Application Process

From the very beginning of the application process, WMed uses a holistic review that incorporates the breadth and depth of life experiences and skills, personal attributes and characteristics, and academic metrics. Our program is focused on teamwork and our selection process helps build student teams with life experiences, diversity, and attributes that will enable all of our students to fulfill their full potential.

Our process uses the Experience-Attributes-Metrics (E-A-M) Model to screen, interview, and select applicants who fit our institution.

Experiences

Tell us your story. You bring a unique set of premedical experiences and passions, and we want to know about them. We’re looking for students who bring broad personal interests and experiences in:

  • Extracurricular activities
  • Medical settings
  • Community and volunteer settings
  • Team settings demonstrating leadership and collaboration
  • Working with a diversity of individuals and cultures

Attributes

We’re seeking leaders with the personal attributes and characteristics to excel as physicians, and who:

  • Are team players
  • Can problem solve
  • Demonstrate compassion and empathy
  • Are committed to serving others
  • Have strong oral and written communication skills
  • Make decisions with integrity

Metrics

A strong academic foundation is required for success in medical school and in a career in medicine. We look at both your GPA and MCAT score to assess your academic readiness for medical school.

  • A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required.
    • We will review applications with an upward trend.
  • A minimum MCAT of 499 is required.
    • The oldest MCAT considered for 2025 Matriculation is January 2022.
    • If you have taken the MCAT more than one time, the most recent score will be used for consideration.

In order to be considered for admission to WMed, applicants must go through the following steps: 

Step 1: AMCAS Application

WMed participates in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). To submit an application, visit AMCAS to complete your primary application.

  • Recommended Coursework

    WMed no longer has specific prerequisite courses. To be well prepared, we recommend applicants complete a broad base of coursework in the Humanities and Social Sciences (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, etc) as well as upper division hard science coursework in:

    • Biochemistry
    • Genetics
    • Human Anatomy
    • Human Physiology
    • Immunology
    • Statistics


    It is anticipated that applicants will have completed the foundational science coursework that is required by their undergraduate institution to enroll in these upper division courses. Additional undergraduate-level coursework is recommended to prepare the applicant with breadth and depth of knowledge and skills. While selecting a major in the sciences is not required, we encourage significant experience in upper-division coursework in rigorous academic settings.

  • Applicant Requirements

    Applicants are encouraged to gain a strong pre-medical foundation to be best prepared for medical school and throughout their careers. To be considered for admission at WMed, applicants must have:

    • A minimum overall GPA of 3.0. 
      • We will review applications with an upward trend.
    • A minimum MCAT of 499, within the last three years. 
      • If you’ve taken the MCAT multiple times, the most recent of the scores will be considered.
    • Earned, or anticipate earning before matriculation, a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by a regional accreditor that is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
    • At least 90 hours of course work for the bachelor’s degree must be at an institution accredited by a regional accreditor that is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
    • U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status.
    • Taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) within three years (the oldest MCAT accepted for 2025 matriculation is January 1, 2022). 
    • Proficiency in keyboarding, and in written and spoken English.
  • Letters of Reference

    Applicants must submit a minimum of three and no more than four letters of reference through the AMCAS Letters Service. Letters must come from individuals with firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s qualifications, skills, attributes and values by direct observation and who can comment on academic achievement as well as personal qualities including work ethic and motivation for a medical career. Two of the letters are recommended to be from faculty members who have been the applicant's undergraduate or graduate instructors or mentors, or employment supervisors in the case of non-traditional applicants. If students apply from a university that provides a composite letter from a premedical advisory program, the composite letter will be accepted in lieu of the two letters recommended from faculty. WMed expects that students will waive their right to view these letters.

    You should follow the instructions for letters of reference that is provided by AMCAS. The Letters of Evaluation Working Group has released Letters of Evaluation Guidelines that aim to improve the letter writing process in order to benefit both letter writers and admissions committees. The guidelines are organized into two sections that describe (1) tips about how to write a letter and (2) key areas of interest to medical schools.

    The WMed Admissions Committee evaluates letters of reference for the following elements. It is not expected that any applicant will excel in each of these elements, but most applicants will demonstrate strengths in many of these elements. The first six elements ask for evidence, the writer should use examples that they have observed or have personal knowledge of what you have accomplished. The last five elements address attributes, the writer should address your personal qualities based on their observations or personal knowledge of you.

    Evidence
    • Evidence of cognitive readiness
    • Evidence of integrity and ethics
    • Evidence of teamwork and collaboration skills
    • Evidence of leadership skills
    • Evidence of initiative and drive to be extraordinary
    • Evidence of commitment to excellence

    Attributes
    • Commitment to the profession of medicine
    • Degree of enthusiasm of referee reference
    • Teamwork
    • Leadership
    • Problem-solving


    We strongly advise that you provide this list to the individuals who are writing your letters of reference to WMed so that they can address all of your strengths as reflected in this list.

  • Technical Standards for Completion of the Medical Curriculum

    WMed is committed to diversity.  The WMed community actively collaborates to support a safe and inclusive environment. To this end, WMed provides reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities via the Office of Student Affairs and the Accommodations Committee.

    The faculty at WMed believe that earning a Doctor of Medicine degree requires mastery of a coherent body of knowledge and skills as well as the ability to integrate, synthesize, and apply such knowledge and skills in a broad-based practice. Graduates are prepared to excel in any chosen specialty field. Accordingly, every medical student must complete all aspects of the curriculum and achieve all the competencies as determined by the faculty, with or without reasonable accommodation. The WMed MD degree affirms that any recipient holds the general knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and the capacity to enter residency training and qualify for medical licensure. Medical students must acquire substantial competence in several areas throughout their medical education, including understanding and appreciating the principles and practices of several fields of basic medical science and clinical medicine, and have the abilities and characteristics to relate to patients, families, and other health care professionals compassionately and comprehensively.

    In conjunction with the academic standards, the following technical standards are requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation. The Technical Standards at WMed include essential academic and non-academic abilities, attributes, and characteristics in the areas of:

    1. Cognitive abilities
    2. Observation
    3. Motor
    4. Communication
    5. Behavioral and Social attributes
    6. Ethics and Professionalism


    Applicants and students must continually meet the following technical standards for admission, advancement, and graduation, and must review and sign the technical standards at the start of each academic year and when they return from a leave of absence. Accommodations granted by the Accommodations Committee may be applied to achieve the following technical standards. The process for requesting an accommodation is detailed in policy UME 710

    1. Cognitive Abilities
      1. Possess and demonstrate the analytical, conceptual, integrative, quantitative, and reasoning skills that are needed to assimilate and integrate large volumes of information from diverse sources.
      2. Apply the skills outlined in 1a independently and in a timely manner to solve medical problems to deliver appropriate patient care.
      3. Comprehend, understand, and adapt to different educational environments and learning modalities.
      4. Capacity to demonstrate sound judgment in patient assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic planning.
         
    2. Observation
      1. Collect, use, and interpret information from demonstrations, from diagnostic and assessment procedures and tools, and from all other modes of patient assessment in the context of laboratory studies, medication administration, radiologic studies, and all other patient care activities (candidates must be able to document these observations and maintain accurate records).
         
    3. Motor
      1. Demonstrate the physical capacity to perform physical examinations and diagnostic interventions on patients in accordance with currently acceptable medical practice.
      2. Demonstrate sufficient motor movements required to provide general care to patients and provide (or if appropriate, direct the provision) of emergency medical care.
      3. Demonstrate adequate physical stamina and energy to perform taxing duties over long hours.
      4. Possess the ability to comply with all safety standards in all clinical settings, including but not limited to universal precautions.
      5. Be capable of moving within and between clinical treatment environments without compromising the safety of patients, members of the healthcare team, or others.
         
    4. Communication
      1. Communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, their families, health care personnel, colleagues, faculty, staff, and all other individuals with whom they come in contact.
      2. Obtain a medical history in a timely fashion, interpret non-verbal aspects of communication, and establish therapeutic relationships with patients.
      3. Record information accurately and clearly; and communicate effectively and efficiently in English with other health care professionals in a variety of patient settings. 
      4. Communicate with, examine, and provide care for all patients, without discrimination or bias.
         
    5. Behavioral and Social Attributes
      1. Display mature and respectful interactions with patients and with members of the medical school community and health care teams.
      2. Contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments; accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes.
      3. Demonstrate emotional maturity and stability to manage stressful and demanding workloads.
      4. Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn in the face of the uncertainty inherent to the clinical problems of many patients and clinical settings.
      5. Demonstrate the emotional maturity and stability required for full utilization of intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, responsibility for behavior, the prompt completion of all responsibilities, attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, fellow students, faculty, and staff.
         
    6. Ethics and Professionalism
      1. Model professionalism and a professional demeanor consistent with WMed’s Code of Professional Conduct and Educational Pledge.
      2. Adhere to the WMed Student Guidelines for Dress and Appearance (see policy UME517).
      3. Consistently appreciate and preserve patient confidentiality.
      4. Maintain sobriety in all academic and clinical environments.
      5. Abide by local, state, and federal laws, as well as all WMed policies.
      6. Maintain and display ethical and moral behaviors commensurate with the role of a physician in all interactions with patients, faculty, staff, students, and the public. These include but are not limited to integrity, ethics, responsibility, accountability, compassion, empathy, tolerance, responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest, respect for others, commitment to excellence, and motivation.
      7. Understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within the law and ethical standards of the medical profession.


    WMed welcomes candidates with disabilities who may need accommodations. Consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended 2010, and Michigan law, the school of medicine does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Students seeking accommodation should utilize the technical standards in guiding a request for accommodations and shall follow the process indicated in policy UME 710. Candidates with questions about the technical standards, reasonable accommodations, or the accommodations process may email the Director of Student Life and Well-Being at accommodations@wmed.edu for a confidential consultation. Timely disclosure and requests for accommodations by students are essential and encouraged as accommodations are not applied retroactively.

    Prior to matriculation, a candidate must attest that they have read the school’s technical standards and to the best of their knowledge can meet them with or without reasonable accommodation.

  • Disability Accommodations

    Disability is an important aspect of diversity and WMed welcomes candidates with disabilities who may need accommodations.  Those with questions about the technical standards, reasonable accommodations, or the accommodations process may email the Director of Student Life and Well-Being at accommodations@wmed.edu for a confidential consultation. 

    Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Michigan law, the school of medicine does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Applicants and students seeking accommodation should utilize the technical standards in guiding a request for accommodations and shall follow the process indicated in policy UME 710.  Timely disclosure and requests for accommodations by students are essential and encouraged as accommodations are not applied retroactively. Prior to matriculation, a candidate must attest that they have read the school’s technical standards and to the best of their knowledge can meet them with or without reasonable accommodation.

  • Transfer Students and Transfer Credit
    Our highly integrated curriculum blends the basic sciences with clinical sciences throughout all four years. The differences in curricula do not enable advanced placement of medical students from other medical schools. WMed does not consider transfer requests.

Step 2: Supplemental Application

After an initial review, candidates who have earned a 3.0 GPA and 499 MCAT are invited via email to complete our supplemental application. A unique username and password are provided to each applicant. The supplemental application has three required components and is completed online. The deadline for submission of all components of the supplemental application is January 10, 2025.

  • Essay Questions

    The supplemental application includes five essay questions. Two are required, one is only for WMed re-applicants, and two are optional. Each question has a 2,000 character limit. 

    1. Please explain both of the following: 1) The specific reason(s) you have chosen to apply to WMed and 2) how you will utilize the unique features of WMed's mission, vision, and curriculum to achieve your career goals.

    2. Describe how you add to the cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the medical profession and what you bring to the practice of medicine - your values, skills, talents, and life experiences.

    3. WMed Re-Applicants Only: Describe the changes to your application from previous cycles - include academics, experiences, and/or personal attributes.

    4. Optional: Please explain any connection you have to Southwest Michigan.

    5. Optional: Is there any additional information not included elsewhere in your application you would like the admissions committee to know?

    This section of the supplemental application is not timed. You can work on your responses offline and then submit your essay responses when you are ready.

  • Online Assessment
    The online assessment is unique to WMed. We use this assessment to give us more information about your personal attributes. It includes approximately 50 multiple choice questions and you have 30 seconds to respond to each question. The questions are straight-forward and no preparation is needed or recommended. Your supplemental application is not considered complete until both the essays and online assessment are submitted.
  • Application Fee
    The fee for the supplemental application is $100.00. The fee is submitted prior to completing the other components of the supplemental application. If you have qualified for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program, your WMed supplemental application fee will automatically be waived. 

Step 3: Experiences Review

Select candidates move next to the experiences review where we review your pre-medical experiences, essays, and application materials.

Step 4: Phone Interview

We have designed a telephone interview to help us learn more about your personal attributes. This is not an interview you can study for and isn’t designed to test your medical or scientific knowledge. This step is unique to WMed and is designed to help us learn more about your personal attributes.

Step 5: Virtual Interview Day

Approximately 450 applicants will be invited to participate in a Virtual Interview Day. All interviews will be conducted virtually. Virtual Interview Days will begin in early October and updates will be posted here and in the AAMC MSAR as they are finalized. Candidates will receive detailed instructions via email.

Step 6: Post-Interview Decision

Within four weeks of the completion of a virtual interview, admissions decisions will be communicated on a rolling basis.

Step 7: Acceptance and Enrollment Commitment

Rather than requiring a monetary seat deposit, WMed utilizes a commitment letter to reserve your seat in each class. We also utilize the Choose Your Medical School tool to finalize the class in the spring. 

  • Matriculation Requirements

    All offers of admission are conditional upon satisfactory review of the following prior to matriculation:

    • Confirmation of a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by a regional accreditor that is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
    • Criminal background check.
    • Evidence of health insurance. Health insurance that provides coverage for preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic health services is required of all students throughout medical school. Students may satisfy the medical school health insurance requirement using the government healthcare exchange, Medicaid insurance, private health insurance under a parent/spouse/partner plan, or a separate individual/family health insurance plan.
    • Completed health forms and required immunizations.
    • Alcohol and controlled substances testing. All applicants are required to undergo testing during orientation for alcohol and controlled substances. WMed students are not permitted to use controlled substances without a prescription, or abuse alcohol. Learn more in the WMed Student Policy Manual.
  • Required Immunizations

    Required immunizations and tests are based on CDC guidelines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Immunization of health-care personnel. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2011;60(RR-7):1-45). The required immunizations include:

    SARS-CoV-2: Covid-19 vaccination and boosters are preferred but not required for students; however, it may be a requirement of other organizations hosting the student.

    Hepatitis B: All students must have written documentation of three doses of hepatitis B vaccine or laboratory evidence of immunity (e.g., anti-HBs). Laboratory testing is not performed for students who have received three doses but were not tested one to two months after the third dose. These students are tested for anti-HBs following an exposure to blood or body fluids. Students who have not yet completed the series should receive the necessary doses and be tested for anti-HBs to document immunity one to two months after the third dose. Students who are non-immune after the primary vaccination series should be revaccinated with a second complete three-dose series, followed by antibody testing one to two months after the third dose.

    Influenza: All students must have annual influenza vaccination, which is administered in the fall of each year during which the student is enrolled.

    Measles, Mumps, Rubella: All students must have written documentation of either two doses of MMR vaccine or laboratory evidence of immunity (e.g., measles, mumps and rubella titers). Students who have written documentation of two doses of MMR who are tested and have negative or equivocal serologic results for immunity for MMR are considered to have presumptive evidence of immunity and are not in need of additional MMR doses.

    Meningococcus: All students must have written documentation of at least one dose of meningococcus vaccine as proof of vaccination to meningococcal disease.

    Tetanus/Pertussis: All students must have written documentation of immunization of a Tdap at any age, and Tdap or Td within 10 years. All students should receive a single dose of Tdap as soon as feasible if they have not previously received Tdap and regardless of the time since their most recent Td vaccination. Students who have received Tdap should receive Td every 10 years as booster vaccinations against tetanus and pertussis.

    Tuberculin Testing: A QuantiFERON Gold TB test is required of matriculating students, followed by annual TB surveillance questionnaires and TB testing as needed. If the QuantiFERON Gold test is positive, a chest x-ray and follow-up consultation with Occupational Health & Infection Control is required. For matriculating students, if the most recent documented QuantiFERON Gold test was within 6 months, a TB surveillance questionnaire is completed. All students with history of tuberculosis require follow-up consultation with Occupational Health and Infection Control for continuing management. Additional TB testing may be required as necessary.

    Varicella (Chickenpox): All students must have written documentation of two doses of varicella vaccine at least 28 days apart, or laboratory evidence of immunity (e.g., a varicella titer), diagnosis or verification of a history of varicella disease by a health care provider, or diagnosis or verification of a history of herpes zoster by a health care provider. Students without acceptable documentation should receive two doses of varicella vaccine at least 28 days apart.

  • Drug Testing

    Alcohol and Controlled Substances

    WMed is committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of its students, staff, and patients. To carry out this commitment, we seek to assure that a drug-free workplace is maintained and that students perform their duties unimpaired by the effects of alcohol and controlled substances (including cannabis). The medical school does not admit or enroll students who: abuse alcohol, as evidenced by binge drinking, public intoxication, and other signs of excessive use; use controlled substances without a prescription; use illegal drugs; use cannabis or cannabinoids in any form, with or without a prescription or registration card; or have a substance dependence. All applicants who accept an offer of admission are required to undergo testing prior to matriculation or during the Transition to Medical School course for alcohol, and controlled substances. Applicants/students who test positive on the initial test may request a second test.

    Applicants who refuse to be tested, and applicants whose initial and second test results are positive and who do not have an appropriate prescription, are in violation of this policy, will have their admission rescinded, and will not be permitted to re-apply for admission for one year.

Important Dates

January 1, 2022 to September 2024: We accept MCAT scores within three years preceding the date of the AMCAS application and no later than September of the calendar year prior to matriculation.

May 1, 2024: AMCAS opens for the 2025 cycle at: www.aamc.org/students/amcas. 

July 2024: Applications are transmitted to schools by AMCAS. WMed begins to review completed applications and supplement application invitations are extended.

Fall 2024: Virtual interviews begin in October and continue through March 2025.

October 15, 2024: The first offers of admission for the WMed Class of 2029 are made. Offers of admission will continue throughout the cycle on a rolling basis.

November 15, 2024: Deadline for submitting an AMCAS application.

January 10, 2025: WMed supplemental application deadline. All essays and online assessment must be completed in order to be reviewed.

July 2025: First day of medical school for the WMed Class of 2029.

Things to Remember

Timing Matters - WMed uses rolling admissions and encourages applicants to complete each step of the application process in a timely fashion for best consideration.

Check Your Email - WMed sends all communication via email so keep an eye on your inbox and make sure our emails aren’t getting caught by an email filter.

Applicant Portal - Applicants will be sent login information to our secure applicant portal to track their progress in the admissions process.

Admissions Questions - If you have questions, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@wmed.edu.