IllinoisCOM

Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at The Chicago School Chicago, IL · Private · DO

Class size: 91
Tuition: $62,500 (per year)
Out-of-state applicants: Welcome

Deadlines

AACOMAS deadline: April 1, 2027
Secondary deadline: April 15, 2027

Essays

Essay 1 (500 words)

Reflect on an experience from your education or personal background that shaped your understanding of how individual identities, lived experiences, and cultural perspectives influence healthcare. How did this experience shape your perspective, and how might it guide your contributions to IllinoisCOM and the communities you serve and your engagement with the principles and practice of osteopathic medicine?

Essay 2 (500 words)

As IllinoisCOM evolves, how do you envision contributing to the college's developing identity, culture, and long-term impact? What does this opportunity represent to you personally, and how might you help shape the future of the college and its role in the broader healthcare community?

Editor's notes

You'd be joining the second class of a brand-new school. The first 91 students arrived in July 2026, it holds COCA pre-accreditation, and there are no board scores or match results yet. That's not a reason to skip it, but your secondary should show you've thought about what building something new asks of you.
Read the mission before you write a word: physicians who understand the link between mental and physical health. The curriculum backs it with a Mind and Medicine series and two behavioral health rotations. Experience in mental health settings, crisis work or psychology research is directly relevant here, so put it up front.
Check your transcript against the list. IllinoisCOM requires 3 credits of psychology and 3 of humanities, 12 of biology with an advanced course, and a physician letter (preferably a D.O.) written within two years. Those catch applicants who built their file for other schools.
Merit scholarships are automatic, but only for applicants accepted by April 1. With rolling admissions, that's another reason to submit early. The top tier, $60,000 over four years, needs a 3.70 GPA and a 510 MCAT.