FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does SIU School of Medicine accept out-of-state applicants?
What are the requirements to get into the SIU School of Medicine?
If I enroll at SIU School of Medicine, do I have to go into primary care?
Does SIU favor downstate Illinois applicants in the application process?
Where is the SIU School of Medicine located?
How much does it cost to attend SIU School of Medicine?
When can I expect a decision to be made on my application?
When will I get a supplemental application?
What does Accept When Place Available mean?
When are acceptance offers made?
What does Ranked Alternate mean?
How many students will enroll?
Does SIU School of Medicine accept out-of-state applicants?
No. Only Illinois residents are allowed to apply to the M.D. program at SIU School of Medicine. Out-of-state applicants are only considered for the combined medicine and law program (MD/JD).
What are the requirements to get into SIU School of Medicine?
You can view our list of admissions requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements for admission are not guaranteed acceptance. The reality is that there will be many more qualified applicants than we have places in our class. Acceptance to SIU School of Medicine involves a complex combination of many factors involving academic preparation, leadership potential, communication skills, commitment to service, and identification with the mission and values.
If I enroll at SIU School of Medicine, do I have to go into primary care?
SIU School of Medicine has a history of training students to enter primary care specialties. In fact, our graduates obtain residencies and practice in ALL areas of medicine. Annually, approximately 50 percent of our graduates enter residency programs in areas other than primary care specialties.
Does SIU School of Medicine favor downstate Illinois applicants in the application process?
True to its founding mission established by the Illinois General Assembly, SIU School of Medicine seeks to serve central and southern Illinois people through education, patient care and research. We intend to select students who identify with those goals.
Where is the SIU School of Medicine located?
SIU School of Medicine has operations located throughout central and southern Illinois, but most of our facilities are in Springfield. Undergraduate medical students spend their first year of medical school in Carbondale and the remaining three years in Springfield. SIU School of Medicine maintains clinic sites in Springfield, Carbondale, Decatur, Quincy, West Frankfort, and several other regional communities.
How much does it cost to attend SIU School of Medicine?
2022-2023 tuition and fees for first-year medical students are $40,724. More information about the cost of medical school and financial aid can be found on the financial aid website.
When can I expect a decision to be made on my application?
Once an applicant is interviewed, he or she can expect a decision within five weeks.
When will I get a supplemental application?
In conjunction with the Admissions Committee, the Office of Admissions conducts a preliminary review of applications before inviting applicants to complete a supplemental/secondary application. The amount of time to review an application can vary depending on a variety of factors. It is common for this process to take a month or more. Only about 25% of the applicants who apply to SIU School of Medicine will be invited to complete a supplemental application.
What does 'Accept When Place Available' mean?
The Admissions Committee places applicants in the Accept When Place Available (AWPA) list who they feel would be successful at SIU School of Medicine. All students accepted to the School of Medicine will spend some time on this list. This is not, however, an acceptance. Applicants on this list are rated based on how they meet the mission and goals of the institution. An applicant's rating on this list determines when or if an acceptance is offered. Ratings on the AWPA list, or any other waitlist, are confidential information.
When are acceptance offers made?
Acceptances are offered to applicants on the Accept When Place Available (AWPA) list in three batches (December, January, and March). When the final batch is offered in March, 72 students will hold a place in the class. When an accepted applicant declines their spot, that person is replaced by the next-highest-rated person on the AWPA list. Movement on the AWPA list is generally at its peak during April and May, but it is not uncommon for applicants to receive an acceptance after June 1.
What does Ranked Alternate mean?
The Ranked Alternate list is a secondary waiting list. The Admissions Committee will only offer acceptances to applicants on this list when the Accept When Place Available list has been exhausted. Applicants on this list are rated according to how they identify with the institution's mission and goals.
How many students will enroll?
Each year SIU School of Medicine enrolls 72 new students in the MD program.
The MD/JD program is a combined medicine and law program. Applicants admitted to the program spend their first two years in the SIU School of Law and then four years at the School of Medicine.