Each University of Michigan Medical School applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States. We also welcome applicants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Have completed at least 90 hours of college course work, of which 60 must be from an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution, and
• Have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

The University of Michigan Medical School holistically evaluates candidates for admission across a range of attributes necessary for successful development into a compassionate, skilled physician serving the needs of a diverse and changing population. These attributes include:

• Academic Excellence: The curriculum at the University of Michigan Medical School is academically rigorous and requires that the applicants demonstrate prior ability to perform well in a challenging academic setting. Candidates should apply creative/critical thinking to develop solutions and generate information; rapidly absorb and comprehend new information; organize available information into a meaningful description of a problem's complexities; and deliberate among viable options to reach a well-founded conclusion. The undergraduate grade point average and the Medical College Admissions Test scores are only a part of the measures that are used to assess the applicant's ability. Other factors which are used in the evaluation may include the quality of the undergraduate institution, the rigor of the course load, steadily improving grades and an evaluation of activities that can contribute to critical thinking and decision making.
• Altruism: The devotion to the needs of others can be assessed through review of the applicant’s activities, as well as responses to interview questions about the applicant’s goals and desires for a life of providing patient care.
• Desire to Learn and Dedication to Medicine: Every effort will be made during the admissions process to assess the applicant’s passion for learning and dedication to the practice of medicine. Assessment of a desire to learn will include, but is not limited to, evidence of exploring a diverse group of academic interests. Assessment of dedication to medicine will include, but is not limited to, assessment of the application materials for documented interest in medicine, focused questioning in the interview and the applicant’s knowledge of current medical issues.
• Competency: We strive to enroll students capable of accumulating the scientific knowledge, the diagnostic acumen, the technical skills and the interpersonal skills required for the competent care of patients. Assessment will include intellectual, technical and communication competency, along with cultural humility. All applicants must attest that they have read the medical school technical standards.
• Cultural Humility: We strive to find and work with future physicians who have demonstrated the potential to interact and engage meaningfully with the diverse communities who comprise and are served by the medical field. The field requires that providers understand the context of each patient’s life experiences and the impact those experiences have on their health and well-being. Our students should both understand and respect the diverse life journeys, beliefs, values and traditions of the patients for whom they provide care. Our students should also demonstrate humility when striving to learn more about patients, their families, and the communities we serve in Michigan and beyond. We believe that the lives of our learners will be enhanced and their successes in medicine will be furthered through recognition of and respect for the diverse life experiences, values, and beliefs of all individuals, which is at the heart of our inclusive community.  
• Integrity and Ethics: Honesty, integrity and ethics are essential in both the medical education process and eventual practice of medicine. Applicants should be able to articulate an understanding of the importance of ethical behavior, honesty and professionalism in medicine. Dishonesty on the application form or in the interview as well as information provided in the letters of evaluation will be considered in assessing integrity.
• Leadership: Applicants will be assessed on their ability to question and challenge the status quo, communicate positive qualities of an effective leader, exhibit these qualities in action and effectively exert appropriate influence over others.
• Reliability and Dependability: Potential physicians should consistently fulfill obligations in a timely and satisfactory manner and take responsibility for personal actions and performance. Regardless of the situation, they will do everything possible to make sure that their performance is steady and strong, unstopped by obstacles, pressures, and demands that would justifiably derail others. They can be counted on to give their best effort under all circumstances. They keep their commitments and work with others to help them keep theirs. They demonstrate the ability to keep their word under all circumstances.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Applicants will be assessed for their demonstration of tolerance for stressful or changing situations, whether they adapt effectively, remain persistent—even under difficult situations and recover from setbacks.
• Social/Interpersonal Skills and Teamwork: We strive to find future physicians with the ability to work collaboratively, set a positive tone, are neither passive nor dominate the situation, resolve and diffuse conflict, listen to and incorporates others’ perspectives, accept shared responsibility—especially when the outcome is not ideal, and make decisions that reflect the best interest of all involved.
• Written and Verbal Communication: Potential physicians should demonstrate to the Admissions Committee an ability to communicate effectively. The personal statement, letters of recommendation and the interviews provide opportunities to assess effective communication skills.

The above attributes will be used to evaluate our students not only at the time of application but throughout their medical school careers.

MD Admissions requests 3-4 letters of recommendation or a committee packet containing multiple letters. If applicants have more than 4 letters in their packet or submit more than 4 individual letters, and they are invited for an interview, they will designate which 4 letters they wish us to consider for the post-interview holistic review. Additional letters will not be considered. A committee cover letter (part of the committee packet) would be considered one of the four letters. Your recommenders can be any individuals who can objectively assess your personal qualities such as integrity and ethics; reliability and dependability; social, interpersonal and teamwork skills; resilience and adaptability; altruism; and a desire to learn. Choose letter writers who know you well!

PLEASE NOTE: MSTP will accept up to 6 letters and all letters need to be submitted for the application to be considered complete. We have no specific requirements regarding how you select these individuals. However, if you choose to include someone from your academic experiences, we strongly recommend an experienced faculty member (Associate Professor or Professor) rather than a graduate student instructor (GSI). ALL letters of recommendation must be submitted via the AMCAS Letter Service. During the application process, there will be a section asking for your Letter of Evaluation information. Please consult the AMCAS instructions for additional details and be sure to review the AAMC’s new Letters of Evaluation Guidelines. Do NOT send any letters directly to the University of Michigan Medical School.

To summarize:

• MD Admissions requires 3-4 letters of recommendation to be designated at time of interview.
• MSTP will accept up to 6 letters and they must be submitted with your application in order for it to be considered complete.
• Letters of recommendation may come from any individuals you believe can objectively assess your personal qualities.
• ALL letters need to be submitted using the AMCAS letter service.
• Do NOT send any letters directly to the University of Michigan Medical School.

Secondary applications are sent to candidates with an MCAT score at or above the 35th percentile. Those below the 35th percentile are screened for excellence within our competencies and may be sent a Secondary application after review. 

Please note that the secondary application fee is waived for those approved for the AAMC-Fee Assistance Program.

We recommend keeping the following in mind when completing your Secondary Applications:

1. Write essays about who you are, not what you think Admissions wants to hear.
2. Communicate clearly about what you have found in your life to help you become the person you want to be. 
3. Know the school’s mission. Ours is: “To transform health through bold and innovative education, discovery and service.”
4. Know the medical school’s vision for its graduates. Read ours.

For reference, below are our 2023-24 application cycle prompts. The 2024-25 prompts will be posted in April. 

Essay 1
Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our seven Paths of Excellence. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

OR, if applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program:
Describe why you are applying to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

Essay 2
Please respond to only one of the following two prompts. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).

• Describe how your identity has impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients.
• If you recognize and/or represent a voice that is missing, underrepresented, or undervalued in medicine, please describe the missing voice(s) and how increased representation in medicine could impact the medical community.

Essay 3
How was your journey to medical school affected by the COVID pandemic? Please feel free to describe any positive or negative aspects. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).

Essay 4
Outside of medicine, and beyond what we can read in your application, please tell us what you’re curious about, or what you’re passionate about, or what brings you joy – and why. Some examples include listening to historical novels, exploring national parks, woodworking, baking cupcakes, podcasting, knitting, playing pickleball, filmmaking, making music, etc. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

Because of the integration of clinical content with basic sciences in our curriculum, there is no provision for advanced placement. The University of Michigan Medical School does not generally consider any transfer requests with the exception of very unique circumstances. Students who wish to be considered for transfer must have an established current academic relationship with the University of Michigan and should contact the Director of Admissions.