Before You Apply

This information will assist you in pursuing an MD at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH). The pre-health advisors at your undergraduate institution are another source of information, and you are strongly encouraged to work with them.

If you are an undergraduate at UW-Madison, then we recommend that you contact the Center for Pre-Health Advising. The Association of American Medical Colleges also has a wealth of information for you.

Exploration of Medical Careers

There are many different professions available in the health care field. It is important to explore whether becoming a physician is the right profession for you in order to effectively answer the question "Why medicine?"

Talk to physicians about their experiences, and if possible shadow them in their clinics or hospitals. Volunteer in a health care facility. Your experiences should provide you with a realistic perspective of the health care field and confirm your reasons for pursuing this profession.

Several good websites to learn more about medical careers include:

• Aspiring Docs
• Careers in Medicine
• Explore Health Careers

Personal Qualities

All medical schools look for outstanding, well-rounded students who exhibit exceptional interpersonal skills. Personal qualities that are valued in medicine include not only intelligence but empathy, integrity, leadership, reliability, stamina and a strong, proven motivation for medicine. We seek confident, but not arrogant, students. Students should also have developed personal support systems and time-management skills. They should be prepared to deal with the pressures of balancing educational and professional demands with their personal life.

Life and Work Experience

Our Admissions Committee members are interested in learning about an applicant's life outside of the classroom. They look for individuals who have had a variety of life experiences. Participating in extracurricular activities allows you to grow your talents and interests beyond your formal education.

Employment, involvement with student organizations, volunteering, participation on athletic teams and research projects are all experiences that allow an applicant to develop the many skills required of successful doctors such as leadership, organization skills, the ability to communicate effectively and teamwork.

Selecting a Major

There is not one "perfect" major that will prepare you for medical school. You are encouraged to pursue a broad and rigorous undergraduate curriculum. It is neither expected nor required that your major is in a science field. You may choose any major you wish, as long as you successfully complete the required prerequisite courses. Consider these points when selecting a major:

• Where do your interests lie? You will enjoy and gain the most from a course of study that is consistent with your own interests. Students who do this tend to do better academically, which increases their likelihood of acceptance to medical school, rather than those who choose a major they don't like just because they feel it will help them get into medical school. Choosing a major doesn't limit you to just one career, and choosing a career (such as medicine) doesn't limit you to just one major.
• Do you have alternative career options? In the event that you are not immediately accepted into medical school, think about choosing a major that will provide you with employment opportunities or prepare you for graduate studies.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Grades are considered in the admissions process. The Admissions Committee looks for upward grade trends and strong grades in the sciences. At the UW SMPH our minimum GPA for consideration is a 2.8. The Admissions Committee does a holistic review which takes into account many factors that may affect your GPA. For further information, see our Selection Criteria.

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

The Medical College Admission Test is required by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH) and most medical schools in the United States. The test assesses mastery of basic concepts in biology, chemistry and physics as well as problem solving, logical reasoning and written communication skills. Complete information is available from the MCAT website.

Most applicants take the MCAT in the spring 16 months before they wish to enroll in medical school after completing most of their prerequisite courses. Applicants to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health who have been out of school must have taken the MCAT within the past four years, no earlier than January 1, 2008, for those applying to the Entering Class of 2012.

The minimum numerical scores required for consideration at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health are 7 in verbal reasoning, 7 in physical sciences and 8 in biological sciences. Those not meeting the minimum scores have their applications reviewed for evidence of other significant achievements, and may still be invited to submit our secondary application.

The essays in the MCAT are given alphabetical scores to emphasize the statistical dissimilarity between the essay and the other exams, and to discourage averaging the writing score with the scores of the other tests. The essay is scored on a scale of J to T, with T being the highest. The average composite score for our most recent entering class was a 31, with a median writing score of P.

MCAT scores are not considered in a formula to determine acceptance. Rather they are used as part of a holistic review of each applicant by members of the Admissions Committee. There is no specific policy on how multiple MCAT scores are considered.  Admission Committee members have the discretion to look at the most recent score, look at the best score, or consider the highest sub-scores from multiple test administrations.

A guide for the MCAT exam that will be introduced in 2015 is now available on AAMC's website. The Preview Guide for MCAT2015 describes the new exam's content and format. It provides detailed descriptions of the knowledge and skills the new exam will test, includes detailed content outlines, and provides example questions. It also includes information about products and services that are designed to help prospective examinees and others prepare for MCAT2015.

Download the Preview Guide for MCAT2015 (pdf)

Tips for Applying

We encourage you to consider the following suggestions before beginning the application process to medical school:

• Find the pre-health advisor on your campus early in your college career, or as soon as you know that medicine is the career for you. They can provide you with a wealth of information and experience.
  
  
• Obtain access to the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR). This resource lists the admissions requirements of all medical schools and details admissions processes.
  
  
• Educate yourself about the medical profession. Medical exposure is an important part of your application. Explore the medical profession by volunteering at a local hospital, clinic or hospice.
  
  
• Seek to build relationships with academic professors during your college years. Academic letters of recommendation are required by all schools. You want letters from senior people who know you well and say great things about you. One or two letters that aren't just nice, but "wow" the Admissions Committee members can make a big difference in the strength of your application.
  
  
• Consider research opportunities. Physicians are scientists who depend on the medical literature to remain current in their fields. Research can be in any discipline, and is not limited to bench science. Applicants should be able to describe their project, and their role in the research. Research as part of a course or as a senior thesis project is acceptable. If you are interested in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) then you will be expected to have considerable research experience.
  
  
• Complete most premedical sciences courses by the end of your junior year of college.
  
  
• Take the MCAT about 16 months before your anticipated enrollment in medical school.
  
  
• Submit your completed medical school application in the summer of the year before you intend to enroll. It is to your advantage to apply early even though the deadline is November 1 because many schools, including the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, use rolling admissions. This means that the medical school class is filled as applications are considered. Once the class is full there is not room for even the strongest applicants.
  
  
• Make sure that there are examples of your altruism and maturity in your activities or essay, or even better, in your letters of recommendation.
  
  
• Ask a couple of people whom you trust to read your essay. One may be a friend or family member. Another should be a person experienced in reading applications, although not necessarily for medical school, such as a senior professor. Listen to their feedback.
  
  
• Practice interviewing. This is a skill that can be learned.
  
  
• Continue to take some high-level science courses after submitting your application. These won't be considered as part of your application to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health but will prepare you for medical school classes.
  
  
• Continually improve your study habits and time-management skills.
  
  
• If you were not successful in gaining admission to our medical school, learn about how to strengthen your application if you plan on reapplying.

If you have additional questions that are not answered above, please feel free to contact us.