**Last updated March, 2025**
PUMA is targeted towards individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM) planning on applying to medical school in the upcoming 2025-2026 cycle. The medical school application process is long, stressful, and requires extensive preparation to receive an acceptance. The goal of this program is to alleviate this stress and give disadvantaged students a fair chance. Students will undergo a small application process to assess need and readiness for applying to medical school. Once accepted, over the course of four separate weekends in April, June, September, and January, students will be given primary application, secondary application, and interview “training”. UCSD School of Medicine faculty and medical student leaders will aid personal statement writing/editing, provide AMCAS application structuring advice, introduce valuable interview skills, prepare students for the challenge of producing a high volume of competitive secondary applications in a short amount of time, as well as, provide additional mentorship outside the designated dates.
The PUMA Initiative will begin receiving applications in March for students eager for mentorship and guidance through the AMCAS medical application process. Commitment to the program requires mandatory attendance at the following four weekends in order to fully utilize PUMA resources. Apply to join the 2025 cohort!
2025 Weekends
Weekend One: April 26th, 2025 (in person) and April 27th, 2025 (virtual)
Weekend Two: June 7th and 8th, 2025 (both virtual)
Weekend Three: September 6th and 7th, 2025 (both virtual)
Weekend Four: January 17th, 2026 (in person)
In order to participate in this program, applicants must:
PUMA is targeted towards individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM) planning on applying to medical school in the upcoming 2025-2026 cycle. The medical school application process is long, stressful, and requires extensive preparation to receive an acceptance. The goal of this program is to alleviate this stress and give disadvantaged students a fair chance. Students will undergo a small application process to assess need and readiness for applying to medical school. Once accepted, over the course of four separate weekends in April, June, September, and January, students will be given primary application, secondary application, and interview “training”. UCSD School of Medicine faculty and medical student leaders will aid personal statement writing/editing, provide AMCAS application structuring advice, introduce valuable interview skills, prepare students for the challenge of producing a high volume of competitive secondary applications in a short amount of time, as well as, provide additional mentorship outside the designated dates.
The PUMA Initiative will begin receiving applications in March for students eager for mentorship and guidance through the AMCAS medical application process. Commitment to the program requires mandatory attendance at the following four weekends in order to fully utilize PUMA resources. Apply to join the 2025 cohort!
2025 Weekends
Weekend One: April 26th, 2025 (in person) and April 27th, 2025 (virtual)
Weekend Two: June 7th and 8th, 2025 (both virtual)
Weekend Three: September 6th and 7th, 2025 (both virtual)
Weekend Four: January 17th, 2026 (in person)
In order to participate in this program, applicants must:
- Intend to apply to medical school in the upcoming medical school application cycle
- Have a minimum 3.2 GPA or a 500 MCAT score
- Having taken the MCAT or plan to take by June 2025
- Must commit to all four weekend sessions
- All applicants are welcome, regardless of race, color, national origin, or any other protected status. However, regional preference will be given to San Diego/Imperial Valley County residents or current/former students within San Diego (UCSD, SDSU, etc.)