AMCAS Application
The USF Morsani College of Medicine is a participating institution in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), a non-profit, centralized application-processing service for participating medical schools. Each individual interested in the college must file an application through AMCAS. The application is forwarded to USF by AMCAS once it is complete and verified and is screened by the Medical Student Selection Committee. Applicants are urged to apply as early as possible to give the Medical Student Selection Committee sufficient time for evaluation. Applications may only be accessed via AAMC web site at Association of American Medical Colleges - www.aamc.org
The AMCAS Application deadline is November 15, 2013.
MCAT
The MCAT is required for admission and must be taken within three years PRIOR to entry to the MD Program. MCAT scores older than three years will not be considered for admission to the USF MD Program. We strongly encourage taking the MCAT exam in the spring or early summer so that your application will be completed and in the applicant pool for the start of the interview season. The interview season at USF generally begins in September.
The final MCAT test that is accepted is those taken in September with results transmitted to your AMCAS application in October. Please note: You must inform us through your AMCAS Application if you are taking the MCAT at any time during the period of June - September. Failure to do so will result in your application being processed and reviewed without your most recent MCAT scores available.
Secondary Application and Letters of Recommendation
Upon receipt of preliminary AMCAS applications, applicants will be sent an email containing the Secondary Application instructions and URL.
The Secondary Application deadline is January 5, 2014. All materials must be received before this deadline. No extensions will be granted!
A fully completed Secondary Application will consist of:
- Electronically submitted Secondary Application
- Non-Refundable Application Fee Payment
- State Residency Affidavit (can be scanned and sent electronically)
- A pre-professional committee evaluation or three faculty letters of recommendation (two from Science Faculty and one from non-science faculty. Faculty letters are letters from instructors who have taught you in a formal course.) *
- Two personal/character letters of recommendation *
* NOTE: USF is participating in an AMCAS program regarding the electronic submission of letters of reference. Please refer to the AMCAS guidelines on how to properly execute your letters. DO NOT have letters mailed directly to USF MCOM.
It is recommended to have faculty members who know you well enough to comment in some depth, not only on your academic performance, but also on your personal qualities for a career in medicine write a recommendation letter. Both attributes are equally important. Writers should mention how long they have known you and in what capacity, and how well they know you. They should also put their remarks about you into some kind of comparative context with others for whom they have written letters.
Two personal/character letters can be from your physicians you've shadowed, research mentors, or employers. Please do not submit letters from family members or peers.
You can also provide a composite evaluation from your school's premed advisory committee in lieu of the three faculty letters, in addition to the two required personal character letters.
Applicant Updates
The Office of MD Admissions will only accept application updates AFTER an applicant has been invited to interview. Interview decisions are made based on information provided in the AMCAS application, Secondary Application, and letters of recommendation. If applicable, additional information can then be submitted on the day of your interview and after. When submitting additional information, please indicate that you are an applicant invited to interview or we may not include updates with your file. Acceptable updates include any significant developments in scholarly endeavors or projects, or letters of recommendation.
Please do not send additional coursework or transcripts unless we have specifically requested such information from you. Also, updates will not be accepted if you are placed on the USF Morsani College of Medicine Waitlist.
Interviews
Interviews will be arranged for applicants deemed most competitive by the Medical Student Selection Committee. The earliest notifications regarding an interview will begin in September and continue through April.
Applicants will be scheduled for two personal, open file interviews. Each interview is an opportunity for a two-way exchange in which you can learn more about the school in addition to responding to questions intended to help the Committee on Admissions reach a decision as to the appropriateness of USF MCOM’s program for your particular needs and goals.
Acceptance
Acceptances are offered on a "rolling" basis between late October and May. All admissions decisions are made by the Medical Student Selection Committee and are final. Candidates not offered an outright acceptance are placed on a wait list. Once accepted, please submit transcripts from all secondary institutions (Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D., Post-Baccalaureate etc.). Please ensure that the transcripts are "final" and have your degree conferral date posted.
Please send transcripts to:
University of South Florida
Office of MD Admissions
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 3
Tampa, FL 33612
Communication with the Office of MD Admissions
Please DO NOT call for updates on the status of your application. A timeline of notifications is available below. Invitations to complete the Secondary Application and to interview will be sent by e-mail. Please update your address or contact information through the AMCAS web site, not through the Office of MD Admissions.