Frequently Asked Questions about College of Medicine Admissions

Learn more and get answers to frequently asked questions about the College of Medicine's admissions process.

About our program

  • What type of grading system does the College of Medicine use?
    • Years 1 and 2 are graded as credit/no credit. Years 3 and 4 are graded credit/no credit or credit with honors.
  • How many students do you enroll each year?
    • Each entering class has 104 seats.

MD Program Overview

Application process

  • How do I apply to the Central Michigan University College of Medicine? 
    • The CMU College of Medicine uses AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) for the initial application. Visit the AMCAS website for more information.
  • Do you require a secondary application? Is there an additional fee?
    • Select applicants will be invited to submit a secondary application. The non-refundable secondary application fee is $100. If students receive a fee waiver from AMCAS, the College of Medicine will also waive the secondary application fee.
  • How will I know if I will be interviewed for admission?
    • Completed applications will be considered for interview eligibility on a rolling basis. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted via email with further information regarding the interview process.

Letters of recommendation

  • How many letters of recommendation are required?
    • We require a minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation (or a committee letter) and allow a maximum of five (5) letters. Please submit only the letters you wish. There is no advantage to submitting more than the minimum three letters of recommendation.
  • Are there requirements about who must author my letters of recommendation?
    • Each letter should be written by an author who knows the applicant through a professional relationship or association. The author must have firsthand knowledge of the applicant's qualifications, skills, attributes and values. Letter authors must be professionals whose background enables them to determine the applicant's qualifications.
  • Where do I send my letters of recommendation?
    • All letters of recommendation should be submitted through the AMCAS Letter Service on the AMCAS website.

Admission Requirements

MCAT

  • What is the latest MCAT score you will accept for the current admission cycle?
    • The latest score we will consider for any application cycle is the September test date. All scores must be received by our office before our primary application deadline.
  • What is the oldest MCAT score you will accept?
    • We will NOT accept MCAT scores older than 3 years prior to your application year (see example below).
  • What MCAT score does the College of Medicine consider if I have taken the MCAT more than once?
    • We consider all score instances reported for an applicant. The Admissions committee gives greatest weight to an applicant's highest and most recent scores.

Example:

  • Jon applies to the CMU College of Medicine in August 2023 for the 2024 AMCAS Cycle.
  • Jon's application year = 2023
  • Jon is able to use any MCAT score taken within the last 3 years prior to his application year.
  • In Jon's case, his application year is 2023, so any MCAT test taken after January 1, 2021 would be valid.

Prerequisites and program requirements

  • Is a bachelor's degree required for admission?
    • Yes, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution must be completed prior to matriculation.
  • What prerequisite courses are required or recommended?
    • Required: Two (2) semesters of biological science courses with laboratory sections. Courses such as anatomy, biology, genetics, physiology and microbiology fulfill this requirement.
    • Required: Two (2) semesters of organic chemistry with at least one laboratory section OR one (1) semester of organic chemistry and one (1) semester of biochemistry with at least one laboratory section.
    • Recommended: Biochemistry, genetics, human anatomy, human physiology, mathematics or statistics, physics, social sciences, humanities and ethics.
  • Does the College of Medicine accept online and/or Community College courses for prerequisites?
    • Community college and online courses (with labs) are generally adequate to meet the minimum requirement for admission. Applicants are, however, encouraged to take all prerequisite courses at four-year institutions. If you have questions about the acceptability of such credits, please email our office with any available course descriptions and syllabi.

Interview days

  • When do interviews take place?
    • Our interviews will take place on select Fridays from September until March.
  • What should I expect on an interview day?
    • While you won't be able to learn everything about CMU on your interview day, we will cover a lot of ground prior to your interview, and all applicants who are invited to interview with us will be invited to join our Road to Matriculation (RTM) series. The RTM series features live presentations on all four years of the medical curriculum, including the Comprehensive Community Clerkship, as well as the opportunity to interact with current medical students via a Q&A panel.
  • What type of interview is used?
    • The CMU College of Medicine utilizes a Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format to interview applicants. No prior medical knowledge is required for the MMI. The interview portion of the day lasts approximately two hours and includes breaks. In addition to the MMI, applicants will work together in various small group exercises.
  • Where should I park on campus, and will I need to pay?
    • Currently the College of Medicine utilizes a virtual format for the medical school interview.
  • What if I need to reschedule?
    • To request a rescheduled interview, please call our office at 989-774-7882. Please reserve rescheduling requests for extenuating circumstances. It is important to note we cannot guarantee the ability to reschedule.
  • What if I need to cancel?
    • Should you need to cancel your interview, please call our office at 989-774-7882. As a courtesy to other applicants, please cancel your interview as soon as you know you are unable to attend on your scheduled date.

Application help

  • Can you explain what makes a good applicant?
    • Start by reviewing our admission requirements on this site. Good applicants provide ample evidence of both academic and pre-professional preparation for medical school. Both of these areas are essential to demonstrating your fitness for success in medical school and beyond.
  • Do you provide any resources to strengthen my application?
    • Yes. Consider attending one of our application workshops. If you are unable to attend and participate you can view the recorded version here: Recorded Application Workshop
  • Can I meet with someone about my application?
    • Due to institutional policy and time constraints, we are unable to provide individualized meetings with current or future applicants.
  • I was rejected. Can I get feedback on my application?
    • Yes. The Office of Admissions at the CMU College of Medicine offers application feedback in the context of our application workshops. Attendees are welcome to ask any questions, specific to their circumstances or more generally, to understand how to strengthen a future application.
    • While the Office of Admissions may not be permitted to disclose information about the Admissions committee's deliberations, a representative can answer specific questions about application elements such as: coursework, MCAT scores, grade point average, quality and quantity of preparatory experiences, or gap year experiences.
  • I was rejected. Where should I look for help?
    • Medical school admissions offices are a good resource to help understand what a school is looking for in applicants and how they can demonstrate that preparation in their application.

Other resources, especially pre-health, faculty, academic, and other advisers, are better positioned to provide comprehensive feedback and help individuals reapply to a wide range of medical schools. We recommend that you seek out these resources and other advice from mentors and references.

Financial aid/cost of tuition

  • What is the cost of tuition?
    • For current tuition costs, please visit the Financial Aid section of our website.

International and out-of-state students

  • Are international candidates considered?
    • Applicants must be U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident.
  • Is preference given to in-state applicants?
    • All eligible U.S. and Canadian applicants will be considered. The College of Medicine intends to have 80% in-state enrollment and 20% out-of-state enrollment.