: Many classes were moved online and/or to mandatory Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) grading due to COVID-19. Is there a limit to the number of prerequisite lectures and labs I may take online or for Credit/No Credit (CR/NC)?
The University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM) Committee on Admissions is aware of the disruption in coursework for many current students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that there may be no choice but to take lecture and lab courses online due to COVID-19. For the 2023 Admissions Cycle, We will consider prerequisite lectures/labs that were converted to online during the Spring 2020 semester. Additionally, we will continue to permit online lectures/labs through Spring 2023. Please note, however, that we highly encourage applicants to take classes in person. In addition, while letter grades for prerequisite coursework are still preferred, we understand the difficulty this may pose for many. In regard to Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail, we highly encourage applicants to obtain a letter grade for all required prerequisite courses if given the choice. Applicants that received Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail grades in lieu of a letter grade for prerequisite courses during the Spring 2020 through Spring 2022 semesters/quarters, will have an opportunity to explain their circumstances for which the prerequisite courses are completed outside our guidelines. The committee will review this information and it will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis.
How will the CR/NC grade impact my grade point average (GPA)?
Grades of CR/NC do not affect the GPA. Courses taken for CR/NC will be identified and the committee be informed that one or more courses were taken CR/NC, but no grade will be factored into the overall GPA.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most prerequisite labs have only been offered online. Will online labs be accepted? Should I wait to take it in person? Which would look better on my application?
Yes, online labs will be accepted. We understand that there may be no choice but to take labs online due to COVID-19. For future admissions cycles, we will accept labs taken online for the semesters/quarters affected by COVID-19 until Spring 2023. The committee will not give preference to taking labs in person versus taking them online.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will the MCAT be waived as a minimum requirement?
No. An MCAT score is still a requirement for admissions consideration. Please visit the MCAT Coronavirus page for more information regarding the MCAT Exam at https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/coronavirus-covid-19-and-mcat-exam/
Will I have an opportunity to describe how COVID-19 has impacted my 2023 application?
Yes, there will be a question in the secondary application that will allow applicants to describe how COVID-19 has affected their pathway to medical school and describe any academic, personal, financial, or professional barriers that COVID-19 may have presented for them.
For additional AMCAS Covid-19 FAQs please go to Coronavirus - Covid 19 and AMCAS.
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