Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

What are the residency requirements for admission to BSOM? 

Legal residents of North Carolina or individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a UNC System institution within the last five years are eligible for admissions consideration. All applicants must be United States citizens or United States permanent residents. 

How is NC residency determined? 

North Carolina residents must complete the NC Residency Application to confirm NC residency status. 

Do you offer information sessions or tours for prospective applicants?  

Currently no sessions are offered for prospective students, and we do not conduct individual tours. Please visit our website for updates regarding the availability of these sessions.  

Requirements

Does BSOM require a specific major?  

BSOM does not require a specific major. However, all applicants should have a transcript that demonstrates mastery of core science coursework.  

Does BSOM accept classes taken for AP credit?  

BSOM does not accept AP coursework for any prerequisite requirements. Applicants with AP credits should pursue upper-level coursework to meet the prerequisite requirements.  

Does BSOM accept transfer credits taken from early college programs or at community college.  

Yes, BSOM does accept credits from early college programs as long as the course was taken for a letter grade. BSOM also accepts courses taken at a community college prior to transferring to a 4-year college or university. However, for applicants who need to complete prerequisite coursework, we strongly encourage these courses are taken at a 4-year college or university.  

Does BSOM accept online courses?  

BSOM does not accept online courses for any prerequisite requirements. Applicants with unique circumstances who were unable to take a course in person are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Admissions for approval.  

What is the earliest date BSOM will accept for completed prerequisites?

Prerequisite coursework taken within 5 years of application to BSOM is accepted. The 5 years refers to the date of graduation from the degree program during which the courses were taken, not the date the course was completed.  

MCAT

How long is my MCAT score valid?  

BSOM accepts MCATs taken within 3 years of application. Please refer to the application procedure portion of the website for specific dates.  

What is the latest MCAT score accepted?  

MCAT scores must be available for viewing prior to the application deadline. As scoring takes ~30 days, the latest MCAT accepted is typically one month prior to the application deadline. Please refer to the application procedure portion of the website for specific dates.  

How does BSOM view multiple MCAT scores?

All MCAT scores are available to the admissions committee. While the committee evaluates the most recent score, all scores will be considered as part of the evaluation.  

Letters of Recommendation

Does BSOM require a letter of recommendation from a physician? 

BSOM requires a letter of recommendation from evaluators who have spent time with the applicant during patient-facing experiences. Letters from research or professional mentors cannot be used to meet this requirement. We strongly recommend that at least one of the clinical letters is written by a physician, but all letters must be written by a member of the clinical team.  

Can I submit a letter of recommendation for my letter writer? 

No, all letters of recommendation must be submitted by the letter writer to AMCAS. We do not accept letters submitted through any other method.  

Does BSOM accept letters of intent or additional letters?  

No, BSOM does not accept any letters of intent, or any additional letters not submitted as part of the application through AMCAS.  

Experiences

Are there any required clinical experiences for applications? 

We recognize that many opportunities are available to prospective applicants looking to gain clinical experience. While we do not require any specific type of experience, all applicants to BSOM must have patient-facing experiences at the time of application. 

Is research required?

While research is not required, we encourage all applicants to pursue well-rounded experiences, which can include research.  

How does BSOM view community service?  

All applicants to BSOM should have volunteer experience listed on their application. While we do not require any specific type of volunteering, we encourage applicants to pursue experiences that are meaningful to them and their community.  

Does BSOM consider any additional experiences/hours that were not included in the initial application?  

No, during the review process, BSOM only considers experiences that were submitted at the time of application. We do not accept emails or letters regarding updated hours or new experience  

Application Process

I have submitted my application, what happens next?

Upon receipt of the AMCAS application, the Office of Admissions reviews applications to verify minimum requirements. Applicants who meet the requirements are invited to submit the Gateway Activities, which include the supplemental application. Once the Gateway Activities are complete, the application goes into the queue for review. If you have submitted the required items and AMCAS shows a submitted date, the materials have been submitted.  

How will I know if I am invited to interview? 

Complete applications are reviewed by the admissions committee for consideration of interviews. Applicants invited for an interview will be contacted by the Office of Admissions.  

How are interviews conducted at Brody School of Medicine?

Interviews are conducted virtually by 2 members of the admissions committee. 

When will I get an update on the status of my application?

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle (August – March). The Office of Admissions will contact you with updates when available.