**Last updated April 19, 2024**
PUMA is targeted towards individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM) planning on applying to medical school in the upcoming 2024-2025 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 February 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 2024 cohort!
2024 Weekends
Weekend One: April 20 - April 21, 2024
Weekend Two: June 8 - 9, 2024
Weekend Three: September 7 - 8, 2024
Weekend Four: January 25, 2025
In order to participate in this program, applicants must:
Please prepare the following for submission:
Applications Will Reopen During February/March 2025 for our Sixth Cohort!
PUMA is targeted towards individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM) planning on applying to medical school in the upcoming 2024-2025 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 February 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 2024 cohort!
2024 Weekends
Weekend One: April 20 - April 21, 2024
Weekend Two: June 8 - 9, 2024
Weekend Three: September 7 - 8, 2024
Weekend Four: January 25, 2025
In order to participate in this program, applicants must:
- Intend to apply to medical school in the upcoming medical school application cycle
- Be of disadvantaged status (underrepresented in medicine, economic hardship, first-generation (college and/or immigration status))
- Have a minimum 3.2 GPA or a 500 MCAT score
- Having taken the MCAT is a prerequisite
- Must commit to all four weekend sessions (Weekend 1 and Weekend 4 will be in person - housing and transportation may be provided if necessary, and Weekend 2 and Weekend 3 are set to be virtual)
- Location preference: All applicants are welcome but regional preference will be given to San Diego/Imperial Valley County residents or current/former students within San Diego (UCSD, SDSU, etc.).
Please prepare the following for submission:
- Copy of unofficial transcript and official MCAT score
- Brief statement of purpose: Why would this program make a difference for you? (300 words or less)
- Brief list of previous clinical experiences and former pre-health resources utilized
Applications Will Reopen During February/March 2025 for our Sixth Cohort!