M.D. Program Admission FAQ
COVID-19 Responses for 2024 Admissions Cycle
Pass/Fail Coursework
CESCM-Admissions will accept Pass/No Credit grades for courses taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently we consider courses impacted are those offered in Spring 2020 through Summer 2021(Quarter/Semester).
Online Coursework and Lab Courses
We strongly encourage classroom application for lectures and labs for science course requirements. We will accept online courses taken in Winter/Spring 2020 through Spring 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
*Online courses (including laboratory courses, for completion of some prerequisites) will be considered on a case-by-case basis and preference will be given to applicants who have done most of their preparation at the senior college level.
Please refer to our Academic Requirements section for a listing of prerequisite courses.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation for Traditional Applicants
The college requires one of the following options below:
- A composite letter of evaluation written by the premedical advisory committee at the applicant’s school (greatly preferred). If your premedical advising office provides a committee letter compiling feedback from multiple sources, this letter will suffice to satisfy your letters requirement.
- A minimum of 3 individual letters from faculty members who have taught the applicant. At least two of your letters should be from a professor that has taught you in the sciences, and one from a non-science professor who has taught you, and can adequately speak to both your academic readiness and personal suitability for the pursuit and practice of medicine.
Letters of Recommendation for Nontraditional Applicants
Nontraditional applicants are generally defined as those who have taken two or more years off between undergraduate studies and applying to medical school. If you submit
Individual Letters
, you will need to provide a minimum of
three
separate letters to meet requirement. Letters may be obtained from any combination of the following sources: professors, academic advisors, clinical/shadowing or research coordinators and preceptors, volunteer supervisors, work supervisors, and mentors.
Where to Submit Letters of Recommendations
All Evaluations and Letters of Recommendations must be submitted through AMCAS.
What if I cannot find (two) Science faculty for Letters of Recommendations (LOR)?
If you are not able to get any letters from faculty who have taught you in the Sciences, we will accept LORs from professors, advisors, clinical research coordinators or preceptors, supervisors, mentors and coaches (if you’re a college level *student-athlete).
*The term “student athlete” means an individual who engages in, is eligible to engage in, or may be eligible in the future to engage in, any intercollegiate sport.
Volunteer, Shadowing or Clinical Experience
At this time there are no accommodations being made for volunteer, shadowing or clinical experiences, as we believe this is an important part of the application process. Applicants should already have some volunteer, clinical and or shadowing experience that they've participated in. Virtual forms of shadowing experience are accepted.
General FAQs
Does the Schmidt College of Medicine consider re-applicants?
Yes, the college will consider re-applicants for admissions. However, you should have significantly improved your application before reapplying; whether that be GPA, MCAT, and/or experiences, then you may be ready to re-apply to medical schools.
Will the Schmidt College of Medicine accept transfer students?
The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine does NOT consider any transfer requests or advanced standing due to the unique integration of our curriculum.
How does your medical school assess gap years?
We do not frown upon gap years or time taken off to improve on your schoolwork, or MCAT scores, or to get those meaningful medical and life experiences that strengthen your application. Traditional and Non-traditional students are equally reviewed and considered for admission, while taking into consideration the differences both sets of applicants will demonstrate.
How do I know if I am a competitive applicant?
A competitive applicant has a wide definition. You should start by seeking the most recent class profiles of those medical schools you are interested in applying to and comparing your "numbers" to those of accepted students. Doing this will give you a good idea of the cognitive credentials of students that medical schools are interested in admitting. Another point to remember is that MCAT scores and GPAs do not offset one another. So, if both your MCAT score and your GPA are low you should improve both and consider a post-bac or graduate degree.
How many letters of recommendation are required?
Letters of recommendation are ONLY accepted through AMCAS- no post mail or email to FAU will be accepted. The college requires either a composite letter of evaluation written by the premedical advisory committee at the applicant’s school (greatly preferred) or
a minimum of 3 individual letters
from faculty members who have taught the applicant.
Applicants who have been away from academics for at least 1 year since obtaining the initial bachelor’s degree can submit 3 individual faculty letters from the most recent degree program, if feasible. If this is not feasible, an applicant may substitute with letters from 3 upper-level supervisors.
*Please see section above regarding additional COVID-19 accommodations.*
Will I need to take the MCAT exam?
Yes. The MCAT is required to complete your AMCAS application. No exceptions and/or substitutions are made for the MCAT requirement. Regardless of professional training, certifications, licenses, other exams taken, terminal degrees, and/or experiences, every applicant must submit an MCAT score to be considered for admissions. MCAT scores cannot be older than 3yrs from the date of matriculation to the Schmidt College of Medicine, which happens within the first week of August.
Click here to register for the MCAT exam:
students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/register-mcat-exam.
What is a competitive GPA and MCAT score?
All applications will be reviewed. However our average statistics for accepted applicants are:
- MCAT 2015: 513
- Overall GPA: 3.7
- BCPM: 3.6
How do you assess multiple MCAT scores?
We look at the scores of all MCAT exams taken and reported, then count your highest combined total score for that test date. Scores received cannot be more than three years old from the date of application.
Do you provide superscoring?
We do not combine scores of the sections (from multiple MCAT exams) to make your cumulative score higher. Instead, we take the highest MCAT score, providing that it is not more than three years old from the date of application.
Do you accept international students? DACA status?
No, we do not accept international students, nor do we accept students that are foreign-trained professionals, or have obtained their higher education from another country, other than Canada.
We only accept US citizens and permanent residents of the United States and you MUST be a permanent resident at the time of application. We are not able to consider international applicants or applicants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. Applicants who are not able to provide valid proof of their US citizenship or permanent residents of the United States prior to matriculation risk their acceptance offer being rescinded immediately.
Is there an Early Decision Program at the Schmidt College of Medicine?
No, we do not offer an early decision program.
Does the Schmidt College of Medicine participate in a fee waiver program?
Our program does not have a separate fee waiver policy. Fee Waivers are given based on prior qualifications set by AAMC when an applicant completes their AMCAS. If the AAMC deems that an applicant qualifies for a fee waiver, our program receives a notification from the AAMC and the system automatically waives their secondary application fee.
If you’re experiencing financial hardship, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) may waive your AMCAS application fee through its Fee Assistance Program.
Where can I find detailed admissions information for medical schools?
The best source of information is the
Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR)
, which is published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Can prerequisite lower division courses be taken at community colleges?
Yes. However, additional upper-level science courses are encouraged and expected in preparation for the MCAT and success in medical school.
Will AP, IB, CLEP and/or AICE credits be accepted?
AP and IB credits may fulfill course requirements; however, it is highly recommended that additional coursework be taken in these areas. CLEP course credits and AICE credits are not accepted.
Will distance learning/online courses be accepted?
Online courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis and preference will be given to applicants who have done most of their preparation at the senior college level.
How do I qualify for Florida tuition?
For updated Florida Statute 1009.21 information, please follow the link to access the
Florida Department of Education
website to review requirements for Residency determination
.
What if I change my contact information (address, phone, email) after I submit my AMCAS application?
All contact information must be updated through
AMCAS
. The Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Admissions office does not have the capability to make changes or append updates to your electronic (Primary or Secondary) application.