Admissions

AZCPM considers for admission those students who possess the academic, professional, and personal qualities necessary for development as exemplary podiatric physicians. The College uses multiple criteria to select the most qualified candidates including cumulative grade point average (GPA), science GPA, Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores, personal experiences and character, ability to communicate, familiarity with the profession, volunteer and community involvement, research experience, and other considerations. The College uses a competitive rolling admissions process and candidates are encouraged to apply early in the year prior to admission.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to AZCPM, the successful candidate must submit the following documented evidence:

1. Minimum cumulative GPA and science GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale of undergraduate courses from a regionally accredited university.
2. Ability to successfully complete a rigorous curriculum that requires critical thinking skills, effective oral and written communication skills, and voluminous reading, as well as the capacity for responsible, self-directed learning.
3. Competitive scores on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or Dental Admission Test (DAT) earned no more than 3 years prior to the planned enrollment year.
4. Completion of the necessary course prerequisites.
   • Candidates must complete a minimum of 90 semester hours/135 quarter hours at regionally accredited colleges or universities
   • A bachelor's degree or higher is preferred
   • Ordinarily, prerequisite courses must have been completed within seven years of the date of admission
5. Two Letters of Recommendation are not required but will be accepted.
6. A good understanding of podiatric medicine and a sincere interest in a career in the field.
   • Candidates are required to visit at least one podiatric practice
   • It is strongly encouraged that the candidates have podiatric shadowing experience
7. Demonstration of extracurricular or community activities that indicate a well-rounded background and a service orientation.
8. Medically-related experiences that indicate sufficient exposure for candidates to make informed decisions about medical careers.
9. Personal integrity and sound moral character.
10. Interpersonal and communication skills necessary to relate effectively with others.
11. Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.
12. Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.

Prerequisite Courses

Course	Semester/Hour Requirements
Biology with lab	8 Sem/12 Qtr hour
General/Inorganic Chemistry with lab	8 Sem/12 Qtr hour
Organic Chemistry with lab	8 Sem/12 Qtr hour
Physics	8 Sem/12 Qtr hour
English	6 Sem/9 Qtr hours

Grades less than C are not acceptable for any prerequisite courses.

Application Process and Deadlines

Individuals interested in applying for admission to AZCPM must complete an on-line application at the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS) website at https://portal.aacpmas.org/ or obtain application information by writing or calling:

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS)
P.O. Box 9200
Watertown, MA 02471 617/612-2900

To initiate the competitive application process applicants must:

1. Complete the online AACPMAS application with all required materials (i.e., official transcripts, fees, etc.) before the published deadline date. The application deadline is June 1 ^st.
2. Submit competitive test scores on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or Dental Admissions Test (DAT) earned no more than 3 years prior to the planned enrollment year.

Please note: Applicants are responsible for notifying the Office of Admissions of any changes in their mailing address or email address. All application withdrawal requests must be made in writing via email, fax, or letter to:

Midwestern University Office of Admissions
19555 N. 59th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308
Phone: 888/247-9277 or 623/572-3215
Fax: 623/572-3229
admissaz@midwestern.edu

Interview and Selection Process

To be considered for interviews, applicants must meet the admissions requirements listed previously. After the Office of Admissions receives these materials, applicant files are reviewed to determine whether applicants merit interviews based on established criteria of the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Director, with the approval of the AZCPM Dean, may also place students on an interview "wait list" pending possible interview openings toward the end of the interview cycle.

Applicants who accept interviews will be individually interviewed by an interview panel, which is selected from a volunteer group of basic scientists, clinicians, and Office of Admissions officials. Team members question students about their preparedness for AZCPM and rate applicants on a standardized evaluation form relative to each of these variables. At the conclusion of the interviews, the team members forward their evaluations of each applicant to the Admissions Committee. The Committee may recommend to accept, to deny, or to place applicants on the alternate list. Recommendations are then forwarded to the Dean for final approval. The Dean, via the Office of Admissions, typically notifies applicants of their status within one or two weeks of their interviews.

Reapplication Process

After receiving either a denial or an end-of-cycle letter, prospective students may reapply for the next enrollment cycle. Before reapplying, however, students should seek the advice of an admissions counselor. To initiate the reapplication process, prospective students must complete and submit a new application and proceed through the standard application process.

Transfer Admission

AZCPM may elect to accept transfer students from other U.S. podiatric medical schools as long as these students are in good academic standing and have an acceptable reason(s) for seeking transfer. Typically, transfers are only granted to students desiring to transfer into the third or fourth year; however, transfers to the second year may be granted. To be considered for transfer, the student must meet the College's general requirements for admission. Accepted students must sign a matriculation agreement and indicate that they meet the technical standards. The student must also submit:

1. A letter to the Director of Admissions indicating the reason for requesting to transfer and explaining any difficulties encountered at the previous institution(s).
2. The AZCPM Transfer Application (available through the Office of Admissions).
3. Official MCAT or DAT score report.
4. Official transcripts from all schools attended, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional.
5. A letter from the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled that describes the current academic status and terms of withdrawal or dismissal of the prospective transfer student.
6. Additional documents or letters of recommendation as determined to be necessary by the Director of Admissions.

Following receipt of these materials, the Admissions Committee determines whether the student merits an on-campus interview. Students who receive interview invitations will meet with an interview team. The interview team offers recommendations to the College Dean, who approves both the admissions status and class standing of transfer students.

Transfer applications must be received at least three months before the desired matriculation date. This allows time for processing of applications, interviews, and student relocations before the start of the next academic term.

Students with prior medical training, such as international podiatric, allopathic, or osteopathic medicine, may apply for advanced standing, in which portions of prior course work will be reviewed for acceptability by the relevant course director of AZCPM courses. Transfer students desiring a course waiver must submit the related course syllabus and a decision will be made by the course director before matriculation.