University of cincinnati letter of recommendation undergraduate

Office of Medical
Student Admissions & Special Programs

Medical Sciences Building Suite E-450
231 Albert Sabin Way
PO Box 670552
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0552

Mail Location: 0552
Email: MDadmissions@uc.edu
Phone: 513-558-7314

MD Admissions Overview

Preliminary Review

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine requires all students to apply through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Upon receipt of the AMCAS application, they are directed to the UC College of Medicine website to complete the UC On-Line Secondary Application.

Completed Application

An application is complete when the Admissions Office has received the following:

1. AMCAS Application
2. UC On-Line Secondary Application. If you need your Campus ID ("M number") to change your password while talking to our UC HelpDesk, you can look it up here.
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. MCAT scores that are no more than two years old at the time of applying. (For example, if you are applying for the 2024 entering class, you must submit scores for an administration taken any month of the following years: 2021, 2022, 2023. )
5. A front and back copy of your permanent residency card, if you are not a U.S. citizen.

All application materials, including MCAT scores, must be received by the regular admissions due date. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed.

Invitations to Interview

Interviews are by the invitation of the Committee on Admissions and are arranged at a mutually convenient time. The Committee selects approximately 650 applicants to interview. After a student is invited for an interview, they must complete a Questionnaire for Interview Confirmation (QIC) located on the MedOneStop Portal status page. The questionnaire gives the student an opportunity to address additional personal information and any unique circumstances.

Final Decision

The College of Medicine is committed to a holistic review of applicants at every stage of the admissions process. The Admissions Committee does not use a formula as a basis for any interview or admissions decision, and all applicants receive consideration.

The Committee on Admissions reviews the interview report along with letters of recommendation and all other materials supporting the application.

To assess the applicant's readiness for medical school, the committee looks carefully at the following:

• Academic Background: Grades and grade trends, all MCAT scores, post-baccalaureate and/or graduate experiences, honors courses, research experiences and any independent study courses.
• Personal Growth and Development: Maturity, integrity, leadership skills, empathy and interpersonal skills, involvement in activities helping others, exposure to diverse circumstances and settings, critical thinking skills, communication skills, and distance traveled (i.e. where the applicant has come from to where they are now).
• Professional Development: Understanding of humanistic dimensions of medicine, exploration of medicine through physician shadowing, distance traveled, demonstrated experiences in health care and service-oriented settings, knowledge of medical school demands and pressures, research productivity, external vs. internal pressures to pursue a medical career.

Decisions are communicated as soon as possible and are available to view on an applicant's MedOneStop Portal. Students are notified if they are accepted, placed on the Alternate List or denied acceptance within four to six weeks after interviewing.

Accepted applicants are required to respond to the Office of Admissions offer within two weeks. The University of Cincinnati abides by the AAMC Traffic Rules and students may hold multiple acceptances until the stated date per the AAMC. After that date, students may only hold one medical school acceptance.

Applicants may check their application status by following the below directions:

Step 1: Go to the MedOneStop Portal log-in with your MedOneStop Username and Password.

This information was sent to you in an email after you created your MedOneStop account to start the Secondary Application.

• If you have login difficulties, you must contact the UC HelpDesk at 513-556-HELP (4357) or helpdesk@uc.edu.
• The UC HelpDesk will ask for your Campus ID ("M number"), which you can find here.
• The Office of Admissions cannot help you with login difficulties; please contact the HelpDesk.

Step 2: Under the heading "View Application Status Page", click on "Click Here" to view your status. Applicants may monitor the below information on their personal MedOneStop status page:

• Receipt of UC Secondary Application
• Confirmation that letters of recommendation have been received
• Updates/changes to an admission status (i.e. interview and acceptance offers)

How to Send Updates to Your Application

In some cases, applicants may wish to send the Admissions Committee additional information and updates.

These include but are not limited to:

• Courses and grades (transcripts not required)
• Research articles (abstracts with authors only)
• Activities and shadowing experiences
• Honors and awards

Updates must be uploaded through your MedOneStop status page. All information must be in a portable document format (PDF). To change documents to a PDF, visit www.adobe.com.

Once uploaded, you can verify that your update has been received through your MedOneStop status page.

Please note that due to the high volume of submissions, the Admissions Office cannot verify the receipt of updates via email or phone.

The Admissions Office cannot process any updates received via U.S. Postal Service or other mail carrier.

You may withdraw your application by doing the following:

• Email MDAdmissions@uc.edu
• Include your name, AMCAS ID number and “withdraw” in the subject line.
  • EXAMPLE: Molly MedCat, ID:1234567, Application Withdraw from UCCOM

  Letters of recommendation must be processed through AMCAS. Please visit the AMCAS website for information on how recommenders should submit their materials.

  Once AMCAS has submitted a letter to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, applicants are giving permission to the college to certify the document.

  Letters of recommendation not processed through AMCAS and sent directly to the College of Medicine will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform recommenders of the proper protocol. View Frequently Asked Questions regarding Letters of Recommendation.

  Letters of Recommendation Requirements

  • Minimum number of letters: 1 committee packet or 3 individual letters
  • Maximum number of letters: 5

  The REGULAR MD PROGRAM:

  • Requires 1 packet from your pre-professional committee or 3 letters from individuals who can properly evaluate your strengths as an applicant and future clinician.
  • In addition to our letter requirement, we will accept up to a total of 5 letters. If you choose to submit 3 letters, we suggest you request 2 letters from individuals who can evaluate your performance in science coursework or medical settings.

  The MD/PhD PROGRAM:

  • Requires 3 letters from individuals who served in an instructional or advisory capacity. If you have questions regarding the MD/PhD program, please contact the program office at 513-558-2380.