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Communicating with the Office of Admissions
Current Applicants
Prospective Applicants
Directions to the Office of Admissions
Becoming a Competitive CHM Applicant
Premedical Course Requirements
Criminal Background Check (CBC)
Non-Michigan Resident Admission
International Applicant Admission
Postbaccalaureate Program (ABLE)
Combined Degree and Dual Degree Programs
Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved/Vulnerable (includes international settings)
Electives for International Medical Students
Residency Programs for International Medical Students
The majority of our correspondence to applicants is sent by email; therefore, it is vital that you edit your AMCAS application if your email address changes. AMCAS does not process and distribute email address changes; those are the responsibility of the applicant. Go to the AMCAS website and log into your application to make your change.
Email/Mail/Phone Change
If your email address, mailing address, and/or phone number changes, you need to edit your AMCAS application immediately. AMCAS will not make changes and submit them to schools for you — you must make the changes yourself.
Q: I am a current applicant who has already submitted my AMCAS application. Can I meet with an Admissions Officer to discuss my application?
A: No. Once you have begun the application process, our admissions officers cannot meet with you to discuss your application. However, you may email our office if you have any questions about the CHM admissions process that are not answered on our website.
Q: I can't find the answers to my questions on your website. May I ask my questions via email?
A: Yes. Email your questions to MDadmissions@msu.edu.
Q: Can I schedule a meeting with an admissions counselor?
A: Yes, we have admissions counselors available to meet with prospective applicants to discuss plans for becoming a competitive applicant. However, our counselors are not available to meet with a current CHM applicant to discuss the applicant's chance of acceptance to the college.
To make an appointment with an admissions counselor, send an email request. Indicate whether you are a current undergraduate so that your request can be directed to the proper counselor. Plan for your meeting to take place well before you submit your application, so you have sufficient time to implement the strategies and recommendations you and the admissions counselor develop.
It is expected that you will have seen your school's premedical advisor and read the Premedical Handbook and Self-Assessment Guide prior to your appointment.
Q: How do I get to the Office of Admissions?
A: We are located in A239 Life Science Building. For detailed directions, please click here.
Q: How can I prepare myself for applying to the College of Human Medicine?
A: Learn about CHM and its mission. A major focus of our mission is to educate physicians interested in working with underserved populations (rural, inner city), particularly within Michigan. In support of this, students spend their second through fourth or third and fourth years of medical school at one of seven community campuses located throughout the state.
The following publications will help you become familiar with what CHM is looking for in an applicant, as well as assist you in assessing how well CHM fits with your medical career goals:
Q: What are your GPA and MCAT cut-offs?
A: CHM uses a mission-based assessment of applicants that strongly considers nonacademic variables. We aim for a class with GPA and MCAT scores approximating the national average of accepted students (GPA of 3.6, MCAT scores of VR-9.9, BS-10.3, PS-10.7, WS-P). As we welcome disadvantaged and nontraditional students, our average GPA and MCAT profile is slightly below that. We take into consideration research findings that demonstrate that students with MCATs below 8 and GPAs below 3.0 have a greater risk of academic difficulty.
Disadvantaged students with this lower academic profile may be interested in our postbaccalaureate program, the Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE). ABLE is not a postbac prep program, but rather a conditional acceptance to medical school. This program reviews disadvantaged students who have applied directly to medical school through the AMCAS application service and are interviewed for regular CHM admission. There are no separate ABLE application procedures. Students who show promise for medicine, yet may lack the science background required to perform optimally in medical school, can become candidates for the ABLE Program. The CHM Committee on Admissions refers these applicants to the ABLE Selection Committee. The ABLE Selection Committee then makes the final student selections for the ABLE Program.
Q: Should I apply to CHM? I don't know if my academic profile is competitive.
A: We cannot advise you whether to apply to CHM - only you can make that decision. However, you should keep the following in mind when deciding whether to apply:
Strong preference is given to instate students. It is more likely that CHM would take the risk on an instate student with a less-competitive academic profile than on an out-of-state student.
GPA is evaluated based upon a number of factors, including employment and concurrent activities.
Students with a lower GPA but showing a strong upward trend, who have very significant (if not unusual) experiences and goals that are clearly consistent with CHM and would enhance the class and the profession, typically have a better outcome than those with a downward trend or stable performance at a lower GPA level.
MCAT scores for all tests taken within the past four years are included when judging academic potential.
ABLE is a possibility for disadvantaged applicants with a modest academic profile.
Q: May I submit additional academic or activities information that does not appear on my AMCAS application?
A: We trust that the AMCAS application you initially submitted is representative of your academic abilities and activities.
Additional information is accepted only if it is requested by the Office of Admissions, or when an applicant is placed in the alternate pool after interview. Unsolicited supplementary information will be discarded.
Q: I was an unsuccessful applicant to CHM. Will the Office of Admissions help me develop a plan for reapplying?
A: Yes, the Office of Admissions is pleased to assist applicants planning to reapply to CHM in developing a strategy for becoming a more competitive applicant. The Self-Assessment Guide was created to assist you in this process.
If you are not accepted to CHM and you anticipate being a reapplicant, we encourage you to carefully review and evaluate your application. Consult with your premedical advisor and other mentors for assistance in analyzing your application. Then develop and follow your strategy for becoming a more competitive applicant based upon what you learn. Begin to implement this strategy immediately! We recommend that you follow the procedure outlined in the Self-Assessment Guide section of the Premedical Handbook and Self-Assessment Guide. Initiate your plans for improvement as soon as possible.
Unsuccessful applicants may complete and submit the Self-Assessment Guide for review and have it returned with comments. Advising or conference call appointments are available for unsuccessful applicants who:
have completed and submitted their Self-Assessment Guide
have been rejected from all other schools, and
have not yet submitted the AMCAS application for the next application cycle.
Q: Do applicants who were alternates in previous years receive special consideration when they reapply?
A: No. Upon reapplication, former alternates are reviewed with neither preference nor prejudice.
Q: Do family members of CHM, MSU alumni, or MSU faculty receive special consideration when applying to CHM?
A: No. All applicants to CHM are evaluated on their own merit.
Q: Do applicants who also apply to the Rural Physician Program or the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved/Vulnerable Program get special consideration when applying to CHM?
A: No. All applicants to CHM are evaluated on their own merit during the regular admission process. Applying to the Rural Physician Program (RPP) or the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved/Vulnerable Program (LMUV) does not give an applicant any advantage in the application process. Only after being admitted through the regular admission process will admission to the RPP or LMUV be considered. If you are not interested in the RPP or LMUV program, do not apply to either of them in anticipation of preferential treatment of your application.
Q: Do applicants who earned degrees at Michigan State University or other Michigan colleges/universities get special consideration when applying to CHM?
A: No, we do not give preference to a particular undergraduate college or university. However, because we give preference to Michigan residents, a large part of our class is filled with undergraduates from Michigan State and the University of Michigan, as a substantial number of applicants are both Michigan residents and students at MSU or U of M. When choosing an undergraduate college or university, consider what you can afford, where you feel at home, and which schools offer excellent premedical advisement and programs.
Q: I understand that CHM is establishing a new preclinical (years one and two) campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. How do the East Lansing and Grand Rapids campuses differ?
A: The East Lansing preclinical campus, located on the main MSU campus, provides students with the excitement and opportunities of a Big 10 school setting, including association with graduate students in areas such as law, veterinary medicine, and osteopathic medicine. The Grand Rapids preclinical campus is part of the rapidly developing Medical Mile area, located in downtown Grand Rapids.
Click HERE to link to the Secchia Center web cam and view our construction progress in Grand Rapids!
Q: How can I specify which preclinical campus (East Lansing or Grand Rapids) I want to attend?
A: With the exception of Early Decision Program (EDP) and Early Assurance Program (EAP) accepted applicants, students do not select their preclinical campus. Accepted students will have the opportunity to indicate a preferred preclinical campus. Details about the assignment process for the class entering in 2010 will be posted when finalized.
Q: What is a Community Campus?
A: As a community-based medical school, CHM is uniquely positioned to provide students with comprehensive training in clinical settings that most closely parallel the environment in which many physicians typically practice. The College of Human Medicine differs from many medical schools in that there are seven locations for clinical education, with educational programs in 36 affiliated hospitals instead of one university hospital. Students actively engage in physician-supervised learning experiences as part of the medical team as part of their Block III (years three and four) experience.
Students experience their clinical education (years three and four) at one of seven community campuses located throughout the state: Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette (RPP students), Saginaw (LMUV students), or Traverse City.
Led by a Community Assistant Dean and CHM faculty, each community program is aligned with area hospitals and outpatient facilities that join Michigan State University in creating a rich educational environment for students. The curriculum and evaluation is the same in all communities. All community programs offer electives in both specialty and subspecialty areas. Research opportunities are also available.
For more information about our community campuses, click here.
Q: What does Block III include?
A. The Block III (third and fourth year) curriculum includes 60 weeks of required clerkships and 20 weeks of elective clerkships. Required clerkships must take place in the assigned community. These include internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, surgery, advanced medicine, and advanced surgery. The required curriculum, examinations, and performance-based evaluations are the same in all communities.
At the conclusion of the required clerkships, students take elective clerkships. All seven community programs offer electives in specialty and subspecialty areas. Students may complete elective clerkships at any community campus as well as other locations, including international locales.
Research opportunities are available in each community.
For more information about all of our community campuses, please visit the CHM Community Campuses web page. You can also find articles about each campus in the 2009 Spring/Summer edition of MD Magazine.
Q: If my preclinical campus also has a community campus, do I just stay there for Block III?
A. Clinical campus assignments are made independently of preclinical campus assignment. Students in special programs have their assignment as part of the program (Saginaw for the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved/Vulnerable (LMUV) program, Marquette for the Rural Physician Program). All other students will have the opportunity to indicate a special need or preference for a particular community campus during the first two years of medical school.
Q: I want to spend my clinical years at a specific campus. Can I specify my preferred community campus?
A: Occasionally, students have a particular need for a specific community assignment. Students may apply for special consideration for community placement based on their individual documented special need. Students accepted into the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved/Vulnerable (LMUV) program are assigned to the Saginaw Campus, and students accepted into the Rural Physician Program are assigned to the Marquette Campus.
A detailed description of the clinical campus assignment process for the class entering 2010 will be posted when it is finalized.
Community assignments may be subject to change after initial assignment due to various factors (changes in the student’s life circumstances, openings occurring as students enter an extended curriculum, etc.). A process for review and reconsideration of community assignment is available to matriculated students.
Q: Does CHM require a Criminal Background Check (CBC)?
A: Yes. Applicants and special program students slated to matriculate with the CHM class entering 2010 and beyond will receive a conditional offer of admission, pending a CBC.
Please note that applicants are required to disclose any adverse institutional action(s), felony conviction(s), other criminal conviction(s), or any pending criminal charges on both the AMCAS application and the MSU Professional Application.
Failure to disclose any adverse institutional action(s), any felony conviction(s), other criminal conviction(s), or any pending criminal charges is considered falsification of the application and can result in dismissal from medical school.
You will be subject to multiple CBCs throughout your professional career. If you have any doubt about what a CBC may reveal, you may want to run a CBC on yourself to discover what it contains, and to correct any errors.
Q: Does CHM require drug screens as part of the admissions process?
A: At this time, CHM does not require a drug screen for entering students. However, you can expect required drug screens several times during your medical training, as well as throughout your professional career.
It is inherent that a candidate for the MD Degree possesses certain abilities and skills. The Technical Standards establish the essential qualities considered necessary for medical students at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine to achieve the knowledge, skills, and levels of competency necessary both for medical education and for graduation. All accepted applicants must submit a signed Technical Standards form certifying their ability to meet the Technical Standards.
Reasonable technical accommodation can be made in certain areas. However, the student must still be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner with such accommodation. The use of a trained intermediary is not acceptable in many clinical situations; a student's judgment is then mediated by someone else's power of selection and observation. If you believe that you may need accommodations, please consult the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at http://www.rcpd.msu.edu.
Q: What are the CHM premedical course requirements?
A: Premedical requirements are minimums that must be fulfilled prior to matriculation at CHM. Premedical requirements include:
Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an accredited United States or Canadian undergraduate institution.
Completion of one year of course work (typically two semesters) in each of the following areas, with no final grade below a 2.0:
General/Inorganic Chemistry sequence, including at least one laboratory
General Biology sequence, including at least one laboratory
Organic Chemistry sequence, including at least one laboratory
English Writing or Composition, may include "Writing in the Major" or writing-intensive classes
Humanities/Social Science courses that focus on psychological and social theory, individual and/or group behaviors, or comparative cultures. Recommended courses include anthropology, cultural studies, economics, ethics, psychology, sociology, women's studies, and philosophy
Mathematics through college algebra or statistics and probability. The mathematics requirement may be waived with Advanced Placement [AP] credit for Statistics and Probability, Calculus 1, or freshman mathematics placement above college algebra.
Completion of two upper-level (junior- or senior-level) biological science courses. Such courses are typically within the following areas: biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, or physiology.
We accept AP and CLEP credit to meet requirements if documented on an official transcript. Please note that lab credit will still be required. Applicants may meet lab credit with the lab sections of more advanced science courses or practical experience, such as documented relevant experience in a research lab.
Q: Are the premedical course requirements all I need to take?
A: No. The premedical course requirements are minimums. CHM strongly encourages applicants to take additional, upper-level courses in biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, and physiology.
Q: Do you require or prefer that I take my premedical course requirements and undergraduate courses at specific colleges or universities?
A: Undergraduate course work must be completed at an accredited US or Canadian four-year college or university. Community college courses are acceptable if the course(s) is accepted by an accredited four-year US or Canadian undergraduate institution as transfer credit. There is no requirement as to how recently your undergraduate courses or premedical requirements were completed; however, more recent course work or advanced study in the basic sciences is preferred. There is no preference of where you complete your premedical courses, as long as they're completed at an accredited US or Canadian undergraduate institution.
Q: Does CHM accept premedical course requirements taken at community colleges?
A: We will accept courses from community colleges if the course(s) is accepted at an accredited four-year US or Canadian undergraduate institution as transfer credit. To verify if a specific course is accepted at MSU, visit the MSU Transfer Admission website and view the Transfer MSU Credit Equivalency System.
Q: Does CHM accept premedical course requirements taken at Canadian colleges or universities?
A: We will accept courses from accredited Canadian universities that belong to the Association of University and Colleges of Canada.
A one-year Canadian course will fulfill our one-year course series requirement. However, a lab component must be included with at least one of each of the applicant's biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics courses.
With proper documentation, we accept Grade 13 English together with writing-intensive courses, toward the fulfillment of our English/Writing requirement.
Q: Does CHM accept premedical course requirements taken at international colleges or universities?
A: Only in very rare circumstances. Note that all applicants must complete an undergraduate degree at an accredited US or Canadian four-year college or university prior to matriculation. If you completed any required premedical courses outside of the US, those courses must be accepted as transfer credits by the US or Canadian accredited educational institution where the baccalaureate degree was earned. Any required course that does not transfer to the "home" school must be verified for equivalence to US or Canadian course work by one of the following organizations:
If the organization’s findings are not accepted by a four-year accredited US or Canadian undergraduate college or university for the completion of a baccalaureate degree, applicants must submit the credentialing organization's findings to each respective department at MSU for an equivalency determination of our premedical requirements at the time of application. A baccalaureate degree completed at any undergraduate institution other than a four-year accredited US or Canadian college or university will not be accepted as the fulfillment of our undergraduate degree requirement.
Q: Are my grades competitive?
A: Your grade point average is only one component of your application to CHM. Competitive applicants are well prepared. The Committee on Admissions is consistent in recognizing the national cumulative science GPA of 3.6 or higher as being competitive. Applicants with lower GPAs must compensate for these lower grades with exceptional strength in other components of their application.
For more information:
Q: Does CHM prefer one academic major/degree to another?
A: No. The Committee on Admissions does not prefer one degree to another. Approximately two-thirds of any entering class will have earned theoretical science degrees, but other students will have earned degrees in engineering, nursing, English, music, art, religion, psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, business, and other areas.
Q: If I have elective credits to take, in what areas should they be?
A: CHM welcomes applicants with broad liberal arts backgrounds who have taken courses to expand their understanding of diverse individuals and groups. Courses that heighten your reasoning ability, problem solving skills, and professional development are also good choices. Advanced science courses in cellular and molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, physiology, genetics, statistics and probability, and embryology may aid the applicant on the MCAT and in basic medical science courses.
For more information:
Q: Does the College of Human Medicine require the MCAT?
A: Yes.
Q: Where can I get the MCAT registration packet?
A: MCAT registration is online only. For complete information, visit the MCAT website.
Q: What are the oldest MCAT scores CHM will accept for the 2010 application year?
A: CHM does not accept any MCAT scores older than four calendar years. For the 2010 application year, we will not accept scores older than April 2006.
Q: I'm applying through the Early Decision Program. By what date must I take the MCAT by to apply for the 2010 application year?
A: If you are applying through the Early Decision Program, the last date you could have taken the MCAT exam was June 12, 2009.
Q. I'm a regular applicant. What date must I take the MCAT by to apply to the 2010 application year?
A. If you are applying as a regular applicant, the last date you can take the MCAT exam is September 12, 2009.
Q: Will you consider MCAT scores from exams taken after September 12, 2009?
A. The only applicants for whom later MCAT scores may be considered are those who were designated as Alternates for possible admission to the class entering 2010, if and when the Committee reviews those applicants.
Q: Are my MCAT scores competitive?
A: MCAT scores are only one component of your application. Competitive applicants will have prepared well and done their best on the MCAT. The Committee on Admissions is consistent in recognizing the national average (or higher) scores of matriculants in the four MCAT categories: Verbal Reasoning - 9.9, Physical Sciences - 10.3, Biological Sciences - 10.7, Writing Sample - P.
For more information:
Visit the MCAT website
Consult with your school's premedical advisor
Q: I have taken the MCAT more than once. How will the committee consider my multiple MCAT results?
A: The Committee on Admissions reviews all MCAT scores, taking note of the highest score achieved in each section at all decision-making points throughout the application process.
Q: Where can I get an AMCAS application?
A:The AMCAS application is only available for completion online.
Q: What is the earliest date I can submit my transcripts to AMCAS for my 2010 application?
A: On or about June 1.
For more information:
Q: What are CHM's requirements for letters of evaluation?
A: CHM requires a minimum of three and a maximum of five letters of evaluation. All letters must be submitted through the AMCAS Letters service. AMCAS will begin accepting letters in mid-May. Visit AMCAS for detailed information.
Unsolicited letters sent directly to CHM outside of the AMCAS Letters service will not be reviewed, placed in your file, or retained in any form; they will be discarded.
Click HERE for detailed information about the specific types of letters CHM requires.
Q: When should I apply to CHM for the entering class of 2010?
A: While your AMCAS application can be submitted for verification in early June, the College of Human Medicine encourages you to submit your best application to AMCAS. This may mean that you will want to wait until you complete summer clinical experiences or research projects, or receive summer grades. However, be aware that other medical schools do operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
CHM has a semi-rolling admissions process. Acceptances are made in stages throughout the cycle, but applicants are given the same consideration no matter when they are reviewed or interviewed. Some applicants will receive notification early in the cycle, and others will not receive a final application status until the end of the cycle. Please be aware that CHM conducts interviews through March, and our admissions process is structured so that seats remain available who are reviewed and interviewed later in the application cycle, and applicants are not negatively affected by the timing of the application review.
The deadline to apply to CHM is November 15, 2009.
Q: If I took the MCAT after June 1, should I wait until I receive my scores to submit my application to AMCAS?
A: We do not recommend waiting for your MCAT scores before submitting your AMCAS application, as this can delay processing of your application to CHM.
Once we receive your verified application from AMCAS, the Office of Admissions will send you an email message with instructions on paying the Secondary Application Fee. Pay your fee and complete your Secondary Application as soon as possible. That way we can begin reviewing your application as soon as we receive your MCAT scores.
Q: What is the latest date I can submit my 2010 AMCAS application and still be considered by CHM?
A: November 15, 2009. Applications received by AMCAS after this date will not be accepted by CHM.
Q: Do you give extensions of the CHM November 15 AMCAS application deadline?
A: Only under special circumstances concerning late receipt of transcripts by AMCAS. Email your request for an extension to MDadmissions@msu.edu.
Q: What is the latest date I can submit my 2010 Secondary Application and still be considered by CHM?
A: We encourage you to submit your completed Secondary Application within two weeks of paying the Secondary Application Fee. The deadline for submission of your Secondary Application is November 30, 2009.
If we receive your verified application from AMCAS after our November 15 application deadline, you will be given two weeks from the date your Secondary Application Fee Notice is sent to complete your Secondary Application.
For more information:
Q: What is the AMCAS application deadline to apply to the entering class of 2010 through the Early Decision Program?
A: The deadline for submission of your AMCAS application is August 1, 2009.
Q: What is the latest date I can submit my 2010 Secondary Application as an Early Decision Program applicant and still be considered by CHM?
A: The deadline for submission of the Secondary Application for EDP (Early Decision Program) applicants is August 31, 2009.
Q: Do Early Decision Program accepted applicants get to pick their preclinical campus?
A: Yes, an accepted EDP applicant may choose either the East Lansing or Grand Rapids campus for their preclinical years (Blocks I and II).
Q: Does CHM have a MD/PhD program?
A: Yes. CHM offers the combined MD/PhD degree to a few academically talented and highly motivated students accepted to CHM.
Q: I have been accepted to CHM. What happens now?
A: Confirm your place in our entering class by sending a written acceptance of admission (email is fine) within two weeks of the date you receive your acceptance letter to MDadmissions@msu.edu. An advanced enrollment deposit in the amount of $100 is also required.
If you receive multiple acceptances and decide to attend a school other than CHM, please notify our office immediately at MDadmissions@msu.edu. If you withdraw your acceptance in writing (regular mail or email) by May 15, 2010, your deposit will be returned.
Requests to defer entry to the 2011 class should be submitted promptly. If you are granted a deferral, you must withdraw your application from all other schools to which you applied.
Please keep us informed of changes in your mailing address, email address, and/or telephone number. You will receive additional information throughout the next several months from the Offices of Admissions, Academic Programs, and Student Affairs and Services.
Q: I have been designated an Alternate. When might I be accepted? Can you tell me my rank? Can I do anything to enhance my application?
A: If you are placed on the Alternate list, your file will remain under consideration for acceptance until we notify you of a change in your status. Although some alternates are accepted throughout the year, most alternates who are eventually accepted find out in late May or June, as applicants with multiple acceptances withdraw their applications. One year, we offered acceptances to all of our alternates, another year to just a few. Alternates have been admitted into CHM as late as two days prior to the start of Prematriculation and Orientation Week.
Alternate files are not ranked, and are reviewed whenever the number of accepted applicants falls below the entering class size.
As explained on Interview Day, alternates may send a letter or email expressing continued interest in CHM. Alternates may also augment their file with an update of grades, activities, or an additional letter of recommendation showing attributes that may not be described in the letters currently on file. We ask that alternates who have been accepted at their school of choice notify us so we may conduct the selection process as efficiently as possible.
Q: I was referred to the ABLE program. What does this mean?
The Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE) is an exciting and effective enrichment program for applicants from a disadvantaged background. The Admissions Committee believes these applicants may make a valuable contribution to the class and the profession but may also be at some academic risk. ABLE participants are offered conditional admission to CHM for the following year, based on successful completion of the program.
Applicants who have been referred to ABLE should receive more information and an opportunity to indicate their interest sometime in April. If you are recommended as a potential candidate to the Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE), a final decision on your application will be made by the ABLE Review Committee by May, 2010.
If you are accepted into ABLE and successfully complete this postbaccalaureate program, you are guaranteed regular admission to the Fall 2011 entering medical school class. If you are not accepted into ABLE, the application process is complete and no further consideration will be given to your application.
Q: I was not accepted into CHM. What happens now?
A: If you are an unsuccessful applicant to the College of Human Medicine,the application process is complete and no further consideration will be given to your application. Decisions made by the Committee on Admissions are final, and not subject to appeal or revision. However, there are steps you can take to become a more competitive applicant if you intend to reapply to CHM in the future.
If you are not accepted to CHM and you anticipate being a reapplicant, we encourage you to carefully review and evaluate your application. We recommend that you follow the procedure outlined in the Self-Assessment Guide section of the Premedical Handbook and Self-Assessment Guide. Initiate your plans for improvement as soon as possible.
Unsuccessful applicants may complete and submit the Self-Assessment Guide for review and have it returned with comments. Advising or conference call appointments are available for unsuccessful applicants who:
have completed and submitted their Self-Assessment Guide
have been rejected from all other schools, and
have not yet submitted the AMCAS application for the next application cycle.
Final actions of the Committee on Admissions are not subject to appeal or revision. Therefore, representatives of the Office of Admissions (including the Assistant Dean for Admissions, Committee on Admissions members, and the Office of Admissions staff) will not discuss your application with you or your designate once a final decision has been made. If you believe AMCAS made a clerical error, or that there was an error of fact in your application, you are welcome to contact the Office of Admissions by regular mail or email to have your concerns reviewed.
Q: I am an out-of-state (non-Michigan) resident. Do I have a chance of being admitted to CHM?
A: Yes. The Committee on Admissions believes that non-Michigan resident diversity is an important component of every entering class. Because CHM's mission is to educate physicians who will serve the needs of the people of Michigan, residents of Michigan are given preference. However, approximately 20% of each entering class is from outside of Michigan.
A competitive non-Michigan resident should fit CHM's mission. A major focus of our mission is to educate physicians interested in working with undeserved populations (rural, inner city), particularly within Michigan. Applicants need to have demonstrated their passion for medicine with a history of community service and clinical experience. The most competitive non-Michigan residents have MCAT scores in the 9-10 (N-P) range or above, a very strong or improving academic profile, and noncognitive attributes and experiences that will enrich the class and be consistent with the mission of the college.
In order to establish Michigan residency, you must live in Michigan for 12 consecutive months without being a student, before you matriculate into medical school. You cannot establish residency while attending medical school unless you are under the age of 24 and your parents move to Michigan, or you have a spouse who is a Michigan resident with full-time professional employment in Michigan. For more information, contact the MSU Office of the Registrar at reg@msu.edu or (517) 355-3300.
For more information, see:
Q: I am a Canadian citizen. Do I have a chance of being admitted to CHM?
A: Yes, Canadian citizens are considered non-Michigan residents by the Committee on Admissions for purposes of admission. However, with the significant increase in the number of applications received, as well as giving preference to in-state applicants, you would need to be an exceptional applicant who would enhance the school, class, or profession.
A competitive Canadian citizen should fit CHM's mission. A major emphasis of the mission is to educate physicians who desire to become excellent, compassionate primary care physicians who are dedicated to lifelong learning and are willing to work with the underserved in rural or inner city areas within Michigan. Applicants need to have demonstrated their passion for medicine with a history of community service and clinical experience. Competitive Canadian citizens should have MCAT scores of 9-10 (O-P) or higher in each category as well as a cumulative science GPA of 3.50 or better.
Q: Does CHM accept premedical course requirements taken at Canadian colleges or universities?
A: We will accept courses from accredited Canadian universities that belong to the Association of University and Colleges of Canada. A one-year Canadian course is recognized as fulfilling our one-year course requirement, if a lab component is included with the science requirements. We consider Grade 13 OAC English along with writing-intensive courses toward the fulfillment of our English/Writing requirement.
Q: I am a Canadian citizen. Am I eligible for financial aid?
A: With regard to financial aid, Canadian citizens are considered foreign applicants. Accepted Canadian applicants are expected to secure their own financial assistance. For information about funding in Canada, we suggest starting with CanLearn, Canada's Education Savings and Student Financial Aid Resource.
Q: I am an international resident. Do I have a chance of being admitted to CHM?
A: Because CHM is a state-supported school with a mission to educate physicians who will serve the needs of the people in Michigan, strong preference is given to students residing in Michigan or with ties to Michigan. A United States permanent resident visa (green card) is required of any international resident (other than a Canadian citizen) applying to CHM. An applicant with a Canadian permanent resident visa will not be considered.
We also require that all applicants complete a baccalaureate degree at a US or Canadian accredited four-year college or university prior to matriculation. Baccalaureate degrees completed at any undergraduate institution other than a US or Canadian accredited one will not be accepted as fulfillment of our undergraduate degree requirement.
In addition to holding a United States permanent resident visa and an undergraduate degree from an accredited US or Canadian four-college or university, all required premedical course work must either be transferable to the home undergraduate school for credit, or must be submitted to a credentialing organization for evaluation for equivalence to US or Canadian course work. There are two credentialing organizations:
If the credentialing organization finds that a required premedical course is not accepted by an accredited US or Canadian undergraduate school for the completion of a baccalaureate degree, the applicant must submit the credentialing organization's findings to each respective department at MSU for an equivalency determination.
Michigan State University is a state-funded institution. Financial aid is not available to international students. Accepted international applicants are expected to secure their own funding. For CHM's entering class of 2009, tuition costs for nonresidents were approximately $58,176 for the first year.
Q: I am a transfer student. Do I have a chance of being admitted to CHM?
A: No, the College of Human Medicine is not accepting applications for transfer admission until further notice.
Q: What is the LANE Scholars Program?
A: The LANE Scholars Program is sponsored by the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine through the Center of Excellence in Minority Medical Education and Health (COE). LANE seeks to prepare competitive medical school applicants and support them throughout the application process.
Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE)
(Postbaccalaureate Program)
Q: Does CHM have a postbaccalaureate program?
A: Yes, but it is not a traditional postbaccalaureate program. You cannot apply to the Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE) program directly; rather, applicants are recommended to the program by the Committee on Admissions. This enriched academic experience is offered each year to a group of disadvantaged students who have applied for regular admission to CHM. The entire medical school application process is completed prior to referral to ABLE by the Committee on Admissions. Students who are accepted into ABLE will have all of the academic attributes and experiences the Committee on Admissions looks for in any applicant. Grades and MCAT scores of applicants referred to ABLE will predict success, but not ensure it. The enrichment program is offered prior to formal acceptance to a select group of promising students.
ABLE is a 13-month program. Students accepted into ABLE who successfully complete the minimum requirements of the program are offered regular admission into the entering CHM class the following year. The goal of the ABLE program is to build upon participants' science base through enrollment in upper-level science and medical school course offerings.
For more information:
Q: Does CHM have a combined MD/PhD program?
A: Yes. CHM offers the combined MD/PhD degree to a few academically talented and highly motivated students accepted to the College of Human Medicine (CHM).
Q: Does MSU offer an MPH (Master's in Public Health) degree?
A: Yes. MSU offers a graduate degree program for a Masters in Public Health, as well as a graduate specialization in Public Health, or a certificate in Public Health. A dual MD/MPH degree is currently under development. For more information, please visit the MSU Program in Public Health website.
Q: Can I earn other master's degrees while attending CHM?
A: Yes. Although not currently part of a dual program, it is possible. CHM offers master's degrees in Epidemiology and in Health Communication. Other dual degree programs can be negotiated.
For more information:
Contact the department that offers the master's degree you are interested in earning
Contact the CHM Block I Director to discuss issues that may relate to pursuing a master’s degree and MD at the same time
Q: Does CHM have a special program for students interested in practicing medicine in a rural area?
A: Yes. The CHM special program for rural medicine is called the Rural Physician Program (RPP). The mission of the College of Human Medicine is explicit about educating excellent physicians who will practice in underserved areas and with underserved populations, such as those in rural areas of Michigan. The RPP is a highly selective program designed to educate students in becoming exemplary rural physicians.
Each year 10 students admitted to CHM are also admitted to the RPP, a rural, clinical training option for CHM students whose goals are to serve the people of rural communities. RPP includes the very successful Upper Peninsula (UP) program established in 1974. In keeping with the UP program, the RPP curriculum emphasizes the caring, compassionate, humane approach to the doctor-patient relationship.
The goal of the RPP is to provide students with enriched clinical experiences, community service opportunities, and rural lifestyle advantages. CHM Rural Physician Program alumni are encouraged to establish practices in Michigan's rural communities. RPP students receive an excellent clinical education from MSU faculty and CHM-selected board-certified volunteer physicians from rural communities.
For more information:
Visit the Rural Physician Program website
Visit the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation website
Q: Are international experiences available to CHM students?
A: Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved/Vulnerable (LMUV) is a Saginaw campus program that began in the fall of 2004. It has a dedicated focus on the clinical and leadership skills and knowledge necessary to serve medically underserved populations in urban, rural, and international settings. This is built into the core curriculum experience for family practice, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics. All elements of this curriculum, including the international experience, are built around the efforts of the MSU-CHM Saginaw Campus in partnership with Synergy Medical Education Alliance.
Housing and food will be covered for LMUV students when out of country, but students are responsible for the cost of their travel, an estimated $1,000 for the third year and $1,000 for the fourth year. Travel costs can be included in their financial aid package. Interested students may apply to the LMUV program during the regular application process.
For more information:
Visit the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved/Vulnerable website
Visit the website for the MSU-CHM Synergy Medical Education Alliance
Q: Do students accepted into the LMUV program have to speak Spanish?
A: Yes. All students accepted into the LMUV program are required to speak Spanish at an intermediate conversational level (minimum) by the time they reach Block III (third year) of medical school.
Q: Are there international opportunities available for students who are not in the LMUV program?
A: Yes. Fourth year students have the opportunity to participate in the Clinical Tropical Medicine Clinical Clerkship in Malawor Zambia. For more information, visit the MSU International Health Opportunities for Medical Students web page.
Fourth year students may also work with their community administrator to set up their own elective clinical rotations anywhere in the world.
CHM believes that learning about and experiencing research is an important component of medical education. The extensive research being conducted within CHM provides students with opportunities for participating in research across a wide array of disciplines and settings. Faculty investigators in both the clinical and basic science departments serve as valuable mentors. Moreover, CHM is uniquely positioned to offer research experiences unlike most other medical schools, in two important ways.
First, MSU is the only university in the US to be home to three medical schools: CHM, the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The collaborations that exist between these Colleges, as well as with the Colleges of Nursing, Engineering, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Agriculture and Natural Resources, produce ground-breaking, multidisciplinary research that responds to our society's real-life needs. Teams that bring together bioengineering, medicine, and zoology are just one example of the research projects underway at MSU.
Second, CHM’s community-based system provides access to a large base of clinicians, mentors, and patients who participate in research designed to translate findings from bench to bedside.
CHM has multiple units engaged in research:
The Institute for Health Care Studies (IHCS), whose mission is to improve the health care available to Michigan residents through research, policy analysis, education and outreach, and support of quality improvement activities
The Office of Medical Education Research and Development (OMERAD), with a history of over three decades as a national leader in innovative curriculum development and evaluation, medical education research including the use of new technology, and the preparation of junior clinical faculty for academic careers
The Great Lakes Research in Practice Network (GRIN), which offers access to a statewide network of primary care clinicians experienced in participation in practice-based research
The CHM Office of Research sponsors multiple student research support services including:
the CHM-Research Listserv, an interactive communication tool for students, residents and faculty across all campuses
a Student Research Interest Group (SRIG) which meets every 4-6 weeks and offers students peer networking and review of research proposals, seminars on conducting research, faculty research presentations, and an open communications forum
a ROPES (Research Opportunities and Education for Students) program, currently in development with several components already implemented. It is a comprehensive, formal program of student research support services that will benefit students across all the campuses and facilitate student involvement in research, research products, funding, and collaborations
Research Days at most of the community campuses, with research awards for best faculty, student, and resident oral and poster presentations
Ruth McIlnay Summer Scholarship Awards to support four students conducting research related to oncology
4th year research elective options
Research Advisory Assistance for help with developing research ideas and projects, connecting to faculty mentors, and gaining research experiences
For more information, contact the CHM Office of Research at (517) 432-4789 or visit their website.
Q: What is the Federal School Code for Michigan State University?
A: 002290
Q: Does AAMC provide financial information to medical school applicants?
A: Yes. FIRST (Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools) for Medical Education, created by the AAMC in collaboration with the medical school financial aid community and the Organization of Student Representatives, is designed to help applicants navigate the complexities of student debt.
For more information, visit the FIRST for Students and Applicants website
Q: What financial aid is available to students attending CHM?
A: The College of Human Medicine recognizes that earning a medical degree is a financial struggle for most students. In keeping with its philosophy of service to students, the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office strives to lessen that struggle through grants, fellowships, loans, and other forms of aid. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for financing his or her medical education. Students with excellent credit ratings have fewer struggles in obtaining the financial assistance necessary to meet their financial needs.
Q: What is the tuition at the College of Human Medicine?
A: For the 2009 entering class, tuition for Michigan residents was approximately $26,954 per year. Out-of-state tuition was approximately $58,176 per year. Tuition at MSU is subject to change by the MSU Board of Trustees.
Q: Do you have a sample budget for CHM students?
A: Yes, click HERE to download a PDF file of the 2009-2010 CHM Student Budget.
For more information, visit the MSU Health Professions Financial Aid Office website.
Q: I am an outstanding student, with great experiences, who completely identifies with the MSU-CHM Mission. Do I have a chance of receiving a scholarship? Would it be a full-tuition or significant scholarship?
A: CHM has many scholarships for incoming and current students. However, most of them are for small amounts, with the largest being approximately $10,000, awarded to one or two entering students. Given this, view any potential award as a tribute to your excellence, and only a supplement to your overall financial package and planning.
Students should plan to pay for medical school at CHM using financial aid, personal funds, and/or a service commitment (such as the Armed Services Health Professions Scholarship).
Q: How can I obtain Michigan residency?
A: In order to establish Michigan residency, you must live in Michigan for 12 consecutive months without being a student, before you matriculate into medical school. You cannot establish residency while attending medical school unless you are under the age of 24 and your parents move to Michigan, or you have a spouse who is a Michigan resident with full-time professional employment in Michigan. For more information, contact the MSU Office of the Registrar at reg@msu.edu or (517) 355-3300.
For more information, see:
Q: As an international medical student, can I take an elective at the College of Human Medicine?
A: No. CHM's elective programs are not accepting students from foreign medical schools at this time.
Q: How can I obtain information regarding U.S. residency programs for international medical students?
A: Medical practice and postgraduate medical school education in the United States for physicians trained at international medical schools is controlled by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Policies, requirements, and other information is available on their website, along with links to specific postgraduate training programs.
Q: How can I learn about other MSU programs and degrees offered?
A: Visit the MSU Academic Programs & Areas of Study website for a comprehensive list of all undergraduate and graduate programs and degrees offered at Michigan State University.
