Selection Policies

The MD Program admissions committee at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison strives to select a class in which all members have:

1. Personal characteristics that will enable the student to provide sympathetic and intelligent patient care
2. An interest in others as might be demonstrated by community service, extracurricular activities, and/or leadership
3. A level of past academic performance that predicts a student's chance of academic success in medical school

In the selection of candidates for admission, the committee considers the applicant's:

1. Undergraduate and graduate academic performance and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Scores
2. Extracurricular activities, including community service and exposure to medicine and patient care
3. Employment record
4. Personal, educational and socio-economic background and the response of the applicant to any challenges
5. Character with reference to honesty and integrity, empathy, maturity, leadership, self-discipline and emotional stability
6. Ability to communicate and relate well with others
7. Motivation to pursue a career in medicine
8. Interest and suitability for special programs and/or future specific careers

Furthermore, in the interests of both enriching the educational environment for all students and better meeting the future medical, educational, social and scientific needs of society, the committee makes a special effort to select a class whose members represent a broad range of diverse life experiences, backgrounds and interests. This diversity may include, but is not limited to:

1. Ethnic and racial background
2. Socio-economic background
3. Educational background
4. Regional and geographic background
5. Interests and/or aptitudes for different medical careers
6. Other cultural experiences

It is the responsibility of the faculty and students who serve on the admissions committee to select the entering class. Our admissions policy does not allow the dean or anyone else to grant special consideration for applicants to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health MD program.

It is the goal of the admissions committee to seek students capable of benefiting from the educational opportunities available at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health MD Program and who give evidence that they will contribute to meeting the health care needs of the people of the state of Wisconsin and beyond.

Residency Status

Preference is given to residents of Wisconsin, with a large majority of the entering class positions going to in-state applicants, providing there are a sufficient number of qualified in-state applicants. Highly qualified nonresidents are encouraged to apply for positions available in each entering class.

U.S. permanent residents with Wisconsin resident status will be reviewed in the resident pool. All other U.S. permanent residents will be reviewed in the nonresident applicant pool. We will not consider applicants whose permanent resident status is pending.

Additional Factors Considered by the Admissions Committee

Academic and personal experiences are considered in relationship to the environment in which they were gained or developed. Since intellectual capacity and accomplishments cannot be solely equated with grade point averages and test scores, these are appraised in relationship to a number of other factors, such as credit hours taken, difficulty of courses selected, academic standards of colleges attended, need to support oneself and/or others while attending college and challenges faced.

In accordance with the Wisconsin legislative mandate, "To provide a system of higher education which enables students of all ages, backgrounds and levels of income to participate in the search for knowledge and individual development, which offers selected professional graduate programs with emphasis on state and national needs" (WI Statutes sec. 36.01(1)), and in accordance with the University of Wisconsin and the Association of American Medical College's policies encouraging the development of a more diverse student body, the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is committed to increasing the number of medical students from underrepresented minority groups and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Applications are encouraged from Black Americans, mainland Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans and Wisconsin Hmong/Laotian/Vietnamese. Applications are also encouraged from persons with socio-economic disadvantages. The severity of any disadvantages experienced and the applicant’s response to such challenges are considered.

Wisconsin Caregiver Law

As of Oct. 1, 1998, Wisconsin law requires criminal history checks and expanded background checks of people responsible for the care, safety and security of children and vulnerable adults. Known as the Wisconsin Caregiver Law, it requires criminal background checks for licensed individuals, employees, prospective employees and other specified people affiliated with care-giving entities or providers.

As this law currently applies to MD degree students providing care in a number of clinical settings, the school must ensure that medical students are in compliance with the law. Admission to the MD degree program does not guarantee that a student will be eligible to earn the MD degree if certain types of criminal offenses identified in the background check prevent him or her from participating in clinical education.

In addition, the school cannot guarantee eligibility for licensure by the State of Wisconsin or other licensing entities/authorities if certain types of criminal offenses are identified in the background check.