Admissions Policy

The University of Virginia School of Medicine receives applications for admission that greatly exceed the number of places in the entering class. The Admissions Committee is thus placed in the position of having to choose a class from among an applicant population in which the number of academically qualified applicants far exceeds the number of available places. While the School of Medicine could choose its class solely on the basis of academic potential, neither the public nor the profession would be best served by an admissions process that was limited to selecting students by GPA and MCAT scores alone. The faculty believes that the educational process at the School, as well as the medical profession itself, is best served by an admissions process that will result in the selection of a diverse and multi-talented student body. To that end, the School has formulated an admissions policy that takes into consideration individual skills and characteristics that might not necessarily be directly related to academic ability.

Admission to the School of Medicine will be granted to those applicants who, in the opinion of the Admissions Committee, will make the most significant contributions to society as members of the medical profession. In making its determination the School will consider factors such as: (1) the applicant’s general academic ability based upon a careful examination of all academic transcripts, including factors such as the grade-point average, the selectivity of the school attended, the difficulty of the curriculum in which the degree was earned and the hours spent on outside employment or other time-consuming extracurricular activities; (2) the applicant’s capacity for the academic study of medicine based upon the MCAT score, and (3) other relevant personal qualities and characteristics of the applicant, including factors such as the applicant’s career goals, cultural and educational background and experiences, moral character, leadership qualities, commitment to community service, ability to think and act independently, and interpersonal and communication skills. The applicant should seek to have those persons writing letters of recommendation discuss such factors. To access the online-electronic application, please see the following website:

www.aamc.org
Association of American Medical Colleges
American Medical College Application Service
2501 M Street, NW, LBBY-26
Washington, DC 20037-1300
(202) 828-0635

Preference will be given to students who, by the time of matriculation, will have received the bachelor’s degree at a United States or Canadian college or university. The following required college science courses must be completed prior to matriculation:

Selection of Candidates The selection of students for admission to the School of Medicine is made by the Committee on Admissions, composed of members of the faculty of the School of Medicine and a select group of fourth-year medical students. Applicants are considered only after all credentials have been received. Applicants who have been denied admission previously are not encouraged to reapply unless there is a demonstrated improvement in their academic and non-academic credentials. The number of students in the entering class is limited to 141 students.

Method of Application The University of Virginia School of Medicine is one of the participating schools in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Applications may be accessed directly from their website: www.aamc.org. AMCAS applications must be submitted no later than November 1 of the year prior to the year of proposed enrollment. Students are selected and notified of their acceptance on a rolling admissions basis beginning October 15; therefore, early application is advantageous. All applicants will be required to pay a $75 non-refundable application processing fee unless granted a fee waiver.

Requirements for Admission Applicants should note that the University of Virginia School of Medicine considers applications only from students who are enrolled in or who have graduated from United States or Canadian colleges and universities. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. are eligible to apply provided they have completed (or will complete) their undergraduate course work in a U.S. or Canadian college or university.

Selection of College Courses The required courses listed above form the essential background for the scientific study of medicine. Many courses contributing to a well-rounded liberal education are of direct value and, though proficiency in the sciences is essential to the understanding of medicine, concentration on the sciences is not necessary. Medicine is concerned with a variety of social and community problems and requires a broad cultural background as well as technical education.

Advanced placement courses are acceptable if such courses are clearly indicated on the undergraduate college transcript as having been accepted by the college toward fulfillment of requirements for the bachelor’s degree. However, students are expected to pursue advanced courses if advanced placement credit was awarded for any of the required science courses listed above (including laboratory work). Students pursuing a graduate or professional degree must complete the program requirements prior to entrance into medical school.

Technical Standards Applicants to the University of Virginia School of Medicine are considered without regard to disability but with the expectation that they can complete all parts of the curriculum. In addition to certain academic standards, candidates for the M.D. degree must have abilities and skills in observation, communication, motor function, quantification, abstraction, integration, conceptualization, and interpersonal relationships and social behavior. Some disabilities in certain of these areas may be overcome technologically, but candidates for the medical degree must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner without the use of trained intermediaries. Those desiring additional information on this matter may contact the Admissions Office for the full Technical Standards Policy.

Medical College Admission Test The Medical College Admission Test is required of all applicants. All students must present scores from tests taken no later than the fall of the year prior to the year of matriculation, and no earlier than the spring of three years prior to the year of matriculation. Further information concerning this test is available from college premedical advisors, or from the AAMC website: www.aamc.org.

Personal Interview Students are not accepted without a personal interview. Selected individuals are invited for interviews after review of their completed application. The Admissions Committee does not grant regional interviews, telephone interviews, or interviews by applicant request.

Transfer Applicants Transfer applications are accepted for entrance into the third-year class if there are vacancies due to attrition. Transfer applicants must be in good standing at a United States allopathic medical school, and preference will be given to Virginia residents or to individuals who have compelling reasons to be in Charlottesville. All students accepted for transfer into the third-year class will be required to complete two full years of the curriculum at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and pay the appropriate tuition and fees.

Correspondence concerning admission should be addressed to the Director of Admissions, UVa School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800725; Charlottesville, VA 22908-0782; (434) 924-5571; fax: (434) 982-2586; e-mail medsch-adm@virginia.edu.