Admissions Criteria
- School of Medicine Administrative Offices Home
-
SOM Admissions
- SOM Admissions Home
- Contact SOM Admissions
- Academic Counseling
- Admissions Criteria
- Admission Programs
- Applicant Evaluation and Decisions
- Application Timeline and Deadlines
- Accepted Applicants
- Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Notice
- SOM Financial Aid
- Outreach Programs
- Technical Standards for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine
- Transfer and Visiting Students
- Faculty Affairs
- SOM Student Affairs
-
Office of Medical Education
- Office of Medical Education Home
- Contacts
- Curriculum
-
Faculty Development
- Faculty Development Home
- Professional Development Series
-
Course Director's Guide
- Home
- Table of Contents
- School of Medicine—Who We Are
- Educational Program Objectives (EPOS)
- Departmental Responsibilities
- Course Director Roles and Responsibilities
- Course Establishment
- Course Management
- SOM Policies
- Student Support
- School of Medicine Room Reservations
- Resources and Contacts
- Examination Question Validation Algorithm - PDF (external link)
- Required Tasks for the Academic Year
- Clinical Clerkship and Elective Evaluation Process
- Useful Links
- Medical Student Success Network
- SOM Annual Reports (Intranet)
- Student Resources
- Teaching Awards
- Assessment of Courses, Course Leaders and Students
- IMPACT the RACE
- The Journey Newsletter
- Graduate Medical Education
Main Content
Admissions Criteria
The following are the admission requirements that should be reviewed by each student applying to the School of Medicine (SOM).
- Academic Metrics
- Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
- The MCAT is required for application to medical school.
- Our average MCAT score is 506.
- MCAT scores must be within 3 years of your application. For example, to apply during the summer of 2025 (for entering medical school the fall of 2026), the student must submit scores from MCAT taken after January 1, 2022.
- Applicants are encouraged to visit the AAMC website for more information about the MCAT.
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- For more information, go to Academic Metrics
- Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
- Course Requirements (more information):
- Experiences and Activities
- Applicants should have varied experiences that demonstrate knowledge, skills, abilities, and attributes reflective of the AAMC's Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students.
- These include: an understanding of the medical profession; an ability to interact with patients; a desire to help others and a sensitivity to others' needs; leadership and reliability; knowledge of the scientific process and an understanding of scientific inquiry; and evidence of well roundedness, adaptability, and resilience.
- Experiences should include the following: Physician Shadowing
- Applicants are required to have at least 35 hours of US-based physician shadowing prior to submitting their application.
- Physician shadowing is the observation of the practice of medicine by physicians outside of a classroom setting.
- Shadowing should include observing direct patient care and doctor-patient interactions in a hospital, clinic, and/or other healthcare setting.
- Applicants should try to shadow several different sub-specialties and should have some shadowing with a primary care physician.
- Medical Exposure/Clinical Experiences
- Applicants are encouraged to have some exposure to patients and patient care in clinical settings.
- Examples include clinical training and health-related courses, volunteering or employment involving medical care or patient support, clinical research, volunteering at health care facilities or events, and patient care experiences in premedical or healthcare organizations.
- Community Service
- Applicants are expected to engage in volunteering and community service in recognition of a physicians' responsibilities to society locally, nationally, as well as globally.
- Experiences should reflect an applicant’s desire to help others, especially underserved or disadvantaged populations.
- Examples include fundraising, service projects, community outreach, disaster relief, mentoring, tutoring, coaching, and campus ambassadors.
- Leadership and Initiative
- Applicants should have experiences that require leadership and demonstrate initiative and responsibility.
- Examples include: class or club officer; positions in student government; supervisory roles for projects, work, or military; team captain for sports and athletics; leadership roles in community, campus, or social organizations.
- Research
- Varied Life Experiences
- For more information, go to Life Experiences and Personal Attributes section