Building a community dedicated to education excellence.

Regional Focus

More than 95 percent of the UW School of Medicine acceptances are applicants from Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI).

Commitment to Equity

Our objective is to create a community that encourages participation and connection and values each person’s unique contributions, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, spiritual practice, geography, mental and physical status and age.

Contemporary Training

Our curriculum features a more active, "flipped" classroom approach. Clinical skills are taught in classroom, outpatient and hospital settings beginning with immersion prior to the start of classes.

M.D. Program

The UW School of Medicine (UWSOM) is proud of the depth and breadth of our five-state school. From Foundations of Clinical Medicine through clinical education opportunities that exist throughout the WWAMI region, we are committed to excellence in medical education—it is fundamental to who we are. Successfully completing the MD program allows graduates to enter residency training, the next phase of physician training required for licensure. In Admissions, our goal is to select a regionally representative and inclusive student body that will one day care for an increasingly diverse public. We encourage students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine to apply.

UWSOM does not prefer one undergraduate university or one undergraduate degree over another as long as the student has satisfied the pre-medical course requirements and has maintained a rigorous and varied course load. Of greater importance is what the applicant gained from the undergraduate experience (including extracurricular activities) and the variety and level of course work pursued.

We strongly recommend that you apply to more than one medical school. Each school will have different application procedures, course requirements and selection factors. As an applicant, it is important that you research each school that you are interested in. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Medical School Admission Requirements has the most authoritative guide to U.S. and Canadian medical school requirements.

To be considered for the University of Washington M.D. program, applicants must have United States citizenship or permanent residency (green card). International and Canadian applicants without a green card will not be considered. Permanent residence documentation is part of the application requirement.

Applicants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) who reside in a WWAMI state and who are legally authorized and recognized by their state’s residency office as a resident for WWAMI educational purposes will be considered for admission. Applicants must meet the essential requirements and technical standards and complete the pre-medical course requirements. Applications from persons who have failed to meet minimum standards at this or another medical (M.D. or D.O.) or dental school will not be considered.

Non-WWAMI Applicants: Consideration will be given to applicants from outside the WWAMI region if they have ties to the WWAMI region AND come from either economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and/or who have demonstrated a commitment to serving underserved populations. More information about WWAMI ties can be found on our State Eligibility page.

Graduating Physicians that Reflect the Diversity of Washington - Senate Bill 5228

In 2021, the Washington State Legislature enacted a law addressing disproportionate health outcomes by building a foundation of equity in medical training. Pursuant to UW RCW 28B.10.699, School of Medicine has developed the following goal.

Goal: The University of Washington School of Medicine will strive to produce graduates that reflect the diverse population of the state of Washington with a special focus on populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession.

Method: The School of Medicine deploys a series of strategies to meet this goal:
  1. Targeted education and outreach
    1. To premedical advisors
      1. Bi-annual Premedical Advisors Conference
      2. Up-to-date listserv to share updates
    2. To premedical students/families
      1. Center for Workforce Inclusion and Healthcare System Equity (WIHSE)
      2. Hosting/promoting premedical programs, pathways, opportunities
        1. Doctor for a Day (K-12)
        2. UDOC (High School)
        3. SHPEP (College)
        4. AFERM (Applicants)
    3. Public and presentation of admissions information
      1. Admissions advice sessions
      2. Admissions drop-in sessions
      3. Admissions feedback sessions
      4. Inside Admissions Session
      5. Attendance at and support for Premedical Conferences
        1. AAIP (Association of American Indian Physicians)
        2. AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)
        3. SNMA (Student National Medical Association)
  2. Targeted Recruitment
    1. Lowering historical barriers to applying to medical school
      1. Optional MCAT during pandemic (2021, 2022)
      2. Secondary Application fee waived during pandemic (2021, 2022)
      3. Virtual Interviews during pandemic (2021, 2022)
    2. Participation in workforce development work groups, summits, collaborations, etc.
    3. Admissions Support Program
    4. Focused sessions during Second Look
    5. Partner with Office of Health Care Equity to do outreach to accepted applicants
    6. Student Affinity Group facilitation of events for accepted applicants
  3. Student support/retention
    1. Financial
      1. Tuition Waivers
      2. Incentive Scholarships
    2. Personal
      1. Affinity Groups
      2. Mentorship
      3. New Assistant Dean for Equity and Medical Student Engagement
    3. Academic
      1. Pre-Matriculation Program
      2. Affinity Groups
      3. Pathways Programs
  4. Collaboration and communication among entities within the School of Medicine, UW medicine and the University of Washington
    1. Recruitment from CMFA (Committee for Minority Faculty Advancement) and NURF  (Network of Underrepresented Residents and Fellows) for Admissions Committee members
    2. Admissions Committee training, process development and quality improvement regarding diversity, equity, inclusion
    3. Tribal Liaison
    4. Partnership with HBCU (Morehouse School of Medicine for MSTP Medical Student Training Program – MD/PhD)
    5. Health Professions Recruitment Collaborative

Application steps:


Complete the pre-medical course requirements through a college or university before matriculating, and preferably before applying to medical school. Community college and online coursework is accepted. Institutions should be accredited by a regional accrediting organization.

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Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) exam no later than September 30 of the year prior to possible matriculation.

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Casper is not required for consideration for the current application cycle (entering class of 2024). The Executive Committee on Admissions is pausing our participation in Casper to allow us time to review and consider its utility in our process.


Apply to the UW School of Medicine (and other medical schools) through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), a centralized application processing service. On this primary application, you will designate the medical schools you are applying to. For the UW School of Medicine, the deadline for submitting this application for the 2024 academic year is October 15, 2023 11:59pm Eastern.

Read and be aware of the Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website.

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Submit the Secondary Application if you have received an invitation to proceed with the application process from the UW School of Medicine. The secondary application deadline is December 1.

There are optional sections on the Secondary Application to apply to CUSP and the TRUST program. If you are interested in also applying to CUSP or TRUST, all application materials are due to the Admissions Office by December 1 at 11:59pm PT.

Please Note:  Medical Scientist Training Program (M.D./Ph.D.) applicants will need to initiate the preliminary application on the MSTP website. Applicants applying to BOTH the M.D./Ph.D. and the M.D.-only program will need to submit two applications (one to each program). Check with the MSTP office for its application deadlines.

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Your letter writers must submit your letters of evaluation/recommendation to the AMCAS service. Letters need to be on official letterhead stationery and include the author's signature. It is your responsibility as an applicant to make it clear to your letter writers that the letters are required to be on letterhead and signed prior to being submitted. Letters of recommendation that are missing letterhead and/or a signature will be given less consideration. The deadline for receipt of these letters is December 1. Keep in mind, it may take AMCAS several days to process and get them to us, so make sure AMCAS has your letters well before December 1.

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Washington residents should be prepared to prove their state residency at any point in the admissions process. Residents of Wyoming, Alaska, Montana or Idaho are required to provide certification of declared legal residency to complete your secondary application.

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The Office of Admissions stands firmly by our deadlines, there will be no extensions granted.

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After submitting a completed secondary application, applicants will be reviewed for competitiveness. Selected applicants will receive an interview invitation by email. Interviews take place between October and February.

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The Executive Committee meets regularly from October through March. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.

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Targeted Rural Underserved Track

The Targeted Rural Underserved Track (TRUST) is a UW School of Medicine program administered by the Department of Family Medicine. It provides students with the experience to practice in rural and underserved communities throughout the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho region.

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UW Medical Education in Spokane

The University of Washington School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership, established in February 2016, is built upon a shared commitment to serving the greater good in healthcare. The partnership aims to expand and enhance top-ranked, cost-effective medical education in Spokane to advance the health of our communities and the vitality of our region.

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M.D./Ph.D. Program (MSTP)

The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is designed for highly qualified candidates who wish to obtain both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees and to pursue careers in basic medical research. Selection for this program is national in scope and is not restricted to residents of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana or Idaho. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or currently hold permanent resident status.

Approximately 10 medical scientist trainees are accepted per year. Each trainee is permitted a wide choice of research specializations from among numerous disciplines and interdisciplinary areas of biomedical research. 
  
The typical program is seven to eight years in duration and emphasizes continuity of both clinical and basic science exposure. 

Participating graduate departments include, but are not limited to, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biostatistics, Biological Structure, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Genome Sciences, Global Health (Pathobiology), Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics. The participating interdepartmental and affiliate programs are Neurobiology and Behavior and Molecular and Cellular Biology. Our students conduct research in diverse research facilities including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Harborview Medical Center and Benaroya Research Institute.

Medical Scientist Training Program Application

The Medical Scientist Training Program application is available to all qualified U.S. applicants. After the UW School of Medicine receives the AMCAS application, applicants must submit an MSTP preliminary application by visiting the MSTP website.

The deadline for submitting AMCAS applications is October 15 and applicants must list their interest in the UW School of Medicine M.D./Ph.D. program.

All UW School of Medicine MSTP applications must be completed (including supplemental materials) by their posted deadline. Please contact the MSTP office (mstp@uw.edu) with any questions.

UW School of Medicine Summer Prematriculation Program (PreMat)

UW School of Medicine Summer Prematriculation Program

The Office for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs and the Office for Healthcare Equity sponsor a summer Prematriculation Program (PreMat) for medical students in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho who have backgrounds underrepresented in medicine and/or who have been away from an intensive academic program for two or more years.

The intensive scholastic enrichment program consists of coordinated activities designed to address student competencies needed for the rapid adjustment to medical school. The PreMat lectures familiarize entering students with the course content taught early in medical school, while providing experiential learning and activities aimed at connecting students with peers, faculty, and advisors. The aim is for students to become acquainted with available resources to support their academic success.