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Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission to the UAMS College of Medicine:

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to beginning classes with the UAMS College of Medicine
• Completion of prerequisite coursework prior to beginning classes with the UAMS College of Medicine
• A minimum score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT):
  • Arkansas residents: MCAT of 500 or greater
  • Non-Arkansas residents: MCAT of 505 or greater
• Demonstrate in the application documentation and faculty interviews personal attributes including curiosity, compassion, integrity, stamina, dedication to service for others, and a sustained ability to learn

These admissions standards were set by the College of Medicine Academic Standards Committee and the College of Medicine Curriculum Committee, effective beginning with the 2026 admissions cycle. Standards are subject to change in future admissions cycles.

UAMS is a public university and part of the University of Arkansas System. The College of Medicine’s admissions policies are governed by state law. This includes admissions policies related to in-state and out-of-state applicants.

Arkansas Residents

The College of Medicine Admissions Office and Admissions Committee give priority consideration to applicants who are Arkansas residents and meet our published admissions requirements.

Non-Arkansas Residents

State law permits the Admissions Committee to accept a limited number of non-Arkansas applicants. Within this group, the Admissions Office looks for applicants:

• With “strong ties” to Arkansas. “Strong ties” is the wording used in Arkansas law. Examples of strong ties include previously living in Arkansas, family in the state, attendance at undergraduate university in Arkansas, or other significant personal or business connections to the state.
• From Arkansas’ border states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas.

Applicants may notify the Admissions Office that they have “strong ties” by contacting the Director of Admissions after submitting their AMCAS application. Applicants are also given the opportunity to inform the admissions team of their “strong ties” as part of the secondary application process.

Note: College of Medicine students from the six border states also pay in-state tuition at UAMS. However, this does not change the admissions requirements for out-of-state applicants (such as the 505 MCAT threshold).

State law also gives the admissions team the flexibility to consider other highly qualified non-Arkansas applicants.

By the Numbers

The number of non-Arkansas residents in each class varies and depends primarily on the number of Arkansas applicants each year. For example, in the College of Medicine class that entered the program in 2025:

• • 146 are Arkansans

• • 28 are non-Arkansas residents

International Applicants

An applicant must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. at the time of application. Permanent residents must provide the Admissions Office with the required documentation prior to being granted a faculty interview, i.e., I-551 card Permanent Resident Card or Green Card. Email the Director of Admissions with this documentation.

For some, applying to medical school is a lifelong dream. Others start on a different path, discover medicine, and pivot to pursue their passion. Many different types of people with a variety of backgrounds, academic pursuits and life experiences go on to succeed in medical school and become excellent physicians.

What matters is preparation for the rigors of a career in medicine and development of the personal characteristics of a successful, compassionate physician.

Stat your journey today. No matter where you begin or how long it takes, your application and faculty interview will someday be the chance to tell your story. Keep this in mind as you work toward your goals. Each part of the application process is intended to help you become a well-rounded med student and — someday — doctor of medicine.

Get Guidance Along the Way

Mentorship is a key part of the premed journey. Connect as soon as possible with the premed advisor at your undergraduate university. (If you are unsure about who to contact, reach out to the College of Medicine Director of Recruiting).

UAMS also staffs prehealth educational coordinators in every region of Arkansas. Connect with the coordinator in your area for services like help navigating the application process, health care experiences, application advising, personal statement workshopping, mock interviews and more.

Reach out to the College of Medicine Admissions Office with any questions.

Required Application Elements

You will communicate your preparation for medical school to the College of Medicine Admissions Office and Admissions Committee through your American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application and faculty interview. When you apply, your AMCAS application will include:

• • A personal statement in which you are asked to talk about your motivation for medicine, your passion for serving others, and the distance traveled on your journey to prepare for med school
  • GPA and MCAT scores
  • Experiences such as volunteerism and community service
  • Exposure to health care and patient care
  • An evaluation from the premed advisory committee (PMAC) at your university
  • Letters of recommendation that speak to your academic abilities and personal qualities

General Timeline

After submitting your AMCAS application, the College of Medicine Admissions Office will review it and determine whether to offer you an invitation to fill out our secondary application and schedule an interview with our faculty. Once this step is complete and you have submitted any remaining items, the UAMS Admissions Committee will consider your application.

If you receive an offer of acceptance to attend the College of Medicine, it is customary to respond with your intentions within two weeks, although you may hold multiple offers of acceptance through the AAMC Choose Your Medical School Tool. If you are on the alternate list, the Admissions Office will continue to communicate with you about your status. All applicants are notified of their status by the end of the admissions cycle. Generally, the complete list of accepted applicants is finalized by the spring before the fall start. But acceptances from the alternate list can occur right up until the first day of welcome week activities.

See this year’s timeline of dates and deadlines below.

The UAMS College of Medicine requires the completion of certain coursework at the undergraduate level as foundational preparation for medical school.

Accepted applicants must have completed the following courses prior to beginning classes in the College of Medicine:

• • Three semesters of Biology, including one full semester of Genetics.
  • Three semesters of Chemistry, including Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (Note: The UAMS College of Medicine does not require labs for Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry. However, your institution or major may still require these labs to complete the course. The premed advisor at your university can likely help you navigate the specific requirements at your institution. Admissions Office staff are happy to assist as well)
  • Two semesters of Physics  

• • Two semesters of English  

• • One semester of Statistics  

• • Two semesters of Social Sciences (Note: Psychology and Sociology are strongly recommended. Anthropology, Ethics, Logic, Philosophy, Religion or Theology courses are other acceptable options)

AP credit and online courses are accepted if they are reported on your transcript. CLEP, exempt, or correspondence courses are not accepted.

Recommended Courses

The following courses are recommended, but not required:

• • Physiology

• • Microbiology

• • Cell Biology

• • Neuroscience

• • Histology

• • Immunology

• • Developmental  Biology

• • Molecular Biology

The UAMS College of Medicine uses the AAMC’s mission-aligned selection framework to evaluate applicants.

Mission-aligned selection uses a program’s mission to define merit and identify competencies, attributes and experiences aligned with program goals and readiness. It emphasizes individualized review and a strategic, evidence-based approach that considers test scores, grades, experiences and applicant context to identify applicants most likely to thrive and contribute to the mission.

Your Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) score and grade point average (GPA) are part of this holistic review of your application. Medical school requires rigorous academic study and testing, as do the exams necessary to hold and maintain licensure to practice medicine. It is the College of Medicine’s mission to graduate students who are capable of passing these exams and becoming practicing physicians to improve health care in Arkansas and beyond.

The AAMC collects data on the associations between premed MCAT scores and GPA compared with pass rates for licensure exams. MCAT scores show the strongest correlation with success. GPA is also a strong indicator.

The College of Medicine Admissions Committee takes both into consideration when evaluating applicants, as well as the qualities associated with the UAMS mission and the AAMC premed competencies.

MCAT Requirements

Arkansas residents must score 500 or greater on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to be considered for the College of Medicine. Non-Arkansas residents must earn 505 or greater on the MCAT.

MCAT scores must be within the last three years. For example, MCAT scores obtained prior to 2023 are not acceptable for applicants to the 2026 class.

GPA Requirements

The College of Medicine does not have a formal minimum threshold for GPA; however, your GPA will be considered as part of the holistic review of your application.

By The Numbers

For context, among applicants to the College of Medicine for the class that started in 2025:

• The average MCAT score for all applicants was 505
• Among those accepted, the average MCAT score was 509
• Among those accepted, the average GPA was 3.83

After you submit your AMCAS application, the Admissions Office staff may invite you to fill out our secondary application and schedule an interview with our faculty.

The UAMS College of Medicine conducts several Interview Day events throughout the fall. Admissions staff will communicate with you about scheduling options.

Interview Day events are in-person (with an option for those from out-of-state who cannot travel) and include the interview, campus tours, conversations with current students, and interactions with College of Medicine leadership and admissions staff.

The purpose of Interview Day is for the faculty to get to know you better and for you to explore UAMS.

Our interview format consists of multiple one-on-one interviews, conducted back-to-break with breaks in between. Some senior medical students may be paired with faculty to assist with interviews. Our faculty interviewers will ask you about your passion for medicine. You may be asked to provide examples of times you showed empathy, resilience, teamwork, cultural competency, or other qualities that align with our mission or the AAMC premed competencies.

Evaluations from our interviewers will become part of your application packet, considered as holistically as part of the mission-aligned selection process used by our Admissions Committee.

Transcripts

Official transcripts should be sent directly to AMCAS from the registrar at each college attended. The College of Medicine utilizes the AMCAS Letters Service for letter submissions.

Premedical Advisory Committee (PMAC) Letters

A composite evaluation letter from your school’s Premedical Advisory Committee (PMAC) is mandatory. Your application will not be reviewed if you miss your school’s PMAC deadline. (Note: If your school does not have a PMAC or if it has been more than two years since you last graduated/attended your school, you must have three faculty members familiar with your academic performance to submit individual letters of recommendation to AMCAS Letters.)

Letters of Recommendation

You must submit letter(s) of recommendation attesting to your academic abilities, preferably from faculty who have had you in class. You may have up to three individuals submit “personal” letters of recommendation that address your qualifications outside the classroom.

Application Fees

A non-refundable fee of $100 is required from each applicant who is invited and submits the UAMS secondary application. Applicants pre-approved for the AMCAS Fee Assistance Program (FAP) pay a reduced fee of $50.

Majors

Applicants with pre-medical majors have no advantage over applicants majoring in other fields.

Other Tests

The College of Medicine does not require the AAMC Preview or Casper test.

Background Checks

The College of Medicine reserves the right to perform a criminal background check on all applicants accepted for admission.

May 27, 2025

The AMCAS portal opens for applications.

May 27-Nov. 1, 2025

Applicants may apply. AMCAS sends verified AMCAS application to the UAMS College of Medicine.

Mid-August, 2025

The UAMS College of Medicine Admissions Office begins screening applications. Applicants who meet the minimum MCAT threshold are invited to complete the UAMS secondary application and interview.

September 27-January 10, 2025

Interview dates in Little Rock, Fayetteville and virtually – by invitation only.

October 2025

The COM Admissions Committee begins meeting to consider complete applications for applicants who have completed the interview and secondary application. The committee may consider offering early acceptance decisions. The committee continues to meet periodically throughout the fall and winter.

November 1, 2025

Final deadline for all applicants to submit AMCAS applications to UAMS.

November 15, 2025

Deadline for all applicants to submit the UAMS College of Medicine secondary application to the Admissions Office.

Deadline for all non-Arkansas residents advocating “strong ties” to Arkansas to notify the Admissions Office.

January 15, 2026

Deadline for all applicants to submit all documentation to the Admissions Office.

February 28, 2026

On or before this date, the Admissions Office notifies all applicants of their admissions status: Accepted, Alternate List, or Not Accepted.

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) has developed a the Choose Your Medical School (CYMS) tool for applicants who have been accepted at one or more medical schools.

Applicants can hold acceptances at multiple schools and be on more than one Alternate List until the dates below.

Medical schools have individual school-specific dates and policies based on several factors, including the start date of classes.

February 19, 2026

“Plan to Enroll” using the CYMS tool becomes available for applicants in AMCAS.  This only applies to applicants who have been accepted and had their status changed to “Accepted” on AMCAS.

April 15, 2026

Applicants are asked to narrow their acceptance offers to three schools. Applicants can hold any number of offers for Alternate Lists.

April 30, 2026

“Commit to Enroll” becomes available to applicants in CYMS. “Plan to Enroll” remains available to applicants in AMCAS. “Commit to Enroll” indicates the applicant has made their final selection and withdrawn from all other schools. Using CYMS to commit does not automatically withdraw students from other medical schools. It is the responsibility of each applicant to inform the remaining schools of their decision. Even those who are accepted to only one school must use CYMS to officially commit.

June 30, 2026

Final deadline for all accepted applicants to “Commit to Enroll” for the UAMS College of Medicine. Applicants must meet this deadline or risk having their admissions offer rescinded.