University of Illinois College of Medicine: Letters of Recommendation Requirements and Admissions Overview

Gaining admission to the University of Illinois College of Medicine (UI COM) is a competitive process that requires careful attention to detail. A crucial component of your application is the letters of recommendation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the letter of recommendation requirements for the UI COM, as well as insights into the overall admissions process.

Letters of Recommendation: A Critical Component

A minimum of three academic or professional letters of recommendation from individuals who know the applicant well is required. These letters provide valuable insights into your character, work ethic, and potential as a medical student. It is advisable that letters of recommendation be sent from the institution at which the applicant had been most recently enrolled and must be completed on official university or business letterhead.

Guidance on Preferred Letter Writers

The UI COM prefers letters from faculty, research mentors, professional experience supervisors, and/or volunteer experience references. The admissions committee will also accept a single health professions advisory committee letter in lieu of three individual letters. No more than three individual letters, one committee letter, or one letter packet containing a maximum of three individual letters will be considered in evaluating your application.

Timing and Submission

A minimum of three academic letters of recommendation or one composite recommendation from a pre-professional committee must be postmarked by February 15 of the year prior to enrollment. All letters of evaluation and recommendation must be submitted to AMCAS letter service. Any letters from third parties that are not solicited by the applicant or Carle Illinois College of Medicine, or letters sent directly to Carle Illinois College of Medicine will not be accepted or retained. Letters of recommendation must be written within two years of the date of application to IllinoisCOM.

If you are currently enrolled in a graduate or professional school, one of your three letters of recommendation must be from a faculty member at your graduate or professional school.

Holistic Admissions at UI COM

The University of Illinois College of Medicine is committed to the use of holistic admissions to identify applicants who are best suited to our institutional mission and educational design. IllinoisCOM at The Chicago School employs holistic admissions practices that evaluate applicants based on their perceived ability to contribute to our mission and uphold the tenants of osteopathic medicine.

UI COM seeks candidates that exhibit excellence in one or more of the areas that are pillars for its mission. The admissions committee looks for students who understand healthcare teams and the role of a physician on the team. The program strives to adhere to the NRMP Match Code of Conduct for Programs, which includes minimization of communication with applicants outside of the interview day.

Academic Requirements and Prerequisites

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet certain academic requirements and complete prerequisite courses.

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. Credit awarded via AP exams counts toward the prerequisite requirements.

Carle Illinois evaluates competency, which is a much broader concept than pre-requisites. While competency most likely will be met through courses taken during undergraduate education, they recognize there are alternatives to undergraduate coursework that may prepare you for their curriculum. These may include, but are not limited to, research publications, professional experiences, or certificates.

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All applicants must complete:

Two semesters of Introductory Biology or the equivalent with laboratory.
Two semesters of General Inorganic Chemistry or the equivalent with laboratory.
Two semesters of Organic Chemistry with laboratory. (Introductory Biochemistry may substitute for one semester of Organic Chemistry.)
Two semesters of General Physics or the equivalent.

All applicants are expected to complete three semesters of Social Science courses with an emphasis in the behavioral sciences. In addition, candidates are expected to take at least one of the following courses: Advanced-level Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Mammalian Histology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, or Molecular Genetics.

Community college credit is accepted. Advanced Placement credit is accepted when succeeded by a higher-level course in the same subject at an undergraduate institution.

MCAT Requirement

Applicants must have a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score prior to application consideration and the October 31 deadline. Both MCAT and GPA will be used as components in our holistic evaluation. A minimum MCAT score of 498 out of a possible 528 is required. MCAT scores cannot be more than 3 years old in January of the year of expected enrollment. The best eligible score will be used for the admission process.

GPA

The University of Illinois College of Medicine does not have a minimum GPA requirement.

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The Application Process

The application process for the UI COM involves several steps, including submitting an application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), completing a secondary application, and participating in an interview.

AMCAS Application

All applicants must complete an application to the AMCAS no later than December 31 of the year prior to enrollment. Only those applicants who indicate plans to obtain a baccalaureate degree prior to enrollment will be considered for admission. Major fields may be in humanities, behavioral, biological, or physical sciences.

Secondary Application

On receipt of the AMCAS application, eligible applicants will be sent a UIC Supplemental Application. Materials must be postmarked by February 15 of the year prior to enrollment. Eligible students will receive a Secondary Application. The Secondary Application is specific to UI COM, and needs to be completed and returned to the OMCA by December 1 of the application year. The Chicago Medical School Supplemental Application & Fee must be completed.

Interview

The final step in the application process is an interview. The program hosts several virtual open houses during the recruitment period. The "new normal" will include a virtual option for interviews to accommodate those students that are on a Fulbright scholarship or out of the country, or they’re doing something with the Peace Corps and they basically get a two week window to come back to the States to do their interviews. Applicants are encouraged to begin their application process a year prior to their anticipated matriculation date and Participate in a virtual interview with IllinoisCOM faculty, administration, and staff.

Additional Information

Diversity and Inclusion

The commitment of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (University) to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator.

UIC students undertake career specialization and training in all disciplines.

Non-Traditional Applicants

Non-traditional applicants are those who are more than one year out from their bachelor’s degree, and may have even spent time in another career before turning to medicine. All non-traditional applicants are encouraged to apply!

Virtual Office Hours

Virtual Office Hours is a recruitment initiative aimed at addressing any hesitation potential students may have in their consideration of Carle Illinois. Each session will have some information about Carle Illinois but will focus on current students answering questions from potential applicants.

Exams Required

Students must pass the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK Examination; and complete the Graduation Competency Examination (GCE) assessing clinical skills.

Other Requirements

Students must meet all Phase 1, 2, and 3 requirements and Procedural Competencies. The M3 Year consists of clinical clerkships in core disciplines. M3 Elective Offerings are an opportunity for M3 students to be exposed to specialties during a two week experience. The Scholarly Concentration Programs are optional four-year specialized medical training pathways that provide educational experiences in unique areas of medical practice. They are open to all UI College of Medicine students and can be layered with other Co-Curricular programs.

In partnership with several of our peer programs, the Internal Medicine Residency Program at UIC has decided not to participate in the NRMP list lock pilot and will not be offering in-person second looks for the 2025-2026 application season.

Advice from Admissions Experts

Dr. Leila Amiri, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, offers valuable advice to prospective students. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the UI COM's mission and determining if your goals align with it. She also advises applicants to focus on their own unique qualities and experiences, rather than comparing themselves to others.

Dr. Amiri notes that the UI COM is a multi-campus school with diverse programming. While the educational experience is similar across campuses, the feel of the curriculum may vary depending on the location. She also points out that the UI COM does not have a specific type of student they are looking for.

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