Admission
As a medical school dedicated since its inception to the healthcare needs of eastern Virginia, EVMS shows preference to applicants from the Commonwealth of Virginia, especially legal residents of Hampton Roads. For an applicant to be considered as an in-state Virginia resident for tuition purposes, the applicant must have legally domiciled in the Commonwealth of Virginia for a least one year prior to matriculation and must fulfill other requirements to confirm Virginia residency.
Applications from out-of-state students who have strong academic credentials and the personal traits valued by EVMS are also encouraged to apply. Applicants from rural or other underserved regions and those who have been disadvantaged or underrepresented for economic, racial or social reasons, and possess the motivation and aptitude required for the study of medicine, are also strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants who are enrolled or are planning to enroll in a degree-seeking graduate program must fulfill the degree requirements for that program prior to matriculating at EVMS.
Applicants interested in the MD program must have taken the Medical College Admission Text (MCAT) and completed a minimum of 100 semester hours, including the below required prerequisite courses, at an accredited university in the United States or Canada. Online/internet-based courses are now acceptable.
Prerequisite courses
- Biology (with labs) 1 year
- General chemistry (with labs) 1 year
- Organic chemistry (with labs) 1 year
- Physics (with labs) 1 year
(Biochemistry is highly recommended.)
Applicants must have a passing grade in all required courses. Credits earned through advanced placement programs or passing College Level Examination Program (CLEP) are acceptable. Applicants may enhance their chances of acceptance by taking graduate coursework in the natural sciences. In recent years, students matriculating at EVMS have had a mean GPA of 3.50 and a mean MCAT of 511.
MCAT
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is a computer-based exam which is offered multiple times throughout the year and must be taken by the prospective student before the application can be processed.
EVMS will only consider MCAT scores from exams taken within two years prior to the application date. The MCAT tests academic competencies in the natural sciences, reasoning and analysis skills, and concepts from psychology, sociology and biology that provide the foundation for learning in medical school about the behavioral and socio-cultural determinants of health, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). An applicant may wish to take the MCAT more than once to ensure the best possible performance. If an applicant intends to take the MCAT for the first time in the fall, review of his or her application will not take place until the score has been received. Information and registration may be accessed online.
International students
Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. will be considered for admission into the MD program at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Initial application
EVMS is highly competitive, and each year, the medical school receives more than 6,500 applications from which approximately 150 students are selected. The admissions process begins on June 1. Primary applications are received through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) of the AAMC.
The MD admissions process begins after a completed application is received from the AMCAS. Electronic applications and the instructions for completing the AMCAS application can be found through the AAMC website.
The AMCAS application contains information about the applicant, including a personal statement and a record of the applicant’s academic performance. In addition to academic information, the application should include other life experiences such as previous healthcare work, volunteerism and employment history.
Supplemental application
Once the prospective student’s AMCAS application has been received by EVMS, MD Admissions may request a secondary application be completed. This will be sent to the applicant via the email address supplied to AMCAS when the primary application was submitted.
Veterans are eligible for reimbursement of these fees through the Veterans I-SERVED Program.
Letters of recommendation
- If your school has a premedical advisory committee, we strongly urge you to have a letter sent by that committee. Otherwise, you may submit three individual letters, including: two letters from natural and physical sciences faculty and one letter from a non-science faculty (courses in Mathematics will be considered in the realm of a non-science letter).
- Applicants currently or previously enrolled in a graduate program must submit another letter of recommendation from their thesis or graduate advisor. (Do not duplicate letters. You should have a minimum of four separate letters, including undergraduate letters listed above, if you are required to submit a graduate letter of reference.)
- Medical Degrees You may submit additional letters other than the required minimum listed above.
- If you have just begun or are planning to begin a one-year master’s degree program this fall, you are required to submit a letter from your program adviser verifying your enrollment and the program completion date. (A letter of your progress in the program will be requested at a later date.)
Transfer applicants
Applicants who wish to transfer into the second or third year at EVMS should review our transfer applicant guidelines and submit a completed transfer application to MD Admissions by March 1.
Acceptance protocol for Eastern Virginia Medical School
Protocol Procedures:
Feb. 19 - April 15: Accepted applicants may select the “Plan to Enroll” option in AMCAS.
April 15 - April 30: Accepted applicants should narrow their offers of acceptance to three medical schools.
April 30 - July 17: Accepted applicants may select the “Commit to Enroll” option in AMCAS. This selection indicates that you are withdrawing your application from consideration at other medical schools.
July 18: Accepted students are required to select the “Commit to Enroll” option in AMCAS. If commit to enroll is not selected by July 18, your offer of acceptance may be rescinded.
Application Deadline
Applications for regular admission may be submitted to EVMS through AMCAS between June 1 and Nov. 15, although applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all application materials as early as possible.
Early Decision Program
EVMS participates in the Early Decision Program (EDP) with the AAMC. The application period begins June 1, with applicants being notified of a decision no later than October 1. Early decision or not, all applicants are encouraged to submit materials to AMCAS and EVMS as early as possible. Applicants are strongly urged to contact Admissions prior to applying to the Early Decision Program.
Notifications of acceptance
Applicants applying through the Early Decision Program (EDP) are notified as soon as possible but no later than Oct. 1. General pool applicants are notified on a rolling basis beginning Oct. 15.
Applicants offered positions must respond to the letter from the dean within two weeks of acceptance. This time may be shortened as the starting date for classes approaches. An applicant accepting a position at EVMS must sign and return the Conditions of Acceptance form and a $100 acceptance deposit (which will be applied toward tuition) to hold a place in the class. The acceptance deposit is refundable prior to May 1.
Accepted students are required to select the “Commit to Enroll” option in AMCAS. If commit to enroll is not selected by July 18, your offer of acceptance may be rescinded.
Non-discrimination policy
Eastern Virginia Medical School does not discriminate in the recruitment and admission of students on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, religion, political affiliation or handicap as required by Title VI, Title IX and Section 504.
Interview Day
We are excited to have you visit EVMS. The interview provides an important opportunity to assess an applicant’s compassion and dedication. The purpose of the personal interview is to evaluate your motivation, sensitivity and interpersonal skills. The interview is also designed to help us develop an understanding of how you view the physician’s role. Review our FAQs for more details on the interview process.
If you require any accommodations to participate in the interview process, please contact the Student Disability Officer by email at StudentDisability@EVMS.edu or by phone at 757.446.7261 at least two weeks prior to your interview date.
Interview day schedule
You may leave travel bags at Lewis Hall, Admissions Office, Suite 1166.
Protocol Procedures:
9:30 am - Meet the Admissions staff in the Student Commons area by the EVMS bookstore on the first floor of Lewis Hall, followed by a welcome presentation with Thomas Kimble, MD, Associate Dean for Admissions and Enrollment
10:10 am - Presentation by the Sentara Center for Simulation and Immersive Learning
11:15 am - Hospital tours
Wednesday: Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Friday: Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters
Noon: Tour of Lewis Hall and Harry T. Lester Education/Research Building
12:30 pm - Lunch with presentations by students, Financial Aid, and Admissions
2:00 pm - Interviews begin on the second floor of the Edward E. Brickell Medical Sciences Library; interviews are scheduled at 2:00, 2:45 and 3:30 p.m.
Parking
Parking is available at your expense in the visitor parking garage across the street from Lewis Hall.
Hotel information
We encourage visiting candidates for EVMS to ask these hotels about an institutional discount.
Unified Competency Objectives For The MD Degree
Preamble
The civic and medical leaders who founded the Eastern Virginia Medical School envisioned an institution that would champion improving the health of the region. Decades later the school celebrates its record of training physicians who are committed to knowledge and skill and doubly committed to the service of others.
Distinctive characteristics of the institution have evolved over its lifetime:
- Education is central to its mission, not peripheral to the research and clinical enterprises.
- Principles of humanism in medicine and the biopsychosocial model of disease and health are emphasized, promoting the values of altruism and duty.
- An ethic of community service moves students beyond formalized educational settings.
- The learning atmosphere emphasizes cooperation among students, faculty, other health care professionals, local and international care providers and policy makers.
- Lifelong learning and the practice of evidence based medicine are accepted as professional responsibilities.
- The environment promotes collaboration, creativity, leadership and service.
Within the context of this institutional philosophy and culture, the faculty have articulated the following Unified Competency Objectives as the goals and objectives of the curriculum.
- Patient Care: Provide patient-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.
- Information Gathering: Gather the information necessary for care of a patient in a manner which is patient-centered, efficient and effective.
- Assessment and Management: Formulate an appropriate assessment and develop an appropriate management plan for each patient.
- Procedures: Perform specified common procedures, demonstrating a knowledge of the indications, risks and benefits of the procedures in explanations to patients while appropriately obtaining informed consent.
- Specific Patient Groups: Recognize when a patient is in a specific at-risk group and provide appropriate treatment and preventive measures.
- Patient Safety: Recognize patient safety issues and describe measures for preventing errors that may harm patients.
- Medical Knowledge: Demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical and cognate (e.g., epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge in patient care.
- Foundational Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic and clinical sciences necessary for medical practice.
- Research: Demonstrate a basic understanding of medical research principles.
- Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Monitor and enhance the appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence and application of such to improve practice.
- Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Use interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families and other health professionals.
- Communication with Patients: Demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills with patients and their families.
- Communication with Other Care Providers: Present to other health care providers a concise, orderly and coherent oral and written communication of the patient’s unique clinical presentation in a manner appropriate to the clinical context.
- Professionalism: Demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.
- Professionalism in Patient Care: Demonstrate an ethical and professional attitude toward patients and their care.
- Teamwork: Function effectively as a member of the health care team, respecting the roles and skills of other team members, communicating appropriately and working effectively within the team.
- Recognition of Limitations: Demonstrate a recognition of one’s own limitations and a commitment to professional growth.
- Systems-Based Practice: Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.
- Coordination of Resource Use: Identify and recruit family or community resources and/or services of other members of the health care team for optimal patient care.
- Health Care System Issues: Discuss important issues in the health care system beyond the practice site.
- Service Learning: Participate in and learn the value of service learning opportunities.
Technical Standards
Students who graduate from the EVMS Doctor of Medicine program must be prepared for entry into the practice of medicine within post-graduate medical education training programs. As such, in addition to meeting academic criteria, each applicant to and student in the EVMS Doctor of Medicine program must demonstrate that they possess independent ability, aptitude, and skills to meet the non-academic criteria. These Technical Standards must be met with or without accommodation and are essential for admission to, promotion within and graduation from the EVMS Doctor of Medicine program.
Observation Skills Technical Standard
Demonstrate sufficient attention and accuracy in observation skills (visual, auditory and tactile) in the lecture hall, laboratory, patient’s bedside and outpatient settings.
Indicators include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Accurate observation and participation in the lecture hall, laboratory and clinic with patients at a distance and close at hand, including nonverbal and verbal signals.
- Accurate identification of changes in color of fluids, skin and diagnostic media examinations (including microscopy).
- Accurate visualization, discrimination and interpretation of text, numbers, patterns, graphic illustrations and findings on all imaging modalities and diagnostic procedures.
Communication Skills Technical Standard
Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills with other students, faculty, patients and healthcare providers from different social and cultural backgrounds, varying degrees and types of infirmities and varying cultures and personalities.
Indicators include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Clear, efficient and intelligible articulation of English language.
- Legible, efficient and intelligible written English language.
- Ability to prepare and communicate concise oral and written summaries of patient encounters.
- Ability to provide appropriate patient counseling and instruction to patients.
- Record examination and diagnostic results clearly, accurately and efficiently.
Critical Reasoning Skills Technical Standard
Demonstrate critical reasoning skills required to undertake the full curriculum, achieve the level of competency required by the faculty and meet the demands of total patient care in a timeframe appropriate to the clinical or educational situation. These skills include, but are not limited to, intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities.
Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
- Accurate and efficient reading skills (English language).
- Ability to utilize computer technology to access and complete instructional modules and to perform patient care.
- Demonstrate ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize information.
- Comprehend the spatial relationships of structures (e.g. three-dimensional relationships).
- Demonstrate ability to acquire, retain, assimilate and apply large amounts of complex, technical and detailed information.
- Demonstrate ability to synthesize and apply concepts and information from various disciplines in order to formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plans.
- Demonstrate appropriate judgment in patient assessment, diagnosis, monitoring, evaluation and intervention, including planning, time management and use of resources.
Motor and Sensory Function Technical Standard
Demonstrate sufficient motor and sensory function to perform typical functions of physicians, including, but not limited to, physical examinations, treatment interventions and general care of patients.
Indicators include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Functional and sufficient sensory capacity (visual, auditory and tactile) to adequately perform a complete physical examination and elicit information gained from proper use of examination tools and maneuvers (inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation).
- Execute fine and gross motor movements with sufficient coordination, postural control and hand-eye coordination to safely participate in foundation sciences laboratory sessions, use standard medical/surgical instruments, assess patients, provide patient care and participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures.
- Execute motor movements that demonstrate safety and efficiency in the various learning settings (i.e., classroom, laboratories and clinical settings, including appropriate negotiation of self and patients in various patient care environments).
- Accurately discern and evaluate various components of the spoken voice (pitch, intensity and timbre), percussive notes and auscultatory findings.
- Physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study, which may include prolonged periods of sitting, standing and/or rapid ambulation.
- Coordination of motor skills necessary to respond to emergency situations quickly and appropriately.
Ability to perform routine or emergent technical procedures including, but not limited to:
- Complete H&P (adult and pediatric including developmental milestone determination)
- Verbalize understanding of and demonstrate one-provider CPR
- Venipuncture for blood analysis
- Arterial puncture for blood gas analysis
- Nasogastric tube insertion
- Foley catheter insertion
- Pap smear
- Sterile cleaning/debridement of a dirty wound
- Simple suture single-layer laceration repair
- Act as a first assistant for simple surgical or obstetrical procedures
- Apply an extremity splint correctly
- Give an injection/immunization
- Verbalize understanding of and demonstrate proper use of PPE
- Control compressible external hemorrhage with and without a tourniquet
- Maintain an open airway and demonstrate proper use of a bag mask valve
- Establish a peripheral intravenous line
- Apply a sterile dressing to a wound
- Drain a simple subcutaneous abscess
- Perform an ECG
- Have the stamina and physical capability to work continuously for 24-28 hours in a patient care environment
- Verbalize understanding of informed consent and its components, i.e., the intended procedure, benefits, risks and alternatives
Behavioral and Social Attributes Technical Standard
Demonstrate the behavioral and social attributes vital to participation in a professional program and service as a practicing physician.
Indicators include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- Possess personal qualities that facilitate effective therapeutic interactions (e.g., compassion, empathy, integrity, honesty, benevolence, confidentiality).
- Possess the emotional health required for full utilization of mental faculties (including judgment, orientation, affect and cognition).
- Ability to establish rapport and develop mature and effective professional relationships with faculty, patients, the public and other members of the healthcare team.
- Demonstrate impartial motives, attitudes and values in roles, functions and relationships. Communicate and care for, in a non-judgmental way, persons who differ from oneself and one’s beliefs in a variety of ways, including but not limited to gender, age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, culture, creed, military status, sexual orientation and identity and religious or spiritual beliefs.
- Ability to monitor and react appropriately to one’s own emotional needs and responses.
- Display appropriate flexibility, adaptability, composure and emotional stability during periods of high stress or uncertainty associated with didactic and clinical encounters and environments.
- Ability to accurately follow oral and written directions with prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and clinical setting.
- Compliance with standards, policies and practices set forth in the program handbook.
Applicants or students who may have questions regarding these technical standards or who believe they may need to request reasonable accommodation in order to meet the standards are encouraged to consult the EVMS Disability Guide and/or the EVMS Disability Officer.
