FAQ

How many letters of recommendation are needed and who should write them?
Letters of recommendation are a significant part of your application, and you should spend some effort on this. Things to consider include, 1) how well the faculty member knows you; 2) the rank of the faculty member; 3) the course taken. We require three letters and prefer one from a science faculty member, one from a non-science faculty member, and one from another recommender of your choice. Letters from friends of the family, no matter how important or well known they might be, carry less weight than you might think! You may send additional letters if you want. Your recommenders should be individuals who can assess your personal qualities (such as work ethic, reliability, communication skills, leadership, compassion, and so on).

I don't have the chance to get to know a faculty member because of the size of my class. Can I get a letter from the graduate student instructor?
Yes, but this is not preferred. We strongly recommend that you work at getting to know an experienced faculty member (Associate Professor or Professor) so that they can write an informed letter. Doing an independent research project, or taking seminar type classes are some of the best ways to let a faculty member get to know you. If you have no choice but to get a letter from the GSI be sure to have the faculty member countersign or endorse the recommendation. We suggest that no more than one letter be from a GSI.

What if I don’t know anyone who can provide the "non-science" letter?
We prefer that you provide the non-science faculty letter as requested, however we recognize that in some cases such as the applicant who has been out of school for a number of years, getting such a letter may not be feasible. A substitution may be requested from the Admissions Office for any particular type of recommendation letter.

What is the best time to take the MCATs?
The best time to take the MCAT is when you are well prepared, both in terms of college courses taken and time to study/prepare for the MCAT itself. Clearly, scores on MCATs reflect knowledge, not just intelligence, so if you have not taken your chemistry or biology courses, you will need to do a lot of independent work to be adequately prepared. We require MCAT scores to have arrived by December. Although scores and files are required on a rolling basis, to receive maximum consideration we recommend taking the MCAT by July of the application year.

Do I absolutely need to take 8 semester hours of inorganic chemistry and lab? What if I have fewer credit hours but more lab work? What if I have taken chemical engineering courses instead?
Our requirements for science courses are in place because we want to be sure you have the foundation of chemistry, biology, and physics that you will need as you begin medical school. Even though an advisor or counselor tells you that you "have" to have a particular course, our viewpoint on the issue is perhaps more flexible. It is the content that is important to us, and less so the actual number of credit hours. Because most students apply to more than one medical school, it is usually best to take the full two semesters of general (inorganic) chemistry, two of organic chemistry, and two of physics. Actual credit hours may vary somewhat depending on the school offerings. However, you may have a particular situation that warrants interpretation by the Admissions Office--feel free to call us to consult.

Can I substitute something else for the Biochemistry requirement?
No, we require the equivalent of a basic biochemistry course, once again, because we do not cover this information in our medical school course. Students without a strong background in biochemistry will find the first year of medical school very challenging. (If you believe that all the biochemistry topics we require have been covered in your biology or chemistry coursework, you may provide evidence of that for our evaluation at the time of the interview.)

Do you accept AP or CLEP Credits?
Yes, AP credits may be used to meet our requirements, however we strongly recommend that you take some of your biology and chemistry credits while in college.

Can I use another class for the English Composition requirement?
We require two English courses, which can be composition or literature. If you have taken a course such as "Writing for Scientists", this is an acceptable substitute for one of them. You may call the Admissions Office to consult about your particular situation if you need guidance.

Is math required?
The University of Michigan does not have a math prerequisite requirement. Some medical schools do, however.

Can I apply to medical school if I don’t have all my requirements finished?
Yes, as long as you have a plan to complete them by the time you matriculate.

Do I need a college degree to apply to medical school?
No, but almost all admitted students have obtained one (or its equivalent from a foreign country).

How many people apply to UM and how many applicants get interviews?
We usually have about 6,000 applicants. We will interview approximately 750 of them.

How many students from outside of Michigan do you take?
Our aim is that about half the class or more will be made up of non-Michigan residents. The entering class is very diverse.

 

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