MD Program – Admissions

Academic Preparedness

Because the prospective medical student with a broad educational background profits most from the medical curriculum, preference is given to applicants with a bachelor's degree. In selecting courses, the premedical student should be aware of the broad scope of the medical profession. The biological basis for the practice of medicine is traditional and appropriate because medicine in its technical aspects is an applied biological science. Modern medical practice also requires a working knowledge of chemistry and physics to appreciate vital processes in both health and disease. To be successful, medical students must be able to read rapidly and with understanding and express thoughts clearly and concisely.

Premedical students should develop a solid background in the humanities, psychology, sociology, philosophy and the arts. Understanding human relationships and human nature is vital to the practice of medicine. Students are encouraged to take courses which would be difficult to acquire after the college experience is completed. The School of Medicine seeks to admit well-rounded students with broad and diverse educational experiences. 

There is no minimum threshold for academic performance in order to be considered for admission to ULSOM. However, candidates can review information for recent average matriculants available on the Class Profile information on this page.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must complete the following courses prior to matriculation. Since the Admissions Committee reviews the complete academic portfolio of applicants being considered, advanced course work which strengthens the premedical academic foundation will be favorably viewed during the evaluation process.

A year is defined as a minimum of 32 weeks, including two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters of coursework. All science courses applied to the premedical requirements must include laboratory work, with the exception of organic chemistry and biochemistry.

Course Credit Policies

Grading and Pass/Fail Coursework

Applicants must receive a letter grade of C or higher for all required prerequisite courses. Substitutions for the premedical science requirements can only be allowed if replaced by advanced work in the same area. Applicants will receive credit for any Spring 2020 pre-requisite course for which they receive a “pass” under a pass/fail grading system. 

Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

AP and IB credit may be used to satisfy prerequisite course requirements, with the exception of biology, provided that credit is awarded by your undergraduate degree-granting institution and posted on your transcript. If lab credit was awarded through AP/IB credit by your institution, it must be explicitly stated on your transcript. If your undergraduate institution accepted AP or IB biology credit, two upper-level biology courses with labs are required to fulfill prerequisite requirements. ULSOM will not accept CLEP credit for any prerequisite course work.

Online and Community College Credit

The University of Louisville School of Medicine does not distinguish between courses completed at online or land-based universities as long as the courses are completed at an accredited (e.g., SACS, North Central, New England, Western, etc.) institution. See the UofL Transfer Credit Policy on this page for more information. 

Credit granted by junior/community colleges is also accepted. All coursework must be graded in order to fulfill prerequisite requirements or be supplemented by graded, advanced work in the same subject area.

Paramedical and Medical School Credit

Courses in paramedical schools (such as pharmacy, nursing, optometry, medical, etc.) do not fulfill the premedical science requirements. Courses taken at non-accredited institutions will not be accepted. Applicants who have been dismissed from other medical schools for scholastic or disciplinary reasons will not be considered. 

International Credit

Credit from institutions outside the United States is accepted, however, applicants must have obtained the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree and have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours from an accredited college/university in the U.S. View more information regarding Admissions Policies on residency requirements and international student policy in the Admission Policies dropdown on this page.

The Admissions Committee reviews all course work completed at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate levels. Applicants or advisors may contact the Office of Admissions with specific questions regarding fulfillment of premedical requirements.

The ULSOM accepts the most recent score and will not accept any MCAT scores older than two years old. Applications from students with pending MCAT scores are accepted and reviewed. Secondary applications may be extended to those without MCAT scores and will be based on available application information. Applicants should not delay applying due solely to an unavailable MCAT score. However, applicants must have an MCAT score before being considered for an interview. 

The MCAT should preferably be taken during the semester preceding application (spring prior to applying). In no case should it be postponed later than the fall of the year prior to the one in which the applicant intends to enter medical school. The MCAT should not be attempted before the major basic science requirements are completed. MCAT information may be obtained from the applicant's premedical advisory personnel or by going online to the MCAT web site.

All applicants must take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), with the exception of the University of Louisville School of Dentistry students applying for the Advanced Education Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) will be considered in lieu of the MCAT for these applicants

The Admissions Committee conducts holistic application review, evaluating both academic and nonacademic application elements. The AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students provides additional information for pre-medical student self reflection and assessment. While there are no minimum requirements to be met in order to be considered for admission, applicants should consider the following potential areas in demonstrating their interest in and preparation for medical education and training.

Experiences

Information on these areas may be included in the AMCAS Experiences section, as well as addressed in one's personal statement and letters of recommendation.

Shadowing and Medical Related Experiences

It is essential for pre-medical students to have an understanding of medical settings and experience the interaction of physicians and patients.

Service and Volunteerism

Demonstration of a concern for others as evidenced by a sustained commitment to one's community through volunteer or service activities.

Leadership, Extracurricular Involvement and Work Experience

Provides the opportunity to demonstrate the areas important to an individual applicant, while developing life skills important for the transition to medical school.

Research

Provides the opportunity to better understand scientific investigation and discovery, especially important for those students interested in participating in research while in medical school.

Personal Attributes

Attributes important to becoming a well-rounded physician are assessed through completion of the AMCAS application, secondary application and during the interview, if invited. These may include and are not limited to characteristics of honesty and integrity, the ability to communicate effectively, a sincere call to medicine and an individual's contribution to a diverse medical class.

Potential to Meet Medical Need

The UofL School of Medicine seeks to meet the medical needs of the commonwealth of Kentucky and underserved populations, particularly through primary care serving rural populations and racial and ethnic minorities. 

Residency

Consistent with the mission of the University of Louisville as a public institution of the state of Kentucky, in-state residents comprise the majority of the matriculants each year. Applications from out of state residents are accepted and those with significant academic, personal or family ties to the commonwealth of Kentucky are given preference. Find more information about the ULSOM residency policy here.

The University of Louisville School of Medicine participates in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).

• Application materials can be found on the AMCAS website beginning mid-May of each year.
• Applications are screened once they have been verified by AMCAS regardless of residency status. Allow 4-6 weeks for AMCAS to verify applications.
• The ULSOM's AMCAS application deadline is November 1st.

New for the 2024 admissions cycle, the AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam will be recommended for all applicants to ULSOM. This standardized exam is designed to assess understanding of effective pre-professional behavior across eight core competencies for entering medical school. Additional information and resources are available on the AAMC website.

• Selected applicants are notified by email to complete the secondary application.
• The pre-requisite checklist and letters of recommendation are required elements for secondary materials to be considered complete and under further review for interview consideration.
• There is a $75.00 nonrefundable application fee unless you received a fee waiver through the AMCAS fee assistance program.
• Candidates are required to login to the secondary application site within two weeks of notification, but the deadline to complete and submit the secondary application online is December 1. Most competitive candidates should submit the secondary application as soon as possible.
• Application Updates: Unless specifically requested, the University of Louisville admissions office will not be responsible for updating the applicant’s secondary application information. Email updates will not be accepted. Primary AMCAS application updates, to the extent permissible, must be made directly through AMCAS.

The University of Louisville School of Medicine requires letters of evaluation as part of a complete application. Letter requirements can be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

• Committee letter or letter packet. If your college/university has a committee letter process or compiles letter packets through an advisor, this packet fulfills the requirement in full.
• Individual letters. If no committee letter process exists for your primary institution, an applicant must provide three (3) individual letters including:

1. One letter from a faculty member who taught the applicant in an area of biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics (BCPM). See AMCAS Course Classification Guide for more information.
2. One letter from a faculty member in a major course or other course of the applicant’s choosing (second academic letter).
3. One professional letter, which may include a faculty member, research or other supervisor, or physician whom you shadowed

• Candidates may submit two additional letters, ideally from sources that speak to the candidate’s suitability for medicine.
• Applicant’s who have not been continuously enrolled for more than three (3) years may substitute one academic letter for a second professional letter if desired, but must have at least one faculty reference. If you have been enrolled in a post baccalaureate or graduate program for one year at the time of application, one of your letters should come from a faculty member at your current institution.
• Letters must be on letterhead, signed by the author and submitted via the AMCAS letter service. More information on letter submission may be found at the AMCAS Letter Service webpage.
• Letters of recommendation must be submitted in order for your secondary application to be considered complete and under further consideration for interview invitation. 

The UofL School of Medicine seeks to admit students who are not only academically prepared for medical education, but demonstrate the competencies needed for success in the medical field, including strong interpersonal and communication skills, resilience, compassion, ethics and cultural competence. Interviews are conducted as a component of the evaluation process and are required in order to be considered for admission. The Office of Admissions arranges appointments for interviews with all applicants whose qualifications indicate that further consideration is appropriate. If an applicant is eligible for an interview, the applicant will be notified via email. 

Please note, if you have an email account with a junk mail filter, be sure to turn off the junk mail filter or check your junk mail periodically for correspondence from the University of Louisville School of Medicine – medadm@louisville.edu.

Invited students will have the opportunity to interview with two admission committee members and learn more information about the UofL School of Medicine during their scheduled interview day. Applicants invited for an interview will receive detailed information regarding their interview day and resources to learn more about the UofL School of Medicine via their emailed interview invitation.

Student Resources

Medical School Applicant Interview Preparation Guide

Acceptance to the School of Medicine is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all requirements and conditions of admission. Acceptance may be withdrawn for failure to maintain high scholastic or behavioral standards during the remainder of premedical training. No deposit is required to accept your offer of admission.

Consistent with the mission of the University of Louisville as a state university, residents of Kentucky are given preference for admission. Applications from nonresidents are accepted and those with significant academic, personal or family ties to Kentucky are given preference. Residency must be established prior to submitting your application. Each year, approximately 45 students in the total class of 165 matriculating students are considered nonresidents. For more details on recently admitted students, view our Student Profile information.

For more information regarding University of Louisville residency requirements and deadlines, please refer to the Student Residency page.

The Early Decision Program (EDP) provides the well-qualified applicant an opportunity to secure acceptance by October 1. Candidates accepted through the EDP must attend the accepting institution. By applying as an EDP candidate, the individual agrees not to apply to any other U.S. medical school until any of the following occurs: 1) denial of an EDP commitment; 2) release from the EDP commitment; or 3) October 1 notification deadline expiration.

The limited number of early decision seats are awarded based on exceptional academic standing and MCAT scores. The application deadline is August 1. All materials and requirements for the secondary application are due no later than August 31. Interviews for the EDP program will be conducted in August, with decisions released on October 1.

Transfer is defined as changing enrollment from one medical school to another, usually at the beginning of an academic year and at a rank consistent with that held at the original school. The basic policy of the School of Medicine concerning transfer from an accredited American medical school is as follows:

• Applicants must be currently enrolled and in good standing in a LCME accredited medical school and be eligible to continue at that school.
• Applicants must present reasons for transfer which are acceptable to the Admissions Committee. Transfers are ordinarily considered only for compassionate reasons, including proximity to spouse or a change in status of family (such as death of a parent or divorce of parents). Personal dissatisfaction with the training, administration or faculty of the current school is not an acceptable reason for transfer.
• Transfers may be accepted into the beginning of the second or third years but not into the fourth year or into the mid-term of any year.
• Second-year applicants must complete a curriculum equivalent to the first full year at our medical school before they are eligible for transfer.
• Third-year applicants must complete two full years of pre-clinical study and must pass Step 1 of the USMLE.
• Transfers must complete no less than 50% of their medical school curriculum from the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
• Openings in the third-year class are relatively rare. Often we do not know how many, if any, places are available until about two weeks after the school year is over. Therefore, we do not participate in the early decision program for transfer students.

Application Deadline for Transfer is April 30

To complete your application to the University of Louisville School of Medicine, we must receive the following:

1. A completed transfer application (email the ULSOM Office of Admissions to request access to transfer application).
2. A completed residency declaration form.
3. A completed violations form.
4. A processing fee of $25 that is neither refundable nor applicable to registration fees should your application be accepted.
5. Letter of support that also indicates good standing from the dean/dean of students at the medical school of current enrollment.
6. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs.

Applications from International students, are accepted. Consistent with the mission of the University of Louisville School of Medicine as a public state institution, those who graduate from a Kentucky high school or attended (or are attending) a Kentucky college/university may be considered for admission.

International Course Credit

Students who are permanent residents of the United States who have attended an institution outside the United States, must have obtained the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree, and have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours from an accredited college/university in the United States.

Financial Aid

International students, including those with a pending application for permanent residency or with DACA status, are not eligible for most federal benefits, including federally-guaranteed student loans. Such loans usually comprise an important part of a medical student's financial aid package. Therefore, if these international students are offered admission, they must submit documentation of sufficient funds to cover the cost of completing a medical degree. Admission offers to international students who are unable to submit adequate documentation of sufficient funds will be withdrawn. All decisions as to whether the documentation of sufficient funds is adequate for a particular international student offered admission shall be made by the Dean or the Dean’s designee.

Individuals previously, but not currently enrolled in another medical school

Applicants with prior enrollment at another medical school must reveal that enrollment as part of their AMCAS application. Once the AMCAS application is in a verified status and reviewed by admissions personnel, applicant must provide a transcript of courses and grades received at the previous medical school as well as a statement giving the reasons for not completing the curriculum there. A letter of evaluation from the administration of the prior school supporting the applicant’s reasons for not completing the curriculum and stating that the student would be eligible to return to that school must be received prior to consideration of the application.

Consideration of such an applicant is limited to those with compelling circumstances both for not completing the prior medical school and for desiring to enter the University of Louisville MD program. Admission with advanced standing would not ordinarily be considered in such a case.

Policy approved by the Admissions Committee 10/25/2022

The University of Louisville School of Medicine follows the Application and Acceptance Protocols established by the AAMC. More information on ULSOM specific policy is included below and will be sent to admitted students via email. Read more about the AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool

• Beginning February 20, applicants can select "Plan to Enroll" through the AMCAS CYMS tool.
• Beginning April 15, applicants holding more than three offers should narrow their acceptances to three and can continue to hold alternate list offers.
• Beginning April 30, accepted applicants can begin to select "Commit to Enroll" through the CYMS tool, indicating that the applicant has made a final selection and has withdrawn all other applications, if applicable, including alternate list spaces.
• All accepted students must Commit to Enroll or be withdrawn from our roster 21 days prior to orientation in July.

The University of Louisville School of Medicine Admissions office will consider requests for deferred admission based on special professional or personal circumstances. Written requests for deferral should be submitted as early as possible in the cycle of the year of expected entry but, barring emergent issues, no later than July 1st. Deferral requests are reviewed within the context of all relevant information, including, but not limited to, the date of deferral request, medical school application information and reason(s) for requesting deferral. Only in unusual circumstances will a request for deferring enrollment for more than one year be considered. A candidate who is unable to enroll in a given year and has not been granted a deferral must decline his or her offer of admission and reapply at a later date.

Successful deferral requests typically permit applicants to address unexpected personal issues or participate in time-limited, once-in-a-lifetime academic/service opportunities that will significantly enhance their medical education and training.

If granted, the deferred student is not permitted to subsequently apply to other medical schools and must update and submit their AMCAS file during the last year of the deferral to activate their admission to the upcoming class. No fee will be required for this update and submission.

Technical standards provide criteria against which candidates for admission, retention, promotion and graduation from the School of Medicine can be assessed as the faculty operating through its committees exercises its judgment in selecting, retaining, promoting and graduating students. The curriculum of the School of Medicine has been designed to provide a generic professional education leading to the MD degree and to prepare students to pursue any pathway of graduate medical education and enter the independent practice of medicine. Therefore, an avowed intention on the part of a candidate to ultimately practice in only a narrow portion of the spectrum of medicine does not obviate the requirement for the candidate’s full participation in the entire educational and training continuum. In evaluating candidates for admission, retention, promotion and graduation, it is essential that the integrity of the curriculum be maintained, that those elements deemed necessary for the education of a physician be preserved and that the health and safety of patients be maintained.
 
All candidates for admission must fulfill the minimum requirements for admission and all candidates for the MD degree must complete all required courses and clerkships pertaining to their year of enrollment. More information on the ULSOM technical standards may be found in the School of Medicine Bulletin.

CBC will be administered through AAMC on all applicants at the time of acceptance and on alternate applicants at the request of the Admissions Office. Applicants must consent, submit to and satisfactorily complete a criminal background check investigation as a condition of matriculation into ULSOM.

• Upon initial, conditional acceptance to ULSOM the AAMC selected company (Certiphi) will send an email notification to the applicant to obtain consent for the criminal record report to be conducted. In addition, the admissions office/AAMC may request that Certiphi send alternate list applicants an email notification to obtain consent for the criminal record report to be procured. If a report is conducted prior to conditional acceptance to ULSOM, the report will not be made available to ULSOM until the AAMC receives notice of the applicant’s conditional acceptance.
• Once consent has been provided, the AAMC selected vendor (Certiphi) will conduct a background check and produce a report. When the report is complete, the AAMC select vendor will send an email to the conditionally accepted applicant requesting that he/she review the report prior to its distribution. Upon receiving this email, the accepted applicant will have ten calendar days from the date the email is sent to review their report prior to it being made available to ULSOM. If they do not review this report or if there is no objection to the report, the report will be distributed after this period elapses.
• Omission of required information, including the failure to provide the consent, or submitting false or misleading information by the individual in any communication with ULSOM may result in withdrawal of conditional acceptance. False or misleading information discovered after matriculation could result in dismissal.
• Costs of the CBC will be incorporated into the AMCAS fee for College of Medicine applicants. All expenses associated with the CBC are to be the responsibility of the applicant/student. The conditional admission offer will not be considered final and enrollment will be withheld until completion of the background check, with results deemed acceptable by ULSOM. If the results of the background check(s) are not deemed acceptable by ULSOM, or if information received indicates that false or misleading statements were submitted, required information omitted, or the if applicant would not be permitted to participate in any portion of the curriculum, the conditional admission may be denied or rescinded.
• Confidentiality of CBC files will be will be maintained consistent with FERPA guidelines and stored separately from students’ permanent files.
• The Criminal Background Check will include all convictions and conviction-equivalent adjudications plus all arrests regardless of adjudication (including not guilty, dismissals, etc.) plus all arrests without final adjudication/felonies and misdemeanors. 

ULSOM believes that ethical and professional behaviors are the foundation of medicine and that professionalism begins on day one of medical school. More information on the ULSOM Honor Code for enrolled students may be found in the Medical Bulletin - Ethical and Professional Requirements.

What is your policy on letters of recommendation?

Guidelines for letters of recommendation may be found in the Application Process dropdown above on this page. 

All letters of recommendation for the University of Louisville School of Medicine must be submitted via the AMCAS letter service. This service enables all medical schools to receive all letters electronically via AMCAS and enables authors to send all letters to be considered by schools participating in this service to AMCAS rather than each school. There are several mediums in which a letter writer can send your letter to AMCAS. AMCAS will receive letters from users of VirtualEvals, Interfolio and via the mail. In addition, letter writers who currently mail can opt to upload letters directly to AMCAS through the Letter Writer Application

During the application process, there will a section on the AMCAS application that will ask you for your letter of recommendation information. Please consult the AMCAS - Questions About Letters of Evaluation for additional details.

What are the latest MCAT scores you accept?

We only accept MCAT scores from the last two years.

What do I need to do to notify the ULSOM if I plan to retake the MCAT?

The AMCAS website has a FAQ that will answer questions concerning this issue.

What are the application deadlines?

November 1 is the AMCAS application deadline for the University of Louisville School of Medicine. If you are eligible to receive a secondary application, it will be emailed to you after the admissions office receives a verified application from AMCAS. Our secondary application deadline is December 1. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, with acceptances beginning in mid-October. Interviews begin in August each admissions cycle.

Do you have early decision?

Yes, however, we accept very few students; the average is four per year. Applications are received June 1 through August 1.

Do I have to provide transcripts from all schools I've attended?

Once accepted, you must provide final official transcripts from all schools, even if you only took one or two courses there. Also, your degree must be posted on your final transcript. AMCAS does not forward your transcripts to medical schools.

Can students apply if they are currently enrolled in a graduate or professional degree granting program?

Students currently enrolled in a professional school or a degree granting graduate program must complete all degree requirements and show documentation of graduation or completion of requirements prior to matriculation.

What is the AAMC PREview Exam? Is it required to apply to ULSOM?

The AAMC PREview exam is recommended for all applicants to ULSOM. The AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam is designed to assess an applicant's understanding of professional readiness behavior across eight core competencies for entering medical school. Pre-professional competencies for entering medical students include service orientation, social skills, cultural competence, teamwork, ethical responsibility to self and others, resilience and adaptability, reliability and dependability, and capacity for improvement. More information about this exam, including how to prepare, register and understand your results, is available at the PREview website.

What are the premed requirements for application to ULSOM?

• Two (2) semesters of general biology with labs (no AP credit accepted)
• Two (2) semesters of general chemistry with labs
• Two (2) semesters of organic chemistry (labs optional)
• Two (2) semesters of physics with labs
• Two (2) semesters of English/literature or communication
• One (1) semester of biochemistry
• One (1) semester of statistics (recommended)

See the Application Process on this page for more details.

Do you accept AP/IB credit for premed requirements?

Yes, AP and IB credit is accepted to satisfy prerequisite course requirements, with the exception of biology. If lab credit was awarded through AP/IB credit by your institution, it must be explicitly stated on your transcript. If your undergraduate institution accepted AP or IB biology credit, two upper level biology courses with labs are required to fulfill prerequisite requirements. ULSOM will not accept CLEP credit for any prerequisite course work.

Do you accept writing intensive courses in place of the English/communication requirement?

One writing intensive course may be substituted toward the two-semester English requirement. Additionally, only one semester of AP/IB credit may be used toward the requirement, with one additional course required to be taken at the college level.

Are community college courses acceptable? What about online courses?

Yes, community college credit as well as college credit taken online is accepted, provided that is is awarded from an accredited college or university. See the UofL Transfer Credit Policy on this page for more information. 

Can I apply to medical school if I have not completed all of my prerequisite course work?

You may apply prior to completing your prerequisite coursework. However, all prerequisite course work must be completed prior to matriculation, if admitted.

What are the tuition rates for the current school year?

Approximately 90% of all UofL medical students need assistance or utilize the Office of Financial Aid services to help finance their medical education. 

Who do I contact for information about receiving financial aid?

Contact the School of Medicine Student Financial Aid Office at 502-852-5187.

How do I apply for scholarships?

There is no application process to be considered for UofL School of Medicine academic scholarships beyond the details in your primary and secondary applications. Everyone who is accepted will be considered and notified if they have been selected for a scholarship. You may also review a listing of outside scholarships available on the medical student financial aid website.

Does the UofL School of Medicine offer dual degrees?
Dual degrees are available to combine your MD with expertise in another discipline, including MD/PhD, MD/MBA and MD/MA in medical ethics programs. Admission to a dual degree program is contingent upon admission to the MD program. These programs are designed to broaden your expertise and prepare you to make a lasting impact as a physician, scientist, leader or advocate for change in health care. Contact medadm@louisville.edu for more information about applying to a dual degree program.