Policy Review History:

Policy Preface Faculty Council Approved—04/29/2020
Policy Faculty Council approved—08/27/2014, 01/31/2018, 08/31/2018
Policy Faculty Council revision approved—02/28/2019, 08/28/2024, 06/25/2025, 7/29/2026, 8/26/26
Technical Standards Faculty Council approved—01/25/2017

The mission of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo (Jacobs School) is “to advance health and wellness across the life span for the people of New York and the world through the education of tomorrow’s leaders in health care and biomedical sciences, innovative research and outstanding clinical care.”

Admissions serve as the cornerstone of this mission. The Jacobs School seeks to enroll a class of highly qualified individuals who demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and the potential to become physicians, educators and clinical investigators. The Jacobs School embraces inclusiveness and mutual respect for persons of all backgrounds, heritages, and identities.

The Jacobs School uses Mission-Aligned Selection, an evidence‑based, holistic process that evaluates each applicant’s academic preparation, professional competencies, life experiences, and unique attributes. The goal is to identify individuals who will thrive in the curriculum and will contribute meaningfully to the learning environment and the health of Western New York and beyond. Assessment criteria focus on essential and unique attributes that include, but are not limited to, academic and personal achievement, intellectual curiosity, industriousness, obstacles overcome, commitment to service, compassion, personal integrity, communication skills, potential for leadership and unique personal characteristics. Each entering class is selected from the total applicant pool to include individuals whose credentials indicate their dual capacity to meet the rigorous training requirements of medical school and to contribute to the learning environment of their fellow students and ultimately to the unique practice environment of the population served.

The Jacobs School does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, ethnicity, gender or sexual minority status, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or military service. We welcome applications from and accept many out of state applicants each year. However, when qualifications are equivalent, preference is given to New York State residents, particularly those from Western New York. The Jacobs School complies with the policies of the University at Buffalo, and all state and federal laws.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Completion of an undergraduate degree prior to matriculation
• Completed AMCAS application
• 3–7 letters of recommendation, including at least one from science faculty
• MCAT score with a test date no later than September of the application cycle; score must be no later than three years prior to application cycle.
• Completed Supplemental application
• Preference is given to candidates with U.S. citizenship or who are permanent residents
• Additional documentation as requested
• Unencumbered criminal background check
• Compliance with technical standards (Section 8)

Coursework Expectations: Since the practice of medicine involves intellectual communication among professionals and important personal interaction with patients, the Admissions Committee prefers that courses, particularly prerequisites, be completed in-person in a classroom/laboratory setting and have a numerical or letter grade. However, some on–line coursework taken between the spring and fall of 2020 and 2021 may be accepted at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. Such coursework must be completed at a college or university accredited by one of the six United States regional accrediting agencies or one of the provinces of Canada. “Virtual” laboratory courses are not acceptable. The applicant must identify on-line courses if the educational institution does not indicate this information on the official transcript.

All applicants must have an unencumbered criminal background check and meet the technical standards for admission established by the Jacobs School (see Section 8).

Purpose: Conducts comprehensive review of all interviewed applicants and holds final authority of the selection of the incoming class including acceptance, waitlist placement, and rejection.

Membership: 12 basic science and clinical faculty members, 4 students.

Faculty nominees are solicited from the Voting Faculty. The Faculty Council Steering Committee serves as the Nominating Committee. The Admissions Committee members are then confirmed by vote of the Faculty Council.

Student members are nominated and then elected via the Jacobs School Student Government.

The Associate Dean for Admissions serves as an ex officio non-voting member.

Faculty committee members serve three‑year terms.

Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight of the Screening and Interview Subcommittees to ensure consistent, mission‑aligned admissions practices
• Monitor admissions outcomes to ensure alignment with program goals and mission‑based selection criteria
• Uphold confidentiality of all applicant information and committee deliberations
• Ensure that all Admissions Committee and Subcommittee members complete annual training in holistic review, mission‑aligned evaluation, and implicit bias mitigation
• Promote professionalism, fairness, and equity in all admissions processes
• Monitor adherence to confidentiality and conflict‑of‑interest policies

Conflict of Interest: Admissions Committee and subcommittee members must recuse themselves from evaluating or voting on any applicant with whom they have a personal, familial, professional, or financial relationship that could compromise impartiality.

Confidentiality: All admissions materials, applicant information, and committee deliberations are confidential and may only be accessed or discussed by authorized individuals involved in the admissions process.

Equitable Treatment: All applicants are evaluated using the same mission-aligned criteria and standardized review procedures to ensure fairness, consistency, and equity throughout the admissions process.

Final Authority: The final responsibility for accepting students to our medical school rests with the Admission Committee. A quorum of ten voting members is required. Faculty constitute the majority. Admissions decisions are not influenced by external factors, including political, financial or coercion from leadership or administration.

Purpose: Evaluate all applicants to determine who will be invited for interview, using mission-aligned review of academic readiness, professional competencies, and experiences.

Membership: 20 members which include the Associate Dean for Admissions, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Director of Admissions, Jacobs School faculty (full time and volunteer), local physicians, medical students, and community professionals who hold a professional degree or professional degree candidates who are appointed by the Dean or Dean’s designee.

Responsibilities:

• Review of all application materials
• Assess academic readiness and professional competencies
• Identify applicants to invite for interview
• Participate in annual training on mission-aligned evaluation, structured screening, and implicit bias mitigation

Purpose: Conduct mission-aligned assessments of non‑academic professional competencies through structured interviews. Interviewers are blinded to academic metrics.

Membership: 40 members which include the Associate Dean for Admissions, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Director of Admissions, Jacobs School faculty (full time and volunteer), local physicians, medical students, and community professionals who hold a professional degree or professional degree candidates who are appointed by the Dean or Dean’s designee.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct two independent interviews per applicant
• Evaluate competencies and experiences
• Submit narrative evaluations to the Admissions Committee
• Participate in annual training on mission-aligned evaluation, structured interviewing, and implicit bias mitigation

The Jacobs School uses a three‑step admissions process. Each step is conducted independently.

Step 1: Screening

• Mission-aligned review of academic metrics, competencies, and experiences
• Assessment of readiness for medical training
• Selection of applicants to invite for interview

Step 2: Interview

• Two blinded interviews per applicant; a third interview is granted at the discretion of the Admissions Committee
• Evaluation of non‑academic competencies and mission-aligned attributes
• Narrative assessments submitted and presented to the Admissions Committee

Step 3: Class Selection by the Admissions Committee

• Comprehensive review of all interviewed applicants with Recommendation Subcommittee assessments
• Consideration of interview evaluations, experiences, competencies, and academic metrics
• Selection of a class that best aligns with the mission and values of the Jacobs School

In evaluating each applicant, the Admission Committee looks for those professional competencies as defined by the AAMC that are required of all competent medical students and future physicians, as well as mission-aligned attributes that contribute to the learning and practice cultures of the medical community. Included among these competencies and attributes are the following:

(Commitment to Learning, Empathy, Ethical Responsibility, Interpersonal Skills, Oral Communication, Reliability, Resilience, Self‑Awareness, Service Orientation, Teamwork, Understanding Others)

(Human Behavior, Living Systems)

(Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Inquiry, Written Communication)

• Likelihood to serve underserved populations
• Service in medicine and cultural awareness
• Leadership experience
• Life experiences contributing to cultural sensitivity
• Research experience
• Socioeconomic diversity

Should an applicant make inaccurate or misleading statements or submit false material in connection with their application, in most cases, these misrepresentations are discovered during the admission process, via the AAMC procedures for suspected violations in Admissions Standards. The AAMC requires applicants to present accurate and current information at the time application materials are submitted and during all phases of the admission process for entry into medical school or a graduate medical education program. It is the policy of the AAMC to investigate all discrepancies in credentials, attempts to subvert the admission process, and any other irregular matter which occurs in connection with application activities. For additional information, including the reporting process, please visit: 

Policies and Procedures for Investigating Reported or Suspected Violations of the AMCAS® Program, the Fee Assistance Program, the MCAT® Exam, the PREview® Exam, and other AAMC Admission and Enrollment Standards | Students & Residents 

Should additional concerns remain, we are guided by the UB Graduate School Admissions Integrity Policy: Policy Library - The Graduate School - University at Buffalo.

The Office of Admissions reserves the right to revoke an offer of interview or of admission if a misrepresentation occurs. 

Misrepresentation discovered after applicant matriculation is addressed by Policies of the Office of Medical Education and Student Affairs who reserve the right to investigate the matter and revoke matriculation when warranted.

The Jacobs School recognizes the importance of inclusion in achieving excellence in the training of competent physicians. To meet our goals of excellence, the Early Opportunity Program in Medicine (EOPIM) serves to identify and recruit qualified applicants at an early stage in their undergraduate development. Similar to our AMSNY Post-Baccalaureate program, the EOPIM is designed to expand the pool of economically and educationally disadvantaged students in medical school. Students who are accepted into the EOPIM are provided the opportunity for professional interaction and career training at the Jacobs School before their graduation from college. For more information, visit: Early Assurance Program - Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - University at Buffalo

Eligible students must be in the second semester of their undergraduate sophomore year at a designated partner institution. The Pre-health Advisory Committee at each partner institution nominates students who have demonstrated strong interest and aptitude for careers in medicine. 

The Jacobs School Admissions Interview Subcommittee interviews each qualified EOPIM applicant. Admission into the EOPIM is based on mission-aligned review of each applicant with appropriate consideration of academic metrics, personal attributes and life experience. The Jacobs School Admissions Committee makes the decision to accept an applicant into the EOPIM.

Post-acceptance requirements for continued participation in the EOPIM and entry into the Jacobs School of Medicine include:

1. Completion of all Jacobs School premedical requirements at their college or at a not–for–profit college or university accredited by one of the six United States regional accrediting agencies or one of the provinces of Canada.
2. Satisfactory academic performance of a 3.5 or above grade point average in science and non-science courses in each semester, including the last semester of the senior year.
3. Demonstration of consistent academic progress leading to college graduation.
4. Participation in clinical and/or basic research, educational and professional development activities at the Jacobs School during summer sessions either as rising juniors or rising seniors.
5. Adherence to the code of conduct of the participant’s undergraduate institution.
6. Submission of an official transcript to the Jacobs School Admissions Office within two weeks of college graduation.
7. Submission of an AMCAS application, including an MCAT score, to the Jacobs School Admissions Office in their senior year.
8. An applicant must have an unencumbered criminal background check and meet the standards for admission established by the Jacobs School for all applicants (Section 7).

The Jacobs School Admissions Committee is responsible for determining compliance with all requirements of the EOPIM before the student is permitted to matriculate into the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences MD Program.

In the case of non-compliance with EOPIM requirements, the Jacobs School Admissions Committee may dismiss the student from the EOPIM and rescind the option to matriculate into the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Applications to the M.D./Ph.D. Program are initially screened by a member of the Medical School Admissions Committee together with a member of the M.D./Ph.D. Steering Committee.

Candidates who pass the screening stage are interviewed by representatives of both the Admissions Committee and the M.D./Ph.D. Steering Committee.

Representatives of the Admissions Committee who participate in the interview, will submit narrative evaluations and present an oral and written summary of the candidate’s record and interview to the Admissions Committee who will vote on acceptability.  Following interviews, both groups discuss each candidate and maintain a ranked list until final decisions are ready.

The mission of the MD program at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Jacobs School) at the University at Buffalo is to produce highly skilled and compassionate professionals who are able to adapt to a changing environment. Students are expected to develop a robust healthcare knowledge base and requisite clinical skills, with the ability to appropriately apply knowledge and skills, effectively interpret information, and contribute to patient-centered decisions across a broad spectrum of clinical situations in all settings. The following technical standards, in conjunction with the academic standards, are requirements for admission, progression, and graduation. The term “candidate” refers to candidates for admission, as well as current students who are candidates for progression or graduation.

The faculty of the Jacobs School acknowledges its responsibility to present candidates for the MD degree who have demonstrated the requisite knowledge, attitudes and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to provide a wide spectrum of medical care.

The Jacobs School is reflective of the community we serve, with a strong commitment to disability inclusion. Students with disabilities are reflective of and contribute to our community, and we encourage them to apply to our programs.

The University at Buffalo, including the Jacobs School, is committed to providing individuals with disabilities with equitable access to programs and reasonable accommodation for members of the University community as outlined in the University’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement.

The University at Buffalo and Jacobs School is committed to full compliance with state and federal laws and regulations requiring equitable access and prohibiting discrimination based on disability (including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended) and New York State Human Rights Law).

The technical standards outlined below may be achieved with or without reasonable accommodation. Admitted candidates who have self-identified and disclosed a request for accommodations to meet the technical standards will be confidentially reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the office of Accessibility Resources in an interactive process involving the candidate to determine whether there are any reasonable accommodations or alternative mechanisms that will permit the candidate to satisfy the standards. While it is incumbent on the candidate to self-disclose their disability, formulating and implementing an appropriate action plan must be a collaborative effort with all necessary stakeholders. This process is informed by the knowledge that students with various types of disabilities have the ability to become successful medical professionals. Technical standards should be such that, with appropriate and reasonable accommodations, otherwise qualified students would not be excluded. However, technical standards must be such that the Jacobs School training maintains high quality care, patient safety, accessibility, and equity.

Based on guidelines provided by The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP), the following abilities and characteristics are defined as technical standards, which, in conjunction with academic standards, are requirements for admission, progression, and graduation. Delineation of technical standards is required for the accreditation of U.S. medical schools by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Although these standards serve to delineate the necessary abilities of all candidates, they are not intended to discourage any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum.

The candidate must be able to obtain information from demonstrations and experiments in the foundational sciences. Candidates must be able to assess a patient and evaluate findings accurately. These skills require the use of vision, hearing, smell, and touch or the functional equivalent. The candidate must be able to acquire information from and evaluate images of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. The candidate must be able to utilize auditory perception, visual perception and somatic sensation abilities (or their functional equivalents), to observe and accurately acquire information directly from the patient, both at a distance and close at hand, to develop an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. The candidate must be able to consider written documents, pictorial images, simulators, and computer programs and videos to assimilate large volumes of technically detailed and complex information presented in large group sessions, small group discussions, individual and group learning activities, and individual clinical settings. The candidate must be able to process information through observation and respond accordingly in a manner that is consistent, rapid, accurate, and free of bias. Functional equivalent means the independent performance of the task to meet the Jacobs School’s clinical safety requirements.

The candidate must be able to communicate with patients in order to elicit information, detect changes in mood, activity, and posture as well as perceive nonverbal communication in their interactions with patients to establish a therapeutic relationship. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and their families, and all members of the healthcare team, both verbally and in writing.

Candidates must possess the capacity to perform a physical examination and diagnostic examination and to provide or direct general care and emergency treatment to patients. 

Candidates must be able to assimilate detailed and complex information and engage in problem-solving across the curriculum. Candidates are expected to possess the ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, document and transmit information. In addition, candidates must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships, understand the spatial relationships of structures, and adapt to different learning environments and modalities.

Candidates must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities involved in the diagnosis and care of patients, as well as the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients, fellow students, faculty, and staff. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They should be able to handle work environments that are rapidly changing without warning or in unpredictable ways, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Candidates must demonstrate compassion, integrity, concern for others, interest and motivation. These personal qualifications will be assessed during the admissions process and throughout the educational process. Candidates must be able to cooperate with others and work as an integral part of the health care team. They must be able to comprehend and accept constructive feedback from others and take personal responsibility to make appropriate changes.

Candidates must maintain and display ethical behaviors, commensurate with the role of a physician in all interactions with patients, faculty, staff, students, and the public. The candidate is expected to understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within the law and ethical standards of the medical profession.

Any change in student status after matriculation of the ability to perform under the Jacobs School Technical Standards, will be reviewed by the Student Progress Committee or such committee designated by the Dean (or Dean’s designee) of the Jacobs School to review student compliance with the Technical Standards, with or without reasonable accommodations. 

Reasonable accommodations may not significantly interfere with the essential functions of the Jacobs School, alter its essential academic functions, or effect a fundamental alteration in the nature of the services offered by the Jacobs School.

Candidates whose performance is impaired by current use or abuse of alcohol, or other controlled substances, or who are using illegal substances are not suitable as candidates either for admission, progression or for graduation.

This process will follow the procedure laid out here in section 8.7. As in initial assessments at the time of admission, a complete and careful reconsideration of all the skills, attitudes and attributes of each candidate will be performed. This includes an assessment of their willingness, desire, and ability to complete the medical curriculum and fulfill all requirements for medical licensure.

Candidates requiring accommodation or who would like to learn more about the accessibility services available, should contact UB’s Accessibility Resources. Candidates will engage in a confidential, collaborative and interactive, process with a School representative to determine reasonable accommodations. Given the clinical nature of medical education, additional time may be needed to implement accommodations. Timely disclosure and requests by students are essential and encouraged as foreseeable accommodations cannot be applied retroactively. The Jacobs School reserves the right to request new or additional information in support of requests, including medical records and reports, and/or an independent medical evaluation.

Candidates will be required to re-attest to meeting the technical standards upon entry into Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the curriculum. Should a candidate have or develop a condition that may result in a need for accommodations, an evaluation with UB Accessibility Resources may be necessary. 

Candidates are required to attest to meeting Technical Standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, at the following stages:

• As applicants at time of submitting the secondary application (June – December)
• As accepted candidates as part of the Jacobs School Acknowledgment Form
• As current medical students after completion of their Phase I curriculum and prior to progression to Phase 2 and Phase 3 of our curriculum.

Candidates with questions regarding the technical standards are encouraged to contact UB’s Accessibility Resources. This office works with students across all UB programs, including those in the Jacobs School, to coordinate reasonable accommodations and promote an inclusive learning environment. To learn more please visit the Accessibility Resources Webpage.

Admission to the Jacobs School is conditional on the candidate’s ability to satisfy these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, and results from a process that examines and values all the skills, attitudes, and attributes of each candidate on a case-by-case basis.

The Select Committee on Medical Student Admissions Policy establishes, maintains, and periodically reviews admissions policies, procedures, and evaluation criteria pursuant to the relevant sections of the Bylaws of the Jacobs School.