Essay Topics (2024 - 2025)

1. There are philosophical and tangible differences between osteopathic and allopathic medicine. Describe what being an osteopathic physician means to you, and what qualities make a good osteopathic physician. What have you done to gain knowledge and experience of osteopathic medicine? (No Limit)

2. All applicants are required to answer one of the following three questions in the form of an essay. There is no specific word count, font or font size required. Make sure to include the question itself at the top of your essay. Please name the file using the following format: "last name, first name, selected essay". (No Limit)

1. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?

-OR-

2. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

-OR-

3. What has been your most meaningful life experience (i.e., family situation, clinical or shadowing experience, volunteer experience, etc.) that influenced your decision to pursue medicine?

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Essay Topics ('21 – '22)‍

1. All applicants are required to answer the following question in the form of an essay. There is no specific word count, font or font size required. Please name the file using following format: "last name, first name, required essay".

"There are philosophical and tangible differences between osteopathic and allopathic medicine. Describe what being an osteopathic physician means to you, and what qualities make a good osteopathic physician. What have you done to gain knowledge and experience of osteopathic medicine?"

2. All applicants are required to answer one of the following three questions in the form of an essay. There is no specific word count, font or font size required. Make sure to include the question itself at the top of your essay. Please name the file using the following format: "last name, first name, selected essay".

1. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?

-OR-

2. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

-OR-

3. What has been your most meaningful life experience (i.e., family situation, clinical or shadowing experience, volunteer experience, etc.) that influenced your decision to pursue medicine?

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Essay Topics ('22 – '23)

1. Campus Statement, Cleveland: Tell us about an experience or experiences that has/have prepared you to enter medicine and how you feel you will impact your community in or around Cleveland, Akron or Northeast Ohio.

2. Campus Statement, Dublin: Tell us about an experience or experiences that has/have prepared you to enter medicine and how you feel you will impact your community in or around Dublin, Columbus, or Central Ohio.

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Essay Topics ('21 – '22)‍

1. Describe a situation where you chose to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (500 words)

2. All applicants are required to answer ONE of the following three questions in the form of a short essay, 250 words maximum. Make sure to include the question itself at the top of your essay; this will not count toward the 250 words. Please name the file using the following format: "last name, first name, selected essay".

a. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?

b.There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

c. Part of OU-HCOM's mission is to embrace diversity and public service and improve the health and wellbeing of underserved populations. Describe what that means to you and how you would contribute to that mission as a student and as a future physician.

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Essay Topics (’20 – ’21)‍

1. Describe a situation where you chose to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? Required Essay (500 Words Max)

2. All applicants are required to answer one of the following three questions in the form of a short essay, 250 words maximum. Make sure to include the question itself at the top of your essay; this will not count toward the 250 words. Please name the file using the following format: "last name, first name, selected essay".

a. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?

b. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

c. Part of OU-HCOM's mission is to embrace diversity and public service and improve the health and wellbeing of underserved populations. Describe what that means to you and how you would contribute to that mission as a student and as a future physician.

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Essay Topics ('19 – '20)‍

1. Describe a situation where you chose to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?

2. All applicants are required to answer one of the following three questions in the form of a short essay, 250 words maximum. Make sure to include the question itself at the top of your essay; this will not count toward the 250 words. Please name the file using the following format: "last name, first name, selected essay".

a. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?

b. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

c. Part of OU-HCOM's mission is to embrace diversity and public service and improve the health and wellbeing of underserved populations. Describe what that means to you and how you would contribute to that mission as a student and as a future physician.

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Essay Topics ('18 – '19)‍

1. Describe a situation where you chose to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (250 words max)

2. Answer ONE of the following three questions in the form of a short essay, 250 words maximum:

a. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?

b. There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

c. Part of OU-HCOM's mission is to embrace diversity and public service and improve the health and wellbeing of underserved populations. Describe what that means to you and how you would contribute to that mission as a student and as a future physician.

3. While completing your AACOMAS application, you indicated an interest in the dual degree program. Please submit a short essay (500 words or fewer) describing how this path would support your career goals.

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Essay Topics ('17 – '18)‍

1. Required personal statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document describing why you wish to become an osteopathic physician; why you wish to attend the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; and any additional information you feel the selection committee should know about you. Please format your essay as single-spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g.Required Personal Statement or Dublin Campus Statement)

2. Dublin campus statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document detailing essay detailing your interest in studying and training in central Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in central Ohio for practice. Please format your essay as single- spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g. Required Personal Statement or Dublin Campus Statement)

3. Cleveland campus statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document detailing essay detailing your interest in studying and training in northeast Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in northeast Ohio for practice. Please format your essay as single-spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g. Required Personal Statement or Cleveland Campus Statement)

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Essay Topics ('16 – '17)‍

1. Required personal statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document describing why you wish to become an osteopathic physician; why you wish to attend the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; and any additional information you feel the selection committee should know about you. Please format your essay as single-spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g.Required Personal Statement or Dublin Campus Statement)

2. Dublin campus statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document detailing essay detailing your interest in studying and training in central Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in central Ohio for practice. Please format your essay as single- spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g. Required Personal Statement or Dublin Campus Statement)

3. Cleveland campus statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document detailing essay detailing your interest in studying and training in northeast Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in northeast Ohio for practice. Please format your essay as single-spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g. Required Personal Statement or Cleveland Campus Statement)

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Essay Topics ('15 – '16)‍

1. Required personal statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document describing why you wish to become an osteopathic physician; why you wish to attend the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; and any additional information you feel the selection committee should know about you. Please format your essay as single-spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g.Required Personal Statement or Dublin Campus Statement)

2. Dublin campus statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document detailing essay detailing your interest in studying and training in central Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in central Ohio for practice. Please format your essay as single- spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g. Required Personal Statement or Dublin Campus Statement)

3. Cleveland campus statement: Please upload a Word or PDF document detailing essay detailing your interest in studying and training in northeast Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in northeast Ohio for practice. Please format your essay as single-spaced with a font-size no less than 10 pt or greater than 12 pt. Please clearly identify at the top right corner of the page your name and the title of the essay being submitted (e.g. Required Personal Statement or Cleveland Campus Statement)

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Essay Topics ('14 – '15)‍

1. The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is interested in finding out more about you as an applicant. To enable us to gain a better understanding of your activities, working experiences, and personal philosophy and their relationship to osteopathic medicine, you are asked to complete a personal statement. Please be open, candid and honest in your responses. Feel free to draw on your school experiences, extra-curricular activities, or working experience as a basis for your answers. All applicants are required to write a personal essay indicating why you wish to become an osteopathic physician; why you wish to attend the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; and any additional information you feel the selection committee should know about you.

2. Applicants indicating Dublin as a preference must write an additional personal essay detailing their interest in studying and training in central Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in central Ohio for practice.

3. Applicants indicating Cleveland as a preference must write an additional personal essay detailing their interest in studying and training in northeast Ohio; desire for primary care medicine; and intent to remain in northeast Ohio for practice.

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Essay Topics ('13 – '14)‍

1. Why you wish to become an osteopathic physician; why you wish to attend the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; and any additional information you feel the selection committee should know about you.