Is there a preferred undergraduate major for pre- med?
No. It is most important, however, that you do well in your premed prerequisite courses. Many applicants have majors in biology (about 40%) or possibly biochemistry (about 10%).

After I have completed the premed courses, should I take additional science courses, or expand my liberal arts background?
If you have had trouble in the science courses, it might be wise to strengthen your background in this area by taking additional courses. It is also beneficial for you to have an adequate background in medically related biology courses prior to entering medical school. Otherwise, you should take courses that are of interest to you and will broaden your general education. Most important, if you are in doubt about what you should take, seek advice from the Office of Admissions or someone capable of counseling you on such matters.

Will a graduate degree enhance my chances of admission?
In general, more emphasis is placed on undergraduate performance in science courses than in graduate courses. Rejected applicants are not encouraged to obtain a graduate degree for the purpose of enhancing their chances of admission unless the program is leading toward an alternative career goal.

When should I take the MCAT?
Applicants are generally advised to take the MCAT in the spring of their junior year. If not taken at that time, the exam should be taken in August of the same calendar year. Early Decision Program applicants must take the examination no later than April of the year of application.

What level of GPA and MCAT scores is considered acceptable?
There are no absolute lower limits on grades or MCAT scores that will completely disqualify you from consideration for admission nor are there upper levels that would insure your admission. However, your chances for admission with a GPA less than 2.8-3.0 and/or a total MCAT score less than 20-21 are extremely low. This is especially true if there are a significant number of individual course grades of C or less than C and if scores on individual portions of the MCAT exam are less than 7. In considering GPAs, grade trends are taken into consideration as well as the academic reputation of the institution at which the grades were achieved. Applicants accepted into medical school for the class beginning in 2002 had an average GPA of about 3.5 and average MCAT scores of 8.8 in verbal reasoning, 8.8 in the physical sciences and 9.5 in the biological sciences. The Office of Admissions may choose not to send a supplemental application nor to invite an applicant for interviews if the applicant’s GPA and/or total MCAT score preclude acceptance.

If I have worked or participated in extracurricular activities while going to school, will this enhance my chances of admission?
Participation in extracurricular or community activities while attending school indicates to the committee that you have a sense of community responsibility. This participation and a description of these activities is an essential part of a total application to medical school. A competitive GPA and total MCAT score, as described before, is also necessary.

Will working in a health-related area enhance my chances of gaining admission?
Participation in some type of clinically related activity is an additional essential aspect of an application to medical school. Such participation can allow an applicant to prove to himself or herself and demonstrate to the Committee on Admissions that medicine is the area in which the applicant wishes to study and work. Again, a competitive GPA and total MCAT score is also necessary as part of a complete application.

What will I be asked in my interviews?
Each interviewer has his/her own distinctive interview style. However, most will be interested in determining your maturity, motivation for the study of medicine, problem-solving skills, ability to relate to people, and ability to express your ideas in an organized manner. Most interviewers also expect you to know something about current social, economic, moral, and ethical issues in medicine, especially as they relate to New Mexico.

What influence will my age, ethnic background, and gender have on my chances of admission?
This school is in compliance with federal regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of age, ethnic background, or gender.

What influence will my financial status have on my chances of admission?
Financial status is not a consideration in selecting students for admission to medical school. It is expected, however, that you will have considered in advance the manner in which you intend to finance your medical education.

When should I apply and when will I hear whether I have been accepted?
The earliest an application can be submitted to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is June 1 for students applying to enter the following year. The following AMCAS web site: http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm should be used by all applicants for the medical school class beginning in 2003. These applicants will apply through the web using an electronic web application. It is necessary to file an application in the summer or early fall of the year prior to entry. Notification letters are normally sent to EDP applicants by 1 October and regular applicants by 15 March.

What is the Early Decision Program?
The Early Decision Program (EDP) permits an applicant to file a single application with the medical school of his/her choice prior to 1 August. The applicant signs an agreement to attend that school, if offered a position. Decisions are announced by 1 October of the year prior to entry.
Should I apply through the Early Decision Program of The University of New Mexico School of Medicine?
You should apply through the Early Decision Program only if you rate UNM your first choice of schools and have taken the MCAT no later than April of the year in which you intend to apply. If you are a WICHE or nonresident applicant, you MUST apply through this program to receive consideration.

How many applicants are accepted under the Early Decision Program?
Approximately 25-35% of the positions in each class are filled with Early Decision Program applicants. Those applicants who are not accepted for the Early Decision Program are normally deferred for consideration with the rest of the applicant pool. Upon notification of rejection or deferred status, EDP applicants may then apply to other medical schools.

Can I be admitted to medical school after my junior year in a college or university?
Students with outstanding academic records are considered for admission after the junior year. Very few are actually admitted. The last several years, all accepted applicants have earned at least a Bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to finish any degree programs they have begun prior to possible medical school matriculation. PhD, MS or MPH candidates in the University of New Mexico School of Medicine Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program or Pharm D candidates in the College of Pharmacy are not eligible for matriculation to the MD degree program until they have completed the respective degrees. This is also true for students pursuing BS and MS degree programs in The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.

Who is on the Admissions Committee and how are decisions made?
There are currently 12 UNM School of Medicine faculty members, 10 full-time and 2 part time, and 4 community physicians on the committee. Each completed application is reviewed individually by committee members and given a numerical ranking from 1 to 7 based on information in the file. Individual rankings are summed and converted into a percent of possible score. Applicants are discussed in groups of 15-20 by the entire committee and placed in one of three categories based on a majority vote of the committee: A* = accept pool, A-pool = acceptable applicant pool and R = reject pool. Unfortunately, many applicants in the A* or A-pool cannot be accepted because of space limitations.

How are the MCAT scores, grades, recommendations, interviews, and other parts of the application weighted by the Committee on Admissions?
All are carefully considered but not specifically weighted.

What other factors are considered in making admission decisions?
The medical school is cognizant of the cultural diversity of the State's population and the faculty has had a long time commitment to recruit and educate individuals from ethnic groups who are currently underrepresented in the medical profession. The medical school also feels that it has an obligation to help meet the physician manpower needs of the State by selection of students who are likely to train in specialty areas of current need and to remain in or return to the areas in New Mexico needing physicians.

Is there a required ratio of out-of-state to in-state students accepted?
No. However, in the past two years over 97% of accepted applicants have been from New Mexico. Seven nonresident applicants (from non-WICHE states) have been accepted and matriculated at The University of New Mexico School of Medicine in the classes beginning in 1997 through 2002.

If I have just moved to New Mexico, how can I qualify for consideration as a State resident?
To be considered a resident for purposes of admission to medical school, you must have physically resided in New Mexico for at least one year prior to the date of application to the medical school. Other evidence of residency such as car, or voter registration is also required. The university sets residency requirements for tuition purposes. Please note that you may be defined as a nonresident of New Mexico for tuition purposes if you are listed as a dependent on a parental tax return and your parents are residents in another state.

If I am a foreign national, can I be considered for admission to the medical school?
Foreign nationals must be permanent residents of the United States and qualify for New Mexico residency to receive consideration for admission.
If I am not currently a resident of New Mexico, do I have any chance of admission to this medical school?
Nonresident applicants must apply through the Early Decision Program to receive any consideration for admission. In the past two years over 97% of accepted applicants have been from New Mexico. Seven nonresident applicants (from non-WICHE states) have been accepted and matriculated at The University of New Mexico School of Medicine in the classes beginning in 1997 through 2002.

What should I do if I am rejected?
You may call or make an appointment to see the Assistant Dean for Admissions to explore how you might improve your application.

If I am not admitted this year, are my chances better next year?
Only if you improve those areas of your application that resulted in a previous rejection. Failure to gain admission will in no way prejudice consideration of your application in subsequent years by the Committee on Admissions.