How to Apply

Upstate Medical University, like nearly all accredited medical schools in the United States, participates in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).

You must complete the AMCAS application online at www.amcas.com and submit it to AMCAS along with your official college transcripts and MCAT scores. AMCAS will forward your application to Upstate.

Deadline for submitting the AMCAS application is October 15th.

Once your application is received from AMCAS, a link to the Secondary application will be sent you. The supplemental Application must be submitted to Upstate Medical University along with a $100.00 application fee by December 1.

Students paying by check, money order or fee waiver, must also submit their signature page and send to:

SUNY Upstate Medical University
Office of Student Admissions
1215 Weiskotten Hall
766 Irving Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13210

Students paying by credit card are not required to submit the signature page.

SUNY Upstate Medical University participates in the AMCAS Letter of Recommendation Service. Appropriate letters of recommendation (link to LOR page) must be submitted to AMCAS by October 15th. All letters must be submitted directly to AMCAS.

Missing information emails will be sent every two weeks to let students know what is needed to complete their application.

Once an application is complete students will receive an email letting them know that their application is complete and will be reviewed by the College of Medicine Admissions Committee. When the review is complete, applicants will be notified by email or letter, as to the status of their application.

Every week an email will be sent to anyone who is being invited for an interview. The email will instruct you to go to a calendar and select an available interview date. Once you have selected your interview date, you will need to complete two essay questions and upload them to us one week prior to your interview date.

Interview day begins with a welcome at 8:30 am. Two independent interviews will be scheduled for each applicant. Applicants will interview with an MD or a PhD and a current College of Medicine Student. Following morning interviews, lunch will be provided along with a general information session with the Director of Admissions. Tours with a current medical student will be provided after lunch. The day will be over no later than 3:00 pm. Throughout the day, students will have an opportunity to attend classes and speak with students and professors.

Following the interview, applications are sent on to the College of Medicine Admissions Committee. The committee is made up of faculty, students, alumni, local physicians and SUNY Upstate administrators. The Admissions Committee is looking for well rounded students with strong academic records and MCAT scores, good clinical experiences, personal statements and extracurricular activities.

Students will be notified of the Committee's Decision within four–six weeks of their interview date. One of the following decisions will be made for each interviewed applicant:

A. Accept:

Students will receive an email and/or a phone call that they have been accepted. Official acceptance letters and other relevant information will be mailed out. Once students have paid their deposit, they will receive an email with information on how to log onto MyUpstate.

B. High Priority Alternate:

Students placed on the high priority alternate list may be called at anytime, up to and including the day of registration. The admissions office does not release information regarding individual placement on the alternate list. This is an active alternate list and one we pull students off of every year, but where we get on this list will vary from year to year.

C. Hold Alternate:

The Hold Alternate list is our 2nd Alternate list and is not an active alternate list. We have not pulled students off of this list in several years.

D. Reject:

Students who are not accepted by the admissions committee will receive letters by mail.

Once you have been admitted and paid a deposit, you will have access to your financial aid award, health clearance forms, orientation materials, registration and housing information through MyUpstate.

You will also be invited to attend the 2nd Visit Day offered at Upstate Medical University. On this day you will have mini-presentations about the curriculum, student affairs, campus activities, and even get a chance to see what it is like in our clinical skills and anatomy labs. There will also be a student panel to answer any questions that you may have. It will provide you with an opportunity to decide if SUNY Upstate Medical University is the right medical school for you!