University of Virginia Health System

Admissions Procedure and Requirements

The University of Virginia School of Medicine participates in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Electronic applications may be accessed through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website at: http://www.aamc.org/

The deadline for receiving AMCAS applications is November 1 of the year prior to enrollment. However, because the University of Virginia utilizes a rolling admission process, it is in the best interest of the applicant to apply as early as possible. After submitting the AMCAS application, applicants will be directed to the University of Virginia School of Medicine web-based Supplemental Application. All applicants must pay a $80 non-refundable application processing fee, which must accompany the Supplemental Application. Applicants who have been granted an AMCAS Fee Assistance Program Waiver will also be granted a Supplemental Application Fee Waiver.

The School of Medicine prefers a premedical advisor evaluation, or if this service is not available, a minimum of two letters, preferably from science professors or the equivalent. You can have individual letters sent to the Admissons Office in addition to a premed advising evaluation. While there is no limit to the number of letters you may submit, please keep in mind that it is better to have a few meaningful letters from individuals who know you well than to have a larger number of superficial letters of recommendation.

University of Virginia School of Medicine encourages applicants to submit letters of recommendation electronically, through a confidential credential file management service such as Interfolio or VirtualEvals.  Applicants are encouraged to submit letters of recommendation electronically whenever possible, since it will result in faster processing of your application materials.

After preliminary review, a select group of applicants will be invited to the School of Medicine for interviews with members of the Admissions Committee. Students are selected and notified of their acceptance on a rolling admissions basis after October 15 until the class is filled.

All applicants must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours of course work in an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. are eligible to apply provided they have completed at least 90 semester hours of coursework in a U.S. or Canadian college or university. The following college science courses must be completed prior to matriculation:

• Biology (with lab) 1 year
• General Chemistry (with lab) 1 year
• Organic Chemistry (with lab) 1 year
• Physics (with lab) 1 year

These courses should not be taken Pass/Fail, Credit/No Credit, or through a long-distance learning program.

AP Credits

The University of Virginia will accept AP credit in fulfillment of premedical science course requirements, provided your undergraduate institution awarded you credit towards graduation (not just exemptions) and those credits appear on your official transcript.

International  Students

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders) of the U.S. are eligible to apply for the M.D. program provided they have completed (or will complete) their undergraduate bachelor degree program in a U.S. or Canadian college or university. All applicants to the School of Medicine must complete at least 90 semester hours of course work in the U.S. or Canada prior to the start of medical school. Credits transferred from foreign institutions do not count towards the 90 semester hour requirement. All premedical course requirements (biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics) must be completed in a U.S. or Canadian college or university. The School of Medicine will accept upper level course work in these subjects in fulfillment of the premedical requirements.

International students who are accepted are not eligible for any form of financial aid, and must therefore document their ability to pay for their own medical education before being allowed to begin medical school.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required of all applicants. All applicants must present scores from tests taken no later than September of the year prior to matriculation, and no earlier than April of the three years prior to matriculation. Information regarding the MCAT and registration materials are available from premedical advisors or from:

2006-07 Application Season Statistics

Transfer Applicants

Applications for transfer into the third year of the curriculum are considered if vacancies occur due to attrition. Transfer applicants must be in good standing at an LCME-accredited United States allopathic institution. Virginia residents and others who have compassionate and compelling reasons to be in Charlottesville will be given preference in the selection process. All students accepted for transfer into the third year are required to complete two full years of the curriculum at the University of Virginia and pay the appropriate tuition and fees.

Technical Standards

Applicants to the University of Virginia School of Medicine are considered without regard to disability but with the expectation that they can complete all parts of the curriculum. In addition to certain academic standards, candidates for the M.D. degree must have abilities and skills in observation, communication, motor function, quantification, abstraction, integration, conceptualization, and interpersonal relationships and social behavior. Some disabilities in certain of these areas may be overcome technologically, but candidates for the medical degree must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner without the use of trained intermediaries. Those desiring additional information on this matter may contact the Admissions Office. See the full Technical Standards Policy.

31 Questions I wished I Had Asked

1. Are there any special programs for which this medical school is noted?

Our MD/PhD program provides students who are interested in a career in academic medicine with an opportunity to combine a medical education with in-depth training and experience in research. The aim of the NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program is to provide students with the highest quality training in the basic sciences and a firm grounding in clinical medicine. Students in the program work over a period of 6-7 years to receive both an MD and a PhD degree.

The Master of Science in Clinical Research is designed to develop the analytic and quantitative skills that students need to succeed in research in a variety of health careers. The interdisciplinary blend of biostatistics, epidemiology, information studies and health policy offered through the M.S. in Clinical Research is taught by faculty in the Department of Public Health in collaboration with other faculty at UVA in the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Arts and Sciences, Business and Law.  Medical students who wish to pursue this degree should expect to extend their education by one year.

The Master of Arts degree in Bioethics has three areas of concentration from which to choose: Clinical Ethics, Public Policy and Bioethics, and Theory and Methods in Bioethics. Medical students interested in this program should plan on extending their educational experience by one year.

The School of Medicine also offers a Masters degree in Public Health (MPH). This multidisciplinary degree is offered in collaboration with the Schools of Medicine, Law, Nursing, and the College of Arts and Sciences. The program emphasizes Public Health, Law & Ethics, Community Health, Global Health, Bio-preparedness, and Health Policy Management. Medical students who decide to pursue the MPH should expect to extend their education by one year.

Generalist Scholars Program

The Generalist Scholars Program, established in 1994 with support from a Robert Wood Johnson Generalist Initiative Grant and the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly, has a history of supporting the development of student leaders who intend to pursue a career in a field of generalist medicine.   The program was initially developed and funded as one attempt to address the dwindling supply of physicians particularly in the underserved  areas of the Commonwealth.  Students participating in the program have received some scholarship funding and have been provided with additional coursework and clinical experiences as well as an opportunity to pursue an area of scholarly interest and prepare a written thesis.  Applicants interested in the GSP program are encouraged to apply should they receive an offer to come to the UVA School of Medicine.

Generalist Scholars in Health Disparities

In Fall 2007, the UVA School of Medicine launched the Generalist Scholars in Health Disparities Program (GSHD).  This program offers GSP students interest in research, scholarly work, and public health practice focused on reducing health disparities an opportunity to obtain a MPH degree in addition to their MD.  The MPH has a concentration in health disparities.  GSHD will complete some additional coursework during the first 2 years of medical school, and they will be given clinical and field experiences appropriate for an MPH on the Health Disparities Track.  A fifth year devoted to full-time pursuit of MPH requirements will be required to finish the program.  GSHD will also receive some financial support.  Student replacement for MPH field work will be directed to rural, underserved, or disadvantaged populations in Virginia.

The University's Center for Global Health provides competitive CGH Scholar travel awards for students across all schools to engage faculty mentors in conducting a project focused on some aspect of ameliorating health among impoverished people.  Fourth year medical students often include this well-defined experience in their electives.  CGH Scholars often link with colleagues at ongoing University of Virginia collaborative sites in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

2. Describe this school's curriculum in the pre-clinical and clinical years. Are there any innovations, like problem-based learning?

Throughout the four years, the curriculum combines the practice and science of medicine. Patient contact begins early in the first year and increases throughout the four years. The curriculum is a thoughtful balance of lecture courses, problem-based small-group courses, hands-on laboratories, and hospital and community-based clinical experiences. At the center of the curriculum is the patient, the science of medicine, and the physician's role in improving the health of individuals and communities. Students adapt the curriculum to their own learning styles. Some students prefer to learn from lectures; others from self-study of notes provided by faculty or from texts and computer materials.

"First Year": The first year begins with a new, innovative course entitled, "Cells to Society", which is designed to present first year students with an integrative approach to clinical medicine. "Cells to Society" is intended to focus on and connect the patient to all other aspects of the Foundations of Medicine curriculum. Another goal of the course is to demonstrate to students how the care of the patient raises questions in multiple domains in addition to clinical medicine. The three-day course is structured around one disease process and guides first years in investigating the disease's cellular and societal dimensions. During the first year, students will also develop an understanding of normal human biology and its relationship to the practice of medicine. Instruction in physiology, genetics, biochemistry, anatomy, histology and neuroscience presents the scientific core of the physician's knowledge base. At the same time, the students' advancing scientific knowledge is integrated with clinical applications in the Practice of Medicine course. In small-group, problem-based experiences, students interview patients in hospitals and in other health care settings and learn to take patients' histories and conduct physical examinations. During the first year, students meet with physicians on a one-to-one basis in the mentoring program and see patients.

"Second Year": The coordination theme of the second year (which begins in April of the First Year) is  provided by the problem-based course, Introduction to Clinical Medicine. This course consists of clinical case studies which students solve in small group tutorials led by physicians. During the year, students also work on a one-to-one basis with physicians to develop their skills in taking medical histories and conducting physical exams. Other courses such as pathology and pharmacology are coordinated with Introduction of Clinical Medicine to emphasize the clinical correlations between medical science and medical practice.

"Third Year": The third year (which begins in the spring of the "second year") is devoted to clinical training. Students take clerkships in medicine, surgery, pediatrics, primary care, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynecology. There is extensive direct contact with patients, and students work with a well-balanced patient population, which includes primary, secondary, and tertiary care. Teaching is related to the patient on rounds and in small tutorial seminars, lectures and group discussions. Emphasis is given to the principles or prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and the continuing integration of clinical medicine with medical sciences and the psychological factors that influence health. Students work in small groups and rotate among many clinical services, gaining practical experience under supervision in the wards and outpatient clinics of the University of Virginia hospitals, the Roanoke Community Hospitals, the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, the Western State Hospital, and INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Northern Virginia. The teaching programs at the affiliated hospitals allow students to observe the practice of medicine in multiple settings and gain exposure to a somewhat different spectrum of illnesses than that seen at the University of Virginia. During their third year, all students spend an average of 24 weeks away from Charlottesville in affiliated clerkship locations.

"Fourth Year": Toward the end of the Third Year and in the Forth Year, students complete their clerkship selectives- tailored to their interests and needs. The electives program in the fourth year allows students to pursue their own interests. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students choose clinical rotations, basic science and humanities courses and research activities. Medical students are required to complete at least one Advanced Clinical Elective during their fourth year. Clinical rotations are available at sites in Salem, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Fairfax, and Charlottesville. Programs are tailored to meet individual interests and needs, including a selection of programs in other domestic and foreign settings in appropriate community medicine programs, or in other activities of suitable educational merit.

3. Are there opportunities for students to design, conduct, and publish their own research?

Several programs are available for medical students to do research. One program consists of an eight-week research project in the summer after the first year of medical school. This program/project may be extended into free time in Years II and III and elective periods in year IV. Credit for up to three months of elective time spent on the project in Year IV will be awarded subject to approval by the Electives Committee and completion of an acceptable report to the Office for Research.

Another program allows a student to take an additional year to perform basic science or clinical research with oversight from an advisory committee after the second or third year of medical school. To receive academic credit for this year of research, the student will present his or her final report in the form of a scientific paper and an oral presentation. Students who successfully complete the project will be awarded a certificate which acknowledges their work.

4. Is there a note-taking service? If so, is it University-run or student-run?

There is no note-taking service at the University of Virginia. However, faculty members provide students with detailed notes for each lecture given.

5. Is there flexibility in the course work and the timing of the courses (accelerating, decelerating, and time off) during the pre-clinical and clinical years?

Most of the fourth year is elective and at the discretion of the student with faculty advice and oversight. More than 50% of students elect some activities sponsored by the institutions other than those at the University of Virginia. Opportunities exist for both deceleration or leave from instruction on an individual basis during both the pre-clinical and clinical years.

6. Has this medical school, or any of its clinical departments been on probation or had its accreditation revoked?

No.

7. How do students from this medical school perform on the National Board Examinations? How does the school assist students who do not pass?

In 2005, 99% of University of Virginia medical students passed Step I of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). On Step 2, 95% of the medical students passed the Clinical Knowledge portion of the exam, and 100% passed the Clinical Skills section. Medical students who do not pass Step 1 meet with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to develop a strategy for retaking the exam. Students are not allowed to move into the third year until they have passed Step 1. Students who do not pass the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge exam take a review course in the fourth year in preparation for retaking the exam. Passage of both Step 1 and Step 2 are required for graduation. For statistics on how University of Virginia medical students have performed on the USMLE going back to 1997, please visit the "Student Source" link on the School of Medicine website

                                                         Evaluations

8. How are students evaluated academically? How are clinical evaluations performed?

Students are evaluated in the first two years by quizzes, problem sets, tests, and final exams. Final grades in the first two years are reported as Pass/Fail for each course. At the end of the first two years, the top 20% of the class will be designated "Pass with Distinction" based on all work in the first two years. In the third year, students are awarded grades based on evaluations by their residents and attending physicians through direct feedback and on rating forms. Objective tests are also used in most clerkships and oral exams in some. In the fourth year, students are evaluated by their electives supervisors through direct feedback and rating forms, using a Pass/Fail system.

Criteria for graduation are as follows: Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Medicine must have completed the full course of study for this degree within 6 years of original matriculation in the School of Medicine and must be certified by the faculty as having successfully met all of the criteria. These include satisfactory completion of the preclinical courses of the first two years, 52 weeks of required clinical clerkships, attendance at all Clinical Connections and other designated required meetings, participation in the Clinical Practice Exam and satisfactory completion of 28 elective credits. In addition, the student must take and pass Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before beginning their clinical years and must take and pass Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) for graduation. Starting with the entering class of 2001, students must take USMLE Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) and the results must be received prior to graduation. Passing USMLE Step 2 CS is required for licensure, but not for graduation. Students not passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt will be given 4-6 weeks for review before retaking the exam. Students must demonstrate those professional attitudes and behaviors that form the foundation upon which the practice of medicine rests. The elements of these attitudes and behaviors include altruism, accountability, honor, integrity, humanism, commitment to service, and striving for excellence.

9. Is there a formal mechanism in place for students to evaluate their professors and attending physicians? What changes have been made recently as a result of this feedback?

Student opinion of the educational quality of their MD training program holds an important place in the improvements and curricular changes made to the degree program.  There are formal student evaluations conducted at two levels: course evaluations (required by the faculty) and student managed evaluations.

Course evaluations are standardized through the Medical Education Office.  These brief but informative evaluations utilize a web-based interface to collect data efficiently.  Evaluations are automatically opened to students at the conclusion of examination periods, prompting students by email to complete the evaluation.  Senior and Associate Deans also collaborate to hold several "Town Hall" style meetings with medical students throughout their training.  

Student feedback through each of these evaluation mechanisms bring out themes of strength as well as areas for improvement.  Recent curricular innovations result directly from such evaluation data. Students prepare a major annual report on the clerkships which is submitted to department chairpersons, administrative deans, and the Curriculum Committee. Chairpersons respond to the report and indicate the changes they will make. In the last few years, the evaluation system has been used as the basis for major improvements in academic courses such as epidemiology and neuroscience and in several clerkships.

10. What kind of academic, personal, financial, and career counseling is available to students? Are these services also offered to their spouses and dependents/children?

Academic help is readily available through the Office of Student Academic Support, directed by Dr. Moses Woode, and the Office for Student Affairs, directed by Dr. Richard Pearson. Students with persistent academic difficulties may be referred to Student Health for diagnostic evaluation. Career counseling is available through the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Chairs, or their representatives, from the clinical departments. Financial counseling is provided by the Financial Aid Office under the direction of Ms. Nancy Zimmer. Personal counseling is available through Dr. Norman Oliver, Associate Dean for Diversity, Dr. Woode, and Dr. Pearson. Students can obtain professional care through the Mental Health section of the Department of Student Health or through private sources.

11. Is there a mentor/advisor system? Who are the advisors--faculty members, other students, or both?

Students have faculty mentors in their first year through the Practice of Medicine course. Third-year students identify a faculty advisor before their fourth year to assist them in applying for and selecting residency programs and in arranging their fourth-year elective schedule.

12. How diverse is the student body? Are there support services or organizations for ethnic minorities and women?

The University of Virginia School of Medicine is committed to the recruitment of a diverse student body that will make a variety of contributions to their class, the school, and to medicine as a whole. Currently, approximately 50% of the student body is women, and approximately 12% are from groups that are under represented in medicine.

The Office of Student Academic Support provides year round tutoring. There are also organizations that provide student-run activities. These include the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA). Specific questions can be answered by calling Dr. Norman Oliver at the School of Medicine: (434) 924-5579 or by e-mail at: mno3p@virginia.edu.

Facilities

13. Tell me about the library and extracurricular activities facilities (i.e., housing and athletic recreational facilities).

The Health Sciences Library is a modern, fully automated facility with meeting rooms, audiovisual viewing rooms, typing rooms, microcomputers, and photocopying machines. Free self-service searching of journal and full-text databases, such as MEDLINE, is available. All basic services of the Library are computerized for in-house and remote access. The Library maintains well-developed collections of books, journals, and audiovisuals, as well as numerous databases related to health care for easy citation retrieval.

Medical students have access to all University athletic facilities including five gymnasiums, three swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, racquet ball/squash courts, softball diamonds, and soccer fields. Medical students may also take advantage of exhibits at the University of Virginia Art Museum, dramatic productions at the Culbreth Theater, and concerts in Cabell Hall.

Most medical students live in the Charlottesville community, as there is limited University housing for students enrolled in the School of Medicine. There are abundant housing opportunities in the Charlottesville and surrounding communities.

14. Are there computer facilities available to students? Are they integrated into the curriculum/learning?

In addition to the computer services available through the Library, several courses including anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology and pathology use computer-assisted instruction. The office of medical education also provides assistance to students and faculty in the development of programs for instruction and self-testing.

15. What type of clinical sites--ambulatory, private preceptors, private hospitals, rural settings are available or required for clerkships? Does this school allow for students to do rotations at other institutions or internationally?

During the third year clinical clerkships, students spend approximately half their time at the University of Virginia Hospitals in the inpatient and outpatient areas. They also spend an average of 24 weeks of their third year at the Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, the Salem Veterans Administration Hospital (also in the Roanoke area), and/or the Fairfax Inova Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. Housing and meals are provided in offsite clinical locations. The fourth year is mostly elective. At least 16 of 32 weeks in the fourth year must be spent in the University of Virginia system in Charlottesville, Roanoke, or Salem. Up to 16 weeks can be taken elsewhere in the United States or abroad.

16. Is a car necessary for clinical rotations? Is parking a problem?

Although a car is not required for clinical rotations, you will need to find transportation to away sites. Because of the diverse nature of the third-year experience, it is advantageous to have a car. Parking at the University of Virginia for students is often a problem.

17. What are the current tuition and fee costs? Are they expected to increase yearly?

Tuition and fee charges are subject to annual increase for all entering and enrolled students at the University of Virginia. Below are the 2007-2008 medical school tuition and fee charges.

Virginian $31,305

Non-Virginian $41,305

18. Are there stable levels of federal financial aid and substantial amounts of university/medical school endowment aid available to students?

Yes. Although subject to frequent change, over the past several years the types and amounts of federal funding available to medical students nationwide have remained relatively stable. What must be taken into consideration, however, is that annual and aggregate program award limits per student have remained constant while student costs have increased.

Certainly few schools would boast of an excess of school endowment aid for its students. Relatively speaking, however, our medical school provides substantial student aid from its own funding. Students with demonstrable need are eligible for institutional scholarship up to $13,000/year for Virginia residents and $16,500/year for out-of-state residents.

19. Are there students who have an "unmet need" factor in their budget? If so, where do these students come up with the extra funds?

The maximum need-based aid package awarded by the School of Medicine is $30,500 for Virginia residents and $35,000 for out-of-state residents. This package includes the maximum Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan, school-funded grant, Perkins, and other school-funded loans. A student with demonstrated need above the maximum amounts would have to secure outside scholarship sources or rely on the Federal Stafford Unsubsidized (non-need) and/or non-subsidized alternative loans offered by private lenders to fund remaining unfunded need.

20. Are spouses and dependent/children covered in a student's budget?

No. Federal need-analysis methodology forbids routine inclusion of spouse and dependent expenses in cost of attendance budgets on which financial aid is based.

Instead, an income protection allowance to cover their basic living expenses is subtracted from the student's and spouse's combined after-tax income. From 22 to 47 percent of any remainder is expected to be contributed toward the student's educational costs. Under some circumstances, child care costs up to a maximum of $600 per month while a spouse works or single parent student is in school may be added to the student's cost of attendance budget. Budget adjustments are made at the discretion of the Financial Aid Office.

If you have dependents, we suggest that you (and your spouse, if applicable) include in your early planning an appointment with a financial aid counselor. You will want to examine all of your financial options. Unexpected financial problems can stress family relationships and academic performance.

21. Is someone available to assist students with budgeting and financial planning?

Yes. The Financial Aid Office has two knowledgeable full-time counselors available to help students develop both short-term expense budgets and long term financial plans. Sessions may be arranged by appointment or on a walk-in basis.

22. Does this school provide guidance to its students, and to its graduates/alumni, on debt management?

Yes. In addition to being required to attend a number of debt management sessions, our students are provided written debt projections each time they receive a loan from any of the federal, private, or University of Virginia programs, and additional individualized debt management counseling upon request. Further, all students who borrow from any of the student loan programs during medical school are required to attend an exit counseling session with the Financial Aid Office shortly before graduating or otherwise terminating enrollment. At these sessions students are given personalized packets containing information on all student loans they have incurred, a debt management booklet and monthly budget worksheets, information on repayment alternatives such as forbearance and consolidation, and preaddressed form letters for use in notifying all appropriate lenders and/or loan servicers of graduation, change of address, etc. During the interview, counselors discuss personal budget and debt management strategies at length, including loan consolidation options. Graduates are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office with post-graduation questions or problems related to debt management.

The Financial Aid Office and the Medical Alumni Foundation jointly sponsor a "Money Talks" series throughout the four-year enrollment period that include programs on home financing, credit scoring, and money management.

23. What medical school committees have student representation?

Except for the Student Promotions committee, every committee in the medical school, including the Admissions Committee and the Curriculum Committee, has student representation.

24. Are students involved in (required or voluntary) community service?

While some students take it upon themselves to participate in community organizations such as Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity, the student body supports a wide variety of clubs which are organized through the Mulholland Society. SHARE is a multifaceted organization designed specifically for community outreach. Other organizations such as the Spinal Chords and the Arrhythmics singing groups perform community service as part of their activities. All clubs are voluntary and students are encouraged to seek new avenues for community service.

In the Social Issues in Medicine course, first year medical students will learn about the social, economic, and cultural context of the practice of medicine through classroom instruction, service learning activities, and reflection exercises.

25. How active is the Student Council/Government? Are there other student organizations?

ll student organizations are overseen by the Mulholland Society, our student government. In addition, the Mulholland Society is active in the administration of the

School of Medicine, the Hospital, and the University at large. These student representatives provide input which is received by the councils and committees in which they participate. All school social events are planned through the Mulholland Society and all students are invited to attend the Society's monthly meetings.

26. Is there an established protocol for dealing with student exposure to infectious diseases? Is disability insurance provided to cover this exposure?

Students exposed to infectious diseases are evaluated and cared for in Student Health following the protocols used for University of Virginia Hospital employees. Disability insurance is provided for medical students.

27. Does this school provide, or does the student pay for, vaccinations against hepatitis B or prophylactic AZT treatment in case of a needle-stick or accident?

In the event of a needlestick or blood/body fluid exposure or acute exposure to tuberculosis during clinical training, students are provided at no additional cost all diagnostic evaluations, hepatitis immune globulins, and HIV post-exposure prophylactic medications. Hepatitis B and vericella immunity are now required for admission (at the student's cost).

28. Is there a school honor code? Yes. Is there a grievance process/procedure? Yes. Are the students involved?

The Honor System is one of the University's most venerated traditions, based on the fundamental assumption that anyone who enrolls at the University of Virginia subscribes to a code of ethics forbidding lying, cheating, and stealing. For over 150 years, this system has been run entirely by students.

29. May I see a list of residency programs to which the recent graduates were accepted?

NRMP Match lists are available going back to 1998 on the following website:

http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/handbook/residency/Match/index.cfm

Questions to Ask Yourself:

30. Does this school have strengths in the type of medicine (primary vs. specialized care, urban vs. rural practice, academic medicine vs. private practice) that I will want to practice?

31. Would I be happy at this school (for at least the next four years)?

Updated July 2007

The University of Virginia Non-Discrimination Policy

Consistent with Federal and State law, the University does not discriminate in any of its programs, procedures or practices on the basis of age, color, disability, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or veteran status. The University operates equal opportunity and affirmative action programs for faculty, staff, and students, including discriminatory harassment policies and procedures. The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP) is responsible for the enforcement of the University's equal opportunity and non-discrimination obligation. A faculty member, staff employee, or student having a complaint of prohibited discrimination may file a complaint with EOP in accordance with the University of Virginia Discrimination Complaint Procedures.
 

CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE

1. All acceptances to the University of Virginia School of Medicine are contingent upon satisfactory completion of all future course work, including premedical requirements. A grade of "C" will require a written explanation. A grade of "D" or below will result in a re-evaluation of the application. If you have made changes in the selection of courses after filing your AMCAS application, please notify the Admissions Office in writing. The Admissions Office should also be notified of any decision to take a course for credit/no credit, pass/fail, to audit a course, or to take any remaining courses at a school other than the one indicated on the AMCAS application. The Office should also be informed if you decide to graduate early or enroll as a part-time student.  Science courses taken in fulfillment of the premedical requirements should not be taken pass/fail or credit/no credit. Acceptance to the School of Medicine should not be interpreted to mean that an applicant is no longer required to complete the premedical requirements.

2. Although you mailed transcripts to AMCAS at the time you applied, AMCAS does not forward those transcripts to the University of Virginia. Before you matriculate, you must have official transcripts sent to the Admissions Office from each college or university you have attended, even if those course credits were transferred to another school. Student copies are not acceptable. These transcripts will become an official part of your permanent medical school record and will be used for verification purposes after you graduate from the School of Medicine.

3. If legal or criminal proceedings are filed against you prior to matriculation, or if you are the recipient of any institutional disciplinary action, it is your responsibility to inform the Admissions Office immediately. Additionally, all students must undergo a mandatory criminal background check as a condition of acceptance to the School of Medicine. See the full Criminal Background Check Policy.

4. If you are currently an undergraduate, you must complete all bachelor degree requirements before matriculating at the University of Virginia. If you are currently enrolled in a graduate program, you must complete all advanced degree requirements prior to matriculation.

5. In order to reserve your position at the University of Virginia, you must return your Class Reservation Form within three weeks. Returning your Class Reservation Form indicates that you are currently interested in holding a position at the School of Medicine.  You are free to withdraw from the incoming class at any time without penalty.

6. Your Class Reservation Form must be accompanied by a regulation passport photograph that must meet the following criteria: a) Professional, color, head and shoulders portrait facing forward, b) Not more than three years old, c) Passport size (2" x 2"), d) A light colored background (no colored screens or scenery), e) No hats of any kind. Photocopied or scanned photographs are not acceptable. These criteria are established by the state licensing boards and hospitals that require the School to verify your identity in a variety of circumstances.

7. All incoming medical students are required to provide proof of current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Please send a photocopy of both sides of your BLS certification to the Admissions as soon as possible, but certainly before school begins in August.

8. Please note that if you are accepted as an out-of-state resident, but change your status to instate prior to matriculation, it will be necessary to place you on the Alternate List until (and if) an instate vacancy develops.

9. Applicants are permitted to hold only one medical school position (at a time) after May 15. AMCAS will report to the medical schools which acceptances you are holding. In fairness to applicants on the waiting list, please make your decision no later than May 15.

Failure to meet these Conditions of Acceptance will result in withdrawal of your acceptance to the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Please contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions about these conditions. (434) 924-5571

Explanation of the Alternate List

1.      Where am I on the Alternate List? What are my chances for acceptance?

The Alternate List at the University of Virginia is not ranked, and therefore it is impossible to tell applicants where they are on the list, or to predict their chances for acceptance.

2.       How are applicants selected from the Alternate List?

When positions become available in the class, the Alternate List will be reviewed much like a separate, self-contained admissions process. Several factors are involved in this process, including the instate/

out-of-state ratio in the class at the time positions become available. The Admissions Committee will select individuals from the Alternate List who are considered to be the most qualified at that point in time. Each time a position becomes available, this process will be repeated.

3.       How many applicants are on the Alternate List? 

The number of individuals on the Alternate List starts out fairly large; usually about 175 applicants. However, as the season progresses, there is considerable attrition on the list, and by the time positions are available, there are typically only 70 to 80 individuals who continue to be actively interested in attending the University of Virginia. It is from this pool of applicants that the Admissions Committee will fill positions in the class.

4.       When can I expect to hear from the Admissions Committee?

It is impossible to know exactly when positions will become available. The Admissions Committee will overbook the class, knowing that some applicants will choose to attend another medical school.  Because applicants are not allowed to hold multiple acceptances after May 15, we typically receive a number of withdrawals around that date. Based on previous years' experiences, we believe the class size will drop below 141 sometime in late June. At that time, review of the Alternate List will begin. All Alternate List candidates are kept under consideration until the first day of orientation or until an applicant matriculates at another medical school, whichever comes first.

5.       How many applicants are taken from the Alternate List each year?

It is impossible to know in advance how many positions will become available in any given year. In previous years, the average numbers of matriculants from the Alternate List has been approximately 10 to 12 individuals.

6.       What can I do to improve my chances while I'm waiting to hear from the Committee?

Because Alternate List applications are reviewed again when positions become available, you are welcome to add materials to your file at any time. Applicants may submit additional letters of recommendation, recent publications, or information about their most recent activities. Updated transcripts should be sent as soon as they become available.

7.       How will I be contacted if the Committee decides to make me an offer?

Should you be selected from the Alternate List, it is imperative that we have a phone number where you can be reached. If you will be outside the reach of telephone communications for any period of time, please send us a letter with the name and daytime phone number of someone who has the authority to accept or decline an offer for you.

We know this can be a time of uncertainty and anxiety. Please understand that we appreciate your patience and your continued interest in the University of Virginia School of Medicine. We realize that it may be difficult to make important decisions about your future while waiting to hear from the Admissions Office, and while we empathize with your position, it is extremely difficult to offer any assurances of acceptance. If you decide to attend another medical school, please notify us so that we can remove your name from the Alternate List.

Updated August, 2007

For specific questions regarding admission policies at the School of Medicine, please contact:

Lesley L. Thomas
Director of Admissions
University of Virginia
School of Medicine
P.O. Box 800725
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0725