Admission Requirements

Legal residents of North Carolina are considered for admission. North Carolina residents must complete the NC Residency Application at www.ncresidency.org.
Recent graduates from the UNC System Institutions (within the last 5 years) are eligible for consideration, regardless of state of residence. Please visit the link for a comprehensive list of the qualifying institutions.  All applicants must be United States citizens or United States permanent residents. 

Minimum Criteria for Consideration

In State Applicants:

  • The minimum MCAT for in-state applicants is 500.
  • The minimum science undergraduate GPA for in-state applicants is 3.0.

Out of State Applicants:

  • The minimum MCAT for out-of-state applicants is 500.
  • The minimum science undergraduate GPA for out-of-state applicants is 3.0.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required of all applicants who seek admission to the Brody School of Medicine. Information about this test, which is administered throughout the calendar year, may be obtained online at www.aamc.org/students. Applicants are asked to take this test in the spring, but no later than fall, of the year prior to their desired matriculation date in medical school, and to have the results sent to the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.  The incoming classes average between a 506-508. Earning a score near or above the average builds an academically competitive application.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution within the U.S. or Canada is required for admission. Candidates may apply prior to completion of the bachelor’s degree. However, the degree program and all required prerequisite coursework must be completed by June 30th of the year of matriculation. Failure to meet these requirements are grounds for rescinding an offer of admission. No specific undergraduate major is required, but regardless of the major interest area, the applicant must have completed one year of each of the following courses (preferably prior to taking the MCAT, and prior to admission); one year of laboratory must be completed where specified below:

  • One year of General Biology or Zoology with laboratory (Botany alone is not sufficient to meet this requirement) – 8 total hours
  • One year of General Chemistry with laboratory (must include both qualitative and quantitative analysis) – 8 total hours
  • One year of Organic Chemistry with laboratory – 8 total hours
  • One year of Physics with laboratory – 8 total hours
  • One year of English (or writing intensive courses) – 6 total hours
  • One semester of social sciences/humanities – 3 total hours
  • One semester of biochemistry – 3 total hours; and
  • One semester of statistics/biostatistics – 3 total hours

All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of a “C” or above. A “C-” on the plus/minus scale is considered lower than a “C.” Core science coursework (Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry) must have been completed within the last 5 years. The five-year deadline applies to the date of graduation, not the date of the course(s) completed. Outdated coursework can be completed by pursuing upper level coursework, including graduate coursework, as opposed to retaking undergraduate courses previously completed. Students with below the minimum GPA in undergraduate coursework must complete graduate or post-baccalaureate coursework above the average, with a minimum of 24 hours completed at the time of application.

While not required, an additional year of English or writing intensive courses and advanced level Biology courses are strongly recommended.  Advanced level Biology courses include:

  • Anatomy
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Histology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology 

This is not an exhaustive is of all available advanced level Biology courses. Please check with your local college or university for all possible options.

Special statement for Prospective Students:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters, many colleges and universities are providing students with the option to receive a letter grade or a pass/fail grade. We accept pass/fail for this time period only. Courses from Spring 2021 and beyond must be completed with a letter grade.