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School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center

M.D. Program

Transfer in Advanced Standing

Advanced standing admission is open only to students who have not previously been dismissed from any medical school and who are in good standing in a LCME-accredited American or Canadian medical schools. Transfers are only at the third-year level and are limited in number each year.

Interested students should submit all application materials by January 15 of the year they wish to transfer.

Applicants must pass Step I of the United States Medical Licensing Examination prior to matriculation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Transfer

  • Who is eligible for transfer?
    To be eligible for transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine, you must be a student in good standing at a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in the United States and Canada.
  • Are students from Osteopathic Medical Schools eligible?
    No.
  • Are students from “off-shore” medical schools eligible?
    No.
  • Are students who are United States citizens enrolled in an international medical school recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) eligible?
    No.
  • At what level are students accepted?
    Students are accepted at the end of the second year of medical school and will begin with the third year medical class in July of the year they wish to transfer.
  • How many positions are available for transfer students?
    Typically zero to three students are accepted each year. The number of acceptances depends on the number of positions available.
  • When should I notify VCU of my interest?
    Interested students should submit application materials by January 15 of the year they wish to transfer.
  • What constitutes a legitimate reason for transfer?
    Legitimate reasons include marriage, transfer of a spouse for employment reasons or significant family health issues.
  • Will I be interviewed?
    Students who have completed the application process will be invited for an interview based on the availability of positions.
  • When can I expect to find out if I have been accepted?
    Typically we are able to notify students by April.
  • Do I need to have passed Step I of the USMLE?
    Students are required to pass Step I of the USMLE prior to matriculation. Step I should be taken no later than mid-June in order to have scores available prior to beginning the third year.
  • If I applied to VCU initially and was not accepted, am I still eligible to apply for a transfer?
    If you were not initially accepted at VCU, you are at a slight disadvantage for consideration for transfer. Your performance during the first two years of medical school will be reviewed closely.
  • What application materials do I need?
    A letter of interest stating the reason for transfer, a copy of the original AMCAS application, an official transcript (a final transcript of your two years should also be faxed), a letter of support from the Dean of Students at your institution, two letters of recommendation from faculty (preferably one basic science and one clinical), and a copy of your USMLE Step I scores. Interested students should submit application materials by January 15 of the year they wish to transfer.
  • What is the cost of applying?
    The non-refundable cost is $80.
  • To whom should I send a letter of interest?

    Isaac K. Wood, M.D.
    Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs
    Virginia Commonwealth University
    School of Medicine
    Medical Education—Curriculum Office
    1101 E. Marshall Street
    P.O. Box 980565
    Richmond , VA 23298-0565
  • To whom should I direct additional questions?
    If you have additional questions not answered in the list above, please contact Jamie Anderson, M3 coordinator, at (804) 828-9790 or jjennings3@vcu.edu.

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