Requirements and Prerequisite for UF Medical School

Gaining admission to medical school is a lofty goal, but it’s attainable with hard work and dedication. The University of Florida medical school has a competitive program, with an average science GPA of 3.79 and average MCAT scores of 514. Early preparation will help you develop the skills that are necessary to meet the UF medical school requirements.

Begin Preparing in High School

Challenging courses in high school are a must to prepare for the UF medical school prerequisite courses. Take all of the science classes that are offered at your high school and enroll in Advanced Placement courses if possible. Chemistry, biology and physics are important subjects to master while in high school.

Continue Building an Academic Foundation in College

You don’t have to major in the hard sciences, but you’ll need to satisfy some specific UF medical school prerequisite courses. These are the required science classes:

General chemistry with labs (eight credit hours)
Biochemistry – upper division (three to four credit hours)
Organic chemistry with lab (four to five credit hours)
Physics with labs (eight credit hours)
General biology with labs (eight credit hours)

You’ll need to earn a C or better in each of these classes.

Build a Leadership Portfolio

Be sure to get involved in extracurricular activities to demonstrate your leadership skills. Student organizations, community service, athletics and music provide a picture of your varied talents and interest in being a well-rounded individual. Combined with academic excellence, serving as a campus leader showcases your ability to multitask and manage your time.

Gain Practical Experience

The UF medical school admissions committee will look favorably upon past experience in the medical field. If you’re interested in working while in college, consider getting certified as a paramedic or working as a certified nursing assistant. Working in the medical field will help you learn more about what happens on the front line. You can also shadow a physician to learn more about the daily work of a doctor.

Take the MCAT

One of the UF medical school requirements is an above-average score on the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT. The average score of successful applicants at the University of Florida is 514. Expect to spend a minimum of 20 to 30 hours per week for three months to prepare for this exam. You’ll have seven and a half hours to take the test, so you’ll want to be ready to do your best.

Submit Application Materials

When it comes time to apply to the University of Florida, you’ll need the following items:

UF application
Academic transcripts that include required science courses
Application fee
Personal essay
Letters of reference
MCAT scores

Applications will not be reviewed if any of the above items are missing.

Sit for a UF Medical School Interview

If you’re fortunate enough to be selected for an interview, you’ll visit campus to meet with two of the admission committee members and with current students. You’ll also have the opportunity to eat lunch with students to learn more about what it’s like to be a UF medical school student. Interviews are held on Fridays between August and March on the UF campus.

Pay Attention to Important Dates

You’ll need to submit all of your admission materials through the American Medical College Application Service by December 1. Here are some other important dates to consider:

February 19 – Indicate your first choice through the AMCAS system
April 15 – Narrow your medical school choices to three options
April 30 – Submit a “plan to enroll” form or withdraw from the process
July 10 – Submit your “commit to enroll” form

If you wish to defer your enrollment, you’ll need to submit an appeal to the assistant dean of admissions prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Deferments are limited to one or two years.