Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
New Mexico · Less selective by the numbers · Founded 2013
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 500
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 497–503
- Median GPA
- 3.48
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.23–3.63
- Science GPA
- 3.38
- Acceptance rate
- 3.2%
- Interview rate
- Not reported
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 125
- CARS
- 124
- Bio / Biochem
- 125
- Psych / Soc
- 126
Section medians are projected from the total using the publicly published national section distribution (CARS runs lowest, Psych/Soc highest). Schools rarely publish their own per-section medians, so this is an estimate; real values are shown when we've sourced them.
vs US DO matriculants: MCAT -3.5 (nat. 503.5), GPA -0.12 (nat. 3.60).
MCAT range by residency Premier estimate
| Matriculants | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | 493.6 | 496.4 | 504.4 | 508.4 |
| In-state | 494.9 | 498.1 | 507.3 | 511.7 |
| Out-of-state | 496.7 | 499.9 | 507.6 | 511.3 |
The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. Premier's model estimates the full spread and the residency split from the published median — calibrated across every US MD program and validated to within ~1.5 points of reported figures. Estimates are shown to one decimal. How this works.
Class profile
- Entering class size
- 312
- Public / Private
- Private
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- Not reported
- Orientation
- Service-oriented
Research vs. service orientation
Service-oriented (12/100) — Underserved/border-region primary-care mission, DO-only, no MSTP, no notable NIH funding.
Course exams
Core clerkship exams are the NBOME's standardized COMAT subject exams — standardized nationally, so they're consistent across DO schools. Whether the preclinical years lean on in-house, NBME-based, or a mix of exams isn't something schools publish in one place — so we don't guess per school; confirm specifics with the school.
Cost & aid
- Cost of attendance
- $105,388
- Avg. graduate debt
- Not reported
- Secondary fee
- $80
- % receiving aid
- 76%
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2025-2026 (cost); 2024 entering class (stats)). Schools report "tuition" vs. "tuition & fees" differently and some (e.g. NYU Grossman, Kaiser early cohorts) award universal scholarships — always confirm on the official page.
Prerequisites & requirements
Typical for US DO programs — confirm this school's exact list.
- Biology
- 1 year with lab
- General Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Organic Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Biochemistry
- 1 semester (recommended/required)
- Physics
- 1 year with lab
- English / writing
- 1 year
- Math / statistics
- 1 semester–1 year (varies)
- Psychology & Sociology
- Recommended for the MCAT
Required tests
- MCAT — required
- CASPer: varies — verify with the school
- AAMC PREview: varies — verify
Letters of recommendation
- 3–5 letters or a committee letter
- At least one letter from a science faculty member
- A letter from a DO (osteopathic) physician is strongly preferred
Application timeline (AACOMAS)
Most US programs admit on a rolling basis — applying early materially helps.
What this school weighs
- GPA & MCAT (academic readiness)
- Clinical experience & shadowing (including osteopathic shadowing)
- Research experience
- Community service & volunteering
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement & secondary essays
- Interview performance & mission fit
- State residency (especially at public schools)
Secondary essay prompts (2024-2025)
⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.
- If you could strengthen one area of your application, what would it be? What have you done, or what do you plan to do, to address it and improve going forward? · 300 words
- In what area of medicine do you see yourself practicing, and in what type of setting? · 300 words
- Describe an experience you've had or an activity you've participated in that aligns with the mission of BCOM. · 300 words
Interview
⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.
Format: Traditional
MMI-style format; applicants report it as organized, with interviewers who seem genuinely invested in applicant success. Several note a nondisclosure agreement.
Questions applicants report
- Have you ever had second thoughts about pursuing medicine?
- How would you handle a person with dementia who believed it was 1920?
- What region of New Mexico do you feel best suited to live in for your clinical years (Las Cruces, Albuquerque, or the reservation)?
- Is the basis of medicine curiosity or a desire to help?
- Tell us about your extracurricular activities.
- Do people have a right to healthcare?
Key facts
- Degree
- DO
- Type
- Private
- Location
- New Mexico
- Region
- West
- Interview format
- Traditional
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- COMLEX-USA (many students also take USMLE)
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- 2022 or newer (July 1, 2022 oldest considered)
- International applicants
- Not considered
- DACA applicants
- Not considered
- Early Decision
- Not offered
- Deferral
- Allowed
Stats from the school's published class profile and publicly available national data. Prerequisite, timeline, and letter guidance is typical for US DO programs and may differ at this school. Some figures are being verified. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCAT score do I need for Burrell?
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine has a median MCAT of 500 (typical accepted range about 497–503). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (497) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does Burrell require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.48 (roughly 3.23–3.63). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for Burrell?
Like most US DO programs, expect a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), biochemistry, and English, plus math/statistics. Psychology and sociology are recommended for the MCAT. Always confirm the school's exact list.
Is Burrell hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 3.2% — less selective by the numbers for US DO programs.
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