On this Page

  1. Required Application Materials
  2. Academic and Prerequisite Course Requirements for Applicants
  3. Maintain Academic Standards
  4. Application Essay Prompts
  5. Constructing Your Curriculum Vitae
  6. Apply to the Program

Rural Pathway Program Application Information

Required Application Materials

  • Unofficial academic transcripts in PDF format for all the schools you attended. 
    • Official transcripts are not required but may be directed to Dr. Kathleen Spears upon request.
    • If you have more than one transcript, please email them directly to Dr. Spears.
    • Be sure to include any AP courses on your transcript submissions.
  • Bachelor’s degree at a 4-year accredited institution
    • Conferred or in progress
  • Four essay prompts below (limit 1000 words)
  • Current CV in PDF format (see example link on this page)
  • Two letters of recommendation 
    • Letters may be from advisors, academic faculty, volunteer or service supervisors, or clinical mentors
    • A single document Health Professions Committee Letter of Recommendation is also acceptable
    • Please tell your letter writers to email Dr. Spears directly. Letters should preferably be on letterhead and from a professional or institutional.

Academic and Prerequisite Course Requirements for Applicants

  • Minimum cumulative GPA and Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math (BCMP) GPA of 3.2 to apply
  • Students must have taken or plan to take the following UMKC medical school pre-requisite courses*:
    • Cell Biology
    • Biochemistry
    • Genetics

* For information on accepted courses, contact UMKC School of Medicine Admissions

Maintain Academic Standards

  • If enrolled in coursework, accepted students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA and BCMP GPA of 3.2

Application Essay Prompts

Prompts are limited to 1000 words. You will NOT be able to save and return to the application form once you start, so we suggest writing them in a word processor and then adding them to your final application form.

  1. Describe your personal interest in practicing as a rural physician; how has any contact with the medical profession as a patient, advocate or a provider/professional influenced your desire to practice rural medicine?
  2. Please describe the area(s) in which you grew up and describe the community you listed as your hometown (if different).
  3. Describe your understanding of an issue or challenge facing healthcare for rural communities.
  4. In what areas do you feel you need to improve to become a successful candidate to a medical degree program?

Constructing Your Curriculum Vitae

  • You will be asked to submit a Curriculum Vitae (CV) document as part of your application — it is an academic-style resume.
  • Use our CV template (docx) to build your CV if desired.

 Apply to the Program

Application Form