General Questions and Eligibility Requirements
- Do you have a brochure or more information about the program?
- I am just getting started on preparing for medical school, where do I start?
- I am a high school student or college freshman with lots of AP/IB college credits and volunteer experience. Can I apply before my second year in college?
- Do I have to take the MCAT?
- Do I have to be in an honors program or attend UF to be accepted into the MHP?
- I like the research component of the MHP and I’m interested in subsequently pursuing an MD/PhD program. Is the MHP a good stepping stone to MD/PhD programs?
- I am not a Florida resident, nor do I have any ties to Florida. Can I still apply?
- Do you accept non-US citizens?
- What are the criteria for acceptance into the program?
- Can the MHP help me get into other medical schools?
- If I do not get accepted into the Medical Honors Program, can I still apply to the general admission MD program at UF?
- Where do UF COM graduates match for residencies?
Prerequisites and Co-Curricular Experiences
- Can I take the prerequisite courses at my local community/junior college?
- Can I take the prerequisite courses through distance learning or through the internet?
- Do I need volunteer experience in order to apply?
- Do I need to have research experience prior to applying?
- How exactly does one get research experience?
Application Forms and Processing
- What is the deadline for the application for the 2022-2023 year?
- Are the new SAT/ACT and GPA requirements firm for this admission cycle?
- The application asks for 3 letters of reference. Who should write these letters?
Medical Honors Program Structure
- Once accepted into the Medical Honors Program, how do students from other universities transfer to the University of Florida?
- When is the research thesis performed?
- What are the tuition costs for the MHP students?
General Questions and Eligibility Requirements
Q: Do you have a brochure or more information about the program?
A: The most current and up-to-date information can be found here on our website.
Q: I am just getting started on preparing for medical school, where do I start?
A: Your pre-health advisor! Most undergraduate institutions will have a dedicated pre-health advisor or advising team who can guide you and introduce you to excellent resources, regardless of your major. Another excellent resource for prospective medical school applicants is the Aspiring Docs section of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ website. There are many tools and resources available to applicants that can help provide general preparation for applying to medical school.
Q: I am a high school student or college freshman with lots of AP/IB college credits and volunteer experience. Can I apply before my second year in college?
A: No. This program is designed for undergraduate students who are in their second post-high school year of enrollment at a four-year accredited science-degree-granting academic institution (University of Florida or equivalent institution). Students who bring in significant AP/IB credits may still apply, however they must do so in their second year of enrollment at a four-year accredited science-degree-granting academic institution. Students who transfer to UF from another college as juniors/third years are not eligible to apply. Students who enter UF after earning their AA degree through high school dual enrollment are considered on a case by case basis. The University of Florida has an excellent Pre-Health advising office and website geared for those interested in a medical career that can be found here.
Q: Do I have to take the MCAT?
A: No. You will apply to the program during the spring of your second year of undergraduate enrollment, and if accepted you will matriculate into your first year of medical school after your Medical Honors year without being required to take the MCAT.
Q: Do I have to be in an honors program or attend UF to be accepted into the MHP?
A: No. Any undergraduate second year student who meets the eligibility requirements can apply to the MHP.
Q: I like the research component of the MHP and I’m interested in subsequently pursuing an MD/PhD program. Is the MHP a good stepping stone to MD/PhD programs?
A: No. On average, MD/PhD programs seek applicants that have extensive research experience (ie, >3 years). Consequently, MHP is probably not the best pathway if your long term goal is to gain admission to an MD/PhD program.
Q: I am not a Florida resident, nor do I have any ties to Florida. Can I still apply?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you accept international students?
A: You must either be a United States citizen or a United States permanent resident in possession of a ‘Green Card.’
Q: What are the criteria for acceptance into the program?
A: Major criteria are academic excellence, history of service and leadership, proven motivation for a career in medicine, and letters of recommendation.
Q. Can the MHP help me to get into other medical schools?
A: No. The MHP curriculum is designed to provide a transition from undergraduate studies to the UF COM. If you wish to apply to medical schools beyond the UF COM, please do not apply to the MHP.
Q: If I do not get accepted into the Medical Honors Program, can I still apply to the general admission MD program at UF?
A: Yes, we encourage those of you who do not get accepted to apply for regular admission to the UF MD program.
Q: Where do UF COM graduates match for residencies?
A: Check out the Residency List for the Class of 2020 here!
Prerequisites and Co-Curricular Experiences
Q: Can I take the prerequisite courses at my local community/junior college?
A: In order to create the most academically competitive application you should take all prerequisite courses at the most competitive four-year accredited science-degree-granting academic institution to which you can gain entrance.
Q: Can I take the prerequisite courses through distance learning?
A: Yes
Q: Will you accept test credit, pass/fail and S/U grades for prerequisite courses?
A: It depends. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all prerequisite courses unless a higher level substitution in the same discipline is approved in which a grade of “C” or higher is earned. For instance, if an applicant earns college credit through Advanced Placement testing for Biology I lecture but has no letter grade associated with the credit, and then takes PCB 3063 Genetics lecture and earns an “A,” we will accept the Genetics lecture to substitute for the Biology I grade.
Q: Do I need volunteer experience in order to apply?
A: Yes, you need to have volunteer and service activity, in particular in a medical environment. For local Gainesville clinical volunteering opportunities, please visit this site for Shands. For community service-related volunteering opportunities in Gainesville, please visit this site. In addition, you may review our resource page “How Do I Get Into Medical School?” for further information on the comprehensive process of preparing for medical school applications.
Q: Do I need to have research experience prior to applying?
A: No, it is not necessary to have previous research experience. However, it is an advantage in that students in the Medical Honors Program produce an Honors Research Thesis.
Q: How exactly does one get research experience?
A: If you attend the University of Florida, there are research opportunities in nearly every department. Please visit this site for advice and tips.
Application Forms and Processing
Q: What is the deadline for the application for the 2022-2023 cycle?
A: The application is set to open on Wednesday December 7, 2022. The application is due on Wednesday February 1, 2022 by 11:59 p.m.
Q: Are the new SAT/ACT and GPA requirements firm for this admission cycle?
A: Yes, these are firm requirements and must be met in order to be eligible for admission into the program.
Q: The application asks for 3 letters of reference. Who should write these letters?
A: There is no distinct letter distribution for this admission cycle. However, it is important to remember that your letters will serve as one of the most important aspects of your application in terms of getting to know you as an applicant to our program. With that, we highly recommend that you select writers who know you and can thoughtfully articulate any characteristics that will highlight your preparedness for medical school and/or any of your potential contributions to our medical community.
Please note that of the three required letters, only one of them may be derived from a representative in your high school experience. In the same regard, while a minimum of three letters are required for a complete application file, you may submit a total of six. We recommend visiting this link provided by the AAMC for more guidance on effectively writing a letter of recommendation for a medical school applicant.
Medical Honors Program Structure
Q: Once accepted into the Medical Honors Program, how do students from other universities transfer to the University of Florida?
A: Accepted students from universities other than UF must apply to UF as an Upper Division Transfer Applicant, and details of this process will be sent following the student’s acceptance. Our MHP Liaison and Pre-Health Advisor will be available for support throughout the application process to the university.
Q: When is the research thesis performed?
A: The research thesis is performed during the Fall and Spring semesters of the MHP year, and (if needed) during the summer before matriculation into medical school.
Q: What are the tuition costs for the MHP students?
A: Tuition for the MHP year is the same as our UF undergraduate program. Once entering the College of Medicine after one year in the MHP, tuition will be the same as every other first year College of Medicine MD Program student. To get an idea of what current students’ tuition fees are, please follow this link.