Admissions

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, is a standardized, multiple-choice exam designed to assess the skills and knowledge essential for success in medical school. The exam evaluates problem-solving, critical thinking and understanding of foundational scientific concepts across physical sciences, verbal reasoning and biological sciences.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop a thoughtful study plan and allow sufficient time to prepare for the exam.

For the 2025–2026 application cycle, the oldest MCAT score we will accept is from January 2022. The latest test date that will be considered is September 13, 2025.

For the 2026-2027 application cycle, the oldest MCAT we will accept is January 2023, and September 13, 2026, is the last exam in 2026 that will be considered for admission.

Applications to the College of Medicine – Tucson must be submitted through the American Medical College Application Service.

The University of Arizona has two colleges of medicine: Tucson and Phoenix. While both campuses offer exceptional medical education, applicants must designate the specific campus to which they are applying.

If you need to update your contact information after submitting your application, please do so directly through AMCAS.

Undergraduate Degrees

All applicants must earn a bachelor’s degree prior to their expected matriculation date. Required prerequisite coursework must be completed at an accredited college or university within the United States or Canada.

Applicants who have completed a degree outside of the United States or Canada must complete additional coursework at an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution prior to matriculation.

Students accepted into the Accelerated Pathway to Medical Education (APME) program are not required to obtain a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation into the College of Medicine – Tucson.

Required hours of coursework for applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree outside of the United States or Canada

If you completed a degree outside of the United States or Canada, you must complete a minimum of 60 hours of coursework on the semester system, or 90 hours of coursework on the quarter system, at an accredited college or university within the United States or Canada before your expected matriculation date.

Upper-division coursework counts toward the total number of required hours. You must complete a minimum of 30 hours of upper-division coursework on the semester system or 45 hours of upper-division coursework on the quarter system.

2026-2027 core academic prerequisites and recommended classes

All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to matriculation, regardless of major. Laboratory components are recommended when applicable. Pass/fail grades from 2020–2021 will be accepted due to COVID-19.

• Physiology: two semesters/quarters
• Biochemistry: two semesters/quarters, or one semester/quarter of biochemistry and one semester/quarter of genetics
• Social and behavioral sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, public health): one semester/quarter
• Statistics: one semester/quarter, biostatistics recommended
• Upper-division sciences: at least one course from two of the following disciplines: molecular biology, cell biology, histology, microbiology, pharmacology or immunobiology
  • a genetics course may fulfill this requirement if two biochemistry courses (including lower-division) have been completed
• English (or other writing-intensive course): two semesters/quarters

We also encourage applicants to develop conversational proficiency in a second language.

Applicants will report prerequisite coursework in the secondary application. Coursework will be verified for those selected to interview.

Students at the University of Arizona may refer to courses approved by the Pre-Health Professions Advising Center in Colleges of Letters, Arts, and Science.

Notes about core prerequisites:

• You can apply while in the process of completing these courses.
• We do not accept labs or research for the prerequisite courses.
• We do not allow double dipping. You cannot use one course to fulfill multiple prerequisites.
• Community college coursework is accepted.
• Core prerequisite courses must be graded with a “C” or better.
• College course credit awarded for AP science courses may fulfill the relevant core prerequisites. The admissions committee will also expect to see advanced-level undergraduate courses in the science disciplines for which the AP credit was awarded.
• CLEP, AP and IB credits are acceptable only if shown on a college transcript from an accredited undergraduate degree-granting institution. If they show as a grade of G on transcripts, we will ask for your scores.

Competencies
Our admissions process is designed to view you as a whole person — not just a collection of scores. We consider many factors, including the competencies defined by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Applicants to the College of Medicine – Tucson will be reviewed for eligibility to receive a secondary application from July to December during each application cycle. We will thoroughly evaluate your application in making this decision, so it may be some time before you are notified.

To earn a secondary application, you must have a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA, 3.0 BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, math) undergraduate GPA, and at least a 498 MCAT.

There is a $95 fee to complete the secondary application. AAMC Fee Assistance Program member exemptions are available upon request. We do not offer refunds if you are not admitted to the school or if you pay for the secondary application but do not complete it by the deadline.

Applicants to the College of Medicine – Tucson are required to obtain three letters of recommendation supporting their candidacy for admission, including at least one from a clinical setting.

An applicant may submit a maximum of five letters of recommendation and a minimum of three.

Letters should be from individuals with whom applicants are well-acquainted. We’re looking for accurate, in-depth evaluations of qualities suitable for medical school, including motivation to attend medical school, maturity, character and commitment to the practice of medicine. Letters from family and friends are not recommended.

Letters should convey cogent information about your work. Obtaining a letter from the employer who you are working with during the application year is very important. Evidence of a successful engagement in a post-college experience will be a valuable addition to other letters that also may be part of your file.

Letters of recommendation must be submitted by December 15, 2026, for the 2026-2027 application cycle.

Letters of recommendation options:

Option 1

• 1 clinical letter from a person who has seen you interact with patients, family members, and other staff members (e.g., physician, volunteer coordinator, RN, nurse practitioner, or other health care provider)
• 2 letters from other professionals

Option 2

• 1 letter packet/committee packet
• 1 clinical letter from a person who has seen you interact with patients, family members, and other staff members (e.g., physician, volunteer coordinator, RN, nurse practitioner or other health care provider)

All letters of recommendation must be submitted through the AMCAS Letter of Evaluation/Recommendation service.

After completing their secondary application, applicants will be invited to complete a first-round admissions interview through the AMP portal. This virtual assessment provides an additional opportunity for applicants to share their perspectives, experiences and communication style early in the review process.

The first-round admissions interview consists of two timed video responses. Applicants will be presented with two separate prompts and will record their responses directly through the application portal.

For each question, applicants will have a total of four minutes to review the prompt, prepare their response and record their video.

This interview is designed to complement the application by providing insight into how applicants think, communicate, and engage with new questions or scenarios.

Applicants invited to participate must complete the first-round admissions interview within the designated two-week time frame.

How to Prepare

The first-round admissions interview is not intended to assess specific scientific knowledge. Instead, it provides an opportunity to demonstrate clear communication, thoughtful reflection and authenticity in your responses.

Because responses are timed and prompts may vary, we recommend:

• Practicing how to organize and express your thoughts clearly within a short time frame
• Reflecting on your experiences and motivations for pursuing medicine
• Approaching each question thoughtfully rather than relying on memorized responses

The multiple mini-interview (MMI) is designed to assess skills that are not captured by traditional metrics such as MCAT scores or GPA. These include communication, professionalism, ethical reasoning and critical thinking — competencies that are essential for success in medical training and clinical practice. Research has shown that performance in the MMI is a strong predictor of future clinical performance.

During the virtual MMI, applicants rotate through a series of timed interview stations. At each station, you will receive a prompt — such as a question, scenario or task — and will have two minutes to prepare before beginning your response. Prompts may include traditional interview questions (e.g., “Why do you want to become a physician?”) as well as scenarios that ask you to consider and respond to complex or ambiguous situations.

Common areas assessed include:

• Critical thinking
• Communication skills
• Ethical decision-making

The MMI typically lasts approximately 60 minutes. Applicants invited to interview should plan to participate in a full virtual Applicant Visit Day, which includes additional programming beyond the interview itself.

The MMI is not intended to evaluate scientific or clinical knowledge. However, familiarity with current issues in health care may be helpful. Because each station presents a new scenario, we do not recommend memorizing or rehearsing responses. Instead, focus on clearly and thoughtfully expressing your ideas within a limited time frame.

To prepare, consider practicing with a friend, family member or adviser, or recording yourself to evaluate your communication style and clarity.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, no qualified person will be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of any program or activity operated by the university because of disability. The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and the Disability Resource Center will work with you to provide reasonable accommodations during your application and matriculation process. Please contact 520-626-6214 or email admissions@medicine.arizona.edu with questions.

Once your interview is completed, our admissions committee will review all application materials.

Beginning in late October, the committee makes decisions approximately twice per month. Applicants are admitted on a semi-rolling basis from late October through March.

Applicants will be informed when:

• they have been accepted
• they have been placed on the wait list
• no position is available this year

The admissions committee may rescind an offer of acceptance if an applicant fails to maintain expectations upon which that acceptance was based. Examples include, but are not limited to, a significant decline in academic performance, failure to complete prerequisites, patterns of unprofessional behavior and incidents discovered in a criminal background check.

Timeline

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson follows the AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool Timeline.

Thursday, February 19, 2026

• “Plan to Enroll” becomes available for accepted applicants to select in the Choose Your Medical School tool, located within the AMCAS application.
  • Only applicants who receive an acceptance offer from a participating school will be able to see and use the tool.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

• Per the Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants, applicants holding more than three offers should narrow their acceptance offers to three, with no limit on the number of alternate list offers they may hold. 

Thursday, April 30, 2026

• “Commit to Enroll” becomes available for accepted applicants to select in the Choose Your Medical School tool, located within the AMCAS application.
  • “Plan to Enroll” is still available for accepted applicants to select during this time.
  • Selecting “Commit to Enroll” does not automatically withdraw applicants from other medical schools.
• Per the Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants, applicants should narrow their acceptance offers to one, with no limit on the number of alternate list offers they may hold.

Monday, June 1, 2026

• “Commit to Enroll” deadline for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
• Applicants must select “Commit to Enroll” with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson in the CYMS Portal or their acceptance offer will be rescinded.