The nation’s colleges of osteopathic medicine report a total of 4,575 2008 first-time matriculants to the 24 osteopathic colleges and three branch campuses that are part of the AACOMAS application process.  (The University of North Texas Health Sciences Center College of Osteopathic Medicine matriculants are not included in this analysis because the data are not part of the AACOMAS data base.)  This analysis includes data on 4,558 matriculants who applied through AACOMAS.  Seventeen matriculants who did not apply through AACOMAS are not included in the analysis.

AACOMAS Matriculants

Total matriculant numbers represent an increase of 21 percent since 2006 (the first year for which AACOM has data reporting the names of matriculants to all of the colleges).

Matriculant Gender

The percentage of female matriculants has declined slightly during the three-year period, from 50 percent in 2006 to 47 percent in 2008.

Component MCAT Scores

Total MCAT scores of matriculants have edged upward since 2006, from a mean of 25.11 to a mean of 26.11.  The mean component scores contributing to the total are displayed in the chart below.

Mean GPAs

The mean GPAs of AACOMAS matriculants also have trended upward, with the overall GPA increasing from 3.36 in 2006 to 3.46 in 2008.