Who Are We Looking For?
Undergraduate Medical Education
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Members of the Admissions Committee, using medical education literature, AAMC resources, and experiences of faculty instructors and course directors, develop the criteria for admission to the Long School of Medicine.
Every year at the beginning of the admissions cycle, a comprehensive list of criteria for acceptance is reviewed for accuracy, completeness and value. Members of the Admissions Committee discuss additions and edits, which are made accordingly. This comprehensive list of criteria for acceptance are also found in the Admission Committee’s Manual for Admissions Policies and Procedures.
The Admissions Committee members, screeners, and interviewers are committed to a holistic review of each application. The Admissions Committee employs a flexible and individualized way of assessing an applicant’s capabilities according to the approved criteria. Balanced consideration is given to experiences, attributes, as well as academic metrics, and how the individual might contribute value as a medical student and physician. The overall construct for the criteria is based upon holistic review, and also mapped to the mission of the LSOM.
Diversity, broadly defined, is valued in the selection of our students; differences in beliefs, opinions, perspectives, experiences, lifestyle, culture and race/ethnicity all enrich the educational experience of our students and thus are considered. The final scoring of the applicant takes into account the above academic and non-academic qualifications along with comments from personal interviews conducted by members of the Admissions Committee.
Inclusion & Equality Mission
Our Inclusion & Equality Mission is vital to us, and we strive to create and sustain a spirit of diversity and inclusion by fostering an environment of cultural competency, sensitivity and awareness. We respect, we honor, and we celebrate the distinctive perspectives and the uniqueness of each individual. This culture of acceptance and collaboration enriches the learning environment for all. As you embark upon the life-changing undertaking of becoming a physician, ponder this; it is through the affirmation of one another’s experiences that we become better suited to understand each other and to achieve a greater capacity to impact the world around us.
Holistic review
Measures in this category inform Admissions Committee decisions, with regard to assessment of academic potential, strength or risk. All of these detailed characteristics below, and more, are taken into consideration. Intellectual capacity is an important criterion for the committee, as measured by many objective and subjective assessments of the academic experience of an applicant. The breadth and depth of pre-medical academic experience goes beyond grades and scores; all aspects of the campus experience is taken into consideration.
- ACT, SAT
- All MCAT Scores
- All MCAT Sub-scores
- GPA overall
- GPA undergraduate
- GPA science
- GPA science by semester
- GPA in science in a post baccalaureate and/or graduate program
- GPA trend or slope, or isolated decreases
- Use of advanced placement credit
- Hours per semester, course load
- Hours of coursework, overall, science
- Hours of post baccalaureate and/or graduate program
- University attended
- Reasoning behind the choice of university or major
- Major course of study
- Double major
- Minor
- Honors Program
- Competitiveness of school or program
- Rigor of the institution or major or course of study
- Advanced degrees
- Post baccalaureate work experience
- Graduate work experience
- Graduate school and major
- Reasoning behind the choice of graduate or PB work
- Research training experiences or courses
- Research accomplishments
- Challenges to educational course or background
A variety of experiences tell the Admissions Committee a lot about a person. Industry, energy, drive and motivation can all be assessed to some degree by reviewing an applicant’s personal biography. It can tell the committee valuable things about reaching outside the comfort zone, striving to have experiences that provide new and different perspectives for an applicant, which then bring diversity to the student body. The experiences in the personal biography section of an applicant are very valuable to the Admissions Committee.
Awards (Academic or Non-academic)
- Membership in honor societies, sororities and fraternities
- Competitive scholarships and awards
- Academic recognition on dean’s list or similar
Extracurricular Activities
- Leisure time experiences or accomplishments
- Hobbies or special talents
- Taking hobby to a higher level (journaling books, exploring further)
Research Coursework, Training & Lab Work
- Research resulting in publication, presentation, or posters
- Research presentations and posters at local, regional or national meetings
- Participating in research journal clubs and research teams
- Experience in research and knowledge of the project
Community Service and “Volunteer” Related Activities
- Community service that connects the applicant in a personal way
- Community service that connects the applicant with a new experience
- Potential to serve in an area of need, as evidenced by experiences
Leadership position experience
Leadership experiences beyond officer positions, including positions of responsibility, mentorship
Work Experiences
Employment history, including working in college
Health Care Related Experiences
- Experience with physician mentors or preceptors
- Evidence of a realistic and practical knowledge of the practice of medicine
- Background or experience in a health professions shortage area
Other/General
- Languages spoken or learned
- Other cultures explored
- Race, gender, ethnicity
- Experiences with individuals sharing different cultural viewpoints
- Goals for the future, short term and long term
- What the applicant has reached to accomplish
- What the applicant has taught him- or herself
- Family educational/occupational background
- First generation undergrad or graduate school
- Socioeconomic background
- Challenges to personal and family life
- Success in overcoming adverse personal, family, or “life” conditions/experiences
Valuable criteria to the LSOM Admissions Committee are advanced personal attributes of an applicant. Consideration is given to background and experiences, but all personal attributes of the applicant are considered. The Admissions Committee places high value on virtues that might predict a caring and compassionate physician, a person who has maturity and discipline, and other specific values as listed below. (Grouped according to similar traits.)
- Social and interpersonal skills
- Communication skills oral, written, other
- Behavioral and professional abilities
- Bilingual language ability
- Culturally competent
- Personable, warm, friendly
- Mature, humble, self-aware
- Highly motivated, committed, dedicated
- Professional, possesses integrity, ethical
- Empathic, compassionate, altruistic
- Team player, collaborative
- Responsible to self and others
- Service oriented
- Commitment/desire to serve medically underserved
Office hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Briscoe Library, 5th Floor, 5.501