Application Requirements

Dr. Student holding a sign that says my white coat means

Guided by our mission to improve the health and well-being of Nevadans and their communities, the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) offers an individualized, supportive environment that prepares medical students for personal and professional success.

Each year, we welcome 70 new students to our community following a comprehensive, balanced, and holistic review of applications.

We seek students who will contribute to our culture of inclusion, integrity, innovation, trust and respect; who demonstrate passion for medicine in their education and experiences; and who are committed to life-long learning and applying their knowledge in the care of others.

Selection Criteria

Thank you for your interest in UNR Med. Our admissions committee engages in a holistic review of each application to identify students who reflect and fit with our vision, mission and core values and whose application demonstrates: 

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  • A passion for medicine.
    • A mature understanding about the role, challenges, and ethical responsibilities of a physician.
    • Examples that demonstrate your commitment to serving and caring for others with compassion and cultural sensitivity.
    • Examples of activities that illustrate how you have nurtured and prioritized your passion for medicine through purposeful exposure to health care.
    • Examples of paid and/or volunteer clinical experiences that include direct patient contact and care.
    • Familiarity with current affairs in healthcare and medicine.
    • An awareness and acceptance of the personal and financial investment required to become a physician.
    • A wellness mindset in relationship to one’s own physical and mental health.
  • A commitment to academic excellence.
    • Self-motivation and accountability for one’s own learning.
    • A commitment to continuous improvement, including the demonstrated ability to solicit and accept feedback.
    • Grades and test scores indicative of an excellent foundational understanding of molecular and macro systems including biomolecules, molecules, cells, and organs and of the psychological, socio-cultural, and biological factors that influence health.
    • Examples of engagement in courses, scholarly projects or research that demonstrate the application of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and quantitative reasoning.
    • A commitment to life-long learning.
  • Professional readiness for medical school.

    UNR Med seeks students who are prepared to meet UNR Med’s code of student professionalism and whose application demonstrates the development of the AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students. 

  • Personal attributes that align with UNR Med core values.

    UNR Med’s vision of a Healthy Nevada is made manifest by the strength of our people. We value prospective students who are innovative problem solvers, who demonstrate a capacity and commitment to continuous improvement, who will actively contribute to a respectful, inclusive, diverse and socially engaged community, and who demonstrate compassion, care and cultural sensitivity toward others.

Application Information

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  • COVID-19

    The COVID-19 pandemic has created both challenges and opportunities for individuals on a pathway to medicine. While the admission committee will continue to assess candidates based upon our selection criteria,the admissions committee will consider and is sensitive to individual experiences, recognizes that many traditional clinical and community service opportunities were limitedand restricted, and is aware of the interruptions and impact of courses moving to an online environment. The committee also values and encourages applicants to reflect on how COVID-19 has influenced their passion for medicine, and helped them to develop competencies that have better prepared them for medical school and the practice of medicine.

  • Early Decision Program (EDP) Applicants

    If you meet all residency, MCAT & GPA requirements in any of the categories below, you are invited to apply via the Early Decision Program (EDP).  Applying early decision means that you submit one AMCAS application to your preferred medical school by August 1 and that school will notify you with an admissions decision on October 1.

    • If you receive an EDP admission to UNR Med, you will have two weeks to accept the offer. If you decline the offer, you will not be eligible to enroll but may apply to other medical schools.
    • If you are not offered an EDP admission at UNR Med, the Admissions Committee may vote to 1) move your application to be reviewed again as part of the regular pool of applications, or 2) deny your application to UNR Med. If you are not offered an EDP admission, you are eligible to apply to other medical schools. 

    For more information about how to designate EDP on your AMCAS application, please visit AMCAS EDP. 

  • Re-applicants

    If you are reapplying to UNR Med, you must re-submit the AMCAS and Secondary applications and confirm that you meet all current requirements for application including residency, MCAT and GPA, and prerequisites.
    Please Note: The committee will accept two (2) letters of evaluation from the immediate past application cycle as long as they were written no more than two (2) years prior to the date you apply and meet all current requirements. The third letter must be new and dated for the current admission cycle year.

  • International, Permanent Resident or DACA Applicants
    • All applicants must be U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients who meet residency, MCAT score and GPA requirements.
  • Transfer Applicants

    At this time, the School of Medicine is not accepting transfer applications.

Eligibility to Apply

Before submitting an AMCAS application, candidates for admission must meet all residency, MCAT and GPA requirements listed under Admission Category A or Category B. 

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  • Category A - Nevada Connected Applicants

    I can answer YES to one (1) of the following:

    • I am a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident or DACA recipient who has resided in Nevada for a minimum of 12 months immediately prior to November 1 of the current application year; or
    • I am a U.S. Citizen and have a parent who has resided in Nevada, for a minimum of 12 months immediately prior to November 1 of the current application year; or
    • I graduated from a Nevada high school; or
    • I am a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in Nevada as a permanent duty assignment, pursuant to military orders, or the spouse, family or legal guardian of such a person; or
    • I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year NSHE institution (University of Nevada, Reno; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Nevada State College or Great Basin College), or
    • I was previously or am currently classified as an in-state student at one of the above 4-year NSHE institutions for the purposes of tuition, or
    • I have a parent, grandparent, or sibling who is a graduate or current student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, or
    • I am the spouse or dependent of someone who has relocated or transferred to Nevada specifically for the primary purpose of permanent full-time employment or to establish a business in Nevada within the last twelve (12) months prior to applying to UNR Med, and

    I can answer YES to ALL of the following requirements:

    • An AMCAS calculated, minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.80 or a cumulative GPA of 3.50 in graduate courses, and
    • An MCAT score of 497 or above, and

    Residency for Tuition Purposes: Meeting the above criteria does not result in classification as a Nevada resident for purposes of tuition. Eligibility for in-state tuition is determined by the Nevada System of Higher Education and requires submission of a Residency Form as part of the Secondary application process.

  • Category B - Out-of-State Applicants

    UNR Med welcomes applications from out-of-state residents whose applications demonstrate clear and compelling motivations for pursuing their medical education at UNR Med. However, it is important to note that only 10% of applicants invited to interview are out-of-state applicants and that of the 70 students in our incoming class, only 5-7 are from our out-of-state applicant pool.

    To be considered for an interview, out-of-state residents must reside in, and have documentation of legal residency in one of the following states or California counties, for 12 months prior to Nov 1 of their application year:

    • Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah or Wyoming, or
    • California counties of Alpine, El Dorado, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, and Sierra, and

    Out-of State applicants must also meet the following GPA and MCAT criteria:

    • An AMCAS calculated, minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.30 or a cumulative GPA of 3.50 in graduate courses, and
    • An MCAT score of 500 or above.

    Residency Exemptions: Applicants who meet out-of-state GPA and MCAT criteria, but do not reside in one of the above states or California counties (or have not resided in these states or counties for the required 12 months), must complete a Residency Exemption prior to completing a Secondary application. To submit an exemption, email officeofadmissions@med.unr.edu a short summary of your connections to Nevada.

    Residency for Tuition Purposes: Classification as a Nevada resident for purposes of tuition is determined by the Nevada System of Higher Education and requires submission of a Residency Form as part of the Secondary application process.

Application Requirements

To be considered for an interview at UNR Med, applicants must:

  • Provide documentation, upon request, that they are a U.S. Citizen, a permanent resident of the U.S., or a DACA recipient;
  • Complete a minimum of 90 semester credits from an accredited U.S. postsecondary institution at the time of application;
  • Meet all required prerequisites;
  • Meet all criteria, including MCAT and GPA minimums, as listed under Category A (Nevada Connected Applicants) or Category B (Out-of-State Applicants).

Course/Credit Prerequisites

The following course/credit prerequisites must be complete at the time of application, or the applicant must provide a plan to complete all courses/credits prior to August 1 of the year of matriculation to UNR Med.

  • Biology: 15 credits including two (2) credits Biology lab and six (6) credits of upper division. The following upper-division courses are not eligible: Special Topics, Research, Advanced Mentored Research, Survey Courses, or Dissection Team.
  • Chemistry: eight (8) credits, including a minimum of two (2) credits of lab
  • Organic Chemistry: eight (8) credits, including a minimum of two (2) credits of lab
  • Physics: eight (8) credits, including a minimum of two (2) credits of lab.
  • Biochemistry: three (3) credits
  • Psychology or Sociology: three (3) credits

Please note the following prerequisite requirements: 

  • All listed credit requirements are in semester hours. To convert quarter credits to semester credits, use the AMCAS Grade Conversion Guide.
  • All courses used to meet prerequisites must have a letter grade of "C-" or above.
  • Pass/fail, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, or audit in lieu of a letter grade will not meet prerequisite requirements unless the course was not available as a graded course due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits that are accepted and listed on an official undergraduate transcript may be used to satisfy lower-division prerequisites, excluding labs.
  • Lower division (100-200 level) prerequisite courses may be taken at any accredited college or university, including community or junior colleges. .
  • All courses used to meet prerequisites must be completed at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution.

The following will not meet prerequisite credit requirements:

  • Correspondence or CLEP (college-level exam programs-test out)
  • Professional school courses

Suggested Coursework

In preparation for medical school, applicants are encouraged to take courses in a variety of disciplines, including:

  • Courses that develop critical, reflective, and creative thinking skills; reading comprehension; and written communication skills (examples include history, literature, ethics and philosophy).
  • Courses that examine the psychological, economic, systemic and socio-cultural factors that influence health and well-being; and
  • Upper-division courses such as Microbiology, Genetics, Statistics, Calculus and Immunology that develop skills and knowledge in preparation for the basic science medical school curriculum.

Test Requirements

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  • Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
    • Applicants must take the MCAT no later than September of their year of application year and meet MCAT minimum scores based upon their categorization as a Nevada or out-of-state applicant.
    • All eligible scores from the new version of the MCAT, offered after 2015, are accepted but applicants are strongly encouraged to take the MCAT no more than three years prior to their date of application.  
  • Altus Assessments
    • Register to complete the required Altus Assessments (CASPer & Duet are required, Snapshot is optional) by October 1 of your application year.
    • Please note that there are limited testing dates available for your Altus assessments so don’t delay registering.
    • You will need to provide your AMCAS ID ​and ​a piece of government-issued photo ID. ​
    • Please use an email address that you check regularly; there may be updates to the test schedule.
    • Please direct any inquiries about Altus assessments to ​Support Team via the help chat bubble on the Altus webpage.
    • Altus honors the AMCAS Fee Assistance Program. If you have been approved for the Fee Assistance Program, you can request a fee waiver from Altus to complete your assessments.

Letters of Evaluation

Please note the following regarding letters of evaluation:

  • UNR Med requires, and will review, three letters of evaluation. If more than three letters are submitted, the admissions committe reviewers may not read additional letters. 
  • It is recommended that your letters of evaluation be written within six (6) months and no more than two (2) years prior to the application submission date.
  • We encourage you to provide letter writers with a link to or copy of the AAMC Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Evaluation.
  • Please remind letter writers to use official letterhead and to sign the letter of evaluation.
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  • One (1) Clinical Letter of Evaluation
    • One clinical evaluation, written by a physician (MD or DO), a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or a Physician Assistant (PA) who can evaluate, based upon direct observation, an applicant’s interactions within a clinical environment, pre-professional competencies, and passion for medicine.
    • COVID-19 Waiver: A waiver of this requirement is available for applicants unable to secure a clinical letter of evaluation written by an MD, DO, PA or NP as a direct result of COVID-19. It is advised that the alternative letter of evaluation be submitted from an individual who has directly observed the applicant serving or caring for others.  
  • One (1) Academic Letter of Evaluation
    • One academic evaluation written by an instructor or faculty member with direct knowledge of your commitment to academic excellence and who can provide information about your thinking and reasoning skills as well as pre-professional competencies that directly impact academic performance.
  • One (1) Other Letter of Evaluation
    • Your third required letter should be from someone who can offer a professional evaluation of how your pre-professional competencies, personal attributes, and life experiences have prepared you for success in medical school and as a physician. We suggest a supervisor, research advisor, volunteer coordinator, clinical provider, or a faculty member.

Application Information

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  • AMCAS
    • UNR Med participates in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). If you meet all application requirements (including residency, MCAT, GPA, and prerequisites) your first step in the application process is to create an AMCAS account and designate UNR Med as a school to receive your AMCAS application.
    • Upon payment, or confirmation that you are approved for fee assistance, your application will undergo verification by AMCAS and then be released to UNR Med.
  • AAMC Fee Assistance Program

    • The 2021 application fee for AMCAS is $170 and $40 per each additional school. We encourage applicants with financial need to apply to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP). In addition to waiving the AMCAS application fee for up to 20 medical schools, the FAP program provides free MCAT preparation materials and a discounted MCAT fee.

    • Please note that eligibility for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program has been adjusted to support those experiencing temporary financial setbacks due to COVID-19. Please visit the Fee Assistance Program Coronavirus FAQS to learn more.

  • Secondary Application & Essay Questions

    Upon receipt of your AMCAS application and MCAT score, UNR Med will invite you to submit a Secondary Application and the $75 application fee. If you are accepted to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program, the application fee will be waived.

    The  2021-22 Secondary application will include the following essay questions.

    1. What does UNR Med’s vision of Healthy Nevada mean to you? What do you consider the most significant obstacle that Nevada must overcome to achieve our vision and how would you, as a UNR Med student, actively engage in creating a solution? (500 words)
    2. Describe how your education and experiences have prepared you to deliver culturally sensitive care to diverse, underserved and vulnerable populations. (300 words)
    3. Describe a time when you faced a significant life crisis, a personal struggle, or an academic or professional failure. How did you respond, what did you learn, and how did the experience influence your future actions? (300 words) 
    4. How has serving others contributed to your personal growth and motivation to attend medical school? (300 words) 
    5. What skills, attributes and strengths have you developed that will make you an asset in a team environment? (300 words)
    6. You are invited to provide a brief statement regarding anything not previously addressed or disclosed that you would like considered during the review of your application. (500 words) 
  • Interviews

    Medical school interviews are an integral part of UNR Med’s holistic review of medical school applications and provide an important tool in the assessment of selection criteria.

    To offer a safe experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews for the 2021-22 application cycle will be virtual. Applicants selected for an interview will receive an email invitation with information about UNR Med’s Multi-Mini Interview structure and instructions for accessing our online interview platform.

Learn more about the admissions process and timeline

Admissions Process and Timeline