Central Michigan University College of Medicine is interested in attracting applicants who will become outstanding physicians. The CMU College of Medicine (CMED) will use a Holistic Admissions Review process as a means to identify applicants who will become highly competent, diverse, and caring physicians. The Holistic Review process was developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and is a means of helping medical school admission committees take personal factors into account in addition to academic factors when assessing minority applicants.
In addition to the assessment of an applicant's scholastic and cognitive capabilities, such as GPA and MCAT scores, the admissions process will include a structured evaluation of an applicant's personal characteristics of interest to CMED include compassion for others, altruism, preparation for medicine, communication skills, leadership abilities, personal maturity, and cultural competence. Professional characteristics include integrity, reliability, positive work habits, adaptability, teamwork, self-disciplined, resilience, and persistence. Important applicant skills include communication skills that involve the use of listening and oral communication. Analytic skills include the ability to apply logic and critical thinking to a question or problem. The admissions process is also interested in identifying applicants who desire to provide healthcare to communities in central and northern Michigan. For more information about Holistic Admissions, visit the AAMC website at: .
- Part One: The AMCAS Application
The first step in applying to Central Michigan University College of Medicine (CMED) is filing an application with the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). To submit an application, visit AMCAS at www.aamc.org/students/amcas. This initial process includes using the AMCAS letters of recommendation service. For questions, email AMCAS@AAMC.org or call 202-828-0600.
The earliest date for submitting an application to AMCAS is June 5, 2012. Central Michigan University's institutional deadline for filing with AMCAS is December 15, though we recommend that you file the AMCAS application as early as possible to guarantee that you have sufficient time to complete subsequent steps in the application process. If you will not be taking the MCAT until Fall 2012, please file the AMCAS application as early as possible (before you receive your MCAT scores report). AMCAS will automatically forward your MCAT results to Central Michigan University.
- Part Two: The Secondary Application
Select applicants will be invited to submit a supplemental application to the Central Michigan University College of Medicine.
- Part Three: The Initial Committee Review
Once an applicant's supplemental application is received, the CMU College of Medicine will review your completed application materials to determine whether to invite you to participate in the Multiple-Mini Interview (MMI) process.
- Part Four: The Interview
Select applicants will be invited to attend an interview day. The visit will include a set of interviews, as well as tours of the College of Medicine. CMED will use a Multiple-Mini Interview (MMI) process. The MMI interview technique was developed and implemented by McMaster University in Ontario. Applicants rotate through 10 interview stations. No prior medical knowledge is required for the MMI. Some studies of the MMI indicate that this interview process is better able to assess non-cognitive attributes of applicants, and reduce the variability of subjective criteria and information. The interviewers for the MMI will be members of the Admissions Committee who have been trained in the MMI interview technique.
In the MMI process, each interviewer will pose a pre-developed scenario to each interviewee. The scenario will be related to a single theme such as ethical decision-making, critical thinking skills, or communication skills. Applicants will rotate through the MMI interview stations and the interviewers will have an opportunity to assess all interviewees within the context of their respective scenario. All applicants that are invited to interview at CMED will be notified by email. Please be sure to keep your email address current, and notify both AMCAS and Central Michigan University College of Medicine if you email address changes.
- Part Five: Admissions Offers
Applicants who have been selected by the Admissions Committee for admission will be offered admission on a rolling (ongoing) basis throughout the admissions cycle.
- Part Six: Acceptance
Applicants who are accepted for admission are asked to submit a letter of acceptance within 2 weeks of admission.