Application Process and Timeline

The MCAT is required for admission and must be taken within three years PRIOR to entry to the MD Program. MCAT scores older than three years will not be considered for admission to the USF MD Program. We strongly encourage taking the MCAT exam in the spring or early summer so that your application will be completed and in the applicant pool for the start of the interview season. The interview season at USF generally begins at the end of August.

The final MCAT test that is accepted is those taken in September with results transmitted to your AMCAS application in October. Please note: You must inform us through your AMCAS Application if you are taking the MCAT at any time during the period of June – September.  Failure to do so will result in your application being processed and reviewed without your most recent MCAT scores available.

 

SECONDARY APPLICATION AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Upon receipt of preliminary AMCAS applications, applicants will be sent an email containing the Secondary Application instructions and URL.

 

The Secondary Application deadline is January 15, 2010.  All materials must be received before this deadline. No extensions will be granted!

 

A fully completed Secondary Application will consist of:

o    Electronically submitted Secondary Application

o    Non-Refundable Application Fee Payment

o    State Residency Affidavit (can be scanned and sent electronically)

o    Electronically submitted passport sized photograph (1)

o    A pre-professional committee evaluation or three faculty letters of recommendation (two from Science Faculty and one from non-science faculty. Faculty letters are letters from instructors who have taught you in a formal course.) *

o    Two personal/character letters of recommendation *

 

* NOTE: USF is participating in an AMCAS program regarding the electronic submission of letters of reference. Please refer to the AMCAS guidelines on how to properly execute your letters. DO NOT have letters mailed directly to USF COM.

 

It is recommended to have faculty members who know you well enough to comment in some depth, not only on your academic performance, but also on your personal qualities for a career in medicine write a recommendation letter. Both attributes are equally important. Writers should mention how long they have known you and in what capacity, and how well they know you. They should also put their remarks about you into some kind of comparative context with others for whom they have written letters.

 

Two personal/character letters can be from your family physician, employer, close friend, neighbor, alumni, or any person who can attest to your interest in medicine. Please do not submit letters from family members.

You can also provide a composite evaluation from your school's premed advisory committee in lieu of the three faculty letters, in addition to the two required personal character letters.

 

APPLICANT UPDATES

The Office of MD Admissions will only accept application updates AFTER an applicant has been invited to interview.  Interview decisions are made based on information provided in the AMCAS application, Secondary Application, and letters of recommendation. If applicable, additional information can then be submitted on the day of your interview. When submitting additional information, please indicate that you are an applicant invited to interview or we may not include updates with your file. Acceptable updates include any significant developments in scholarly endeavors or projects, or letters of recommendation.

 

Please do not send additional coursework or transcripts unless we have specifically requested such information from you. Also, updates will not be accepted if you are placed on the USF College of Medicine Waitlist.

 

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be arranged for applicants deemed most competitive by the Medical Student Selection Committee. The earliest notifications regarding an interview will begin in mid August and continue through April. 

 

Applicants will be scheduled for two personal, semi open file interviews. Each interview is an opportunity for a two-way exchange in which you can learn more about the school in addition to responding to questions intended to help the Committee on Admissions reach a decision as to the appropriateness of USF COM’s program for your particular needs and goals.

 

ACCEPTANCE

Acceptances are offered on a “rolling” basis between late October and May. All admissions decisions are made by the Medical Student Selection Committee and are final.  Candidates not offered an outright acceptance are placed on a wait list.  Once accepted, please submit transcripts from all secondary institutions (Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D., Post-Baccalaureate etc.). Please ensure that the transcripts are “final” and have your degree conferral date posted.

 

Please send transcripts to:

 

University of South Florida

Office of MD Admissions

12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 3

Tampa, FL 33612

 

COMMUNICATION WITH THE OFFICE OF MD ADMISSIONS

Please DO NOT call for updates on the status of your application. A timeline of notifications is available below. Invitations to complete the Secondary Application and to interview will be sent by e-mail. Please update your address or contact information through the AMCAS web site, not through the office of MD Admissions.

 

 

 

MD ADMISSIONS TIMELINE 2009-2010 CYCLE

 

2009

June 1, 2009

The primary application available to complete and submit through AMCAS.

 

Please note: The Office of MD Admissions reviews applications on a rolling admissions process. It is advised that students complete the application process as early as possible.

 

July 2009 – December 2009

AMCAS applications are received (electronic transmission of applicant’s data from AMCAS to USF may take 4-6 weeks after online application is submitted)

 

July 2009

Secondary application invitations are sent out.

 

August 1, 2009

Early Decision Applicants:  Deadline for submittal of AMCAS application.

 

August 15, 2009

Early Decision Applicants: Deadline for receipt of all secondary application information.

 

October 1, 2009

Early Decision applicants:  Applicants are notified of their admissions decision.

 

December 1, 2009

Deadline for submitting the AMCAS application.

 

August 2009 – March 2010

Applications are reviewed for possible interview invitation.

 

September 2009 – March 2010

Invitations to interview are sent out

 

October 2009 – May 2010

Offers of admission are made on a “rolling” basis

 

 

2010

January 15, 2010

Deadline for receipt of all secondary materials.

 

April 30, 2010

Deadline for MD/PhD applicants to withdraw Fall 2010 acceptance in order to comply with the AAMC Traffic Rule stated below:

By May 15 of the matriculation year (April 15 for schools whose first day of class is on or before July 30), April 30 for MD-PhD programs, each applicant who has received an offer of acceptance from more than one school or program choose the specific school or program at which the applicant prefers to enroll and withdraw his or her application, by written correspondence delivered by regular or electronic methods, from all other schools or programs from which acceptance offers have been received.

May 15, 2010

Deadline for Regular MD applicants to withdraw Fall 2010 acceptance in order to comply with the AAMC Traffic Rule stated below:

 

By May 15 of the matriculation year (April 15 for schools whose first day of class is on or before July 30), April 30 for MD-PhD programs, each applicant who has received an offer of acceptance from more than one school or program choose the specific school or program at which the applicant prefers to enroll and withdraw his or her application, by written correspondence delivered by regular or electronic methods, from all other schools or programs from which acceptance offers have been received. 

July 1, 2010

Deadline for accepted applicants to request a 1 year deferral.