The MU School of Medicine Premedical Rural Education Program (PREP) is a post-baccalaureate program for Missouri rural background, college graduates interested in applying to medical school. Applicants accepted to PREP will complete an online course, participate in required workshops and activities, and complete a graduate certificate program during the two-year program to prepare and enhance their application to medical school.
Who can apply?
Students must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply to the program.
Basic Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a Missouri resident.
- Grew up in a rural Missouri community as defined by the program.
- Rural is defined as a home address with a Rural-Urban Community Area (RUCA) Code of 2-10.
- Applicants must have lived at their home address for at least 2 years.
- Applicants who have not lived at their current home address for at least two years must submit a report for their prior home address with their application.
- Applicants must have a PDF of their "Am I Rural?" report(s) to upload and submit with their application.
Academic Requirements:
- Completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States.
- Current undergraduate students who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree prior to June are eligible to apply.
- Completed the MU School of Medicine admission requirements.
- MCAT is not required; however, preference may be given to applicants who have taken the MCAT.
Participant Benefits
PREP participants receive an annual $12,000 stipend to assist with costs associated with taking and preparing for the MCAT, tuition, books, cost of living, and AMCAS application fees. Students must remain in good standing, meeting all program requirements, to advance through the program and continue to receive the annual stipend. Please note that the stipend for this program is funded by a grant and is contingent on the availability and continuation of grant resources. As such, the stipend is not guaranteed.
PREP participants who receive a 500 on their MCAT, receive A or B grades in required coursework taken during the postbaccalaureate program, and are meeting all other program requirements will receive an automatic interview with MU School of Medicine Admissions Committee. Postbaccalaureate students who are accepted to MU School of Medicine, will receive priority selection for the Rural Scholars Program during medical school.
How to apply?
Applicants interested in applying to PREP must complete the program application by 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2026. The application will open in January 2026. Applicants who are invited to interview will be notified via email. Interviews will take place via Zoom in May/June 2026. An online mandatory program orientation will be held in July 2026 for all accepted applicants. Accepted students will begin the program in July 2026.
Participant Conduct
Failure of a participant to comply with program requirements may result in participant dismissal from the program and a reduced or revoked stipend. If a PREP participant is accepted to medical school with a start date during the PREP program. The participant would automatically be withdrawn from the program and may result in a reduced stipend amount.
