Admissions Process

A supplemental application will be sent out to qualified applicants once UW has received and reviewed the AMCAS application.

• An autobiographical statement in which the candidate describes the origin and development of his or her motivation to be a physician with specific emphasis on prior health care experiences, steps taken to explore a career in medicine, and ventual professional goals. Any other issues of importance to the candidate should also be included. The applicant may request that the Personal Comments section of the AMCAS application be used to fulfill this requirement.
• Why the UW School of Medicine? A concise statement (not exceeding 200 words) as to the reasons for wanting to attend the University of Washington School of Medicine.
• Letters of Recommendation A premedical committee evaluation or three letters from instructors (either sciences or humanities) from whom the candidate has taken courses. These letters should critically evaluate the candidate's academic ability, strengths and weaknesses, motivation for medicine, maturity, difficulty of course work and special attributes and assets. Letters of reference from current employers may be advantageous; however, too many additional letters are discouraged. All letters of recommendation should be confidential and not be seen by the applicant.

• A $35 application fee. This will automatically be waived for those who have qualified for AMCAS fee waivers. Others seeking a waiver of this fee should submit their requests directly to the School of Medicine, Office of Admissions.
• Acknowledgment of having read, understood and being able to meet - with or without reasonable accommodation - the Essential Requirements of Medical Education at the University of Washington School of Medicine: Admission, Retention and Graduation Standards to be sent with the supplemental application form.
• Conviction/Criminal History Information. Washington state law requires that all individuals who have access to children under 16 years of age, developmentally disabled people, and other vulnerable persons, disclose background information concerning crimes and offenses against these populations. A nationwide criminal background search is mandatory for all accepted applicants. The accepted student must initiate the search within two weeks of receiving the acceptance notification e-mail.
• State Residency Certification. Candidates from Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho will be required to submit residency certifications from their respective state certifying officers. Proof of legal residence for Washington residents may also be required. Determination of state of legal residence is not made by the School of Medicine; specific instructions regarding this requirement are furnished with the supplemental application materials.

Before being accepted into the program, each applicant will be interviewed before the board makes their final decision for acceptance. The interviews take place in Seattle between January and March. The Idaho WWAMI interview team includes 4 Idaho physicians.