SOM Admissions
Applications
Applications for admission to the University of Massachusetts Medical School are submitted on-line through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS): http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm
Applications are accepted between June 15 and November 1 of the year prior to admission. The deadline for completion of the application is December 15.
APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS EARLY!!
AMCAS requires 4-6 weeks to verify applications. Submission of applications to AMCAS by the November 1 deadline DOES NOT guarantee that your application will be verified in time to be complete by our December 15 deadline. Extensions will not be granted for late applications.
All applicants are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Arrangements for taking the MCAT, requesting test reports, and information concerning administration, scoring and processing of the test should be directed to the MCAT office.
UMMS EARLY DECISION MCAT POLICY:
MCAT results must be in the admissions office by 09/01 to be considered for early decision. We recommend that applicants schedule their MCAT exams in time for results to be in the admissions office by the deadline. Applicants must list on their AMCAS application the last date that they plan to take the MCAT. We will accept additional MCAT results for early decision applicants who are not accepted to the program who wish to be considered for regular program.
UMMS REGULAR PROGRAM MCAT POLICY:
We will accept all MCAT exams for the current year and up to 3 years prior to the application cycle. Applicants must notify the admissions office if they do not plan to take the MCAT on the last date listed on their applications. Applications will remain incomplete until all results are in the admissions office and must arrive by the established deadlines of 09/01 for early decision and 12/15 for regular pool.
January MCAT’s of the current application year will be considered for wait list only-NOT for acceptance for the matriculating class.
Applicants are also required to complete a University of Massachusetts Medical School supplementary application as well as a residency validation form documenting residency status in Massachusetts.
Admissions Policy and Acceptance Procedures
The Admissions Committee will review an application only when complete, with all supporting documents, as described below:
- The completed and verified AMCAS application.
- UMMS Supplemental application forms. Upon receipt of the AMCAS verified application, applicants are sent an email with directions for completing the on-line secondary form.
- Letters of Recommendation. Applicants should have all letters of recommendation sent directly to the Associate Dean for Admissions. An official recommendation from his/her school's pre-medical advisory committee is required. In the event that such documentation is not provided by the applicant's school, two letters of reference must be provided from instructors in the prerequisite science courses. Letters of recommendation from commercial advisors are discouraged and do not substitute for this requirement.
- MCAT exam results. Selection of applicants for the medical school class entering in a given calendar year will be based, in part, on MCAT scores acquired during the previous three calendar years only. Selection of alternates may include consideration of MCAT scores acquired in the same calendar year.
- Residency Validation Form (on-line). Applicants to the regular MD program must declare Massachusetts as their state of legal residence on their AMCAS application. Anyone seeking to enroll in the University of Massachusetts Medical School who has not graduated from a Massachusetts High School is required to provide proof of continuous residency for a period of not less than five years immediately prior to enrollment. Applicants may be asked to provide tax returns to document their MA residency. Applicants must also be U.S.citizens or permanent residents.
- Application to the MD/Phd program is NOT restricted to Massachusetts residents.
- MD program applicants must submit a non-refundable $75 application fee. . Payment must be submitted as personal check, bank check or money order mailed to the admissions office. This fee is waived for MD/Phd program applicants.
- Transcripts of courses taken after completion of AMCAS application: Once the verified application has been processed by AMCAS and received by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, any additional transcripts for subsequent course work should be forwarded directly to the Admissions Office of the University of Massachusetts Medical School for as long as the application remains active.
Applicants will be able to view an on-line check list to view if applications are complete or which items have not been received. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all required documents are received. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE IN THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE BY December 15.
Once complete, each application is reviewed by the Admissions Committee and a decision is made regarding the offer of an interview. An interview is required for acceptance and interviews are conducted in Worcester at the invitation of the committee.
With the exception of the Early Decision Plan, (refer to section on Early Decision), acceptances will be offered beginning in October and periodically thereafter until May. Applicants selected for admission will be notified by a letter from the Admissions Committee and will be expected to either accept or reject this offer within two weeks. In exceptional circumstances, applicants may be granted an additional two weeks to respond to the Committee's offer.
Massachusetts law requires that all accepted students provide proof of immunity to rubella (German Measles), mumps, measles, tetanus, and diphtheria, and have a PPD skin test for tuberculosis. Hepatitis B immunization is provided by the school after enrollment.
Once all places in the class have been filled, the remaining applicants will be so notified. Thereafter, a list of alternates will be prepared. In the event that an enrolled student withdraws prior to matriculation, a replacement will be selected from the list of alternates. An applicant placed on the alternate list will be so informed and requested to indicate whether s/he wishes to remain on the wait list.
An applicant who initially accepts a place and later decides to withdraw will be expected to inform the Office of Admissions promptly so that another candidate may be offered a position.
Early Decision Plan
A strong applicant who is interested in applying only to the University of Massachusetts Medical School may wish to submit an Early Decision application. An applicant who does not receive an offer of acceptance under the Early Decision Plan will automatically be considered with the general pool of candidates for possible acceptance at a later date.
Early decision applications must be received by AMCAS by August 1 and complete in the admissions office by September 1 of the year prior to matriculation. Final decisions regarding acceptance will be made by October 1.
Evaluation of Applicants
The Admissions Committee is composed of faculty members representing various disciplines from the basic and clinical sciences and two medical students. Committee members carefully review each application and all enclosed information provided by or on behalf of the applicant. The University adheres strictly to all applicable state and federal regulations relating to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. The decision to grant an interview is determined by committee members and is guided by the qualification standards previously described and the merits of the applicant in comparison to the rest of the candidate pool. Due to the large number of applications submitted each year, it is not possible to interview all applicants. Those applicants who are selected for an interview will be notified by the Admissions Office. The interview provides an opportunity for a direct exchange of information between the applicant and the medical school faculty and admissions committee. It also offers the applicant an introductory exposure to the learning environment and educational philosophy of the University of Massachusetts Medical School as well as direct contact with students who actively participate in the interview day program.
Deferral Policy
The University of Massachusetts Medical School discourages granting of deferrals except in cases of medical emergency or events of comparable significance.
Transfers and Advanced Standing
Transfer students are only accepted with advanced standing to fill the few vacancies resulting from withdrawal from the school by previously enrolled students. Students interested in the possibility of transferring to this school should direct inquiries to the Admissions Office. Transfer applications are accepted January1-April 1 of the year the applicant is seeking transfer. Information regarding current policy on transfers and, when appropriate, application forms and instructions for applying, will be sent to all potential applicants. It should be noted that the same residency requirements must be met as for those students entering the first year.