Being Prepared

Selection Criteria

Expectations of Entering Medical Students

Medical education is rigorous and intensive. It is essential that entering medical student possess academic stamina as demonstrated in healthy habits and attitudes, behavioral maturity, and cognitive ability. The curriculum requires the student to apply foundational knowledge to the study and understanding of normal and abnormal processes of the human body and of the behavioral and social influences on these processes. In this context, medical students learn the skills of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and management of disease, health maintenance, risk assessment, disease screening, public health aspects of disease, and disease prevention.  In addition, modern medicine dictates the need for excellent communication skills and the ability to work in complex interprofessional health care environments while caring for a diverse patient population and maintaining professional and moral-ethical codes. 

Entering medical students will therefore demonstrate qualities aligned with competencies expected of medical students graduating from the UNDSMHS.

• An understanding of the natural science underpinnings of biomedical sciences including concepts of introductory-level biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology.
• An understanding of foundational concepts of psychology, sociology, and behavioral biology.
• Skill in scientific inquiry and reasoning, critical analysis, research methods, and statistics as applied to the natural, social, and/or behavioral sciences.
• Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commitment to working with people of diverse cultures and socioeconomic status.
• Professionalism.
• Adherence to ethical principles.
• Awareness and responsiveness to complex societal systems.
• Ability to function effectively within a team setting.
• Motivation to pursue lifelong learning.

Minimum Academic Requirement

Completion of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university is required before matriculation, but not application.

There is no required major for our medical school. You should choose a major that interests you and you can excel in at college. We urge applicants to take a variety of courses, from humanities, to behavior sciences, to applied sciences. 

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

MCAT Score

The UNDSMHS requires completion of the MCAT. There is no minimum score, though performance on this standardized test is considered as part of the whole application package. We consider a range of variables in applicants, not just metrics, but a minimum cumulative and BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, math) GPA of 3.0 or higher is expected. The average GPA for applicants accepted into the 2020 entering class was 3.8 and the average MCAT was 507. If you've taken the MCAT more than once, the committee will look closely at the most recent results and compare with previous scores received.

When to Take the MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is given multiple times each year. For most application cycles, the latest test date you can take the MCAT is mid-Septembers to have the test results to us by the deadline of November 1. MCAT scores may not be older than three years from the January of the application deadline.

Prepare for the MCAT

The MCAT assesses preparedness in foundational knowledge, scientific reasoning, problem solving, reasoning about the design and execution of research, and data-based and statistical reasoning. Preparation for the MCAT will vary depending on the academic and personal circumstances of the applicant. Traditional MCAT preparatory courses include two semesters of general biology, two semesters of general chemistry, two semesters of organic chemistry, one semester of biochemistry, two semesters of physics, and psychology/sociology.

What’s on the MCAT Exam?

Academic Coursework

The UNDSMHS does not require completion of specific academic coursework for admissions. Entering medical students must have more than an introductory level of pre-requisite knowledge and skills to master the volume and complexity of the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Suggested coursework in addition to MCAT preparatory courses listed above include an extra semester of biochemistry, one or two upper level biology courses emphasizing concepts applicable to human biology, and an upper level intensive-writing course.

There is no timeline for when a bachelor’s degree must have been completed within. The goal of recommended course material is to prepare you for the MCAT and the rigors of medical school. Some applicants find that they need to retake some science courses before launching into a medical school curriculum.

Experience and Attributes Portfolio

The portfolio is intended for the applicant to illustrate evidence of attributes not easily captured in transcripts or standardized tests. Documentation may be derived from formal course work, extracurricular activities, or employment. Some experiences may have sufficient depth and breadth to address more than one part of the portfolio. In such instances, unique artifacts must specifically highlight each experience.

• Written Expression
• Research or Creative Activity
• Evidence with Diverse Populations
• Medical/Clinical Experience

Early Decision Program

The Early Decision Program (EDP) is available for applicants who are residents of North Dakota and who are applying to the Doctor of Medicine program at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences for the first-time.

We encourage competitive applicants who are interested only in the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences and who are a strong fit for the School's mission to apply through the Early Decision Program (EDP). To qualify for EDP, you must:

• Be a current legal resident of North Dakota for at least one year prior to application.
• Be a first-time applicant to UND SMHS.
• Be available for interview in September 2021.
• Apply only to UND SMHS. If accepted, you must matriculate to UND. If you are not accepted through EDP, you automatically will be placed in the Regular Decision applicant pool for UND SMHS and may then apply to additional schools as well.
• It is assumed that applicants who apply through EDP meet or exceed the average metrics for accepted applicants.

EDP applicants will follow all the application steps detailed above but in a shorter timeframe:

• August 2: Deadline for submission of AMCAS EDP application, transcripts, and MCAT score (by 11:59 pm, EST)
• August 16: Deadline for submission of secondary application, secondary fee payment, and all letters (by 11:59 pm, EST)
• September 2021: Interviews
• Oct 1: Application status updates have all been sent out
• October 15: Deadline to reply if offered acceptance

EDP Deadline

Your EDP application must be complete by the August 16 deadline and no updates can be made to your application after August 16, even if you are rolled into the Regular Decision pool. If your EDP application is incomplete by the deadline, you will be considered a passive withdrawal.