BCOM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) conducts a traditional, two-interview admissions process and evaluates applicants holistically, considering both academic and non-academic factors aacom.org aacom.org. The school’s mission focuses on training physicians to improve healthcare access for underserved communities in the Southwest, and this ethos is reflected in BCOM’s core values of service, community, inclusion, integrity, and excellence burrell.edu burrell.edu. BCOM’s program spans a main campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico (on the NMSU campus), and a newer branch campus in Florida, offering modern facilities (e.g. cadaver labs, high-fidelity simulation centers) and a curriculum emphasizing primary care and community outreach aacom.org aacom.org. Common interview questions and discussions echo these priorities – candidates are often asked about their motivation for osteopathic medicine, their understanding of New Mexico’s healthcare needs, and experiences working with diverse or underserved populations forums.studentdoctor.net forums.studentdoctor.net. Admissions are competitive (approximately 5,000 applications for ~200 spots each year) forums.studentdoctor.net and operate on a rolling basis, so earlier applicants (those who complete applications by winter) receive the strongest consideration aacom.org.

BCOM uses a traditional interview format rather than MMI. Applicants typically have two separate one-on-one interviews with faculty members, each about 30 minutes long medicalaid.org. In recent cycles these interviews have been conducted virtually via Zoom forums.studentdoctor.net. Interviewers have limited information about the applicant (often only the secondary application and personal statement), indicating a semi-closed file approach forums.studentdoctor.net. The style of the interviews is generally conversational and low-stress forums.studentdoctor.net, though some candidates have reported being challenged with follow-up questions that test their reasoning under pressure forums.studentdoctor.net. Approximately 700 applicants are invited to interview for around 200 seats forums.studentdoctor.net, meaning roughly one in four interviewees will ultimately be accepted – a post-interview acceptance rate on the order of 25–30%.

BCOM’s mission is centered on educating physicians who will improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare in underserved communities burrell.edu. The motto "¡Para la gente y el futuro!" ("For the people and the future!") captures this focus on community-oriented, future-focused medical service burrell.edu. The school’s vision and guiding principles emphasize culturally competent care for the Southwest’s Hispanic and Native American populations and a commitment to osteopathic principles of wellness and prevention burrell.edu burrell.edu. In practice, this means BCOM values students who are passionate about service and reducing healthcare disparities. Interviewers often look for alignment between an applicant’s experiences or goals and the college’s mission of serving diverse, underserved communities.

• Service
• Excellence
• Community
• Inclusion
• Integrity burrell.edu

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded in 2013 and is one of the newer osteopathic medical schools. The main campus is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico (affiliated with New Mexico State University), and the additional four-year campus in Melbourne, Florida is based at Florida Tech aacom.org burrell.edu. The program offers a technology-rich medical education: for example, students train with a robust standardized patient program, high-fidelity simulation mannequins, and a cadaver anatomy lab aacom.org. The first two pre-clinical years follow an integrated, systems-based curriculum that incorporates active learning methods (team-based learning, case discussions) and includes osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) training alongside basic sciences burrell.edu burrell.edu. In the clinical years, students rotate through affiliated hospitals and clinics (initially established in the Southwest and now also in Florida) that serve a variety of communities. BCOM has a strong regional focus on primary care and community health, aiming to produce physicians who will serve the Southwest border region as well as other underserved areas. Below are some key facts and highlights about the program:

• Campuses: Main campus in Las Cruces, NM (on NMSU’s campus) and a branch campus in Melbourne, FL (on Florida Tech’s campus) aacom.org burrell.edu.
• Facilities: Advanced simulation and clinical training resources, including a pre-clinical standardized patient program, high-fidelity simulation mannequins, and a cadaver anatomy lab aacom.org.
• Curriculum: 4-year curriculum with the first 2 years systems-based (integrating basic sciences with clinical skills and OMM) and years 3–4 consisting of clinical clerkships in community hospitals and clinics (with an emphasis on underserved settings) burrell.edu.
• Class Size & Outcomes: Approximately 180–200 students matriculate per class (drawn largely from out-of-state) medicalaid.org. The college boasts around a 99% residency placement rate for its graduates, indicating success in matching students into graduate medical education aacom.org.
• Primary Care Focus: BCOM prioritizes primary care and local workforce development – it actively works to create new residency (GME) opportunities in the region and encourages graduates to practice in areas with physician shortages burrell.edu.

These distinctive features of BCOM’s program can also serve as points of discussion during the interview. Asking informed questions about the program shows your interest and knowledge. For example, an applicant might ask:

• How does BCOM involve students in caring for the underserved communities that are central to its mission? aacom.org
• What opportunities do students have to participate in research or community outreach during the first two years of the program? burrell.edu
• With the new Florida campus in addition to the New Mexico campus, what are the similarities and differences in student experience or clinical rotations between the two locations? aacom.org
• What programs or support does BCOM offer to help graduates go into primary care and practice in the local region after graduation? burrell.edu

BCOM’s mission and location naturally connect to various healthcare policy issues at the local, regional, and national levels. Being aware of these topics can help you understand the context in which the school operates and may inform interview conversations:

• Physician Shortages in New Mexico and Rural Areas: New Mexico faces a significant shortage of healthcare providers – for example, an estimated 264 additional primary care doctors are needed to eliminate current shortage designations in underserved parts of the state krqe.com. BCOM was established in part to address such shortages by training physicians likely to serve in these communities.
• Healthcare Disparities in the Southwest: The region BCOM serves includes large Hispanic and Native American populations that have historically faced healthcare access disparities. The college emphasizes culturally respectful education to improve health outcomes in the Southwestern U.S. and even Northern Mexico border communities medicalaid.org. Discussions around improving care for these groups (such as language access, cultural competence, and rural health infrastructure) are highly relevant to BCOM’s mission.
• Public Health and Preventive Care Challenges: Issues like vaccine hesitancy, preventive medicine, and community health education are pertinent, especially in underserved areas. In fact, recent interviews have included questions about topics such as COVID-19 vaccine resistance forums.studentdoctor.net, reflecting the expectation that applicants stay informed on public health debates and think about how to address them as future physicians.
• Diversity in Medicine: Increasing the diversity of the physician workforce is a policy priority connected to BCOM’s goals medicalaid.org. BCOM seeks to recruit students from different backgrounds and encourages graduates to serve a variety of communities. Broader discussions about how medical schools and policies can encourage more underrepresented minority providers (and thereby improve care in those populations) resonate with the school’s values.

In its admissions process, BCOM looks beyond grades and test scores to find students who embody characteristics aligned with the school’s mission. The selection process is “holistically driven,” assessing a range of applicant attributes and experiences aacom.org. Key non-academic criteria that BCOM evaluates include:

• A demonstrated commitment to service and volunteerism, especially with underserved or rural communities medicalaid.org.
• Meaningful clinical experience or exposure to patient care (e.g. physician shadowing, medical assisting) showing you understand healthcare environments aacom.org.
• Clear motivation for osteopathic medicine and awareness of the osteopathic profession (for instance, having shadowed a DO or familiarity with osteopathic principles and OMT) aacom.org.
• Maturity and professionalism, often evidenced by life experiences, leadership roles, or personal challenges overcome (BCOM values applicants who exhibit responsibility, empathy, and the ability to handle the rigors of medical training) aacom.org.
• Well-rounded extracurricular involvement and achievements beyond academics – this can include leadership in clubs, research projects, community initiatives, or other pursuits that have prepared you to contribute to the campus community medicalaid.org.

BCOM’s curriculum and assessments are aligned with the core competencies expected of osteopathic medical graduates clinicaldistinctioncom.wordpress.com. Osteopathic medical education defines seven competency domains: Osteopathic Principles and Practice (including OMT), Medical Knowledge, Patient Care, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, and Systems-Based Practice clinicaldistinctioncom.wordpress.com. The program’s training is competency-based – students are evaluated with tools like written exams, OSCEs, and skills assessments to ensure they are meeting these competencies burrell.edu. In the interview, although you won’t be explicitly quizzed on these frameworks, interviewers will be gauging qualities that correspond to them (for example, communication skills and professionalism in how you interact, or your understanding of holistic care reflecting osteopathic principles).

Reviewing reports from previous BCOM interviews, several common themes emerge in the questions applicants are asked. These themes tend to mirror the school’s values and the qualities it seeks:

• Motivation for Osteopathic Medicine and BCOM: Interviewers almost always explore “Why DO?” and “Why Burrell?” to gauge an applicant’s understanding of osteopathic medicine and specific interest in BCOM forums.studentdoctor.net.
• Commitment to the Region/Community: Many applicants have been asked about New Mexico or the surrounding region – for instance, what they know about the Las Cruces area, its population, or how they plan to contribute to the community there forums.studentdoctor.net. This line of questioning checks that you have a genuine interest in serving the college’s target region.
• Healthcare and Ethical Issues: Questions about current medical or societal issues can arise. For example, one interview included, “Why do you think some people are against the COVID vaccine?” forums.studentdoctor.net. Be prepared to thoughtfully discuss topics like public health, ethics, or healthcare policy (always professionally and empathetically).
• Experience with Diversity and Service: BCOM’s mission means they may ask about your interactions with diverse groups or underserved populations. Past candidates have been asked to describe working with a minority group and what they learned from it forums.studentdoctor.net, highlighting the value placed on cultural competence and community service.
• Personal Reflection: Expect at least one question inviting self-reflection, such as discussing a personal weakness or challenge. In one case, an interviewer asked about the applicant’s weaknesses forums.studentdoctor.net. These questions assess your self-awareness, humility, and willingness to improve.

The 2025–2026 application cycle for BCOM follows the standard osteopathic medical school timeline. Applications are processed through AACOMAS, and BCOM admits students on a rolling basis – so submitting materials early is advantageous. Key dates and deadlines include:

• May 5, 2025 – AACOMAS opens for submissions (the first day you can submit your primary application) aacom.org.
• February 2026 – Aim to submit your primary and secondary by this time for best consideration (BCOM recommends having all materials in by roughly February, given rolling admissions) aacom.org.
• May 21, 2026 – Primary application deadline (last date to submit the AACOMAS application to BCOM for the 2025–2026 cycle) aacom.org.
• May 28, 2026 – Secondary application deadline (last date to submit BCOM’s supplemental application, which is only sent to screened applicants) aacom.org.
• October 15, 2025 – Earliest date BCOM’s admissions committee will start extending acceptance offers for this cycle (in line with national guidelines) medicalaid.org.
• Mid-July 2026 – Orientation week for the incoming Class of 2026 and the start of first-year classes (exact date typically falls in mid-July) medicalaid.org.

In summary, preparing for a BCOM interview entails understanding the school’s mission-driven approach, knowing the format and expectations of its interviews, and being mindful of the broader healthcare context in New Mexico and beyond. By familiarizing yourself with BCOM’s values and program features – and reflecting on how your own experiences align with serving underserved communities and practicing osteopathic medicine – you will be well-equipped to present yourself as a strong fit for the program burrell.edu aacom.org.