ELIGIBILITY
Citizenship
All USU students must be U.S. citizens by 1 November of the year of application. This requirement cannot be waived for any reason. If you recently became a citizen or your citizenship is pending you will need to contact your Admissions Counselor if you did not indicate U.S. citizenship on your AMCAS application.
Recent or Pending U.S. Citizenship
If you are able to gain citizenship prior to November 1 of the year of planned matriculation, you may continue with the application. However, you must submit the following information to the Admissions Office immediately: the place of your hearing, the petition number, and the date of your hearing. If you are not able to gain citizenship by the November 1 your file will be deactivated. U.S. citizenship is required for commissioning purposes and cannot be waived for any reason.
Commissioning Requirements
In addition to fulfilling the admissions requirements, you must also fulfill the commissioning requirements to matriculate. These include the physical examination, age, and security requirements. As you continue with the application process you will be given more information.
Age
Due to commissioning standards, all students must be at least 18 years old at the time of matriculation, but no older than 36 as of June 30 in the year of matriculation.
Applicants who are older than 36 by 30 June will have to request an age waiver prior to an offer; these waivers are reviewed on a case by case basis. At this time, it is not necessary to submit a waiver request. For those applicants who are interviewed, we will inform you at the appropriate time.
Baccalaureate Degree
You must have attained a baccalaureate degree as of June 1 of the year of planned matriculation from an accredited academic institution in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico or other U.S. Territory. If your school program finishes after June 1, please contact your Admissions Counselor to discuss if you are still eligible to apply.
GPA
The average GPA of our incoming class is a 3.7 (cumulative and in the sciences). The lowest cumulative GPAs accepted is 3.0.
We recommend post-baccalaureate or graduate work to improve a significantly below-average GPA. Many colleges and universities offer such programs to strengthen your candidacy for medical school. We recommend accumulating 25-30 additional credit hours when participating in such a program.
Unless you earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in a Post-Bacc or Master’s Program your application will be automatically withdrawn.
Prerequisites
All academic prerequisites must be completed by June 1 of the year of planned matriculation. If you have not listed all of your prerequisites on your AMCAS application, please email a statement to your Admissions Counselor informing the Admissions Committee of any additional classes you will be taking as well as when and where you are taking the class, the name of the class, and number of credit hours. All prerequisites must be taken at an accredited academic institution in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico or other U.S. Territory.
Applicants must have completed the following course work:
- One academic year of biology including laboratory
- Additional upper level biology coursework should be taken if one has had AP or IB biology.
- The Admissions Committee will accept introduction to biology, general biology, human anatomy, human physiology (or anatomy and physiology combined), microbiology, zoology, animal biology and cell biology
- The Committee will not accept botany, plant biology, environmental biology, prokaryotic biology, environmental science, ecology or geology
- One academic year of general or inorganic chemistry including laboratory
- The Admissions Committee will accept general chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry and introductory chemistry
- One academic year of organic chemistry including laboratory
- Biochemistry may be substituted for the second semester of organic chemistry with lab
- The Admissions Committee will accept general organic chemistry, introductory organic chemistry, structures and reactions and chemical structural analysis
- Please consult your school's course catalog to make sure that your particular course is organic
- One academic year of general physics including laboratory
- The Admissions Committee will accept introductory physics, calculus-based physics, algebra-based physics, and engineering courses that cover applied physics principles to meet this prerequisite.
- One academic year of English, foreign language, writing intensive humanities, social science, or psychology courses.
- One semester of calculus or statistics
- The Admissions Committee will accept business calculus, survey of calculus and introductory calculus. The Committee will accept traditional statistics courses (math).
Applicants must receive a letter grade of C or higher in prerequisite courses. C- is not accepted.
An academic year of coursework consists of studies extending over a two-semester or three-quarter period and carries total credits of between eight and 12 quarter hours.
Community college, online and hybrid courses are accepted as long as it is a U.S. accredited university or college. This includes science labs.
CLEP courses are not accepted for the SOM prerequisite requirements.
AP or IB courses for which your undergraduate institution has given you credit are acceptable for Biology, Calculus, Statistics, General/Inorganic Chemistry, Physics and English. If you have received credit for coursework through the AP or IB systems, we strongly recommend that you take upper level coursework in the sciences and humanities to demonstrate your ability to thrive in rigorous, advanced college courses.
AP courses will only be accepted if listed on college transcripts and accepted by AMCAS. The Admissions Office will not accept AP score reports.
Missing course prerequisites
If the prerequisite can be completed before June 1 of the year of planned matriculation, the applicant's file can be reactivated. Any offer of acceptance would be contingent upon completion of the coursework.
Transfer Students
The USU School of Medicine does not accept transfer students. All students must take the full four-year curriculum. If you are from a previous medical school and you wish to apply, you must obtain a letter from the head of your previous medical school stating that you left in good standing.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
You must first apply through AMCAS. Once we have received confirmation of your application submission from AMCAS, we will email you information on how to submit your supplemental application. Please note that applications that do not come through AMCAS will not be considered.
Interested applicants must first apply to the USU School of Medicine through AMCAS and indicate on their medical school application that they are applying for the MD or MD/PhD degree.
AMCAS
Applicants must complete an application through the online American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). AMCAS is the national application service that processes applications for M.D. programs throughout the nation. Through AMCAS, an applicant may apply to most M.D. programs by completing one application and paying the appropriate fees. AMCAS provides the medical school with applicant information immediately upon completion of AMCAS transcript verification process.
The AMCAS application period begins June 1st and terminates on November 1st, prior to the year in which the applicant anticipates enrollment. The AMCAS application deadline is the date when students must submit the application, all fees, original transcripts, and associated data to AMCAS. We advise applicants to apply in June, prior to the year of matriculation.
Application Deadlines
We work on a rolling admissions basis. AAMC permits medical schools who do not participate in early decision to begin tendering offers on 15 October prior to the year of matriculation. This means that an applicant's file is advanced onto the next phase as soon as the previous phase is completed. Failure to complete steps in a timely manner will delay the processing of an individual’s application. The process begins with an application to AMCAS. We advise applicants to apply in June, prior to the year of matriculation.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION
Applicants will use the applicant gateway in WebADMIT to complete the supplemental application. To gain access to the gateway, an email will be sent to the applicant once we have received confirmation of your application submission from AMCAS. The Supplemental Application Material is mandatory. As soon as the supplemental application is submitted and the letters of recommendation are received, your file is sent to the Admissions Committee to make a decision regarding an invitation to interview.
The Admissions Committee looks at the "whole" person. The main factors that determine an applicant’s eligibility are undergraduate cumulative grade point average (science GPA is carefully weighed), MCAT scores, Letters of Recommendation (LORs), clinical experience, volunteer service, community service, AMCAS and USU statements.
Application fee: $0
Essay Questions
The supplemental application includes three essay questions that can be viewed without access to the gateway so applicants may work on their essays before receiving the supplemental application email. There is a 1500 character limit on each essay. Do not repeat your AMCAS essay or, if you are reapplying, a previous essay.
DIRECTIONS: The following questions are your opportunity to communicate why you are interested in attending the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine—“America’s Medical School.” Our Admissions Committee will carefully consider your answers when making acceptance decisions. To be fair to all applicants, we ask that you adhere to the 1500 character limit. Do NOT repeat your AMCAS; if you are reapplying, please do NOT copy a previous essay.
- Medicine and Officership are time-honored professions that unite at “America’s Medical School” in rewarding and challenging ways. What are your thoughts and impressions about serving as a uniformed medical corps officer, and why do you want to pursue this career path? (1500 Character Limit)
- The Uniformed Services University features a unique curriculum that prepares students to care for those in harm’s way. Please describe what in your research about our school and its values attracts you to our institution’s mission and approach. (1500 Character Limit)
- Our Admissions Committee assembles classes of students with a wide range of backgrounds, skills, experiences, and talents. Please describe how a special quality or experience of yours has informed your ability to participate well in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. (1500 character limit)
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
The MCAT must be taken within three years prior to the year of desired matriculation, e.g., for the 2024 application cycle, we will accept scores from January 2021- September 2023. The fall MCAT is the latest testing date considered by the Admissions Committee for those applicants applying to the School of Medicine for admission the following summer. If you do not have MCAT results to submit, you must take the exam during the months of June through September of the year prior to matriculation in order to be eligible. We recommend students retake the MCAT if they have low scores. We do not average multiple test scores together and any improvement is looked upon as valid.
The average MCAT score for matriculants at USU is 511. The minimum Total MCAT score in order to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee is a 496 or higher.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation need to be submitted as soon as possible but are NOT included in the supplemental application material deadline. At a minimum, you need a clinical letter and a premedical committee letter (if available) or two natural science academic letters and one other academic letter from outside the natural sciences. Letters of recommendation should be submitted through AMCAS Letter Service.
Make sure your full name, AAMC ID number, recommender’s signature, and recommender’s phone number are included in each of your letters. When asking for a letter of recommendation, consider providing the letter writer with a copy of the AAMC Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Evaluation for a Medical School Applicant. All letters of recommendation will be considered confidential. You will be asked to list the letters you expect to fulfill requirements as part of your secondary application. Please notify your Admissions Counselor by email when ALL your LORs have been received by AMCAS on your behalf and if a letter from a listed recommender will no longer be received.
Recommendations from high-ranking officials who have never interacted with you will not aid your application. Quality letters of recommendation will come from people with whom you have a relationship. These should be substantial letters that speak directly to your character and abilities. Letters written by family members will not be considered and will not fulfill requirements.
Reapplicants
If reapplying to the USU School of Medicine and plan to use Letters of Recommendation from a previous application cycle, the letters will need to be resubmitted using the AMCAS Letter Service. Please direct your letter writer to the AMCAS Letter Service Instructions and tutorial video for assistance with submitting their letter.
It is recommended that, if possible, you submit at least one new academic and a new clinical letter of recommendation.
Academic Letters of Recommendation
A pre-health committee letter, or a compilation packet from your university’s letter service is required by the Admissions Office. Two science and one non-science letter should be included. Your clinical letter of recommendation may also be included in the packet. You should request that you advisor or compiler include all original letters when submitting your packet.
If you are unable to provide a premedical committee or compilation packet, then the following letters are MANDATORY:
Two ACADEMIC science letters of recommendation
One ACADEMIC NON-science letter of recommendation
All academic letters of recommendation must come from traditional academic courses. These letters must be provided by professors or TAs that taught you in a course at a university or college. Employment letters cannot be used to fulfill these required letters.
Even if you have been out of school for an extended period of time, you must still attempt to submit academic letters of recommendation.
Missing Academic Letter Explanation
You will be required to provide a detailed explanation when you are filling out the secondary application, if you are not able to provide any or all of the academic letters. Please be aware that an explanation that just states that you have been out to school for a while will not look favorable to the Admissions Committee.
Clinical Letter of Recommendation
You should have a clinical letter of recommendation, which is a letter of recommendation that can be written by a Healthcare Professional (Doctor, Nurse, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nursing Assistant, etc.) who has observed your patient care interactions. They should have witnessed firsthand your hands-on experiences in the healthcare environment and how you have implemented your developing clinical skills through real life experiences. The letter should provide in depth information about the character, personality, and attributes of the candidate and elaborate on any relevant major events and achievements. Those Service Academy students who have participated in the summer internship are not required to submit a clinical letter of recommendation but are encouraged to do so if they are able.
Research courses or other research opportunities will not be accepted as a clinical letter.
If a clinical letter of recommendation cannot be obtained: You will need to provide a explanation when filling out your secondary application. You should include any clinical experience details (location, hours, duties) in this explanation.
If you do not have any clinical experience, you should attempt to gain some, NOW. In your explanation, be sure to detail where you are undertaking this work, the nature of the work, the number of hours (per week), and the name of the professional who will write a letter of recommendation for you detailing your performance. There is no minimum number of hours for consideration; however, more than 300 is recommended. If you are unable to gain any clinical experience, you MUST provide a statement explaining in detail why you have not engaged in clinical activities.
MILITARY APPLICANTS
If you are a current or prior service member, it is recommended that you submit a letter of recommendation from your supervisor (or another superior officer) attesting to your responsibility, dependability, maturity, and loyalty.
LETTER OF APPROVAL OR LETTER OF RELEASE (CURRENT MILITARY ONLY)
Active duty military must obtain a letter of approval (LOA) or letter of release (LOR). You should see the Notice to Military Applicants, as soon as possible, to contact your service liaison for more information and begin the process.
You may submit your application without a final letter of approval/release; however, we will not make a final decision on your application without this letter.
Current Officers (LOA)
Officers and current ROTC or military academy students must obtain a Letter of Approval to apply from their branch of service.
Current Enlisted (LOR)
Current enlisted must obtain a Letter of Release to apply from their branch of service.
All Active Duty
Final letters of approval/release must come from the following:
United States Air Force Personnel Command, San Antonio-Randolph AFB, Texas
United States Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky
United States Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee
United States Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Quantico, Virginia
United States Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General, Washington, DC
Current Reserves
For applicants in the reserves, an endorsement Letter of Release (in memo form) from your commanding officer) and a DD 368 is required. For privacy protection, use your EDIPI for section 1C when completing the DD 368. The USU School of Medicine does not require you to fill out the recruiter information (sections 2 and 4). This is determined by your command.
Those in the IRR do not need the LOA or LOR.