Start Your Journey: Apply to Rochester

The U of R medical student will have a strong foundation in science, evidence of curiosity through research/innovation, and demonstration of human connection through clinical experiences, community engagement, or the pursuit of the study of humanities. As required by federal regulations, we are sharing that the MD program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, as a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, meets the educational requirements for licensure in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Important Dates: Application Timeline

If you are interested in Rochester, we recommend you apply early. Here are the deadlines for each application material:

• October 15: American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS) opens for application submission May 28, 2022. Our deadline for submission is October 15th. When we receive your verified application from AMCAS, we will send you an email with instructions on how to submit a secondary application form. Secondary application forms are due via the applicant portal.
• November 15: Secondary application due via the applicant portal by November 15th, along with a non-refundable fee of $100.
• November 22: Letters of recommendation due. These must be submitted via AMCAS Letter Service. Letters of recommendation submitted on official letterhead may be a composite letter or pre-health advisory committee letter from your school, or a minimum of 3 individual letters.
• September 1 – March 15: Interviews are conducted by invitation virtually and are required for admission.
• Early March: All interview decisions will be completed.

Admissions Requirements and Recommendations

• SPRING and SUMMER 2020 SEMESTER GRADES
  • ​​​Due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, we know that many colleges and universities had Pass/Not Pass grades for the 2020 Spring and Summer semesters. The University of Rochester will be flexible in our understanding of the unique circumstances that you may have faced and will accept P/NP grades for these two semesters, including on-line labs. Because such grades are difficult to use in evaluating your abilities, if your school offered students the option of a grade rather than P/NP, we would prefer a grade, especially for prerequisites, but rest assured, we will accept both.
• FALL 2020 and SPRING 2021
  • As colleges' and universities' policies evolved during the pandemic, we recognize that some courses were only offered virtually/remotely. If your school offered you the option of taking prerequisite science courses in-person, including labs, we would prefer this. However we recognize that this may not have been possible and will accept virtual prerequisite science classes and labs. 
  • ** As this is a time that needs great flexibility, all special situations will be considered, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for any questions or concerns. **
• MCAT

  • With exception of a few special programs (Rochester Early Medical Scholars Program, Early Assurance Program, and Post-bac Linkage Program: see programs below), all applicants are required to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Applicants may submit an AMCAS application and secondary application without an MCAT score, but an application will not be considered complete and ready for review until an MCAT score has posted. MCAT scores must be no more than four years old prior to matriculation.

    
    The latest exam date that will be accepted for the 2022-2023 application year will be September 10, 2022. We will not accept MCAT scores administered in January 2023.

    
    Please visit AAMC's MCAT site for additional information.

• Degree An undergraduate degree is required from an accredited college or university. We prefer that science coursework be completed in a U.S. or Canadian college. Pre-requisite requirements effective for Class of 2028.
  Science Coursework

  • One year of biology with laboratory. Biochemistry or botany will not satisfy this requirement. AP credit cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If your undergraduate college granted you credit through AP coursework, you may take upper level courses in biology with laboratory to satisfy this requirement.
  • One year of physics with laboratory. AP credit can be used to meet one semester of the physics requirement.
  • One year of chemistry with laboratory which must Include either one year of organic chemistry or one semester of organic and one semester of biochemistry. AP credit cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If your undergraduate college granted you credit through AP coursework, you may take upper level courses in chemistry with laboratory to satisfy this requirement. 
  • One semester of either calculus or statistics. AP credit can be used to meet this requirement.
  • AP credit must be documented on an official transcript.
  • All required science coursework must be taken in-person, if available.
  • We recommend courses in general chemistry, statistics, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry.

  Non-Science Coursework

  • 12 credit hours in the humanities and/or the social or behavioral sciences.
  • One year of expository writing. This may be met with English or non-science courses that involve expository writing.
  • AP credit will not satisfy non-science requirements.
• Evidence of altruism, an accepting attitude, curiosity, empathy, maturity, professionalism, mindfulness, and resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Requirements

What is the average GPA of your entering students? What are you looking for in MCAT scores?

The average GPA is 3.8. Average MCAT score for the exam is 516.

If I have taken more than one MCAT, how are the scores viewed?

Rochester takes the highest test score. We do not take the best section scores from different exams (super score).

Do you require situational judgement tests (e.g. CASPer)?

No.

Do you accept international applicants?

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have permanent residency status or asylee status. The only exceptions to this rule is if the applicant received their undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester or through our Levitan scholarship (offered every other year).

Application Process

What’s the status of my application?

Check the applicant portal for application status information.

Where can I find out details about my interview?

Once invited to interview, you will receive access to detailed information, regarding the interview, via the applicant portal.

When will I learn about Admissions decision following my interview?

Decisions are made six to eight weeks after your interview via email.

What is your waitlist procedure?

A subcommittee reviews applicants on the waitlist based on a holistic review and their overall committee score. Initial offers to waitlisted applicants begin at the end of April via email notification. The number of students accepted off of the waitlist varies from year to year.

Should I send updates to my file if I am waitlisted?

We welcome substantial updates, i.e. awards, a new job or volunteer position, publication or presentation. They may be sent via the applicant portal through the Additional Documents Upload. 

Do you accept requests for deferment?

If you would like to defer your admission to the University of Rochester School of Medicine, you must put your request in writing, explaining your need to defer. Please email your request to mdadmish@urmc.rochester.edu.

Why was my application rejected?

If you were not accepted for admission and would like more information, please email the Director of Admissions, Michelle Vogl, at mdadmish@urmc.rochester.edu, to see how you might strengthen your application for next year.

General Inquiries and Programs

Transfer/Admission with Advanced Standing

Because of Rochester’s early clinical exposure and uniquely integrated curriculum, transfer applicants cannot be considered for advanced standing.

International Students

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have permanent residency status or asylee status. An exception to this policy is: applications will be accepted from foreign nationals who have, or expect to receive, an undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester. Eligible applicants are required to deposit four full years of the Cost of Attendance into an escrow account by May 15th of the entering year. The only other exception is our Levitan Scholarship which is offered every other year.

Medical students who are not U.S. citizens or do not have a green card and match at a residency program at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Strong Memorial Hospital, must apply for a J1 visa upon matching in the program.  The medical center will not sponsor any other type of visa.
 

_{Per U.S. Federal Regulations, 668.43 (2019 Rule), and in compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Manual version 19.2, the University of Rochester provides the following disclosure related to the educational requirements for professional certification and licensure. The University of Rochester has designed the curriculum for professional certification and licensure, that if successfully completed, is sufficient to meet the certification and licensure educational requirements in the state of New York.  For information regarding licensure in another state, enrolled and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact that State’s licensing body to review all certification and licensure requirements.}

_{MD Admissions Committee}

_{Voting Rotating Membership:}

• _{Faculty: A minimum of 20 and maximum of 30 basic science and clinical faculty who represent of a variety of medical school departments.  A minimum of two faculty members must be community based faculty.}
• _{Students: a minimum of four and maximum of ten medical students.}

_{Voting Permanent Membership:}

• _{Associate Dean for Admissions (Chair of the Admissions Committee)}
• _{Associate Dean of Student Affairs}
• _{Associate Dean for Equity and inclusion}
• _{Director of Admissions}

_{Ad Hoc Non-Voting Membership} 

• _{Director, Medical Scientist Training Program (MD-PhD)}
• _{Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program}