Transfer Students
The Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM CA) only considers transfer applications from students who currently attend medical schools/colleges accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
Transfer applications from students currently attending medical schools/colleges accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), or an international medical school/college will not be considered.
Deadlines
- November 1 - Transfer application process opens
- January 16 - All transfer application materials due by 5:00 pm PDT
- February 16 - Interview status determined; candidates notified via email
- March - Interview (Date TBD)
- April 1 - Interview decisions released; candidates notified via email
Transfer Eligibility
Transfer applicants who have been dismissed from a prior medical school for any reason will not be considered. Transfer applicants who previously applied to TUCOM, interviewed and who were subsequently denied admission will not be considered. Applicants assigned to a waitlist who were ultimately not offered acceptance are not included.
Eligible candidates may only transfer into the beginning of the 3rd year and must obtain a passing score on the COMLEX Level 1 exam, on the first attempt, prior to June 1st. Failure to obtain a passing score on the first attempt by the required date may result in a rescission of the transfer acceptance, delayed start of the clinical curriculum, and/or postponed graduation date, all at the sole discretion of TUCOM. Transfer candidates are strongly encouraged to take the COMLEX Level 1 exam at least four weeks prior to the start of clinical clerkships to avoid a delay in beginning the 3rd year. Transfer students must complete the last two years of instruction at TUCOM to be granted a D.O. degree.
Required Process
- Confirm available space. After November 1, transfer applicants must contact the Office of Admissions at tuc.admit@touro.edu to verify that sufficient space exists to accommodate a transfer student. If sufficient space is available, applicants will be put into contact with the Clinical Education Department to obtain additional details. If sufficient space is not available, transfer applications will not be considered.
- Submission of Transfer Application Materials. After receiving confirmation of space availability, transfer applicants will be provided with a link to create an account within the Touro University Application system. With the exception of official transcripts, which will be submitted electronically to tuc.admit@touro.edu, all other required transfer application materials will be submitted through the Touro University Application System portal. When all application materials have been submitted, transfer applicants must notify the Senior Director of Admissions, Mr. Steven Davis at sdavis2@touro.edu.
- First Review: Curricular Eligibility. Complete transfer applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Admissions and Standards Committee, together with one or more representatives from Academic Affairs. This committee will evaluate overall admissibility and curricular eligibility based upon the applicant’s academic record and their ethical and professional standing. Applicants may be rejected at this stage or the application may be forwarded for review by the Curriculum Committee.
- Second Review: Transfer Credit Alignment. The Curriculum Committee will review the medical school transcripts to evaluate compatibility with the TUCOM curriculum and determine transfer credit alignment, specifying any course equivalencies or academic deficiencies to be addressed. If the candidate’s records are found incompatible with the curriculum, the file will be returned to the Director of Admissions with a recommendation to deny transfer. If acceptable, the file will be returned to the Director of Admissions with direction to invite the applicant to attend a personal interview.
- Personal Interview. Transfer applicants approved by both review committees will be invited to attend a personal interview with at least three members of the Admissions and Standards Committee. Among other things transfer applicants will be evaluated for candidate readiness, communication skills, professional alignment, and compatibility with the mission of the college and institution. This interview will be conducted virtually using the Zoom platform.
- Final Decision. Following the personal interview, interviewer recommendations will be collected by the Chair of the Admissions and Standards Committee who will, in turn, make a recommendation to the Dean. The Dean shall make the final determination regarding admission status and matriculation term. Decisions will be communicated via email. Transfer applicants will be given 14 days within which to confirm their intention to transfer by submitting a response form and paying a non-refundable $2,000 deposit.
Required Documentation
Transfer applicants must provide the following documentation:
- A letter to the Director of Admissions specifying all compelling reasons for requesting a transfer.
- A transfer application and $100.00 application fee.
- Most recent scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score.
- Official copies of transcripts from all post-secondary schools and colleges, sent to tuc.admit@touro.edu.
- Official copy of most current medical school transcript, sent to tuc.admit@touro.edu.
- A letter from the Dean of the medical school/college in which the applicant is currently enrolled, attesting that you are a current student in good standing and that they support your transfer application.
- A letter of recommendation from an active physician.
Submission of application materials and, if invited, attendance at an interview do not guarantee acceptance; both are part of the standard application process.