Frequently Asked Questions

In order to be accepted, you must complete the steps provided below to be considered for Admissions.

• If you are accepted, you must receive your permanent residency status prior to the start of medical school. You may be in the process of obtaining your permanent residency status during the application process.
• If you obtained your degree from an institution outside of the United States or Canada, you must complete a minimum number of units within the United States or Canada. All of the core academic prerequisites must be taken at an accredited institution within the United States or Canada regardless of prior completion from an institution outside of the United States or Canada.

If you graduated from an international medical school you can become a practicing physician without going to medical school again. Below are some links that will help familiarize you with the process of getting certified to practice medicine in the United States:

• Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
• U.S. Medical Licensing Examination for International Medical Graduates

Please direct any questions about obtaining residencies to one of our graduate medical education offices.

A reapplicant is able to self-identify their previous application cycles in their secondary application. The admissions committee is only able to see application materials from the current cycle.

It is up to you. Be highly critical of your answers from the previous application and seek help to modify your answers. Revisions may be needed if your answers have changed based on new life experiences or as a result of the time between applications.

You are able to resubmit letters of recommendation that were submitted when you first applied, but it is not recommended. The information about you may become outdated. Keep in contact with the people who provided letters so that you can ask them to update the letter they originally sent, including new information about your recent experiences.

Currently, our MCAT minimum is a 498.

The decision of when to submit your AMCAS application is up to you. Please keep in mind that the earlier you submit your application, the longer it is considered in the application pool. You are able to note on your AMCAS application when you are taking the MCAT. We will not consider an application until the newest MCAT score indicated on AMCAS is received unless your current score meets our MCAT minimum requirement. We will receive your new score when it becomes available and it will show up on your application when reviewing your profile later on in the cycle. 

We do not average scores.

We take your highest MCAT score that you have received within the past three years. However, all scores are considered when reviewing your complete application.

If you received a secondary application last season then don’t worry too much about improving your score, unless you feel that it is borderline low. We look at your overall application, so focus instead on improving the other components of the application. If you keep retaking the test and we see your score going up or down, it may reflect badly on you.

The maximum number of letters of recommendation you may submit to the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson is seven, and the minimum requirement is three letters of recommendation, including at least one clinical letter of recommendation.

Out-of-state applicants receive comparable consideration after the interview process. The largest difference between how we looked at applicants this past season was at the initial screening.

We will interview around 500 applicants every year.

Metrics, secondary application, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and interview scores.

The UA COM-Tucson utilizes a holistic approach when selecting our incoming class. Holistic review guarantees a fair and equitable consideration of your entire application, including your experiences, attributes, and metrics. Note: There is a baseline MCAT (498) and undergraduate GPA (3.0 overall and BCPM) required to receive a secondary application. 

UA COM-Tucson does not accept letters of intent or updates.

The number of students on the waitlist varies year to year.

Acceptances offered before April 30: “If an applicant receives an acceptance offer prior to April 30, a written response (via the online acceptance portal) must be received within 10 days of the offer. The response will indicate if an applicant will accept or decline the offer. If an applicant does not respond within the 10-day timeline, the acceptance offer is automatically rescinded.”

Acceptances offered after April 30: “If an applicant receives an acceptance offer after April 30, a written response (via the online acceptance portal) must be received within 5 working days of the offer. The timeline may be reduced to two days if the applicant is offered close to the start of orientation. The deadline to respond is within five working days of the acceptance offer. If an applicant does not respond within the five-day timeline, the acceptance offer is automatically rescinded.”

With the limited number of positions that can be offered to prospective medical students, The University of Arizona College of Medicine expects that students accepted to the College of Medicine will matriculate in the year in which they are accepted. Thus, prospective students should only apply if they anticipate being able to accept admission in the year offered. However, under limited circumstances, accepted students may request a one-year deferral of matriculation for a maximum of one year.  The request must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Dean and Executive Director of Admissions by May 15 of the acceptance year. Examples of circumstances for which deferrals may be granted include:

• Illness
• Unanticipated family hardship
• A meaningful educational opportunity (i.e. Fulbright, Rhodes, or Marshal scholarship
• Completion of military service

If a deferral is granted, to activate the acceptance for admission in the subsequent academic year, the deferred student must notify the Admissions Office no later than May 15 of the year of the deferred matriculation. In addition, it is expected that the student will submit a statement of activities during the deferral year and official transcripts for any academic work attempted or completed since the commencement of the deferral year.

AMCAS requires all accepted students who are granted deferrals to submit a new AMCAS application for the year they will be entering. The deferred student is not required to pay a fee to AMCAS if they are committing to The University of Arizona College of Medicine and will not be applying to other schools during the application cycle. Note: If the student intends to apply to other medical schools, the deferred student is responsible for all AMCAS fees associated with their application and forfeits the deferred admission of the University of Arizona.

If students do not activate their acceptance to the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine after one year, their acceptance will be withdrawn. If they wish to reapply, they must complete a new AMCAS application, including new supporting documents and pay the required fees. Reapplication will be competitive with all other applicants. Again, students who are contemplating pursuing other academic degrees or travel should strongly consider delaying application until they are ready to matriculate if accepted into The University of Arizona College of Medicine. 

Decisions will be made late October to March. Once you have been accepted to the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, follow the below timeline when making your decision.

• February 19, 2025: The AAMC Application and Acceptance Protocols “Plan to Enroll” option becomes available for accepted students. The College of Medicine – Tucson strongly encourages students to use this tool.
• April 15, 2025: The AAMC Application and Acceptance Protocols recommends accepted students narrow offers to three medical schools (if applicable). The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson highly recommends accepted students follow this protocol.
• April 24-25, 2025: Accepted students are invited to Second Look to meet our faculty and their fellow prospective students, and to tour our campus and the Tucson area.
• April 30, 2025: The AAMC Application and Acceptance Protocols “Commit to Enroll” option for accepted students becomes available. From April 30, The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson highly recommends accepted students utilize this tool when they are ready to commit and are withdrawing all other applications.
• June 24, 2025: “Commit to Enroll” is required to be selected by students matriculating to the College of Medicine – Tucson. Failure to do so will result in rescinding of the admission offer.
• July 2025: Incoming medical students will matriculate to the College of Medicine – Tucson.
   

The College of Medicine – Tucson will consider requests for transfer into the educational program from students who currently are enrolled in an LCME-accredited U.S. or Canadian allopathic medical school. Opportunities for transfer are limited; therefore, openings in any given year cannot be guaranteed.

Transfer Student Policy

The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson will consider requests for transfer into the educational program from students who currently are enrolled in a LCME-accredited US or Canadian allopathic medical school.

In considering a request to transfer, the College of Medicine will review medical students with advanced standing that demonstrate academic achievements, completion of relevant prior coursework, and other relevant characteristics comparable to those of the medical students in the class that they would join.

Students being considered for transfer will undergo an admission process similar to that of the MD program. The admissions committee will make the final determination to accept or deny the transfer request.

Due to the unique nature of the medical curriculum and resources at UACOMT opportunities for transfer are limited; therefore, openings in any given year cannot be guaranteed.

Please refer to the University of Arizona Office of the Registrar for information about residency classifications.