Springfield Pre-Admission Program

The Springfield Pre-Admission Program is designed to strengthen and sustain the physician workforce in Springfield and southwest Missouri by creating a pathway for aspiring physicians to study and practice in the region. Through partnerships with Springfield-area colleges and universities, the program prepares undergraduate students for success at the University of Missouri School of Medicine Springfield campus.

Undergraduate students are invited to apply to the program at the end of their sophomore year. Accepted students will receive provisional acceptance to the University of Missouri School of Medicine Springfield campus pending they maintain certain academic standards, demonstrate ongoing professionalism and participate in the required activities prior to medical school matriculation.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Springfield Pre-Admissions Program students must:

• Be enrolled full-time at one of the following Springfield area institutions
  • Drury University
  • Evangel University
  • Missouri State University

OR

• Graduate from Ozarks Technical Community College with acceptance and plans for matriculation into one of the institutions listed above.

AND

• Be a US citizen or permanent US resident.
• Graduate from a Missouri high school
• Minimum cumulative AND  math/science GPA of 3.30; Dual credit courses are not included in the GPA calculation.
• A or B grades in required lecture lab courses at the time of application
• Evidence of leadership and participation in extracurricular activities
• Have an undergraduate graduation date from a four-year institution two academic years from the time of application.
• Show evidence of leadership and interest in a variety of extracurricular activities.

Undergraduate Requirements

Course Requirements

Students must maintain:

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30
• A minimum cumulative math/science GPA of 3.30
• Grades of A or B in the required course

Required Coursework

Experiential Requirements

The following components are also required of participants during their undergraduate years:

Health care-Related Experiences

• Students are required to participate in 20 hours of health-related experiences per program year. These experiences need to be patient-facing and may include, but are not limited to, healthcare research, leadership activities, hospital volunteering, hospice, or nursing home activities.

Physician Shadowing

• Students are required to do at least 20 hours of shadowing with a physician per program year.

Community Service

• Students are required to participate in at least 8 hours of community service per program year.

Program Activities and Seminars

• Students are required to attend scheduled lectures, seminars, and program activities.

MedPrep I and II

• Students will be required to participate in MedPrep I (virtually) and Med Prep II offered by the MU School of Medicine.

MCAT Prep

• A minimum MCAT score is required of all participants for entrance into the School of Medicine. Participants are required to attend the MCAT preparation course provided by the program.

Summer Retreat

• Participants are required to attend a one-week summer retreat the summer between undergraduate graduation and medical school matriculation.

The University of Missouri School of Medicine reserves the right to modify the Springfield Pre-Admission Program requirements at any time the medical school faculty or administration determines the change is in the best interest of the program and the School of Medicine.

Academic Review

Each June and February the spring and summer/fall semesters are reviewed for each student participant to assess cumulative academic performance and compliance with program requirements.

MCAT Requirements

Springfield pathway students are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and achieve a minimum MCAT score set by the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Scores must be available for review at the Preprofessional Scholars Program (PSP) Committee meeting in September of the calendar year prior to their expected date of matriculation into medical school.

Student Conduct

Springfield Pre-Admission Program students must follow the Student Conduct Regulations as stated in the University of Missouri rules and regulations. Failure of a student to comply with these requirements will result in committee deliberations to determine whether the student may continue in the Springfield Pre-Admission Program. Participants are expected to always conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner. Participants whose professional or ethical conduct is in question in any way may be reviewed by the Preprofessional Scholars Program Committee and may be dismissed from the program. Springfield Pre-Admission Program students will be required to comply with all medical school matriculation requirements at the time of their matriculation into the School of Medicine Springfield campus.

How to Apply

The application deadline which includes supplemental materials (Letters of Recommendation/Evaluation and transcripts) is May 21, 2027, 11:59 pm.

Only completed applications with all required supplemental materials will be considered. 
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required materials are received. Any application materials submitted after May 21 will not be considered.

If you are selected to interview for a position in the program, the interview will take place TBD. All interviews are virtual. Please plan accordingly.

Required supplemental materials:

• Two letters of recommendation are required. Both letters must come from college professors. It is highly recommended that at least one letter come from a faculty member in a science department (biology, chemistry, etc.).
• Applicants must submit an unofficial college transcript, including spring semester grades, and transcripts for each college/university attended where college credit was earned (Including dual credit courses).

The Springfield Pre-admission Program application will open on January 1.