CUSOM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) offers a mission-driven medical education that emphasizes serving rural and underserved communities in a Christian environment aacom.org. The interview process is uniquely structured as an interactive "Applicant Day" – a virtual, day-long series of group dialogues in place of traditional one-on-one interviews aacom.org. In preparing for this experience, applicants should familiarize themselves with CUSOM’s values of teamwork, leadership, professionalism, integrity, diversity, and ethical practice medicine.campbell.edu, as well as the program’s key features such as its class size (~150 students per class) medicine.campbell.edu, integrated osteopathic curriculum, and special programs (for example, a dual JD/DO degree option medicine.campbell.edu). It’s also important to stay informed about relevant healthcare issues in North Carolina and beyond – for instance, the impact of Medicaid expansion on rural health access apnews.com – since interviews may touch on policy awareness. By understanding CUSOM’s mission and demonstrating a fit with its holistic, community-oriented approach to medicine, applicants can confidently navigate the interview and highlight their alignment with the school’s culture and goals.

CUSOM’s interview is conducted through an Applicant Day format, which replaces the traditional interview with a series of interactive sessions. These Applicant Days are held virtually aacom.org, and they often involve group discussions or Q&A activities rather than formal individual interviews aacom.org forums.studentdoctor.net. The style is generally conversational and collaborative, allowing applicants to engage with faculty, students, and other interviewees in discussions that showcase their communication skills and fit with the school’s mission. This innovative approach is a key part of CUSOM’s holistic admissions process and is designed to put candidates at ease while providing a comprehensive view of their interpersonal qualities.

In past cycles, CUSOM utilized two back-to-back open-file interviews (meaning interviewers had access to the applicant’s file) forums.studentdoctor.net. More recently, however, the school transitioned to the group-based Applicant Day model, so interviewers now assess candidates through those interactive dialogue sessions. The admissions committee explicitly considers an applicant’s performance during Applicant Day as part of the acceptance decision aacom.org. Because CUSOM admits students via rolling admissions, candidates typically hear back within a few weeks after their Applicant Day participation medicine.campbell.edu. While exact post-interview acceptance rates aren’t published, being invited to an Applicant Day indicates that an applicant has met all baseline requirements aacom.org and is a serious contender for a spot in the class. Success on interview day – demonstrated by strong communication, professionalism, and alignment with CUSOM’s values – can therefore play a significant role in the final admissions outcome.

CUSOM’s mission is to educate and prepare community-based osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment to care for rural and underserved populations in North Carolina, the Southeastern U.S., and the nation medicine.campbell.edu. This mission underpins everything from admissions decisions to the design of the curriculum. The emphasis on a Christian environment signals that compassion, service, and ethics are integrated into the school’s culture, though students of all backgrounds are welcomed. In line with the mission, CUSOM places high importance on producing doctors who will address healthcare disparities in rural areas and serve communities in need. The school’s core values include teamwork, leadership, professionalism, integrity, diversity, and the ethical treatment of all people medicine.campbell.edu. These values offer insight into the personal qualities CUSOM expects of its students and are often reflected in interview discussions. For example, demonstrating a commitment to teamwork or speaking about experiences serving diverse communities can reinforce an applicant’s fit with the school’s ethos. Understanding CUSOM’s mission and values is crucial for interview prep, as you’ll want to convey how your own goals and principles align with the school’s purpose.

As the first and only osteopathic medical school in North Carolina, CUSOM was established to address the state’s need for primary care physicians in underserved areas aacom.org. The program admits around 150 students per year, making it the second-largest medical school in the state medicine.campbell.edu, and it attracts students both from North Carolina and across the country. Campbell’s location in Buies Creek (Lillington), a rural setting near the Research Triangle region, gives students a perspective on both rural healthcare and access to modern medical facilities medicine.campbell.edu. The curriculum is systems-based and highly integrative: courses combine traditional lectures with interactive case-based learning, clinical simulation labs, and early exposure to patient care scenarios aacom.org aacom.org. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) training is woven throughout the first two years of the program, ensuring that students continuously apply osteopathic principles alongside standard medical education aacom.org. Notably, CUSOM offers a unique JD/DO dual degree option in partnership with Campbell’s law school, allowing a few students to pursue a Juris Doctor concurrently with their medical degree medicine.campbell.edu. This and other dual-degree or certificate opportunities (such as a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program for pre-medical preparation) are distinctive features prospective students may want to explore. In terms of student life, the school fosters a close-knit, service-oriented community – for instance, students regularly volunteer at free clinics and participate in medical mission trips, reflecting the school’s outreach focus. These program facts not only highlight what makes CUSOM unique, but they also provide great material for asking informed questions during your interview, demonstrating your genuine interest in the school.

Potential Questions to Ask at the Interview

• How does CUSOM incorporate its mission of serving rural and underserved populations into the curriculum and clinical training opportunities for students?
• What opportunities do students have to participate in community outreach or medical mission trips during their time in the program?
• Can you tell me more about the JD/DO dual degree program and how students balance the law curriculum with medical school requirements?
• How are osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative medicine integrated throughout the four-year curriculum, and how do students apply these skills during rotations?

Given CUSOM’s focus on underserved and rural communities, interviewees should be knowledgeable about healthcare policy issues affecting these populations in North Carolina and the broader U.S. One significant topic is the shortage of healthcare providers and resources in rural areas. For example, rural hospital closures have been a concern in North Carolina – over 100 rural hospitals have closed or downsized nationally in the past decade due to financial and population challenges apnews.com. Such closures amplify healthcare disparities and are directly relevant to CUSOM’s mission of improving rural health access. Another key policy development is Medicaid expansion in North Carolina. In 2023, the state approved Medicaid expansion, and within one year nearly 600,000 new low-income adults enrolled for coverage, greatly benefiting rural and underserved populations apnews.com apnews.com. Understanding the implications of Medicaid expansion (e.g. more patients gaining access to care, potential reduction in uncompensated hospital care) can be useful if discussing healthcare access or insurance issues. On a national level, broader debates about healthcare reform and ethics are also pertinent. Discussions about whether healthcare is a right or a privilege have been prominent thebrightdoctor.com, as have conversations around improving the Affordable Care Act and addressing costs. In fact, Campbell interviewers have previously asked questions about the U.S. healthcare system and reforms thebrightdoctor.com, expecting candidates to articulate informed opinions. It would be wise to familiarize yourself with ongoing healthcare legislation, such as efforts to improve rural healthcare infrastructure, primary care incentive programs, or public health initiatives in the Southeast. Demonstrating awareness of these policy topics in your interview shows that you are engaged with the real-world context of medicine, which is especially important for a school committed to community-oriented healthcare.

Like many medical schools, CUSOM employs a holistic admissions approach, meaning that factors beyond GPA and MCAT are heavily considered. The admissions committee looks for applicants who not only excel academically but also embody the school’s service-oriented ideals and demonstrate well-rounded character traits medicine.campbell.edu. Healthcare experience (such as clinical work or shadowing) and community service are particularly valued, aligning with Campbell’s mission to serve others medicine.campbell.edu. In addition, CUSOM encourages applicants with leadership roles, research experience, and unique life experiences – all of which can indicate potential to contribute to the campus community and the profession. The school explicitly states that they review each candidate as a "whole person: mind, body, and spirit" medicine.campbell.edu, reflecting osteopathic philosophy. This means qualities like empathy, communication skills, resilience, and integrity are just as important to them as academic metrics. In fact, CUSOM’s published goals include recruiting students who have a desire to serve and who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives medicine.campbell.edu. During your interview, you can expect the evaluators to probe into these areas, such as asking about your volunteer work or how you’ve shown teamwork and ethical judgment in the past. Showing that you have actively lived out values of service, compassion, and leadership in your own experience will reinforce that you meet the non-academic criteria CUSOM is seeking.

CUSOM’s educational philosophy and expectations of students align with broader competency frameworks in medical education, especially those specific to osteopathic medicine. A fundamental set of principles guiding osteopathic training is the Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine – the idea that the body is an integrated unit of mind, body, and spirit; capable of self-healing; with structure and function intimately connected; and that treatment should be based on these principles osteopathic.org. These tenets are reflected in Campbell’s emphasis on holistic patient care and are likely to inform both the curriculum and the interviewers’ perspective (for instance, being able to discuss what holistic care means to you is important). Additionally, CUSOM’s values and curriculum indicate a commitment to the same core competencies expected of all physicians, such as professionalism, communication skills, clinical reasoning, and systems-based practice. The inclusion of professionalism and ethics in the school’s values medicine.campbell.edu and the training in teamwork and clinical skills throughout their program suggest that Campbell ensures its graduates meet national standards for physician competencies. While the school may not list a specific competency framework by name for admissions, it inherently values the attributes found in frameworks like the AAMC’s Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students (e.g., service orientation, cultural competence, reliability) and the ACGME/AOA competencies for physicians (e.g., patient care, medical knowledge, interpersonal skills, etc.). For interview preparation, this means you should be ready to demonstrate or discuss qualities such as ethical decision-making, collaboration, adaptability, and an understanding of osteopathic principles. In fact, familiarity with the four tenets of osteopathic medicine is crucial – interviewers have been known to ask about them to gauge your grasp of the DO philosophy forums.studentdoctor.net. Overall, showing that you appreciate both the unique osteopathic approach and the universal competencies of a good physician will signal to CUSOM that you’re well-aligned with their program.

Looking at past interview experiences for Campbell, several themes consistently emerge in the questions. These themes mirror the school’s priorities and the competencies they seek in applicants. Below are some of the major categories of questions reported, along with examples:

• Alignment with Mission – Interviewers often want to know why you’re interested in Campbell’s program and its focus. For example, Why are you interested in rural medicine? thebrightdoctor.com is a question that probes your commitment to serving underserved communities and understanding of CUSOM’s mission. Be prepared to discuss how your experiences or goals connect to caring for rural or underserved populations and why Campbell’s approach appeals to you.
• Osteopathic Philosophy & Motivation – Questions about osteopathic medicine itself are common. You might be asked What is osteopathic medicine? or Why choose DO over MD? thebrightdoctor.com thebrightdoctor.com. In one reported case, an interviewer directly asked for the four tenets of osteopathic medicine forums.studentdoctor.net, expecting the applicant to know them. These questions assess your understanding of and dedication to the osteopathic approach, so make sure you can articulate what draws you to osteopathic medicine and how you see it shaping your future practice.
• Personal Qualities and Experiences – CUSOM’s interviewers frequently explore your personal background to evaluate qualities like teamwork, leadership, resilience, and empathy. Expect standard prompts such as describing a time you solved a problem creatively, a significant challenge you’ve overcome, or your strengths and weaknesses thebrightdoctor.com thebrightdoctor.com. Behavioral questions (e.g., How do you handle conflict? or Tell us about your greatest accomplishment and disappointment.) are designed to reveal your character and interpersonal skills. The tone of these questions can be conversational – some interviewers have been described as very laid-back and interested in simply getting to know the applicant forums.studentdoctor.net – so it’s good to respond with honest self-reflection and specific examples from your life.
• Ethical and Policy Discussions – In line with CUSOM’s holistic and service-oriented training, interviewers may pose questions about current issues in healthcare or ethical dilemmas. A commonly cited example is being asked whether healthcare is a right or a privilege thebrightdoctor.com, which invites you to discuss your viewpoint on healthcare access and can tie into knowledge of health policy. Another example is a question on health care reform, such as What is your understanding of the Affordable Care Act and how would you improve it? thebrightdoctor.com. Additionally, situational ethics questions (like dealing with non-compliant patients or handling an error) could arise. These inquiries allow you to demonstrate critical thinking, compassion, and awareness of the healthcare system. When approaching such topics, it’s important not to panic – the interviewers aren’t necessarily looking for one “right” answer, but rather insight into how you reason through complex issues and whether your values align with the compassionate, community-minded physician profile CUSOM seeks.

• AACOMAS Primary Application Opens: May 5, 2025 aacom.org – This is the first day you can submit your primary application via AACOMAS (the centralized application service for DO schools). Applying early is encouraged due to rolling admissions.
• Primary Application Deadline: March 1, 2026 aacom.org – CUSOM’s final deadline for the AACOMAS primary application. However, it’s recommended to submit well before this date (at least by early February 2026) since rolling admissions means interview slots may fill up before the deadline aacom.org.
• Secondary Application Deadline: March 15, 2026 medicine.campbell.edu – Once a primary application is verified and if you meet CUSOM’s initial criteria, a secondary application invitation may be sent. The secondary (with essays and a fee) must be submitted by this date. Note that secondaries are by invitation only, and you should aim to complete it promptly upon invitation, as earlier completion can lead to earlier interview consideration.
• Early Decision Program (EDP): If CUSOM is your first choice, you can apply Early Decision. EDP Application Due: June 1, 2025 (primary and secondary both due) aacom.org. EDP Notification: By August 1, 2025 (you will receive an acceptance or denial before regular applicants, allowing you to apply elsewhere if not accepted). EDP is binding, so only apply this route if you are certain CUSOM is where you want to attend.
• Interview Invitations and Decision Timeline: Interview (Applicant Day) invites are sent on a rolling basis, typically starting in late summer 2025 and continuing through fall. CUSOM conducts interviews virtually on specific days throughout the season. Because of rolling admissions, seats can fill progressively; those who interview earlier may have an advantage. Admissions decisions (accept, waitlist, or reject) are usually released within a few weeks after your Applicant Day medicine.campbell.edu. If accepted, you will need to pay a deposit and fulfill any stated requirements by set deadlines (e.g., accepted before Nov 15 must deposit by Dec 14) medicine.campbell.edu.

Preparing for an interview at Campbell’s Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine involves understanding the school’s distinctive attributes and conveying how you align with them. In this guide, we reviewed CUSOM’s interactive Applicant Day format (and what that means for your interview experience), the mission and values that drive the school’s focus on community service and holistic care, key program features and facts that you should know, and the broader healthcare topics relevant to the school’s context. We also explored the non-academic qualities Campbell looks for and how they tie into established competency frameworks, as well as common themes from past interview questions. With this knowledge in hand, you can approach your interview confidently – ready to discuss your fit with CUSOM’s mission, demonstrate awareness of issues in healthcare, and share the experiences that have shaped your journey to medicine. By effectively integrating these elements into your interview responses and questions, you’ll highlight your preparedness and enthusiasm for joining Campbell’s osteopathic medical community.