I'm interested in applying for the 4-year MD program at Jag. However, I'm confused by whether the "admission fee" of 200 EURO to pay upon admission is the "application fee." It seems like there's no prior application/registration fee to pay for. (I could only find a "registration fee" for high schoolers applying for the 6-year MD program.)

Could anyone please let me know if there is an application fee for the 4-year MD program and where I could find the details for paying it (i.e. money transfer, bank check, etc.)?

Thanks a lot!

Although not required, will they look at reference letters and an accepted research paper (sending just the abstract) in addition to the application materials?

I just spoke with a colleague who has been accepted to Jag. She said that there is no application fee, but that the 200 Euro fee is considered a confirmation security on the seat, and is payable only after you are accepted into the program.

As for payment, I can't help you. She has not committed to going, and so has not gone through the payment system. If the program is at all like schools in Germany, and I suspect that it is, then a payment through your bank is the easiest method of payment, and can be arranged by most tellers or bank managers.

Thanks for your help, FeynmansGhost!

Did your colleague happen to send supplementary materials to Jag or know that they'll take a look at it if sent? Also, for the recent photo, do they want ones with white background, etc.?

I don't know if she submitted much more than a resume as a supplemental portion to her application package. I know that she did not have any publications at the time, though one is currently pending. So, short answer, I don't know, but I will ask her.

And as for the photo, it was just a passport picture that she got made at a Kinko's / FedEx next to the building where we work - nothing special at all. I think a complete set of them (4 photos) cost around 15 dollars.

Hope that helps, and I will get back to you on the supplemental package materials.

Thanks, FeynmansGhost! Are you currently in a medical school?

I got a response from UJ earlier today (in case anyone is interested):

Hello, Thank you for your inquiry.
There is no application fee. Admission fee is to be paid upon admission. Please enclose suplemental materials such as LoRs you have in the application package you will mail. Passport photograph is sufficient.

Regards,

School Office

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Jagiellonian University Medical College
Faculty of Medicine
School of Medicine in English
Tel. (48 12) 422-80-42
Fax: (48 12) 421-28-69
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Address:
12 Sw. Anny Street, room no 4
31-008 Kraków
Poland

Heh - well, you got what I was going to tell you already then! My friend today was telling me that the application itself was truly painless. The interviewer she spoke with, on the other hand, was asking her detailed scientific content questions (hormones of the pineal glands, molecular structure - i.e. crystallography questions, etc.). She said that she knew the answers to his questions, but was not sure that it would have mattered all that much. She also described it as far different from other medical school interviews that she's had. So, neither of us was sure if this was just an oddball interviewer and a one-off event, or if it is more regular for this school. Single data point analysis and all, right?

And, no, I am not a medical student. I am currently just weighing my options. I work full time, and am in school only part time, so have another 3 semesters before I graduate, though I have finished all but 2 of my technical courses for my degree plan (double major in molecular biology and chemistry). My GPA is only about a 3.15, but I scored a 42 on the MCAT, so I honestly don't know what my options truly are. And my GPA is not the whole story - there are tons of withdrawals, and this is post-transferring away from a truly abysmal GPA at a prior school... Yeah, I've got a "story" but no, I don't think that makes enough of a difference when admissions committees are pouring through 300+ applicants per seat for the schools around here. So, there's my thumbnail bio.

How about you?

Thanks for letting me know how your friend's interview went! Wow...the interview sounds like it can be just about anything. I'm impressed that your friend can answer off the top of her head. She's really smart.

CONGRATS!! You scored beautifully on your MCAT. Definitely give it a try if you have a unique story to tell!!

I heard once from a professor at JHU talk about one of their medical students' experience. He said that his gpa wasn't competitive with the usual average, but he received an interview from JHU. One of the questions asked by the interviewer was, "Why do you have a lower gpa?" The student told him that he works at a nightclub and go to school simultaneously, so he didn't have enough time to study. However, he says that by being at the nightclub, he not only met all kind of people and enhance his interpersonal relationships with co-workers and customers, but also became a wine professional.

After hearing that he knows a lot about wine, the interviewer pulled out a bottle of wine and poured a glass of wine for the guy. He took a sip, thought for a little while, and told the interviewer what approx. year the wine is, the history that goes along with it, where it came from and other detailed information. The interviewer was impressed by his knowledge and asked if he wanted to go out and sample some more wine later on. And THAT'S the story of how that guy got in JHU medical school!

Hopefully, this true story gives you a boost of encouragement to apply to medical schools in the U.S.! As long as you're unique, there's no reason why you shouldn't try applying.

As for my background, my GPA is only 3.13 and my first and only MCAT score is a 21 (I took it during the school year). The only thing that might stand out is my strong research background and a couple extracurricular activities. Since UJ requires MCAT score(s), I'm applying in case I get lucky. Otherwise, I know that I deserve not getting in. I've also applied to PUMS and UMW. So far, I got an interview invitation from PUMS.

If I get accepted by at least a medical school, I hope that other people like me will not give up on applying to medical schools just because their scores aren't competitive.