Application Process

Congratulations for all you have accomplished to reach this stage in your journey toward a career in medicine!

Please review the information in this section carefully before beginning your application to UND's School of Medicine & Health Sciences. If you have questions, contact the Office of Student Affairs & Admissions.

How to Apply

Step 1: Complete the AMCAS Application

UND SMHS uses the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the centralized, web-based, application service that allows applicants to complete and submit one primary application to multiple schools. Applicants are asked to meet the following AMCAS deadlines in order to be considered for admission into UND SMHS:

• Submission of AMCAS Application: October 18, 2024 (by 11:59 p.m., EST). You can submit your AMCAS application without all or some of your letters and without your final MCAT score by the October 18, 2024 deadline, and we will send you a secondary application. Anyone who submits an AMCAS application to UND SMHS will receive a secondary application.
• Submission of transcripts to AMCAS: October 31, 2024 (by 11:59 p.m., EST)
• Receipt of Secondary Application, MCAT scores and all Letters of Recommendation: November 1, 2024 (by 11:59 p.m., EST). Incomplete applications will not be considered for admissions.

Please note all deadlines are in Eastern Standard Time zone. Applicants who do not meet the above deadlines will not be considered for admissions into UND SMHS. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible in case any issues arise that need to be addressed prior to the deadline. AMCAS can take six to eight weeks to process and verify your application before we receive it.

Step 2: Submit the Secondary Application and Fee

Starting in July, secondary applications are sent via e-mail to all applicants who submit an AMCAS application to UND SMHS. We do not pre-screen for secondary invitations; applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Applicant Eligibility and Selection Criteria before applying.

Applicants are asked to meet the following Secondary Application deadlines to be considered for admission into UND SMHS:

• Submission of Secondary Application: Nov. 1, 2024
• Submission of a $50 non-refundable secondary application fee: November 1, 2024. (The fee is waived for those individuals who qualified and participated in the AAMC fee assistance program.)

Applicants who do not meet the above deadlines will not be considered for admissions into UND SMHS. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible in case any issues arise that need to be addressed prior to the deadline.

Note that you will need to copy and paste the answers into the Secondary Application Portal once you receive it.

Notice of Changes to Secondary Application

On the secondary application, you have the opportunity to address any changes or additions you would like to have considered in your application. However, once you have submitted the Secondary Application, you will not be able to make any changes to it. It is final. No changes can be made to any part of the primary or secondary application. If you have the opportunity to interview, you may correct the information within the interview.

Step 3: Submit Letters of Recommendation

Letters must be submitted by November 1, 2024 through the AMCAS Letter Service. The UND SMHS cannot accept letters not submitted through AMCAS.

UND SMHS requires three letters of recommendation. We suggest acquiring letters from a diverse group of people (college instructors, faculty, supervisors, etc.) who know you well and can address the personal characteristics noted in the section on Selection Criteria. Non-traditional applicants who have been out of school for several years may choose to include more letters from supervisors than faculty.

Choose one of the following options to satisfy the letters of recommendation requirement:

• Option 1: Submit three Individual Letters of recommendation. If you submit more than three letters, only the first three will be forwarded to the Medical School Admissions Committee. OR
• Option 2: A Committee Letter (which we count as equivalent to two letters of evaluation) ANDone Individual Letter of recommendation, which is not part of your Committee Letter.
  • A Committee Letter, regardless of how many additional letters it contains, counts as only two letters of recommendation. In order to meet the requirement of three letters of recommendation, you must submit one more individual letter. For many applicants, this final letter is from a supervisor.

  Types of letters as defined by AMCAS:

  • A Committee Letter is a letter authored by a pre-health committee or pre-health advisor and intended to represent your institution’s evaluation of you. A Committee Letter may or may not include additional letters written in support of your application.
  • A Letter Packet is a packet or set of letters assembled and distributed by your institution, often by the institution’s career center. A Letter Packet may include a cover sheet from your pre-health committee or advisor; however, in contrast to a Committee Letter, a Letter Packet does not include an evaluative letter from your pre-health committee or advisor.
  • An Individual Letter refers to a letter authored by, and representing, a single letter writer.

  Any applications that do not have the required minimum of three letters submitted through the AMCAS letter service by the November 1, 2024 deadline will be considered incomplete and withdrawn from consideration.

  Any applications that include only a Committee Letter, regardless of the contents of the Committee Letter, at the deadline will be considered incomplete at two letters and withdrawn from consideration. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you have the right number and types of letters submitted.

  What if I have more than three letters of recommendation?

  The Admissions committee will only review the first three letters submitted. Committee Letters always counts as two letters, no matter the number of letters attached. An additional letter submission would be required to meet the three-letter requirement. Letter packets count as all three required letters of recommendation. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify the correct letter type is selected for the letters of recommendation submitted.

  Step 4: Complete Your Application

  Your application will be forwarded to the Committee for review only after it is fully completed. The Committee receives completed applications, and interviews are scheduled on a rolling basis. There are a limited number of interviews available.

  The FIRM deadline for completed applications is November 1, 2024. The absence of any required material will lead the Committee to consider the application as incomplete and will prevent consideration of the application. An application is complete after the following credentials have been submitted:

  • Verified AMCAS application and transcripts
  • MCAT Scores that are no older than 3 years as of January 1st of current application year
  • Secondary Application and Fee
  • Letters of Recommendation

  IMPORTANT: When we have received all the required application materials, you will receive an email notifying you that your application is complete. If you do not receive this email, it means that your application is incomplete. The Office is unable to assume responsibility for notifying applicants of missing credentials. If you have any concerns about the completeness of your application, contact the Office before the deadline. If you contact us after the deadline to inquire about an incomplete application, it will be too late to change the status of your application.

  PLEASE NOTE: To have a fair and equitable process for all applicants, we are unable to accept additional information from any applicant. If you have updates or corrections to your submitted materials, you may address that in the Secondary Application or at the time of the interview if you are offered that opportunity.

  • Timeline
  • Interviews
  • Admissions Decisions

  Timeline ( Open this section)

  Timeline

  • May 2024: The AMCAS application can be electronically accessed by prospective applicants.
  • July 2024: AMCAS begins transmitting applications to UND SMHS. The Admissions Office begins sending secondary applications to AMCAS applicants until the November deadline.
  • September 2024: Completed applications are reviewed and interview invitations are sent to qualified applicants on a rolling basis (through December).
  • October 18, 2024: Deadline for submission of the AMCAS application (by 11:59 p.m. EST). Interviews begin on select weekends.
  • October 31, 2024: Last date to submit transcripts to AMCAS (by 11:59 p.m. EST).
  • November 1, 2024: Deadline for receipt of secondary application, secondary fee payment, and all admissions materials (by 11:59 p.m. EST).
  • December 2024: Review of applications completed, and final interviews scheduled.
  • January 2025: Interviews completed in January, and all applicants notified of admissions decisions by the end of the month.
  • February 2025: Waitlisted applicants updated (through June). "Plan to Enroll" option in AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tools for accepted students becomes available. UND SMHS highly encourages students to utilize this tool.
  • April 2025: The AAMC Application and Acceptance Protocols recommends applicants holding multiple acceptances narrow their choices to a maximum of three medical schools in AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tools.
  • May 2025: "Commit to Enroll" option in AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tools for accepted applicants becomes available. UND SMHS highly recommends that you use this tool when you are ready to commit to UND SMHS and are withdrawing your applications from consideration at other medical schools.
  • May 15, 2025: Accepted applicants at UND SMHS are required to select the "Commit to Enroll" option in AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tools. Failure to do so may result in the rescinding of the admissions offer.
  • June 30, 2025: Intro to Medicine Week and first day of classes.

  Application Review Process

  The first step in the process is to review an applicant's primary and secondary applications to determine if our residency requirement is met (for more information, visit Applicant Eligibility.) Next, starting at the beginning of September 2024, the Admissions Committee members will thoroughly review all completed applications that meet the residency preferences.

  Interviews ( Open this section)

  Interviews

  Scheduling Interviews

  • All interviews are virtual to help keep the costs down for applicants and provide equity for all interviews.
  • The Medical Student Admissions Committee reviews applications and offers interviews as applications are reviewed. Interviews are held on specific Fridays and Saturdays in October 2024 through January 2025 and the number of interview spots is limited.
  • Applicants will be notified of the invitation to interview via email with instructions on how to schedule an interview. It is expected that applicants will schedule an interview within two to three business days to assure a timely scheduling of interviews. Please check your junk and spam folders often. It is the applicant's responsibility to respond in a timely manner.
  • At least a week prior to the interview you will receive an email with details of the interview day.

  What to Expect on Interview Day

  • All interviews are in Central Time, be sure to schedule appropriately.
  • Applicants are asked to check-in at least ten minutes early for their virtual interview.
  • Admissions staff will be available to provide information and answer any questions you may have. They will check you in by asking for your photo ID and taking a picture of you.
  • There will be a Medical Student Q & A at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm on Fridays for Friday interviews and 11:30 am - 12:30 pm on Saturdays for Saturday interviews. You will receive the link with your interview information. If you are unable to make it to your interview day's Q & A, reach out to saa@UND.edu and we will get you the link for another day.
  • The interview team consists of three Medical Student Admissions Committee members: a basic scientist, a clinician, and a medical student. One team member will be the lead interviewer; all members, however, will ask questions in turn.
  • The interview is expected to last 45-60 minutes.

  Admissions Decisions ( Open this section)

  Admissions Decisions

  Medical Student Admissions Committee

  Recognizing the importance of diversity, dedication, and altruism, we are dedicated to the holistic process for all medical school applicants. Each applicant is considered on their own merit, not only with regard to the academic preparation required for the rigors of medical school but also the characteristics and qualities needed to succeed in this unique patient-centered learning environment and ultimately to be an excellent physician.

  Composition of the Medical Student Admissions Committee

  The Medical Student Admissions Committee is comprised of hardworking and dedicated individuals from across the state of North Dakota. The 18-member Committee is made up of basic scientists, clinicians and medical students who are either elected by their peers or appointed by the medical school dean.

  Offers of Acceptance

  Acceptances will be offered via email. Applicants who meet certain selection criteria will be offered acceptance on a rolling basis throughout the interview process; all other applicants will be notified soon after all interviews are completed in January 2025.

  Accepted students between October 2024 and April 30th, 2025 must respond within four weeks of initial admissions offer to accept or reject the offer. Accepted students after April 30th, 2025 must respond within 5 days of the acceptance offer.

  Accepted applicants at UND SMHS are required to select the "Commit to Enroll" option in AMCAS and withdraw their applications from other schoolsby May 15, 2025. Failure to do so may result in the rescinding of the acceptance offer.

  Failure to meet the above requirements may lead to rescinding the acceptance offer.

  Reapplication Policy

  Unsuccessful applicants may reapply by repeating the application process described above. Applicants who applied to UND SMHS and were not admitted may request feedback from the Office of Student Affairs & Admissions to identify ways they can significantly improve their applications before reapplying. There is no limit to the number of times an applicant can reapply.

  Technical Standards

  Potential and actual applicants are encouraged to review the Technical Standards of Capacity for the Medical Doctor program at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences.