Eligibility as WWAMI or Out of Region

As a five-state regional medical school, we don't use the term "out of state," but rather "out of region." Our applicants must all either be verified residents of a WWAMI state or meet our Out-of-Region criteria.

How We Process Applications

Applicants from each of the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) states will be considered for admission into their state’s cohort. For example, applicants with Idaho listed as their legal state of residence are automatically considered for the Idaho cohort and, if invited, will interview in Idaho for one of their seats. Applicants from out-of-region will be considered for the Seattle cohort.

Please note that the University of Washington School of Medicine Office of Admissions processes applications based on AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) legal state of residence, not on applicants’ current or permanent addresses.

Consideration as a WWAMI Applicant

To be considered as a WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) applicant, your legal state of residence in AMCAS must be listed as Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana or Idaho. (Applicants interested in the Wyoming cohort may have another legal state of residence listed, but must be verified by the Wyoming residency certification office to be considered for admission into that cohort.)

  • Residents of Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho are required to provide certification of declared legal residency to complete your secondary application.
  • Washington residents will be asked to complete a form about their residence history prior to being invited to complete the secondary application and should be prepared to prove their state residency at any point in the admissions process.
  • Every state has a different deadline for submitting residency documentation – be sure to review the requirements for your state.

Applicants asked to verify their legal residence may need to submit documents that could include but are not limited to:

  • Proof of employment
  • Driver's license/state ID
  • Vehicle registration
  • Voter registration
  • Proof of an established bank account
  • Verification from the out-of-state college or university where you were enrolled as a nonresident and paid nonresident tuition. (If you were enrolled in a private school, provide verification of enrollment.)
  • A true and correct copy of your state and federal income tax return for the calendar year immediately prior to the year in which this application is made. If you did not file a state or federal income tax return because of minimal or no taxable income, documented information concerning the receipt of such nontaxable income must be submitted
  • A true and correct copy of your W2 form filed for the previous calendar year
  • Other documented financial resources. Such other resources may include but are not limited to: the sale of personal or real property, trust fund, state or financial assistance, gifts, or earnings of the spouse of a married student.

Residency Classification Offices

Consideration as an Out-of-Region Applicant

MD Applicants whose AMCAS legal state of residence is not within WWAMI or whose residency verification is denied by one of the WWAMI residency certifying offices may be considered as out-of-region candidates for the UWSOM. 

After checking eligibility and academic requirements, the UWSOM Office of Admissions will invite out-of-region applicants to submit a pre-secondary form. The form allows applicants to explain their ties to the WWAMI region and discuss their experiences working with underserved communities, which aligns with specific components of our mission. Applicants’ responses are evaluated to determine if they will be invited to complete the secondary application. There is no fee associated with this part of the process. 

Applicants are required to meet both of the following criteria:

  • Tie(s) to one or more of the WWAMI states* (see below)

AND at least one of the following:

  • Service record with underserved communities
  • Experienced financial or educational hardships or challenges
    • Financial hardships can include: you received a Pell grant as an undergrad, your family struggled to pay for housing or food, you worked a job before 18 to contribute to household finances, you were responsible for raising your younger siblings or family members, etc.
    • Educational hardships can include: your parents do not have a bachelor's degree, your school was underfunded, there was frequent teacher turnover at your high school, limited AP or IB courses, etc.

*Ties to WWAMI include:

  • Born in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
  • Graduated from high school in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
  • Have family members who currently live in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho
  • Currently live and/or have lived in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR
  • Active military member who is stationed in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
  • An option to indicate another tie is available when you apply.