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Admissions

Our goal is to select a well-balanced, diverse class to which each student will contribute their talents and experiences to the UCI community, and eventually their patients.

Information provided by the AMCAS application is used for preliminary screening to select which applicants will receive a secondary application. Once notified, these applicants are asked to submit additional materials, including letters of recommendation, supplemental information forms and a nonrefundable application fee of $120 within 30 days of notification.

In addition to demonstrating scholastic achievement and a solid academic foundation, prospective students should also have leadership experience and have participated in work or extracurricular activities that demonstrate a desire or sensitivity to working with people from diverse communities. Clinical exposure and research experience, as well as community service, also are highly desirable. Careful consideration is given to applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds (i.e., disadvantaged through social and/or economic conditions).

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, be permanent residents in possession of a green card, or be approved through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The medical school also participates in the WICHE Professional Student Exchange Program for applicants from certain western states that do not have medical schools. We do not accept transfer students.

Letters of recommendation

Should you receive a secondary application, a minimum of three to six letters of recommendations are strongly advised. All letters should be submitted through AMCAS, not to the admissions office. Letters of recommendation are an integral part of an applicant’s file and should corroborate the main activities an applicant has been engaged in. The Admissions Committee relies on these letters to get a view of the applicant as seen by others. The letters are used to gain insight into an applicant’s personal qualities and the applicant’s involvement in extracurricular and volunteer activities, research and clinical exposure. It is suggested that two letters be submitted by senior professors that can evaluate an applicant’s academic ability. Keep in mind, letters should be submitted from individuals that can address the quality and extent of involvement that an applicant had in the activities they feel were most meaningful to them.