Timetable for Applications and Notification
for the Class entering in 2008

Timetable for Application Events
The timetable for application and notification of acceptance status is shown below:

Please note: The School of Medicine has discontinued the Early Decision Program for the 2008 application year.

Application dates
Earliest date: 1 June 2007
Latest date: 15 November 2007


Notification of acceptance or rejection by school
Earliest date: March 15, 2008
Latest date: Until class is full

Estimated tuition and fees, 2006-2007

Selection of Applicants
The Committee on Admissions is responsible for the selection of medical students and is guided in the selection process by the Admissions Policy Statement that has been approved by the School of Medicine faculty (see Appendix A).  In general, the selection of students is based on academic achievement, motivation for the study of medicine, problem-solving ability, self-appraisal, ability to relate to people, maturity, breadth of interests and achievements, professional goals, and likelihood of serving the health care needs of the State following postgraduate training.  This information is gleaned from the application form, letters of recommendation and interviews with members of the Committee on Admissions.  Because of space limitations, many qualified applicants are not accepted each year.  Applicants who are not accepted are encouraged to seek advice from the Assistant Dean for Admissions on what they might do to improve their chances of admission in subsequent years. 

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine has a compelling interest in assuring a regional representation of diversity among our faculty, staff and student body to comprehensively achieve our educational mission and effectively meet our obligation to the State in addressing state-wide health care access problems.  It is imperative that our school work to obtain a critical mass of both Hispanic and Native American students, as well as faculty and staff role-models, and that we assure a learning environment that enhances cultural sensitivity and competence.  A diverse student body promotes cross-racial understanding, creates a richer learning experience and better prepares our students to serve the communities of New Mexico.  To this end, we will attempt to recruit and accept qualified Hispanic and Native American applicants from New Mexico into the MD degree program.

The School of Medicine fully endorses the spirit and intent of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1993 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992.  Technical Standards for admission consistent with these Acts have been developed and are available for review in the Office of Admissions, are found in Appendix B of this brochure, and are sent to each applicant in the secondary application.  All accepted applicants will be required to sign the Technical Standards Declaration indicating they are able to meet the Technical Standards with or without accommodations.

Statistics on the 2006 Entering Class
To guide applicants in considering application to The University of New Mexico School of Medicine, the following information is provided on the class that matriculated in 2006:

2006 Entering Class

 ¹Two applicants who were accepted EDP chose to defer for one year.  ² 73 New Mexico residents, 2 (WICHE) non-residents.

Some characteristics of the entering class were: Undergraduate average GPA, 3.61; average MCAT score, 28.4; average age, 24; males, 52 percent; females, 48 percent; underrepresented minorities, 33 percent.  All students offered acceptance were interviewed at this school.

Delayed Matriculation Applicants accepted into the first-year class may defer matriculation for a maximum of one year. Requests for delayed matriculation must be made in writing to the Office of Admissions prior to June 1 in the year the applicant would normally matriculate.

Information for Transfer Applicants
Applicants for transfer into phase II of the curriculum will be considered from New Mexico and WICHE residents attending four-year U.S. medical schools or American Osteopathic Association schools approved either by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or by the American Osteopathic Association, respectively.  New Mexico and WICHE residents in World Health Organization (WHO) listed foreign schools may also be considered for transfer.  In all cases, transfer will be considered only for those applicants who can demonstrate a compelling need to transfer to this school.  Applicants for transfer must have completed the equivalent of the first two years of basic science course work.  Applicants will be accepted on a space available basis and all acceptances will be contingent on the applicant passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Step 1. Criteria for acceptance will be based on undergraduate and medical school academic performance, residency considerations, and need to transfer to this institution.

Students who transfer must subsequently complete all the requirements in Phases II and III of the curriculum.  This can be accomplished within the four-year medical school time frame only if the student takes the USMLE, Step 1, as soon as possible during or before the year of entrance and begins clinical rotations in late April when Phase II begins pending results of USMLE scores.  It is more difficult, and perhaps impossible, to finish medical school on time if clinical rotations are begun in July or September.  Contingency acceptances may be granted prior to receipt of USMLE, Step 1 scores, if positions are available.  Transfer students failing the USMLE, Step 1, will not be allowed to continue clinical rotations.  This school is under no obligation to grant a transfer applicant failing the USMLE on the first attempt additional opportunities to pass the exam, but this decision will be made by the Committee on Admissions on a case-by-case basis.

Students who apply for transfer will be required to provide transcripts of coursework and supporting letters from appropriate school officials at their medical school.  This information will be used to help evaluate the student's qualifications for transfer.  Interviews for transfer applicants will be at the discretion of the Committee on Admissions.

It should be noted that almost all transfer applicants accepted within the last 10 years have been from LCME accredited medical schools with a few from schools accredited by the American Osteopathic Association.  Transfer from foreign medical schools is highly unlikely.  At this time, an average of less than one applicant per year is accepted for transfer.

Students in Other Degree Programs
Students who are currently working toward degrees in other degree granting programs in The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center are not eligible for matriculation into the MD degree program prior to completing those programs nor will they be considered for admission if it is obvious they will not be able to complete their degrees prior to matriculation.  This rule includes MS, MPH and PhD degree programs in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, the Pharm D degree program in the College of Pharmacy and other bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.