: MEDStart

MEDStart is an early admission program designed to accept students during their junior year of their undergraduate education. The program allows students to enroll into The University of Toledo's College of Medicine program for the next academic year following completion of the four-year baccalaureate education.

The applicant must demonstrate motivation and enthusiasm for medicine as indicated from their volunteer and community service, medical related activities, leadership skills and/or research experiences. The MCAT is not required for acceptance into the program.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible for the MedStart Program, the student must:

1. Apply to the program in the junior year of undergraduate studies
2. Completion of a minimum of one year of general chemistry with labs, one year of organic chemistry with labs,  one year of biological sciences, or one year of physics at the time of application is strongly recommended.  The courses must be completed, however, by the time of matriculation.

An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.7 or higher with a science GPA of 3.5 or higher at the time of application is strongly recommended. 

An ACT score of 29 or higher or an SAT score of 1900 or higher (beginning with the 2009-2010 application cycle) is strongly recommended.

An ACT or SAT score is required.  An ACT/SAT score taken once the student has matriculated into college will not be accepted.

What happens if you are accepted?
Students accepted into MEDStart will spend approximately two weeks on the UT campus during the summer between the junior and senior undergraduate years.

Students will learn about such topics as diabetes, stroke, coronary artery disease and breast cancer.

Opportunity for clinical time with preceptors, community volunteerism and social activities are also available.

A fee of $400 is required to participate in the summer program, and meals and transportation will be the student's responsibility.

How do I apply?
Applicants are required to complete an AMCAS application and submit transcripts directly to AMCAS at www.aamc.org by November 1, 2009 for the 2011 entering class. (The AMCAS verification process takes 4-6 weeks so we strongly encourage you to submit your application early.)

You will enter Early Assurance as your application type. Although the AMCAS service fee is waived the UT secondary application fee is required.

Additional admission criteria such as letters of recommendation and the UT secondary application must be submitted prior to January 1st.  An MCAT score listed on the AMCAS application will be considered part of your file and will be reviewed by the admissions committee.  Historically, the average MCAT score for our medical students has been ~30.

Interviews will be conducted in January and applicants will be notified of acceptance into the program by the beginning of March. If not accepted, you still have time to register for the MCAT exam.

Students applying to this program should only do so if they are willing to accept an offer of admission to the UT College of Medicine at the end of their junior year. They will not be permitted to apply to other medical schools simultaneously since they are officially admitted into medical school at the start of the summer program.

If accepted into the MEDStart, students are required to attend the full two-week summer program at UT.

The student is expected to maintain a GPA of 3.5 during the senior year of undergraduate studies.

A student who withdraws from the program after the commencement date shall be required to repay costs associated with this program. Currently those costs are in the amount of $1,500. This also applies to MEDStart students who fail to enroll in UT for the next academic year, following graduation from an undergraduate college.

When considering application to the MEDStart keep in mind that you should be fairly confident of your decision to participate in MEDStart and enter the University of Toledo as a medical student, as you will not be permitted to apply to other medical schools.

Students accepted into the program will be required to resubmit the AMCAS application and transcripts for the 2011 entering class. The AMCAS service fee is waived.  Students will be subject to a criminal background check upon acceptance to the University of Toledo College of Medicine.

Applicants who are not accepted into this competitive program are welcome and encourage to re-apply through the usual application process.