achievements aacom.org. Applicants are evaluated on their “non-academic” or “noncognitive” qualities – those traits that reflect character, interpersonal skills, leadership, and empathy. In fact, BUCOM explicitly gives preference to students who demonstrate an ability and desire to fulfill the college’s mission and who share the university’s values aacom.org. This means that an applicant’s background in service or their commitment to working with underserved populations can be just as important as their GPA or MCAT in the selection process.

• Leadership experience – roles in student organizations, community groups, or workplaces that show initiative and teamwork.
• Service and volunteering – a record of community service, especially in healthcare or with underserved populations, aligning with BUCOM’s emphasis on servant leadership.
• Research and scholarly activity – involvement in research projects or other academic pursuits, indicating intellectual curiosity and evidence-based thinking.
• Clinical exposure – hands-on experience in healthcare (shadowing physicians, working as a scribe or EMT, etc.), demonstrating commitment to patient care and understanding of the medical environment.
• Mission alignment – a clear passion for primary care, public health, or serving rural/underserved communities, which resonates with BUCOM’s Mid-South focus and values.

BUCOM’s curriculum is designed around the core competencies expected of osteopathic physicians. In accordance with accreditation standards, the college ensures that students are educated and assessed across the seven competency domains of osteopathic medical training baptistu.edu. These competencies encompass not only medical knowledge and patient care skills but also osteopathic-specific principles and professional attributes. Throughout the program, courses and clinical experiences are aligned to foster growth in each competency area, preparing graduates to enter residency as well-rounded, competent physicians. The seven core osteopathic competencies include:

• Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) & Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM)
• Medical Knowledge
• Patient Care
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Professionalism
• Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
• Systems-Based Practice

Reports from recent interviewees suggest that BUCOM’s interviews cover a broad range of topics, often emphasizing situational judgment and personal qualities. Given the MMI format, many questions are scenario-based. For example, some candidates were asked to engage in role-play scenarios, such as calming a nervous patient waiting for test results studentdoctor.net. This kind of question tests an applicant’s communication skills, empathy, and ability to think on their feet. Other scenario questions may present ethical dilemmas or challenging interpersonal situations, aiming to gauge integrity, problem-solving, and professionalism under pressure. Additionally, interviewers have posed questions about stress management – for instance, asking how the applicant handles stressful situations – indicating BUCOM’s interest in a student’s resilience and self-care strategies studentdoctor.net.

Alongside the scenario stations, BUCOM interviewers also include more traditional questions to understand each applicant’s background and motivations. A common opening prompt is 'Tell me about yourself,' which allows the candidate to highlight their personal journey and key experiences studentdoctor.net. Applicants have also noted questions about their preferred medical specialty or long-term career goals studentdoctor.net. These inquiries let the school assess whether a student’s aspirations (for example, a passion for primary care or commitment to serving in the Mid-South) align with BUCOM’s mission. Overall, the interview question themes — ranging from personal storytelling to interactive role-plays — reflect BUCOM’s comprehensive approach to evaluating how well an applicant might fit into its community and values.

BUCOM follows the standard AACOMAS application cycle, with a few school-specific deadline nuances. The admissions process is rolling, meaning seats are filled continuously as interviews and acceptances occur, so applying early in the cycle is advantageous baptistu.edu. Below are key dates and milestones for the 2025–2026 application cycle:

• May 2025: AACOMAS primary application opens (anticipated early May) baptistu.edu. Applicants are encouraged to submit early, as BUCOM reviews applications and sends secondary invitations on a rolling basis.
• June 2025: BUCOM’s admissions office begins inviting selected applicants to complete the supplemental (secondary) application baptistu.edu. (A $50 supplemental fee is required, unless waived via an AACOMAS fee waiver.)
• August 2025: BUCOM starts hosting interviews for selected applicants baptistu.edu. Interviews are in-person and conducted weekly (typically on Wednesdays or Thursdays) in small-group cohorts on campus.
• Fall 2025 – Winter 2026: Interviews continue through the fall and winter months, and admission offers are extended on a rolling basis. Strong candidates may receive acceptances soon after their interview, often communicated via a phone call or email from the admissions office aacom.org.
• January 2026: Latest MCAT scores accepted for this cycle – applicants must take the MCAT by no later than this month baptistu.edu.
• March 1, 2026: Primary application deadline – this is the final date to submit the AACOMAS application for BUCOM consideration in the 2025–2026 cycle baptistu.edu.
• March 15, 2026: Secondary application deadline – all supplemental application materials (including secondary essays and required recommendation letters) must be submitted by this date baptistu.edu.

In summary, thorough preparation for a BUCOM interview involves understanding the program’s distinctive mission, format, and expectations. Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is a new, mission-driven institution aiming to produce compassionate physicians for the Mid-South region. Its interview process – an in-person MMI – is structured yet applicant-friendly, designed to evaluate not just academic ability but also interpersonal skills, ethical judgment, and alignment with the school’s values. By familiarizing themselves with BUCOM’s mission and values, the health policy issues impacting its community, the qualities it seeks in candidates, and the timelines of the application cycle, applicants can approach the interview with confidence. This alignment between an applicant’s preparation and BUCOM’s ethos will help demonstrate a genuine fit with the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s class of 2026.