Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) is renowned for its community-focused curriculum, combining hands-on clinical experience with community-based activities. For example, MSUCOM medical school students can engage in community activities like volunteering at the Spartan Street Medicine program, which provides care to underserved and homeless populations. They also participate in the FitKids360 initiative, helping children and families in the Lansing area adopt healthier lifestyles. Additionally, through the medical school’s Rural Community Health Program, students work with rural clinics to address healthcare access challenges in underserved areas.
Students benefit from MSU’s strong network of medical professionals (physicians and non-physicians), access to diverse patient populations, and a commitment to addressing health disparities. The university’s collaborative culture and emphasis on student well-being also create an enriching atmosphere where future doctors can thrive both intellectually and personally.
It is important to know that Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine has three sites:
- East Lansing
- Detroit Medical Center
- Macomb University Center
Each year, the Cracking Med School Admissions team gets people accepted to MSUCOM. We can help you get accepted! Contact us today.
Why Choose Michigan State University College of Medicine?
- Emphasis on community outreach and service. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine is committed to community outreach and service by promoting health equity.
- Diverse patient population.
- Many global health elective experiences.
- Kind and collaborative culture.
- High match rates (99.6% match rate for class of 2024).
- Three different sites, allowing students to get a more rural or urban setting (Detroit).
Applications
The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) secondary application includes detailed essay prompts that require time and effort to complete effectively. To stand out, focus on demonstrating your commitment to osteopathic medicine, service-oriented leadership, and MSUCOM’s mission of advancing healthcare in underserved communities. If you’re wondering how to get into Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, researching its curriculum, clinical training opportunities, and community-focused initiatives will help you craft strong, personalized responses. Given the number of total essays and the length of the essays, allocate sufficient time to ensure your answers are thoughtful, well-organized, and compelling!
Contact Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta if you have questions or need help with editing your Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine secondary essays! This is a good one for us to edit because it’ll help you out with all your other osteopathic applications too :).

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts:
- Imagine your professional life 15 years from now and briefly detail where you envision yourself and what you hope to be doing. Describe your most meaningful career accomplishment by that time and explain why it is significant. (500 words)
- Considering your life experiences and the lens through which you view the world, share your thoughts and perspectives about how systemic injustices and inequities have 1) affected you directly, and/or 2) shaped your perspective on society. (500 words)
- If you could present yourself to the Admissions Committee, what would you want to make sure they knew about you? (500 words)
LMU Program Essays
- Why are you interested in the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved Program? Be specific. (400 words)
- How have your past experiences prepared you for the challenges of a medical practice in an underserved area?
- A central component of this program is that students achieve low-intermediate proficiency in a second language by the time they reach the third year of medical school. Explain your current second language proficiency and/or your plan for achieving low-intermediate proficiency in a second language. (400 words)
LMR Program Essays
- What motivated you to pursue a career in rural medicine? (250 words)
- How have your past experiences prepared you for the challenges of a medical practice in a rural area? (250 words)
- Are you interested in interviewing for the Rural Physician Program (RPP), the Rural Community Health Program (R-CHP), or would you like to interview for both programs? (250 words)
MD-PH (Joint Medicine + Public Health) Program Essays
- Why are you interested in the Medical Partners in Public Health Certificate program, and what will you plan to do in your future practice with the information and skills gained from this experience? (400 words)
- Please describe any formal training that you have had in public health. (400 words)
- Please describe any public health-related experiences that you have had. (400 words)
- Are there any other considerations that you wish to share with the committee? (400 words)
Need Help With Your Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Essays?
Get the Cracking Med School Admissions team’s expertise through our secondary essay editing packages. If you have questions, email us at info@crackingmedadmissions.com or contact us.
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interview Format
To ace your traditional interview, you need to know how to answer common medical school interview questions. It’s important to practice, practice, practice.
Cracking Med Resources for Interviews:
- How to answer “Tell me about yourself” Medical School Interview Question
- How to answer “Why this Medical School?”
- 43 Questions To Ask Your Medical School Interviewers
- Download our Cracking Med School Admissions interview guide below
Contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview with our Cracking Med School Admissions team! Take a look at our interview packages.
download your interview guide
If you are prepared, the interview gives you the perfect opportunity to standout and shine by sharing with people what you are passionate about.

Michigan State University College of Medicine Acceptance Rate
How did MSUCOM students do on their COMLEX Exams?
- Michigan State University College of Medicine Average GPA: 3.6
- Michigan State University College of Medicine MCAT: 507
How did MSUCOM students do on their COMLEX Exams?
- Average COMLEX-USA Level 1 score: 88 (in 2022-2023)
- Average COMLEX-USA Level 2C score: 95.97 (in 2022-2023)
- Average COMLEX-USA Level 2PE score: unavailable
- Average COMLEX-USA Level 3 score: 98.58 (in 2022)
- High match rates (99.6% match rate for class of 2024)
Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders
We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With

Rachel Rizal, M.D.
Changing the trajectory of people's lives
Undergraduate
Princeton University
Medical School
Stanford School of Medicine
Residency
Harvard, Emergency Medicine
Awards & Scholarships
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USA Today Academic First Team
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Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.
Advising students to attend their dream schools
Undergraduate
Johns Hopkins University
Medical School
Stanford School of Medicine
Residency
Stanford, Pediatrics
Awards & Scholarships
Marshall Scholar
Tylenol Scholarship
Global Health Scholar
Each year, the Cracking Med School Admissions team
helps students get accepted to top medical schools.
We can help you get accepted!
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The Insider's View on MSUCOM's
Pre-clinical years
Michigan State University College of Medicine Curriculum Overview
Pre-clinical Curriculum Overview:
In the DO program, the 1st and 2nd years are spent in pre-clerkship and the third and fourth years are spent in clinical rotations.
Pre-Clinical Years:
- The first two years at MSUCOM focus on learning basic biology and physiology.
- Throughout pre-clerkship, students learn the principles and application of osteopathic medicine through osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
Grading: Grades during pre-clerkship years are Pass / Fail.
One interesting aspect about the pre-clinical curriculum is that students participate in clinical courses. For example, each medical school student at MSUCOM does a family medicine preceptorship, which is a one-week experience in a family medicine or primary care clinical. Additionally, students can pursue a global health or service learning elective.
Special dual degree programs (receive two degrees simultaneously):
- DO/PhD
- DO/MBA
Special dual enrollment program (must apply to the MPH Program in addition to College of Osteopathic Medicine)
- DO/MPH
Unique highlights about pre-clinical years:
- Clinical experience requirement during pre-clerkship through a rotation in family medicine or an international rotation.
- Global Health elective experiences that allow students to study abroad in countries like Peru, Korea, Nepal, Costa Rica, Spain, and more.
- Many students conduct research.
What students are saying about MSUCOM
The Insider's View on MSUCOM's
Clinical Years
How to get into Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Know the Clinical Curriculum
Clinical Curriculum:
- Core rotations
- Family medicine
- Internal medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Ambulatory internal medicine
- Neurology
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Surgery
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatry
- MSUCOM med school students must complete elective clerkship rotations of their choice from a list of non-surgical, surgical, or non-clinical electives.
- In their third year, students will complete the C3 program, which is a didactic curriculum to improve clinical skills.
Grading: Grades during clinical rotations are Honors / High Pass / Pass / Fail
Clinical Rotation Sites: Third year students complete their core rotations at MSUCOM affiliated base hospitals that are part of the Statewide Campus System
- MaLaren Greater Lansing: MaLaren Greater Lansing is the primary teaching hospital. It is located near the MSU campus and serves as a major teaching facility for medical students.
- Henry Ford Health System: Provides clinical rotations for both medical and osteopathic medical students from MSU.
- University of Michigan Health-Sparrow: Particularly important for nursing students at MSU.
- Other hospitals include: Spectrum Health Lakeland, Trinity Health Muskegon, Munson Medical Center
Unique highlights about clinical years:
- C3 program, which is a didactic curriculum to improve clinical skills.
- Wide variety of hospitals you can rotate through
- Many students match into Michigan residency programs because many hospitals you rotate at have residency programs
What students are saying about clinical rotations at MSUCOM
Housing & Social
Housing:
- MSUCOM does not provide campus housing. MSUCOM medical school students rent private apartments and townhome complexes in neighboring communities.
Social Life:
- Detroit is a vibrant urban setting with international cuisine, concerts, theatre, and professional sports. Detroit Medical Center is only two blocks from Detroit’s Cultural Center, which includes the Detroit Public Library, Detroit Institute of Arts, Children’s Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, Museum of African–American History and Detroit Science Center.
- Macomb University Center is located in Southeast Michigan. It is near 31 miles of shoreline and 130 parks.
financing
- In-state tuition: ~47,000 per year
- Out-of-state tuition: ~$65,000 per year
Cracking Med School Admissions Resources
Here are useful Cracking Med School Admissions resources:
- How To Write A Personal Statement For Medical School
- Download Cracking Med School Admission’s FREE AMCAS Activities Workbook
- Premed Timeline: Planning For Medical School Applications
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