Submit your application through AACOMAS

ICOM is proud to participate in AACOMAS Application, the centralized application service for colleges of osteopathic medicine. All applications to ICOM must come through AACOMAS, but the journey can be complex. ICOM’s admissions team is happy to help through the process, whether you attend ICOM or not.

The application cycle closes each year on April 1 and reopens on May 5 for the following academic year.

AACOMAS, Protocols, and Due Dates

You can apply to ICOM directly through AACOMAS. Visit the AACOMAS website for contact information, instructions, and other noteworthy details.

ICOM adheres to the Application Protocol and Admissions Guidelines adopted by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and published in the Choose DO Explorer.

Prospective osteopathic medical students interested in Fall admissions may submit their application through the secure AACOMAS web server. Please be advised that a full AACOMAS application must be e-submitted, completed, and verified by April 1 of that year to be considered for admission.

Application Cycle & Important Dates

Below are the typical dates for ICOM’s application cycle. Always refer to AACOMAS for official deadlines.

Key Dates

• AACOMAS Application Opens: Early May
• ICOM Primary Application Deadline: April 1
• Secondary Application Deadline: Specified in your invitation email
• Interview Season: Late summer – spring
• Acceptance Notifications: Beginning in fall and rolling thereafter

Because ICOM follows a rolling admissions process, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.

How to Apply – Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to successfully complete your application to ICOM:

Step 1 – Create Your AACOMAS Account

Visit the AACOMAS portal and create your applicant profile. You’ll enter demographic, academic, and personal information and select Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine as one of your designated schools.

Step 2 – Complete All Required AACOMAS Sections

This includes:

• Academic history and transcripts
• Personal statement
• Experience entries (clinical, volunteer, research, leadership, etc.)
• Letters of recommendation
• MCAT score submission

Step 3 – Submit Your Primary Application

Once complete, submit your AACOMAS application and pay the associated fees. AACOMAS will verify your academic records before releasing your application to ICOM.

Step 4 – Receive and Complete Your ICOM Secondary Application

After your verified AACOMAS application is received, selected applicants will be invited to submit a secondary application.

This includes:

• ICOM-specific essay questions
• A non-refundable secondary application fee
• Any additional requirements outlined in the invitation email

Step 5 – Interview Invitation

Qualified applicants are invited to participate in an interview. ICOM’s interview process is typically virtual and conducted in a professional, conversational style designed to assess mission fit, communication skills, and readiness for osteopathic medical training.

Step 6 – Admissions Decision

Decisions are extended on a rolling basis after interviews. If accepted, applicants will receive deposit deadlines and next steps via email.

Who Should Apply to ICOM?

ICOM seeks applicants who:

• Have completed or are near completion of a bachelor’s degree
• Have completed the majority of required prerequisite coursework
• Demonstrate strong academic ability and professional maturity
• Show alignment with ICOM’s mission to serve the Mountain West, rural, and underserved communities
• Meet the program’s Technical Standards
• Possess the potential to become compassionate osteopathic physicians

Non-traditional applicants, career changers, military applicants, and students from medically underserved regions are strongly encouraged to apply.

Prerequisites & Eligibility

Before applying, ensure you meet minimum prerequisite coursework and eligibility requirements, including:

• Biology with lab
• General & Organic Chemistry with lab
• Physics
• English
• Behavioral sciences
• MCAT exam

(These requirements should link to your Requirements page.)

Letters of Recommendation

ICOM accepts letters via AACOMAS, including:

• A letter from a DO or MD physician (strongly recommended)
• A premedical committee letter, or
• Two academic letters from science faculty

Professionalism, maturity, and mission alignment should be evident in your evaluators’ comments.

Why Apply Early?

ICOM evaluates applications as they are completed. Applying early improves your chances of:

• Receiving a secondary sooner
• Being invited to interview earlier
• Accessing available seats before they fill
• Receiving earlier admissions decisions

Competitive applicants submit primaries within the first 1–2 months of the cycle opening.