Admissions Committee Student Selection Policy

PURPOSE
To outline the student selection procedures of the Admissions Committee.

AUDIENCE
Prospective applicants and all faculty, staff, students, and other representatives participating in the UC Davis School of Medicine's (the School) admission process

LCME STANDARD
10.3 Policies Regarding Student Selection

POLICY
At UC Davis School of Medicine, the Admissions Committee consists of three subcommittees: Ranking, Steering, and Selection. The Steering Subcommittee develops the admissions policies and provides oversight of all phases of admissions; the Selection Subcommittee has the final responsibility for approving admission policies, selection criteria, and accepting students into the School. The Ranking Subcommittee reviews all applicant data and develops ranked lists of applicants. This policy reviews the Admissions Committee procedures related to the selection of students for admission.

    PROCEDURE

    All admissions decisions are made without consideration of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or marital status. In keeping with a holistic review process, we consider each applicant’s entire packet rather than focusing on select parts such as GPA or test scores. In doing so, we consider how each individual applicant will contribute to the School’s mission, help address regional workforce needs, and enhance the academic community. Holistic review considers multiple factors including coursework, academic and extracurricular experiences, unique talents, background, attributes, and career goals.

    MEMBERSHIP

    Membership on the Committee is defined by the School’s Bylaws and Regulations. Eligible faculty and trainees can apply for membership each Spring. Membership is reviewed and approved by the Faculty Executive Committee. Committee appointees serve a term of 3 years. Members are required to adhere School policies and to the procedures outlined in the Admissions Process Manual. A designated Admissions Committee Chair represents the Committee and is advisory to the Associate Dean for Admissions on matters related to policy. 

    CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION

    The admissions criteria are developed by the Steering Subcommittee and reviewed and approved annually by the Selection Subcommittee. The admissions criteria are based on the mission of the School and priorities established by the Faculty Executive Committee.

    ADMISSIONS PROCESS

    All applications must be submitted via AMCAS in compliance with deadlines and policies. Selected applicants are given a secondary application. Approximately 500 applications are selected for an interview. 

    M.D./Ph.D. ADMISSIONS PROCESS 

    Once selected, M.D./Ph.D. applicants are invited to interview for admission to the medical school and for a M.D./Ph.D. program interview. 

    MISSION-FOCUSED PATHWAY PROGRAMS

    After they have been offered admission to the medical school, selected applicants who indicated interest in the medical school’s mission-focused pathway programs on the secondary application are invited for a pathway program interview. Applicants must first be admitted to the medical school before they can be interviewed for a pathway program.

    GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE

    1. The Committee has the independent authority to decide who is admitted to the School.  
    2. The selection of students for admission is not influenced by political or financial factors.
    3. The Committee determines the most effective methodology for evaluating applications and potential students, informed by best practices in the field.
    4. The Committee is responsible for assuring compliance with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), and other regulatory policies and practices.
    5. As part of a continuous improvement process, the Committee reviews the admissions policies and premedical requirements, other relevant policies (e.g. technical standards, conflict of interest, etc.), every 3 years. The admissions website and other published admissions materials are reviewed each year.
    6. The Committee prepares an annual report for the Faculty Executive Committee detailing their efforts, outcomes, and outstanding issues.
      The Committee, in concert with the Office of Student and Resident Diversity, prepares an annual report on the diversity policies, practices, and outcomes.

    WAITLIST

    Applicants not accepted or rejected by the Selection Subcommittee are placed on a ranked waitlist. With authority from the Selection Subcommittee, the Chair of the Admissions Committee and the Director of Admissions manage the waitlist. Applicants on the waitlist can only be offered admission after all applicants in the current cycle have been interviewed. As vacancies in the matriculating class become available, applicants on the waitlist are offered admission in the order in which they are ranked. 

    M.D./Ph.D. WAITLIST 

    With authority from the Selection Subcommittee, the M.D./Ph.D. program creates and manages a separate ranked waitlist. The M.D./Ph.D. Program ranked waitlist is reviewed and approved by the Selection Subcommittee. The M.D./Ph.D. Program leadership offers waitlist applicants admission as positions become available in the M.D./Ph.D. program. Up to three positions in the M.D./Ph.D. program are filled each year by eligible applicants.

    MISSION-FOCUSED PATHWAY PROGRAMS APPLICANTS ON THE M.D. WAITLIST

    Pathway program applicants on the M.D. waitlist may be interviewed for a pathway program if positions become available after the initial interview and acceptance process. With authority from the Selection Subcommittee, the Chair of the Admissions and the Director of the pathway program review waitlist applicants who have applied for medical school’s mission-focused pathway programs. Selected applicants may be recommended for admission out of sequence of the waiting list subject to approval from the Steering and Selection Subcommittees. These applicants are considered based on mission alignment with the programs.

    RESPONSIBILITY
    Admissions Committee

    REFERENCES

    School of Medicine Bylaws and Regulations, Bylaws 4.2231 and 4.2232

    RELATED POLICY/POLICIES
    Technical Standards Policy
    Academic Assessment of Students by Health Care Providers Policy
    Premedical Requirements Policy

    POLICY OWNER
    Admissions Committee

    REVIEWED BY
    Admissions Committee*
    Admissions Selection Subcommittee

    REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
    July 2023, annual review cycle

    * indicates the Policy Owner