MSTP Application Process

Review the MD program admissions information as well as the websites for the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).

Take the MCAT

The last Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) test date considered on applications is September 15. If you submit your AMCAS application and an MCAT score has not yet been reported, we will wait for the additional score to be submitted before reviewing your application.

See MD premedical requirements and selection criteria for further information.

Complete Your Application

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is a centralized online application service sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Once AMCAS has received your application and transcript(s), it takes approximately four to six weeks before it is sent to our medical school. Submit your application no later than October 15.

Early applications are encouraged, but it is important to submit the strongest application possible. This might mean waiting for additional grades in your coursework, starting or continuing activities that will prepare you for a career in research and medicine, and fine-tuning your essay to reflect who you are, and your motivation for becoming a physician scientist.

At the time you submit your AMCAS application, indicate any future dates when you intend to take the MCAT. Consideration of your application will be held until those final scores are received. Once the admissions committee has reached a decision on an application, no additional MCAT scores will be considered for that admissions cycle.

Be sure to select MSTP (MD-PhD): This program will appear as Combined Medical Degree/PhD in the AMCAS application.

MSTP submission guidelines for letters of recommendation are the same as those of the MD program, however MSTP applicants should include at least one letter from a research mentor. Mentor letters qualify as either academic or non-academic or can be in addition to the letters described by the MD program. MSTP applicants may submit up to seven letters of recommendation through AMCAS, in total, including a committee letter.

Submit Our Secondary Application

About 90 percent of applicants who apply to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health through AMCAS will receive a secondary application from us and that must be completed by November 20. Your application will not be considered complete until we receive your processing fee, all letters of recommendation and all MCAT scores. You will receive email confirmation when our office has received your letters of recommendation and application fee.

You can save your MSTP secondary application and return to work on it later. However, once you submit it, you will not be able to change any information. You may not change between the MD, MD/PhD, or Rural MD (Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine) tracks once you have submitted your secondary application.

Early completion of the secondary application increases the likelihood that you will be invited to interview.

At the time you submit your secondary application, you may also upload a copy of any published paper(s) that resulted from your research. This is optional; a publication is not required to be eligible to apply to the University of Wisconsin MSTP. Please upload the final, journal-formatted version of the publication(s) as a PDF attachment to the document upload section of the secondary application by November 20. We cannot accept manuscripts before they have been published, nor can we accept theses, abstracts or posters.

Virtual Interview

All interviews during this application cycle will be conducted virtually but you will have the opportunity to connect with admissions committee members, research faculty, current MSTP students and other applicants. You will also be able to participate in interactive and recorded sessions to learn more about the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and our amazing MSTP community. We typically hold 4 interviews between November and February. The Admissions Committee performs a final review of your application after you interview.

Visiting Madison

We host an in-person Admitted Student Visit Day for accepted applicants in spring.

Accept Our Offer!

If you are offered admission, congratulations! Complete your Acknowledgment of Acceptance form, complete any outstanding premedical requirements and stay tuned to our communications for additional information and an invitation to attend the Admitted Student Event in the spring. Make your intent to attend UW School of Medicine and Public Health known beginning April 30 via the AMCAS Choose your Medical School (CYMS) tool. See our checklist for accepted applicants

*If a date falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day applies. (AMCAS)