How to Apply

Program Types

Early Decision Program (EDP)

Applicants who apply through the Early Decision Program (EDP) can only apply to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM). Current New Mexico residents who desire to apply only to the UNM SOM may apply through the Early Decision Program. WICHE applicants MUST apply through the EDP to receive consideration. All WICHE applicants must have at least the average MCAT/GPA threshold as the last year's entering class to be given consideration for admission.

The 2024 entering class average MCAT composite was 505 and the average cumulative GPA was 3.76. EDP applicants must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) no later than June so that scores will be available before the application deadline of August 1. Notifications of acceptance to the EDP are sent out on October 1. Applicants who do not get accepted under EDP could be placed in the Regular Decision applicant pool and may then apply to additional schools. EPD regulations apply to both AMCAS and non-AMCAS participating schools.

Additional information on the Early Decision Program is included in the AMCAS application.

Combined MD/MPH Program

The MD/MPH program is designed to provide integrated learning and enhance opportunities for medical students to acquire public health knowledge and skills. The program provides students an opportunity to increase their awareness, skills and knowledge in population based health strategies and interventions with the goals of; reducing disparities in health status within New Mexican populations, strengthening physician advocacy and leadership skills in health policy development, fostering evidence based interventions and using assessment skills to better determine population needs and interventions.

Students planning to pursue the combined MD/MPH degree should complete the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application and a UNM Public Health Program Application.

Additional information for the MD/MPH program can be obtained from the Master in Public Health or by contacting the School of Medicine Office of Admissions and/or the Public Health Program.

Premedical Enrichment Program (PrEP)

The Premedical Enrichment Program is an academic year-long post-baccalaureate curriculum offered to educationally and/or economically disadvantaged New Mexicans with a bachelor's degree. Candidates exhibit exceptional non-cognitive characteristics but were not selected for direct admission into medical school during the respective application cycle.  

PrEP Applicants: 

An educationally disadvantaged person is defined as an individual who has been exposed to family, school, or community experiences that have impeded a full development of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to enroll in and graduate from the UNM School of Medicine. 

Individuals are considered to be from an “educationally disadvantaged” background if they come from a social, cultural, or educational environment (e.g., family, school, or community experiences) that have demonstrably and directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to enroll in and graduate from the UNM School of Medicine. Students from families living in poverty, from homes where English is not the primary language, from homes with parents with a high school education or less, and/or from homes with only a single parent are at particular risk for having a level of educational readiness below that of their peers. 

Individuals are considered from an “economically disadvantaged” background if they come from a family with an annual income below a level based on low-income thresholds, according to family size established by the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for use in all health professions programs. 

Applicants considered for the PrEP, must meet the same minimum requirements as the Regular MD program including residency, MCAT, GPA and completion of prerequisites. Applicants must first apply to the UNM School of Medicine Regular MD program utilizing the AMCAS application to be considered for this program. 

PrEP Curriculum: 

The PrEP curriculum provides additional academic and cognitive skills to help prepare students for success in medical school. Students have the opportunity to learn from several UNM SOM faculty and receive close mentoring which is paramount to the program.  

The program includes workshops and skills sessions surrounding adult learning theory, standardized approach to test performance and self-evaluation, metacognitive skills and utilizing advanced biochemistry curriculum as an architecture for a basic science foundation.  

Upon successful completion of all required components of the PrEP program students will matriculate into UNM School of Medicine, to continue their journey toward becoming a physician and leader for the future. 

 For additional information, please refer to the Premedical Enrichment Program website or contact the HSC Office for Diversity at 505-272-2728 and our email HSC-Diversity@salud.unm.edu. 

The Premedical Enrichment Program is a post-baccalaureate curriculum offered to educationally-disadvantaged New Mexicans with a bachelor's degree who exhibit exceptional non-cognitive characteristics but are not eligible for admission into medical school due to low MCAT scores or undergraduate GPA.

An educationally disadvantaged person is defined as an individual who has been exposed to family, school, or community experiences that have impeded the development of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to enroll in and graduate from the UNM School of Medicine. Students from families living in poverty, from homes where English is not the primary language, from homes with poorly educated parents, and/or from homes with only a single parent are at particular risk for having a level of educational readiness below that of their peers.

Although there may be some overlap between groups of "educationally disadvantaged students" and groups of "under-represented minorities," these terms have distinct meanings and should not be used interchangeably. The term "under-represented minorities" (URM's) refers to students from several ethnic minority groups such as Native Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans who are not yet adequately represented on the UNM campus. Therefore, a student who is an underrepresented minority does not necessarily qualify as an "educationally disadvantaged student".

Applicants considered for the PrEP, must meet the same minimum requirements as the Regular MD program including residency, MCAT, GPA and completion of prerequisites. Also to be considered for this program, applicants must first apply to the UNM School of Medicine Regular MD program utilizing the AMCAS application.

For additional information, please refer to the Premedical Enrichment Program website or contact the HSC Office for Diversity at 505-272-2728 and our email HSC-Diversity@salud.unm.edu.

Combined MD/PhD Program

The MD/PhD program is designed to provide comprehensive training in both clinical sciences and a basic biomedical science discipline. The intent of the program is to provide students with an integrated and cohesive training experience while obtaining the MD/PhD dual degree. Students participate in activities common to both programs while involved in the medical school curriculum or engaged in Ph.D. dissertation research.

Currently, the program consists of 18 months of the medical school curriculum, followed by 3-4 years of Ph.D. dissertation research and the graduate school curriculum, and concludes with the remaining 2 years of the medical school curriculum. The program is designed to be completed in 7-8 years. The Ph.D. and M.D. degrees are awarded simultaneously at the end of the entire training period.

Students will take three one-month long rotations in research laboratories during the initial 20 months of the program. These experiences are meant to broaden the research experience of the students as they decide in what research area they wish to specialize. Students can pursue many lines of research activity performed by investigators in biomedical research in the School of Medicine.

Students planning to pursue the combined MD/PhD degree should complete the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application. Application deadline October 1.  A specialized Admissions Committee for the MD/PhD program evaluates applications when all materials have been received.

Additional information for the MD/PhD program can be obtained from the MD/PhD, or by contacting the School of Medicine Office of Admissions and/or the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.