Changes: Address, E-mail, Phone Number

These changes have to be made through your account with AMCAS. We cannot change any of your information in our database.

Supplemental Applications

How many supplemental applications are sent out?
All applicants have the opportunity to submit the supplemental application.

How are supplemental applications sent to applicants?
They are sent via e-mail with a link and password attached.

Letters of Recommendation

Can I add more than the number of required recommendation letters to my file?
Yes. You may add as many personal, academic or other documents as you wish. However, be certain that you do complete the minimum requirements for letters of recommendation.

What are the minimum requirements for letters of recommendation?
Three academic letters, two of which must be from science professors and the third from a professor(s) of your choice. Alternatively, a committee letter from your school meets the requirement (see below).

What is considered an academic letter of recommendation?
An academic letter must be written by a professor(s) for whose class you were registered and received a grade. The professor must have actively taught the class and administered the grade.

What is considered a committee letter?
Many medical, dental and some other health professional schools require or prefer applicants to have a letter of evaluation from their undergraduate school's pre-health committee. This committee may be called the Pre-health Advisory Committee (PAC), and is composed of faculty, administrators and staff from across the university. The PAC Letter of Evaluation, or Committee Letter, is essentially a cover letter, and will be sent to the medical schools as part of a packet that includes other individual letters of recommendation that you will obtain from professors, instructors, research supervisors, and other mentors. As a cover letter, the Committee Letter serves several purposes: it introduces you to medical school admissions committees and it reviews your strengths and accomplishments. The committee letter is thorough, detailed, and individualized. A single letter from a pre-health advisor/counselor is not considered a committee letter.

If I am using a committee letter, do I need to use the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine recommendation cover sheet?
No.

Academic Requirements

In addition to thorough preparation in the basic sciences, applicants should have a strong liberal arts education with demonstrated accomplishment in the humanities and social sciences. A strong background in mathematics is highly recommended.

Acceptance of courses taken at foreign universities is determined on an individual basis at the discretion of the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. You should have completed most premedical requirements to receive serious consideration. All requirements must be met before matriculation.

Specific minimum course requirements
One year each of:

Biology, exclusive of botany (with lab)
General or inorganic chemistry (with lab)
Organic chemistry (with lab)
Physics (with lab)
English (including W courses taken outside of the English department)

We will accept AP credit if credit was awarded by your college/university and the course credit granted appears on your transcript.

International Students

Do you accept international applicants?
All applicants must have United States citizenship, or hold permanent resident or refugee/asylee status with the INS. A student visa classification is not acceptable.