MSTP Admissions Information

Important Dates 

Eligible MSTP Applicants Must

• meet all admissions requirements of The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (or will be either by the date of enrollment).

• have completed requirements for a bachelor's degree at an accredited academic institution prior to matriculation.

• have excellent academic credentials, including undergraduate or postgraduate academic performance in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences, and performance on the MCAT.  

• have productive laboratory experience(s) that demonstrates an aptitude for and commitment to biomedical research.

Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Iowa MSTP is enriched by the diversity in our student population. The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1316, 319-335-0705 (voice), 319-335-0697 (TDD), diversity@uiowa.edu. https://diversity.uiowa.edu/

The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine makes every effort to ensure that all qualified applicants and students can participate in and take full advantage of all programs and opportunities offered within the University. For more information, check out the University's Policies for Students with Disabilities (https://medicine.uiowa.edu/md/supporting-students/student-handbook/policies-students-disabilities) or The Technical Standards for Admission and Retention (https://medicine.uiowa.edu/md/admissions/applying/technical-standards-admission-and-retention).

Financial Support

Our MSTP trainees receive a competitive stipend and full tuition support during their entire training, through a combination of the sources below:

• The National Institutes of Health MSTP training grant to The University of Iowa
• Institutional support from the UI Carver College of Medicine
• Students in the graduate phase of training receive support from their mentors and graduate programs

The MSTP office also assists trainees in applying for competitive national awards for outstanding academic and research achievement.

Iowa MSTP Admissions Process

Instruct AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) to forward your AMCAS application to the Iowa College of Medicine (IA 131). You must select the MD/PhD Program type on your AMCAS application. This will allow you to answer two MD/PhD-specific questions that will become part of your Iowa MSTP application. If you did not select the MD/PhD Program type when you first submitted your AMCAS application, you may go back to your AMCAS application and make this change (this action will not de-certify your application). The AMCAS primary application must be submitted by November 1. Be aware there is a delay before the application is released to the schools you select.

MCAT Policy—Applicants must have taken the MCAT between January 2019 and September 2023.  Visit the AAMC Website for Registration and Test Dates.

Submit all Carver College of Medicine secondary materials.  Instructions for submitting this information will be forwarded to you once your AMCAS application is received. A supplemental Iowa MSTP Application is part of the Carver College of Medicine secondary application. In order to receive a secondary application, you must meet the College of Medicine minimum requirements of a grade point average of 3.0 or above. For those who interview with us, the secondary application fee of $60 will be refunded.

See the Carver College of Medicine instructions about letters of recommendation, which are submitted to AMCAS.  The Iowa MSTP requires that one of your letters comes from a primary research mentor. If your mentor letter is shortened and included within a pre-med packet, we require that the entire mentor letter also be uploaded separately to AMCAS. We will accept more than the College of Medicine's limit of three letters only if the additional letters are from former research collaborators or mentors with whom you have had a significant research experience.

To be considered for an interview with the Iowa MSTP it is recommended that your application be FULLY complete no later than October 1st. All Iowa MSTP applicants please note: The MSTP admissions process is done on a rolling basis, such that interview invitations are offered until all interviews are full. Thus, for your application to get full consideration, we recommend submitting the secondary and completing your application before October 1st. This includes secondary questions, letters of recommendation, etc.  The AMCAS Deadline is December 15th, however all interviews were filled by mid-October of 2023 in the most recent cycle. After initial screening of applications is completed, selected candidates will be invited for an interview. For the 2024 Admissions cycle the following interview slots were filled by the dates listed below:  September: Filled by September 1st, 2023 October: Filled by September 15th, 2023 November: Filled by October 10th, 2023 December: Filled by October 15th, 2023

Advanced Standing Admissions Process (M2 or M3 Year)

All students enrolled in the CCOM are eligible for consideration by the MSTP for admission with advanced standing. Many students who enter the general medical school class have a deep interest in research. The CCOM endorses scientific investigation, as evidenced by the establishment of the Research Distinction Track, which awards distinction to medical students who have significant and sustained research participation throughout their medical school training. Strikingly, more than half of the general medical school class completes a summer research fellowship during their CCOM training. In recognition of this strong cohort of talented students, we formalized a process for admission of advanced standing students. If you are interested in applying as an Advanced Standing applicant, please email the MSTP office at mstp@uiowa.edu at any time after you begin medical school. We will refer to your email at a later date and confirm with you whether you would still like to to apply.

Each July, we notify the entire M2 & M3 class of the application deadline for individuals interested in MD-PhD training. Typically, we receive one to two applications each year.

• These M2 and M3 students complete an MSTP application to add to their existing AMCAS application.
• Update or ask for two new letters of recommendation.
• Following a review by the MSTP Admissions Committee, advanced standing candidates are invited to interview during one of the regular interview time periods.
• Admissions decisions are made by the end of December to permit accepted students an opportunity to join the current MSTP year 2 or 3 class. Funding for entering advanced standing students begins July 1st.

Funding for taking an advanced standing student is contingent upon available funds allocated by the College of Medicine. We have been able to add advanced standing students in only four out of the last five years.