Admissions FAQs
- Deadlines/Application Process/Status
- Academic Requirements
- Non-Academic Requirements
- MCAT
- About Pritzker
- International Student/Out-of-State Resident Issues
- Letters of Recommendation
- Interviewing
Deadlines/Application Process/Status
Q. When is your deadline?
A. Our AMCAS application deadline is midnight, Eastern Standard Time, October 15, 2007. In order to have all the elements of an application (verified AMCAS application, secondary application, and letters of evaluation) included for review, they must be submitted or post-marked by midnight, Central Standard Time, December 1, 2007. All applications will be read and considered even if elements are not submitted. However, applications missing either the letters of evaluation or secondary application, or unverified AMCAS applications are at a significant disadvantage. Moreover, being early in the application process is advantageous since we operate using rolling admissions. Please also be aware that web sites may be heavily trafficked and very slow near the deadlines.
Q. What does “rolling admission” mean?
A. Rolling admission means that offers for interview and admission are made continuously through the application cycle. Applications are queued for reading when we have all the elements of the application—verified AMCAS application, secondary application, letters of evaluation, and fee or fee waiver. As the application cycle proceeds, there are fewer interview and admission offers remaining to be made. Submitting all the elements of the application early in the application cycle has distinct advantages.
Q. Does everyone get a secondary? How do I receive it?
A. We send secondary applications to all applicants who apply to us through AMCAS. We do not review the AMCAS application prior to sending the secondary. About two weeks after you submit your primary application to AMCAS you will receive an email from us with a link to our online secondary web site, which you should fill out and submit to us online.
Q. How do I know when my application is complete?
A. You may check the status of your application here.
Q. If I am taking another MCAT, will you review my application now or wait for the new score?
A. We will await the MCAT re-take if that re-testing is completed by September 8, 2007. You may also email us to tell that you will not be re-taking the MCAT, and we will then queue your application for review.
Q. Once my application is complete, how long will it take for me to hear back about an interview decision?
A. After all the elements of your application are received we will queue it for review. It will be reviewed within four to six weeks. Applications missing elements will be read after December 1, 2007 and decisions may take six weeks.
Q. If I haven’t submitted all the elements of my application by December 1, what happens? Can I still send information?
A. No. We will review your application based on what we have already received plus anything post-marked by midnight, Central Standard Time, December 1, 2007.
Q. Can I interview over the phone? Do you have regional interviews?
A. We do not offer either phone or regional interviews. It is just as important for you to learn about the Pritzker School of Medicine as it is for us to speak to you in person.
Q. What are my chances of getting accepted?
A. Applying to medical school is not like playing the lottery; chance does not play a role. We read all the information you send us—the verified AMCAS application, your secondary application, and letters of evaluation—and analyze your motivation for a career in medicine, and evaluate your personal and intellectual readiness and fit for study of medicine at Pritzker.
Academic Requirements
Q. What are your average MCAT and your average GPA?
A. Our average MCAT for the accepted class entering Pritzker in 2007 is a 34. Our average GPA for the accepted class entering Pritzker in 2007 is a 3.79. We would also encourage you to consider the range of scores that were accepted. Our entering class has MCAT scores ranging from 26 through a 42, though the majority of students present scores in the 32–36 range. The range of GPAs for our entering class is from 3.24 to 4.0, with the majority of students presenting GPAs in the 3.4–3.8 range.
Q. What is the oldest MCAT score you accept?
A. We will accept MCAT scores from 2005 forward. If you sat for an MCAT earlier than 2005 that you would like considered, you need to apply for a waiver (Scroll to bottom of page for instructions).
Q. What is the latest MCAT score you will accept?
A. The September 8, 2007 score is the latest MCAT we will accept for the 2008 Application cycle.
Q. What are the prerequisite courses that I need to take?
A. You should complete the equivalent of one year (8 semesters) of each of the following:
- Biology with lab
- Chemistry with lab
- Organic Chemistry with lab
- Physics with lab
Although not required, we also strongly recommend taking a course in biochemistry.
Q. What if I have AP Credit?
A. For applicants who earned AP Credit in college, we would expect you to take a total of 8 semesters of science courses, pursuing upper-level courses in the areas in which you were given credit for introductory level courses.
Q. What if one of my required science classes doesn’t come with a lab?
A. We would ask you to take an additional semester of a lab course in another science discipline, so that you still have 8 semesters total of lab science. In some cases, research experiences outside of the classroom can “count” for a lab course.
Q. What if I have only one semester of chemistry (or orgo, bio, physics)? Can I substitute another course for the other required semester?
A. Yes, provided it is a science course. We ultimately require a total of 8 semesters of science courses with labs.
Q. Do you require biochemistry?
A. No, but it is recommended.
Q. Do I need to major in a science? Can I change majors?
A. You may choose to major in any discipline you wish. We encourage you to select a major that you find personally and academically challenging. After all, this may be your last opportunity to really engage fully in something like Romance Languages or History or Religious Studies. We have no problem with applicants changing majors, provided it is a limited number of changes. You do not wish to appear unfocused in your decision-making abilities or in your capacity to make a commitment.
Q. Do engineering courses count as sciences?
A. They very well could, depending on the overall content of the course. For example, Thermodynamics through an Engineering department could absolutely count as your chemistry course. We would encourage you to talk with your premedical advisor to gain his/her advice based on the experience he or she has had with applicants at your home institution.
Q. Do you prefer calculus-based physics or non-calculus based?
A. We encourage students to challenge themselves in their course selection but understand that calculus-based chemistry and physics courses are not the best decisions for all students.
Q. How do you look at courses taken abroad?
A. If you pursued a bachelor’s degree at an institution abroad, please jump to the section on International Students or the question below. If you took courses abroad through a Study Abroad program, we will only look at your courses if they are carried over onto the transcript of a US or Canadian institution. Otherwise, you will not report your grades to us through AMCAS, but may feel free to send a translated transcript to us directly. We do NOT recommend taking your science prerequisite courses abroad.
Q. Do I need a bachelor’s degree?
A. Applicants must have completed 90 credit hours (using the AMCAS methodology) prior to matriculation from an accredited four-year degree-granting US or Canadian college or university. A baccalaureate degree is not required but is strongly preferred by the Admissions Committee.
Q. What if I have a bachelor’s degree from another country?
A. If the country is Canada, we view your bachelor’s degree as equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree, given the strong similarities in educational structure and rigor. If your degree is from an institution outside of the United States or Canada, then we require you to complete a year of full-time coursework at a four-year institution in the US or Canada prior to applying. We strongly recommend that the coursework include several upper-level science courses, even if your bachelor’s degree was in a science discipline. If your degree was in a non-science discipline, we would strongly recommend taking all of the prerequisite science coursework at a four-year institution in the US or Canada prior to applying.
Q. Can I take my prerequisites at a community college?
A. Generally speaking, community college courses are not viewed as having a similar level of rigor as the courses provided at four-year institutions. There are certainly many reasons to pursue your first two years of coursework at a community college prior to transferring to a four-year institution. Should you choose to do so, we would recommend either holding off on taking your prerequisite science course until you transfer to the four-year institution, or taking introductory level science courses at the community college and then planning to take upper-level science courses at the four-year institution.
Non-Academic Requirements
Q. What extracurricular activities do you recommend?
A. Whatever you feel passionate about, we want you to explore. We hope that one of those passions is medicine, and that you explore that passion through perhaps shadowing, volunteering at a nursing home or clinic, and/or working in a clinical project of some kind. We would also hope that you have a strong desire to be of service to others, and that you have exposure to those who are different than you in some way (whether socioeconomic, cultural, religious, etc.). Beyond that, we really encourage you to explore activities, organizations, experiences, and/or internships that are exciting for you and that help you to develop the characteristics detailed below.
Q. Do I have to do research to be a competitive applicant?
A. The field of medicine is constantly growing and changing, and therefore it is important for applicants to demonstrate a strong intellectual curiosity and a desire to push for new knowledge beyond what is known. This can come in the form of research (whether basic science, clinical, or completely not science-based research like a literature review or an economic study), but can also be demonstrated by perhaps creating a new student organization, or helping to write a chapter of a textbook, or creating a curriculum for at-risk kids that you tutor. Formal, structured research experience is not a requirement…but intellectual curiosity is certainly very important!
Q. What are the skills or characteristics that you are looking for?
A. Personal characteristics and learning skills are as important as demonstrated excellence in academic performance. There must be evidence of commitment, not only to acquire an excellent knowledge base but also to developing learning and problem-solving skills that will sustain life-long learning. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to service to others and to society in general. Finally, applicants should demonstrate well-informed and carefully explored reasons for seeking a career in medicine.
MCAT
Q. What are your average MCAT and your average GPA?
A. Our average MCAT for the accepted class entering Pritzker in 2007 is a 34. Our average GPA for the accepted class entering Pritzker in 2007 is a 3.79. We would also encourage you to consider the range of scores which were accepted. Our entering class has MCAT scores ranging from 26 through a 42, though the majority of students presenting scores in the 32–36 range. The range of GPAs for our entering class is from 3.24 to 4.0, with the majority of students presenting GPAs in the 3.4–3.8 range.
Q. What is the oldest MCAT score you accept?
A. We will accept MCAT scores from 2005 forward. If you sat for an MCAT earlier than 2005 that you would like considered, you need to apply for a waiver (scroll to bottom of page for instructions).
Q. What is the latest MCAT score you will accept?
A. The September 8, 2007 score is the latest MCAT we will accept for the 2008 Application cycle.
About Pritzker
Q. What does a Pass/Fail grading system mean?
A. Pass/Fail grading at the Pritzker School of Medicine is both a true pass/fail for years 1, 2, and 4. Third year—the clerkships—is a “graded” year with the grades of Honors, High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, and Fail. All four years are uncurved. You are evaluated on your master of the material, not your mastery compared to others in the class. These qualities—pass/fail and uncurved grading—result in a highly collaborative learning environment.
Q. Do you have options for dual degrees?
A. Opportunities for dual degrees abound at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. The University values interdisciplinary study and enables it wherever it can, and the immediate proximity of the medical school to the University campus makes pursuing such opportunities simple.
Q. Do you give merit-based scholarships?
A. We give $8 million of merit aid to each class. This scholarship money is guaranteed to be renewed each year and remains with the recipient as long the individual is a full-time student at Pritzker.
Q. Do you have an Early Decision Program? What are the deadlines?
A. Yes, and the deadline for having all elements of the application (verified AMCAS application, secondary application, letters of evaluation, MCAT, and fee or fee waiver) submitted or postmarked is September 1.
Q. Is Early Decision a good way to show my interest in Pritzker?
A. No, it is not a good strategy. Early Decision was created to allow applicants to apply to medical school who would be unavailable to interview during the usual application cycle. It compacts the application cycle into the summer and early autumn, and restricts the applicant to applying to only Pritzker. The decision for acceptance or not must be made by October 1. If the applicant is accepted, their application cycle is complete—they cannot apply to other medical schools. If they are not accepted, they are then allowed to begin applying to other schools. However, entering the application cycle in late September or early October will jeopardize the application at schools with rolling admissions.
A good way to show enthusiasm for a school is to tell them of you enthusiasm and why you are enthusiastic, and to submit all the elements of your application promptly.
International Student/Out-of-State Resident Issues
Q. Can I apply if I am not a US citizen or permanent resident?
A. Yes, we accept international students and usually have 3–8 in each class.
Q. Do you have different acceptance criteria for international students than for US citizens or permanent residents?
A. No. International students and domestic students are evaluated for admissions according to the same criteria.
Q. I completed my bachelor’s degree in another country. Will you accept those courses?
A. We ask that you complete at least a year of science coursework at a college or university in the US or Canada. If you completed your premed required courses outside of the US or Canada, then you should take at least a year of upper level science courses in a college or university in the US or Canada.
Q. How do you view a degree from Canada vs. the US?
A. We do not distinguish between degrees in the US or Canada.
Q. I’m currently transitioning from being an international resident to a US permanent resident. What would your advice be?
A. Complete your transition to permanent residency before you apply so that you can declare a state of residence and apply as a permanent resident. The status of permanent resident has important financial aid advantages. If you do not have at least a year of science at a college or university in the US or Canada, enroll in a program to give yourself that background. While taking your courses, continue exploring your motivation for your career choice through volunteer, community service and/or research.
Q. If I’m currently a student at a non-US medical school, can I transfer to Pritzker?
A. We accept transfer applications only if the person seeking transfer has a spouse or domestic partner who is a student, faculty, or staff at the University of Chicago. However, we do not accept transfers from non-US or Canadian medical schools under any circumstance.
Q. Do you give preference to Illinois residents?
A. We do not have a quota of Illinois residents in our class. Illinois provides the greatest number of applicants to our school and is also the state with the greatest number of matriculants.
Letters of Recommendation
Q. Where do I send my letters of recommendation?
A. Letters should be sent to: Office of Admissions, Pritzker School of Medicine, 924 E. 57th St., Suite 104, Chicago, IL 60637.
Q. My college doesn’t have a premedical committee to write me a letter, but they will collect letters and send them as one packet. On your secondary application, do I say that is a committee letter or multiple letters?
A. You would indicate multiple letters.
Q. Do my “science” letters need to be from a classroom science or can they be from my research PI?
A. Our strong preference is for “science” letters to be from a professor, instructor, or teaching assistant in a science course (lecture or lab component). The reason for this is the author will most likely have taught hundreds of premedical students in his/her tenure. Think about the impact of a phrase in your letter of recommendation such as, “I have been teaching Biology 101 at this institution for 20 years and of the approximately 1500 premedical students with whom I have interacted, I would easily rank Jimmy in the top 5%”…. versus… “Of the 10 research assistants I have had in my lab in the past 10 years, I would say Jimmy is in the top 5%.”
Q. I graduated many years ago. Can I send letters from my employer instead of from faculty?
A. We always enjoy reading letters from employers because they often speak to your overall responsibility, ability to work effectively in teams, your communication skills, your leadership, etc. But what is often missing in a letter from an employer is the ability to speak specifically to your potential for success in a rigorous science curriculum. We would recommend sending 2 letters from faculty who have taught you in the sciences, and then, if you wish, sending an additional 1–3 letters from employers or others with whom you have worked.
Q. What is the minimum and maximum number of letters I can send?
A. We ask for a minimum of 3 letters. We do not set a maximum, but would not suggest sending more than 5 or 6. We prefer quality in-depth letters from people who know you well, rather than giving preference to the number of letters received.
Q. Can the letters be faxed?
A. They can, but then need to be followed up with a hard copy.
Q. If my college sends letters electronically through Virtual Evals, do I also need to send hard copies?
A. No. By using Virtual Evals, your premedical advisor has made a promise to medical schools that all letters will be authentic and from a trusted source. That is why we do not ask for hard copies with VE, but we do with Faxed letters.
Q. Do you accept letters through other electronic services like Interfolio?
A. Yes, we do.
Interviewing
Q. Once my application is complete, how long will I need to wait before I hear a decision about an interview?
A. Your decision should be made within 4–6 weeks of the date on which your application was complete.
Please note that the applicant status page is only updated once per day.
Q. How do I schedule an interview?
A. If you are invited to interview, you will receive an email from our office letting you know how to schedule your interview day.
Q. What if I have another interview scheduled within the city of Chicago? Can you accommodate that so I only have to make one trip?
A. We would ask that you let us know as soon as possible that you are trying to coordinate interviews. We will make every attempt to accommodate your request, but it may not be possible given the dates of our open interview slots. The sooner you can let us know, the greater the odds are that we can make it work, but there are no guarantees.
Q. What is the structure of the day? How long will I be on campus?
A. You will begin your day at 8:30 a.m. with an Orientation session provided by admissions staff and faculty. Throughout the course of the day you will have three interviews: one with a member of the admissions staff, one with a faculty member, and one with a current medical student. You can expect each interview to last approximately 30 minutes. All interviewees will gather with current medical students for lunch followed by a tour of the campus. The Office of Multicultural Affairs will also host an optional information session during the afternoon for those interviewees interested in learning more about multicultural affairs, cultural competency issues, and our health care disparities curriculum. You should plan to be on campus from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Please book your travel arrangements accordingly. (Please note—the admissions office does not open until 8:00 a.m. each day. Please plan accordingly.)
Q. Do you have a student hosting program? How does it work?
A. We do have a student hosting program, and would encourage you to take advantage of it. When you are invited to interview, you will receive information about requesting a student host for the evening before the interview day. The student hosting coordinators will make housing assignments within 1–2 weeks of the interview date. As you may suspect, the schedules of medical students can greatly fluctuate from one week to the next! Therefore, we make final arrangements closer to the date of the interview rather than one or two months in advance so that you will not risk having your host change multiple times prior to your arrival in the city. Due to exam schedules and fluctuating number of interviewees who would like a host, it is possible that we will not be able to secure hosts for everyone who requests it. If you would feel more reassured in doing so, you may also wish to make a hotel reservation. Most hotels do not charge a fee for canceling provided you do so 24 hours in advance.
Q. Can I find out in advance who my interviewers are?
A. We do not announce interviewers prior to the interview date. You will learn who your interviewers are at the same time as all other candidates interviewing on that day—during the morning Orientation session.
Q. What is the Multicultural Affairs Session all about?
A. The Multicultural Affairs Session is a new addition to our interview day. We find that many of our applicants have an interest in issues of health care disparities, cultural competence, and/or may be from a multicultural background themselves and wish to know what services or programs are available at Pritzker. We will hold these sessions in the Biological Sciences Learning Center (where the bulk of your interview day activities will occur) and anticipate the session lasting for no more than one hour. This is a completely optional session, and your attendance (or lack of attendance) will not in any way influence your ultimate admissions decision. The session will staffed by faculty and staff from our Multicultural Affairs program and may include students from SNMA and other student organizations. This isn’t meant to be an evaluative session of any kind. We simply wish to provide this informational session for those who wish to participate. Since this is a new addition, we do not know how many interviewees may stay for the session. Please make whichever decision will work best with your interests.
Q. What if I have a last-minute problem?
A. Please be in touch with us as soon as possible to let us know what has happened and what you need to do (arrive late, not be able to attend at all, etc.). We certainly understand that flights can be delayed/cancelled, and no one can control when an illness might strike. Please just be in touch as soon as you can to let us know the situation and we will work with you to either reschedule your interview day or shift back interviews if you will be arriving late. MAKE SURE you take our phone number with you to the airport. If it is after hours call anyway and leave a message so that we can start working through the problem as soon as we arrive in the office.
