Guide to Admission: University of Maryland School of Medicine

The University of Maryland School of Medicine was the first public medical school in the U.S., the first university to build a teaching hospital, and the first to offer residency programs. Faculty and alumni have accomplished historic surgical feats and made numerous important breakthroughs in the study of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, and influenza. Everyone’s journey to medicine is unique. This is a beautiful, demanding, challenging and rewarding field. Having genuine motivation for the work is so important — your patient’s life will depend on it.

Why University of Maryland School of Medicine?

The Maryland School of Medicine is a well-funded, highly ranked university with a rich history in medical education. It’s in the top 10 most productive public research institutions in the country, has over 30 treatment facilities around the world, and houses an enormous amount of top-tier departments, institutes, and medical and research centers. UMSOM is recognized as a leader in translational medicine and boasts 358 granted patents and over 30 start-up companies. The school has received $563 million in extramural funding.

School Rankings

• #27 in Best Medical Schools: Research
• #16 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care
• #60 in Public Health
• #86 in Most Diverse Medical Schools
• #95 in Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas

MD Programs and the Renaissance Curriculum

In 2020, the University of Maryland School of Medicine introduced its “Renaissance Curriculum.” The goal of the new curriculum is to “Actualize the Renaissance Physician; life-long learners who are clinically excellent and possess humanism, professionalism, scholarship, leadership, critical thinking and attention to social justice and diversity.” This includes more extensive patient interaction, deep longitudinal learning, and a new focus on encouraging students to explore their interests early in their academic careers.

Available Programs:

• Doctor of Medicine (Traditional 4-year MD)
• Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD)
• MD/Master of Public Health (MD/MPH)
• MD/Master in Clinical Research (MD/MSCR)
• MD/Master in Cellular & Molecular Biomedical Science (MD/MS CMBS)
• MD/Master in Bioengineering (MD/MS BIOE)
• MD/Master in Health Administration (MD/MHA)
• MD/Master in Public Policy (MD/MPP)
• MD/Master in Business Administration (MD/MBA)

The Application Process

All applications to the University of Maryland School of Medicine must be initiated through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Your AMCAS application is the first of a two-stage process and must be on file with AMCAS by the November 1 deadline. Applications are accepted from citizens and permanent residents of the United States, citizens of Canada, and DACA students in the State of Maryland only. All AMCAS applicants are invited to submit a University of Maryland School of Medicine secondary application after the AMCAS application is received. The deadline for the receipt of the secondary application is December 1.

It is strongly recommended that the application forms, letters of recommendation and all other supporting credentials be filed as early as is possible in the application period.

Important Admissions Dates

Deadline Date	Milestone
August 1	Early Decision AMCAS® application deadline
September 30	The last MCAT date accepted for the current cycle
October 1	AMCAS® application deadline for the MD/PhD Program
October 15	Secondary Application deadline for the MD/PhD Program
November 1	AMCAS Application deadline for the MD, MD/Master's, and MD/RuralMD Programs
December 1	Secondary Application deadline for the MD, MD/Master's, and MD/RuralMD Programs

Requirements and Preparation

Medicine is the practice of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. In order to become a practicing physician, you must follow these steps:

1. Earn an undergraduate degree and complete all medical school prerequisites.
2. Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).
3. Earn your medical school degree (4 years).
4. Complete residency training in your desired field (3-7 years).
5. Potentially complete a fellowship in a sub-specialty area (1-3 years).

As you explore medicine as a career possibility, make sure you ask for help from trusted sources along the way. Close, frequent communication with your premedical advisor is very important. Schools generally require a minimum of a C (not a C-) in all prerequisite courses. Be sure to take the MATH and PHYS courses required for your academic major. Eight semester hours of Physics with two labs is the requirement.

Allopathic vs. Osteopathic Medicine

Allopathic medical schools award the M.D. degree after four years of study. Osteopathic medical schools award the D.O. degree after four years of study. Osteopathic physicians consider the whole person, including physical, emotional, and spiritual components. Admission to osteopathic programs, while competitive, is often possible for students whose grades and especially test scores are slightly below those of students generally competitive for allopathic admission.