Admissions - Staff

Office of Admissions and Students
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Please call (402) 559-2259 for information

Jeffrey W. Hill, M.D.
Associate Dean for Admissions and Students

Kristie D. Hayes, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs

Gigi R. Rogers, B.S. 
Administrative Coordinator

Jackie O'Hara
Staff Assistant

General Information

Application Procedure

The University of Nebraska College of Medicine and most other medical schools participate in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). This service assists students wishing to apply for possible admission to the first year of medical school. AMCAS does not render any admissions decisions or advise applicants where to submit applications or provide any other admissions advice. Each participating school is completely autonomous in reaching its own decisions. Direct application to an AMCAS school is not possible. Questions about the AMCAS application should be directed to:

American Medical College Application Service

Association of American Medical Colleges

Section for Student Services

2501 M Street, NW, Lbby-26

Washington, D.C. 20037-1131

E-mail: AMCAS@aamc.org

Electronic Application
Applicants can complete their AMCAS application online at http://www.aamc.org. 

An application should be submitted to AMCAS after June 1. Prior to submitting an AMCAS application, you must request that a complete set of official transcripts be forwarded directly to AMCAS by the registrar of each U.S. and Canadian college and/or university you have attended. AMCAS will not process an application until they have received both the application and all required official transcripts.

Requirements for Entrance
The MCAT and a minimum of 90 semester hours (three years of college work) from an accredited liberal arts and science college are required. To provide an opportunity for in-depth study, the completion of a college major or baccalaureate degree is strongly recommended. The undergraduate program must include the following course work with appropriate laboratory experiences:

• Biology (with lab) 8-10 semester hours
  Two semesters of general biology or zoology meet this requirement.

• General Chemistry (with lab) 8-10 semester hours
  This requirement should include a two semester complete course in general or inorganic chemistry.

• Organic Chemistry (with lab) 8-10 semester hours
  This requirement should include a two semester complete course in organic chemistry.

• Physics (with lab) 8-10 semester hours
  This requirement should include a two semester complete course in physics.

• Humanities and/or Social Sciences 12-16 semester hours
  Courses in the following may be used to fill this requirement: art, dramatic arts/theater, literature, english, music, foreign language, sociology, anthropology, psychology, child development, journalism, economics, geography, geology, speech, communications, history, government, political science, philosophy, religion, women's studies, and any ethnic studies courses.

• Calculus or Statistics 3 semester hours
  A one semester course in introductory calculus OR statistics will meet this requirement.

• English Composition minimum of 3 semester hours
  Students are required to have at least one semester of English composition or a comparable writing course. Students may not substitute a placement examination in lieu of this requirement.
• Biochemistry 3 semester hours
  
• Genetics 3 semester hours

Click here to see the list of schools and acceptable biochemistry and genetics courses.

In view of the rapidly broadening scope of medicine, courses in molecular biology, immunology and microbiology, though not required, are helpful in preparing for the basic science curriculum of medical school. Interpersonal communications, ethics, and personnel management are also good preparatory courses.

Pass-Fail Courses
The Admissions Committee WILL NOT accept pass-fail grades toward the required courses (listed above). In a situation where an applicant does not have the option of grades and only pass-fail courses are available, special consideration will be given if the applicant can produce a written evaluation of each course taken on a pass-fail basis.

CLEP and Advanced Placement (AP)
The Admissions Committee does not accept advanced placement credit and CLEP Subject Examination credit toward the College of Medicine's specific group requirements. Students who have AP credit for a required course are encouraged to take an upper level course in the same discipline, rather than taking the course to which they have already received AP credit for.

Processing of Applications by UNMC
In accordance with University policy, UNMC prohibits the denial of admission to applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or religious or political beliefs.

Upon receipt of an AMCAS application, the information is reviewed by the College of Medicine. An applicant will be notified of any course deficiencies and also will be requested to furnish the following materials to supplement the application:

1. Two letters of recommendation from faculty members are required; one in the pre-medical science area. An official report of a pre-medical or pre-health advisory committee will fulfill this requirement. The deadline to submit all letters of recommendation is January 15. For EDP applicants, the deadline to submit letters of recommendation is September 15.
2. One recent photograph (2" x 2")
3. Interview

DO NOT SEND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION UNTIL THEY ARE REQUESTED.

IT IS THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO VERIFY THAT ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS, ESPECIALLY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE BY THE DEADLINE.

Selection Factors
Selection is based on a total assessment of each candidate's motivation, interests, character, demonstrated intellectual ability, previous academic record and its trends, personal interview, scores on the MCAT, and general fitness and promise for a career in medicine. Admission is based on individual qualifications without regard to age, sex, sexual preference, race, national origin, handicap, or religious or political beliefs. Academic credentials are evaluated on the basis of course level and load, involvement in co-curricular activities or employment, and other influential factors. Cutoff levels for GPAs or for scores on the MCAT are not utilized; however, applicants are reminded of the competition for entrance and are advised to be realistic. Personal attributes are assessed through letters of reference and in the interview.

Strong preference is given to Nebraska residents, but a limited number of applicants from other states may be accepted. The University of Nebraska encourages, in particular, applicants from rural areas, small towns, or disadvantaged backgrounds to apply. The potential for service to underserved communities is taken into consideration during the preadmission evaluation.

Interview
An official interview with a member of the Admissions Committee of the College of Medicine is required for all Nebraska residents. Selected non-residents are interviewed by invitation only. Detailed information regarding interviews will be sent to an applicant when the AMCAS application is received. Interviews are necessary to complete your application file.

The primary objective of the interview is to focus on the applicant's personality, general functioning and capabilities; not upon intellectual achievements. Therefore, the applicant's academic credentials are not shared with the interviewer until the interview has been completed. Applicants can expect to be asked to respond to questions about the development of their thinking about a career in medicine, the positions of responsibility they have held, their leisure time pursuits or people who have been influential in their lives. Interviewers are especially interested in assessing candidates' abilities to develop rapport and to communicate ideas effectively. During the interview, applicants are given the opportunity to discuss or display those factors about which they feel particularly positive and also explain aspects of their application which may raise questions.

Residency Status
For consideration of Nebraska residency, students who reside or whose parents reside in a state other than Nebraska or who have moved to Nebraska in the last three years, must apply for residency. Changes in residency status cannot be implemented during the time an application is being considered for admission. For full information, as well as application forms for residency, contact the following:

Office of Academic Records

Ms. Crystal Quarterio, Administrative Technician

University of Nebraska Medical Center

984230 Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska 68198-4230

(402) 559-6468

 

Information for Re-Applicants
All re-applicants must reapply through AMCAS as outlined in the application procedure section. Re-applicants are strongly encouraged to identify, if possible, any factors which influenced the unfavorable decision and alter them before reapplying.

Information for Multicultural Applicants
The University of Nebraska College of Medicine is committed to increasing the number of physicians from ethnic groups currently underrepresented in the medical profession. Applications are encouraged from resident and non-resident Black Americans, American Indians, Alaskan and Hawaiian natives, Mainland Puerto Ricans, and Mexican Americans. The accomplishments of applicants will be evaluated with due consideration for their background. The College makes every effort to retain multicultural students. For specific information, please contact:

Office of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs

University of Nebraska Medical Center

984275 Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska 68198-4275

(402) 559-4437

 

page last modified Wednesday June 23, 2004