School of Medicine Admissions
Selection Criteria
Size and competitiveness of the applicant pool
For the past several years, the University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine has seen a rise in the number of applicants seeking admission to the medical school for its 156 openings. From 2003-2006, the total number in the applicant pool remained around 2500. Between 2006 -2008 applications reached the 3000 mark, and for 2008-2009, the pool size was 3500. For selection of the entering class for the fall of 2008, the Colorado applicant pool, along with the WICHE schools of Montana and Wyoming provided applicants totaling 700. As evidence of the quality of this group, approximately 400 of these students were invited for interview. Approximately 1,278 non-resident applicants completed their secondary applications, and from this cohort, 270 were invited for interviews.
The grade point average for the 156 entering medical students in the fall of 2008 was a 3.72 and the MCAT mean a 32.5 Q. Compared to the national average, (GPA 3.65, and MCAT mean 30.8 P) Colorado ranks higher in the overall entering statistics. Selection criteria are validated by outcome measures such as retention, successful progression through the curriculum, and graduation rates.
Process Oriented Aspects of Admissions
Secondary applications are requested from all candidates. Once this internet document is completed and a $100 application fee is paid, the file is reviewed for consideration of interview.
Applicants are required to obtain letters to support their candidacy for admission. We require three to five letters; with two from science faculty and one non-science faculty. Additional letters can come from a clinical experience, research experience, or a current job as the letter transmits cogent information about the applicant’s work. Obtaining a letter from the employer who you are working with during the application year is very important. Evidence of a successful engagement in a post-college experience is considered a valuable addition to other letters that also may be part of your file. Some colleges offer a pre-medical advising system and the committee writes letters for their students. If a committee letter is obtained, that is sufficient to meet the medical school letter of recommendation requirements. All letters must be transmitted electronically through AMCAS’ application process. Please visit the AMCAS website for further information on how to apply and submit letters of recommendation, www.aamc.org/students/amcas/faq/amcasletters.htm.
Students are interviewed on their choice of either a Monday or a Friday. Interviews begin in late September and conclude around the first of March. Interviews are one on one, and at the time of the interview, only the AMCAS personal statement and experiences from the application are available to interviewers, along with the two required Colorado essays.
