FAQ

Yes. Title IV financial aid is available in the form of the Federal Stafford and GradPLUS loans. We encourage students to limit their borrowing and live as frugally as possible while a student. Students cannot receive financial aid above the cost of attendance.

Office of Student Financial Services must verify attendance in the M.D. program before disbursing aid. Please allow two to three weeks after the first day of class. Financial aid will be divided up into two equal payments to match the division of billed expenses. The first disbursements begin in August and the second in January.

1. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1^st. Please use the Title IV code 003954, which is the UCF Main Campus code.
2. Submit any additional documents requested from the Office of Student Financial Services.
3. If borrowing from the federal loan programs, submit the UCF COM Loan Request Form.
4. Complete any supplemental requirements associated with your financial aid awards. These items may include Master Promissory Notes and Entrance Counseling if you decide to borrow on the federal loan programs.
5. Complete the Direct Deposit information on myUCF so that any credit balance can be refunded to the bank account of your choice quickly and efficiently.

UCF College of Medicine’s fundraising team is hard at work on a scholarship drive for new students. We are dedicated to the goal of providing scholarship dollars to our students, thus reducing their debt burden upon graduation.

Annual costs will be divided into two equal payments. One-half of the balance will be due on the Friday of the second week of classes in August for M1s and M2s, and the Friday of the second week of classes in May/June for the M3s and M4s.  The other half will be due on the Friday of the second week of classes in January for all students. Students with financial aid will be responsible for the balance after subtracting the anticipated financial aid. Students can see their tuition and fees and what they owe on the MD Billing Statement on my.ucf.edu.

John Gracey, Director, Student Financial Services- UCF College of Medicine. john.gracey@ucf.edu

Yee Lui, Assistant Director, Student Financial Services- UCF College of Medicine. ylui@ucf.edu

No one will be trying out any treatments or medical procedures on you. You will be helping facilitate student learning and student assessment. If the session involves a physical exam, you will know about all of the aspects it entails in advance.

This is an intermittent, hourly position. One month you might work 16 hours, the next month no hours. The schedule depends on many variables, including planned student activities, faculty requests, and demographics needed.

No, although some of our SPs are actors/actresses. You will be trained in particular acting behaviors specific to each case you do. Your character portrayal will be standardized each time you perform your case. This means that you will portray the same character in repeated back-to-back sessions and you will mirror what other actors portraying your case are being trained to do. In a simulated academic setting, your acting behavior will be objective not subjective.

Yes, the students are aware that we are not real patients. We are not trying to deceive anyone. Students are told to behave just as they would with real patients while doing histories and physical examinations.

You will be carefully trained and will have all of the information you need in advance. As the standardized patient, you may be able to tell the student details about your life such as your job, your family and hobbies. You will be trained to portray the appropriate emotional state as the patient. For cases requiring a physician examination, you will be taught how to move as a patient would and to accurately simulate responses while being examined. You will need to be willing to study in addition to trainings to learn the materials needed for Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs) and events.

No, this is very different. Medical research subjects are thought of as people who take experimental drugs or are undergoing medically designed behavior changes such as diet or exercise programs and then have their reactions studied. We use standardized patients to simulate situations for the students such as:

• Meeting a patient for the first time
• Doing an interview about smoking cessation
• Giving bad news
• Explaining medications
• Conducting a routine medical history interview
• Performing physical examinations
• The physical examinations are much like those performed in a doctor’s office. The student may:
  • Listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope
  • Press on your abdomen to identify any tenderness or swelling
  • Look into your eyes, ears, nose and throat
  • Take your blood pressure
  • Take your pulse
  • Check your reflexes
  • Assess your muscle strength

We are looking for people who are interested in students and in learning, people who are excellent listeners and people who can focus on the educational goals of the session. It is also important for a standardized patient to stay focused, impartial and consistent in the role they are playing. We are looking for candidates that have strong recall skills, quick adaptation to change and a desire to enhance student learning. A flexible schedule, reliability and punctuality are all required in order to work as a standardized patient. In general, standardized patients are often very people-oriented with strong communication skills. The UCF COM Standardized Patient Program strives to involve as many diverse people as possible. While it is helpful if you have a medical background or have had some contact with doctors or other health care providers, it is not essential.

SPs are required to attend their assigned training session to ensure compliance with the case and encounter validity. SPs should arrive to training having memorized the opening statement and all case details noted in their script. Training may also include role playing, watching case videos, and learning how to give verbal or written feedback to students.

General Responsibilities:

The Standardized Patient reports directly to the Medical Director and Assistant Director of the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center (CSSC). The major responsibility of this position is to portray all the characteristics of a real patient, simulating the signs and symptoms. Standardized patients will often be physically examined by students and faculty as part of the medical students learning experience.

Job Category Temporary

Work Schedule Flexible Hours, events mainly on Tuesday and Wednesday

Other Characteristics of Position

• Must be flexible regarding scheduling and assignments
• Must have the ability to understand and follow instructions
• Must demonstrate the ability to be instructed by a Standardized Patient Educator and consistently simulate a case scenario in an accurate, reliable and professional manner.
• Must possess strong communication skills, both written and spoken
• Must have strong reading and writing skills to absorb and use the detailed case training and exam procedural information
• Must have excellent recall of learner performance
• Attention to detail is essential
• Applicants with acting experience are encouraged to apply, though this is not an obligatory skill set
• Experience with software programs including MS office is required
• Experience with CAE Learning Space a plus
• High School Diploma or equivalent is required

Specific Tasks

• Be highly dependable and punctual
• Be willing to study prior to scheduled training
• Demonstrate flexibility and reliability with scheduling and assignments
• Follow written and verbal instructions
• Provide constructive feedback to medical students and colleagues
• Work in a professional manner when interacting with learners, faculty, supervisors and peers.
• Be comfortable having repeated physical examination maneuvers performed on self
• Be willing to wear a hospital gown with only undergarments underneath, while on camera and/or observed live through an observation window or video monitor
• Simulate all aspects of scenarios, including history of current problem, affect/behavior and physical findings, in a standardized, accurate, and reliable manner
• Accurately and consistently complete checklists
• Accept ongoing feedback from SP Educators as well as facilitators and incorporate into case simulation
• Be willing to be audio and videotaped during simulations
• Other duties as assigned

A standardized patient is a person who portrays a patient for training and assessment of clinical skills for health sciences learners. During interactions with a learner, the standardized patient responds to questions asked by the student and, in some cases, undergoes specific physical examinations. Each standardized patient encounter is designed to teach or assess skills appropriate to the student’s level of training. The word “standardized” means that the standardized patient repeats his or her story in a consistent manner to numerous students.

Physical exams can include focused exams such as an eye exam or a complete head to toe physical. It depends on the learning objectives of the student that our faculty has designed. More intimate exams, such as breast or genital exams, are only practiced on advanced level SPs that specifically sign up for our Genitourinary Teaching Associate (GTA) program or Male Urogenital Teaching Associate (MUTA) program. Overall, it is important that all SPs be comfortable with their own body and having a student inspect or examine them. You will need to be comfortable wearing a patient gown with appropriate undergarments and being videotaped for faculty review purposes. Please note that SP/student encounters are simulated in a controlled environment with supervision of the College of Medicine (COM) staff.

• Attendance of SP Orientation
• FERPA training (once)- (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act) Protects student education records from review and disclosure
• HIPAA training (annually)- (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) Protects the privacy of patient health information and records. Although you generally will not have any direct exposure to patient health or student records, you need to be aware of these laws in the unlikely event you inadvertently come across such materials.
• Attending Case Training Sessions prior to being cast
• Internet access
• Responding to emails within 24-48 hours of receiving them
• Use of Microsoft Word, Office, and Excel

Students do work with real patients in supervised clinical experiences. However, standardized patients provide a safe and controlled simulated learning environment to prepare students to see real patients. Standardized patients provide students with the same, consistent portrayal each time, and as a result the faculty can be sure that the same skills are practiced by all students. Thus, every student gets the chance to demonstrate their clinical skills in the same situation. It makes for a fair exam or learning experience for everyone.

It is a position that offers a flexible schedule and the opportunity to make a difference in educating future health care professionals.

The University of Central Florida is an equal-opportunity institution that does not discriminate based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation or disability in its admissions, student aid, employment practices, education programs or other related activities. While we do not ask you to disclose your personal health information, a student may ask you about surgical scars they note or any abnormal physical exam findings. You will be trained on how to respond in this kind of situation, based on the patient scenario you will portray in a medical case.

For patient cases that require no physical examinations, standardized patients wear regular clothes. If the students are expected to perform a physical examination, you may be required to wear a hospital gown while keeping your undergarments on.

There are NO scheduled breaks or holiday in the M4 year.  Students are expected to work regular hours that the site is open.  For example, if you are working at a private practice during the 4th of July or Labor Day and the office is closed then you would have those days off.  However if you are working in a hospital during the previously mentioned holidays then you might have to work.  You should check with your team to determine holiday responsibilities.

The University of Central Florida College of Medicine is always seeking out educational opportunities for our M4 students.  If you are a physician in Orlando or the surrounding areas and are interested in teaching M4 students please contact Mr. Ken Staack, M4 Coordinator via phone at 407-266-1110 or email at ken.staack@ucf.edu to receive more information.

At the current time UCF College of Medicine does not accept away students.  For students interested in doing away rotations in the Orlando area please contact Florida Hospital and Orlando Health GME offices, Orlando VAMC or Osceola Regional.

Prior to the first day of your rotation it is recommended that you obtain/confirm the contact information for the preceptor that you are working with.  It is also recommended that you ask what the preferred contact method is (text, email, call)

First day reporting information can be located in the M4 catalog on the M4 Site

Your M4 grades are available in OASIS once you complete all course, faculty, and site evaluations.  Please complete your evaluations as soon as possible so they do not close and prevent you from viewing your final evaluation with your grade.

• Please contact Ms. Corsi regarding course registration, add/drop, independent study, course schedule, and away evaluations.
• Many questions regarding the M4 registration process can be answered on the M4 Site.  Please review the M4 Site for the M4 calendar, forms, and additional resources.

Please contact Mr. Ken Staack via email at ken.staack@ucf.edu or phone at 407-266-1110 regarding first day reporting information, evaluations, absences, CANVAS, OASIS, credentialing, physician contact information, and call schedules.

When you are sick you should first contact your team and supervising physician.  Second you should complete the absence form and return it to Mr. Staack.

Currently, there is no cost to medical students for official M.D. transcripts. However, the transcript cost for other UCF undergraduate or graduate programs is $10.00 per copy effective January 1, 2008.

Currently, we are not accepting visiting students but will in the near future.

Once you have graduated, your name on your academic record remains the same.

College of Medicine Registrar’s Office, 6850 Lake Nona Bldg., Suite 115, Orlando, FL 32827-7408

This is a state-supported program, and therefore we will accept only U.S. Citizens and Permanent Resident Aliens with a “Final” resident alien card in their possession.  At the discretion of the admissions office, asylees and those pending a permanent resident alien card may be sent a secondary application if they communicate with the admissions office that they will have a permanent resident alien card in hand by November 1 of the application cycle.  It will be up to the applicant to determine if they want to submit their secondary application and fee before receiving their permanent resident alien card. Fees will not be refunded if the deadline is not met. We will not be allowed to process any application that does not meet these requirements.

Because of the innovative integration of our curriculum and clinical content, the University of Central Florida College of Medicine does not accept transfer requests. Students with advanced standing must apply as a traditional incoming M1 applicants.

This begins during your first year of college and sometimes earlier. It is essential to work closely with your undergraduate advisors and Premed Advising Office. These resources will help you understand academic requirements and assist with constructing your educational program. Taking the proper courses in the appropriate sequence should prepare you to take the MCAT at the earliest possible time. Optimally, students will prepare to take the MCAT during the spring of their junior year in college.

UCF receives nearly 5,500+ applications annually. Of that applicant pool, approximately 500 will be interviewed. The final matriculating class will be 120.  According to data reported through the Association of American Medical Colleges, about 10% of those applying to medical schools nationwide have applied to UCF.

Yes, the UCF M.D. program requires specific coursework to enter the program. The required coursework is consistent with the coursework required by other M.D. Programs, and you can view the prerequisites here.

To begin the UCF M.D. program, all applicants will have completed at least a bachelor’s-level degree from an accredited U.S. institution.

Unfortunately, no. All applicants for this program must take the MCAT exam within three years before acceptance into the program. For example, an applicant would have to take the MCAT in 2020, 2021, or 2022 to be eligible for consideration for the class beginning in July 2023.

By enrollment, all applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. To be competitive for an interview, applicants should have an MCAT of at least a 500 and an overall and science (BPCM) GPA of 3.00 or higher.

The primary application is via the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Completing the AMCAS application will be the first step toward being an applicant for the UCF M.D. Program.

Most M.D. Programs that the LCME accredits use AMCAS as the initial application to the M.D. Program. AMCAS provides applicants with a single-source application for all participating M.D. Programs. The AMCAS application is usually available in May for completion and submission by the end of that calendar year. The AMCAS application must be submitted in the calendar year before the year that an applicant desires to attend an M.D. Program. For example, an applicant who wants to begin medical school in August may start their AMCAS application as early as May of the prior year. AMCAS Applications must be submitted by published deadlines, typically in mid-November.

The UCF M.D. program will not require any specific bachelor’s degree major. We suggest that you select a major with an area of interest. If it is not a science-related major, we strongly recommend that you use your non-major electives to take as many science-related courses as possible. This will help show an admissions committee that you have an aptitude for the sciences and may help prepare you for academic success in the M.D. program.

Yes. Online courses taken at a regionally accredited institution in the United States will be considered in the admissions process. Please be aware every medical school may have its requirements for admission. You should consult the Medical School Admissions Requirements and each institution’s admissions website to determine their specific requirements.

Yes. Online degrees earned at a regionally accredited institution in the United States will be considered in the admissions process. Please be aware every medical school may have different requirements for admission. To determine their specific needs, you should consult the Medical School Admissions Requirements and each institution’s admissions website.

Neither UCF nor the College of Medicine plans to provide on-campus housing to M.D. Program students at the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona. There are several apartment buildings within the confines of the Lake Nona Medical City area. Furthermore, several housing communities are located within the Lake Nona area and an easy drive to the UCF COM. Information about housing options will be provided to students at their admission.

If you have completed a Master’s Degree or less at a non-U.S. institution, you need to obtain a second Bachelor’s Degree or a Master’s Degree at a regionally accredited U.S. institution. All prerequisites would need to be completed in the United States. Additionally, foreign graduates need to demonstrate medical motivation through medical volunteering and shadowing. The Committee will look for other areas, including community service, teamwork/leadership activities, and research.

Suppose an applicant has completed a foreign medical degree. In that case, they should visit ECFMG.org before applying to medical school in the U.S. If you have completed a foreign medical degree and would like to use it for medical school at UCF, you would need to complete either a science-based Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the U.S. at an accredited institution to demonstrate proficiency in the U.S. education system. All applicants must take the MCAT by the application deadline. Additionally, foreign medical graduates would need to present medical motivation through medical volunteering and shadowing. The Committee will look for other areas, including community service, teamwork/leadership activities, and research. To be eligible to apply, you must be a U.S. Citizen, “Final” Resident Alien, or have INS approved Asylum in the U.S.

Applicants currently enrolled in a Master’s, Ph.D., or another professional-level degree program must complete all requirements before enrollment in the M.D. program. We highly encourage those admitted to any graduate-level degree program to complete that program before enrollment into the M.D. Program.

The UCF M.D. program is a state of Florida program and will not give preference to applicants from UCF or any other academic institution.

While CLEP may help you receive your bachelor’s degree, we will not substitute CLEP for required coursework when considering an application for an interview. We will substitute AP and IB passing scores and Dual-Enrollment courses for prerequisites needed. If you earn accelerated credit for science courses, we will expect to see additional coursework in that discipline to indicate that you have mastered that subject. For example, if you had AP credit for Chem I, we would expect to see a solid grade in Chem II while in college; or, if you had AP credit for both Chem I and Chem II, we would expect to see you take an upper-level chemistry course in college and do well in that subject.