Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine KCUMB-COM is the largest medical school in Missouri. In addition to many other factors that make KCUMB an attractive choice for medical school, they are also a two-time recipient of the John Templeton Spirituality in Medicine award. KCUMB balances quality medical education with an emphasis on compassionate care. School Mission/Focus: “We are committed to excellence in the education of highly qualified students in osteopathic medicine and the life sciences. We are a community of students and teachers; scientists and scholars; physicians and health care professionals; administrators and staff, with a common conviction that ability is gained through knowledge, integrity is learned by example, and compassion and empathy are first received and then given. We are united in our commitment to: Developing and sustaining the highest quality educational programs for the preparation of physicians, ethicists and scientists who are leaders in meeting the needs of an ever-changing society; Maintaining a culture which embodies the principles and philosophy of our heritage, exemplifying humane, holistic and compassionate care; Contributing to the advancement of knowledge through research and scholarly activities; Developing the potential of students and faculty by sustaining a learning environment which emphasizes educational and personal values and a striving toward excellence.” (www.aacom.org) Location: KCUMB-COM is located in Kansas City Missouri. Much of the city is located on bluffs overlooking rivers in the area. Application Requirements:GPA (Cumulative): unknown GPA (Science): unknown MCAT: Required. No data is available for a minimum score required on the MCAT. In addition to a Bachelor’s Degree, student must have completed the follow undergraduate course work:
- English (6 semester hours)
- Biology (8 semester hours) – must include a laboratory
- Physics (8 semester hours)
- Chemistry (13 semester hours)
- Biochemistry (3 semester hours) – must include a laboratory
- Genetics (3 semester hours)
Background check required: Yes All students meeting the minimum application requirements will be sent a secondary application which should be returned as soon as possible. Secondary applications will require:
- Letters of reference – 1 letter from a physician (MD or DO – DO is preferable), 1 letter from Admissions Committee Boards, or Science Faculty member
- $50 application fee
Curriculum: Curriculum details are unknown, however the following is from the AACOM CIB:
- KCUMB-COM’s clinical presentation-based curriculum integrates the basic and clinical sciences throughout all four years in a structure that encourages independent learning and clinical problem solving, and that provides abundant early clinical experiences.
- Concepts of health-care policy, medical informatics, women’s health, palliative care, public health, preventive medicine and communication skills are integrated throughout the four year curriculum.
- Enhanced clinical clerkships during students’ third and fourth years take place in a wide variety of medical settings in Kansas City and throughout the United States, and reinforce important learning objectives while integrating academic assessment.
- KCUMB-COM’s curriculum has received national and international recognition for its focus on the physician-patient relationship.
School Demographics:
Total Enrollment: 983
Total Male: 489
Total Female: 494
First Year Enrollment: 254 8% of 1st year students indicated multicultural ethnicity
Cost of Attending:
Tuition: $39,436 Fees: unknown
Living in Kansas City, MO:
Population: Kansas City has an estimated total population of 447,306 and an estimated metro area of about 2 million people. Kansas City is the second largest city in Missouri. Demographics: Kansas City has a very high ethnic diversity. Approximately 58.66% of the people are White, 31.78% are Black, 8% claim Hispanic origin, and 2.40% are Asian. Housing: Housing in Kansas city has an average cost well below the national average with the median home value at $140,000. While the average appreciation rate of homes in the US is 9.8%, the average rate of appreciation in Kansas City is -1.65. Finding cheap housing in Kansas City should be relatively easy and fairly low-cost. Cost of Living: The cost of living in Kansas City is below the national average. On average, utility rates are low in this area making living expenses somewhat lower than normal. Kansas City is a good place to live for individuals seeking a low-cost metropolitan area to attend medical school. According to American Baby Magazine, Kansas City has the “Most Affordable Family Health Insurance” in the nation, making it one of their “Best Cities for New Families.” Employment Opportunities: While plenty of employment opportunities are available for skilled individuals, unemployment in Kansas City is high compared to other metropolitan areas of the country.The economy growth rate is also slightly lower than average. Weather: Kansas City is known for extremes in climate, including very hot and humid summer and occasionally bitter cold winters. Spring weather in Kansas City is comparatively mild. Here are average temperatures for January and July (in Fahrenheit):
January: High = 38, Low = 21
July: High = 90, Low = 72
Things to do:Kansas City is well known for a wide variety of entertainment activities. The city also has many spacious parks and diverse cultural activities. Every amenity that one could want is available in the area.
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