MD Admissions Timeline
Plan Ahead
An in-depth look at the MD application process timeline, facts and figures.
Application Process
At the University of Michigan Medical School, we make sure you know where you stand at every stage of our application process. This transparency leads to better communication and greater peace of mind. As always, the MD Office of Admissions welcomes you to contact us if you have any questions.
Deadlines & Fees
Deadlines
Deadline Extensions
To be considered for need-based scholarships, Admissions requires that you complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the University of Michigan Institutional Application for Financial Aid no later than February 15. All students are encouraged to submit their financial aid applications well ahead of the deadline. Students that do not meet our deadline may not receive the amount of need-based grant for which they would otherwise be eligible.
For students admitted after February 15, the deadline to submit the FAFSA and U-M applications is two weeks from the date of admission. Students should check with all schools they are applying to for deadlines and required application materials.
Approximately 60% of our students receive gift aid, including Admissions scholarships which are awarded in March.
Do you qualify for a UMMS secondary application fee waiver?
Our secondary application fee is waived for those who are approved for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program and for active-duty military members.
Timeline
We encourage all applicants, including MSTP, to apply as early as possible due to our rolling interview notification process. DACA students are also encouraged to apply to our MD program.
You can begin your AMCAS primary application this month.
Be sure to check out our secondary application essay prompts and note our deadlines for both primary and secondary applications above.
For an insider's view on Michigan Medical School, watch the recording of this student panel Q&A, featuring current M1-M4 medical students!
Tips for filling out your application:
- Fill out the “Other Impactful Experiences” essay if you have had significant social, emotional, physical or economic hardships. This is a part of your journey and shows resilience.
- We do not accept experiences or hours from high school. Feel free to talk about these experiences in your essays or descriptions, if they are relevant to your life story.
- Try not to reiterate all your experiences in your AMCAS essay. This is your opportunity to tell us more about you and your motivations for becoming a physician. Why is an MD the tool you need in order to have an impact on patient care and the field of medicine?
This is a good month to submit your AMCAS primary application! We typically begin receiving primary applications at the end of June/early July.
Did you know the University of Michigan Medical School follows the AAMC application and acceptance protocols for medical schools? All prospective MD and MD | PhD students are encouraged to review the AAMC guidelines for applicants, too.
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.
Submit your secondary application as soon as possible after receiving it. You do not have to wait for your letters of recommendation. There is an application fee of $95 due upon submission. That fee is waived for those approved for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program and active-duty military members.
See more information and tips about our secondary application on the Requirements page.
Once your secondary application is complete, you will be able to access your Applicant Portal. If at any time you want to submit updates to your application, please use the checklist on your Applicant Portal.
Our Holistic Approach
Please be assured you will be holistically considered on your academic and personal competencies. We thoroughly review each and every file, which can take several months. Please review our process for evaluating applicants.
Interview Invitations
First MD interview invites are emailed to candidates starting in early August. MSTP interviewees are notified on a different schedule.
Candidates have the same opportunity to be admitted whether interviewed on the first day or the last.
#UMichMedMondays
Every Monday starting with when the first round of interview invites is emailed, we post updates on X.
Primary AMCAS application for the MD and MD | PhD (MSTP) program is due by the 15th of this month.
Our first MD interviews take place this month, and all our interviews are conducted virtually.
Letters of Recommendation
University of Michigan Medical School participates in the AMCAS Letter of Recommendation Service. For more details, please visit our Admissions Requirements page.
Three possible outcomes at this stage
Interview Offer
Congratulations! You will receive an email on #UMichMedMonday with an invitation to schedule your interview date via your Applicant Portal. MSTP applicants go through the MSTP office to schedule their interviews.
Preliminary Screening
Once your file is complete (with primary and secondary applications received) we will begin multiple reviews of your file. We do not have to have your letters of recommendation to begin reviewing your file. (Please note that for MSTP, your file is not considered complete without your letters of recommendation.) Reviews may take up to several months and could include some 'on hold' time while we complete our holistic review. Unfortunately, in our process, you will not be able to see the number of times that your file is reviewed. Check your Applicant Portal for updates any time.
File Closed
Your application package has been carefully reviewed and considered. At this point, we have determined that you will not receive an interview invitation.
Interview Day
All interviews are conducted virtually. Rest assured your interview day with us will be carefully planned to give you the opportunity to truly engage with Michigan Medical School and better understand who we are as a community. You'll have a chance to connect with Admissions committee members, current medical students and other applicants, as well as participate in interactive sessions and learn more about our medical school, the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor. Be sure to check out our virtual guide to the medical campus, too!
The secondary application for the MD and MD | PhD (MSTP) programs is due by October 15.
Rolling Admissions Notifications
With our rolling admissions notifications, applicants are notified of their status several weeks after their interview. Candidates have the same opportunity to be admitted regardless of their interview date!
Post-Interview Outcomes
- Admitted: Congratulations! Once you are invited to join the next class of Michigan Medical School students, you will receive more information about connecting with fellow admits and current students as well as regular updates about next steps. Your seat in the class is held until the AAMC's national decision date of April 30. No deposit is ever required at Michigan!
- Deferred Decision: This decision is not an offer of admission, waitlist, nor is it a rejection. Your file is on hold while we review other candidates who interview later than you. A final review of your file will take place no later than March but could be earlier. We appreciate your patience. You are welcome to update your application at any time using the Applicant Portal. Candidates are admitted out of the Deferred Decision pool. Should candidates not be admitted, they will be placed on the waitlist in March.
- Waitlist: The number of students who are admitted off of our waitlist varies from year to year. While we appreciate updates and new information from those who are on the waitlist via the Applicant Portal, the number of contacts made with our office will not impact our waitlist decisions.
- File Closed: After careful review, it is with regret that we are unable to offer you a position in the University of Michigan Medical School's next entering class.
To be considered for need-based scholarships, Admissions requires that you complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the University of Michigan Medical School Financial Aid Application no later than February 15. All students are encouraged to submit their financial aid applications well ahead of the deadline. Students that do not meet our deadline may not receive the amount of need-based grant for which they would otherwise be eligible.
For students admitted after February 15, the deadline to submit the FAFSA and U-M applications is two weeks from the date of admission.
Approximately 60% of our students receive gift aid, including Admissions scholarships which are awarded in March.
Scholarships
All admitted students are automatically considered for Admissions scholarships, which are based on a holistic review of your file, not just on your MCAT and GPA. The Office of Admissions does take need into consideration, so it is important to submit to UMMS the FAFSA and our UMMS Financial Aid Application. Admissions scholarships are separate from grants and loans which are determined from the submitted financial information.
The Office of Admissions emails candidates about Admissions scholarships in March.
Decision Time
You have heard from us—now it’s your turn. According to AAMC's Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants and the University of Michigan Medical School's Admissions Protocols for Admitted Students, you must begin narrowing your medical school choices in April so we can begin building our class and welcoming them to the Michigan community. Should you wish to discuss deferring your enrollment to the next year, you are welcome to reach out to the Director of Admissions to explore the possibilities.
