The Med-Start program begins the first Sunday in June (check into dorms) and ends mid-July (check out after graduation).

Med-Start costs approximately $6,000; however, scholarships and tuition waivers are available through the University of Arizona. In addition, our Med-Start partners work throughout the year to help reduce this cost to students and their families. Please do not let the cost discourage you or your student from applying to the Med-Start program. You may be eligible to participate for free.

Begin the process by filling out the online application. The deadline to submit an application and all supplemental materials is February 1 at 5 p.m. If you have difficulty completing the online application, please contact us.

If you are accepted into the program, you will receive additional forms with your acceptance packet.

Accepted applicants will need to request an official high school transcript be mailed to Med-Start.

All paper materials must be received in our Tucson office at the address below:

Med-Start Health Careers Program
c/o Alma Aguirre, Program Manager
University of Arizona Health Sciences
Office of Student Engagement and Career Advancement
PO Box 245140
1501 N. Campbell Ave., Room 1119B
Tucson, AZ 85724-5140

For delivery services (FedEx, UPS, etc.) only, use the address below:

Med-Start Health Careers Program
c/o Alma Aguirre, Program Manager
University of Arizona Health Sciences
Office of Student Engagement and Career Advancement
1501 N. Campbell Ave., Room 1119B
Tucson, AZ 85724-5140

Incomplete applications and materials received after the deadline will not be considered.
 

Contact us and we will update your account for you.

The deadline to apply is February 1 at 5 p.m. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure all items are submitted prior to the deadline. If you have any questions about the online application, please contact us.

The Med-Start team will send emails to address any missing pieces of a student’s application. Please check your spam filters to ensure you receive Med-Start emails, which will come from an email ending in “@arizona.edu.”

Yes. As part of the online application process, two recommendations are required. You must submit the recommenders’ names and email addresses as part of your application. They will then receive an email invitation to complete their recommendation letter on your behalf.

February 1 is the deadline to submit recommendation forms. The two recommendation forms need to be completed and submitted by the recommenders no later than the Med-Start application deadline.

Appropriate recommenders include teachers, advisors, counselors and job supervisors who know you well and would be able to describe your suitability as a participant in the Med-Start Summer Program. Family members or friends are not appropriate recommenders.

Once your application is complete, we will review all of the materials you have submitted. You will receive a notification regarding the status of your application from our office by the end of April. Please understand that we will not be able to answer your questions regarding the status of your application until April.

The Med-Start Summer Program consists of a demanding schedule of classes, forums, lectures, presentations, activities and tutoring throughout the week.

Classes and presentations may begin as early as 7 a.m. and end at late as 7 p.m. Students may use the remainder of the day to exercise at the U of A Recreation Center, rest, clean their rooms or do laundry. Lights out and room checks are conducted at 10 p.m.

Weekend activities, travel arrangements and presentations are scheduled and coordinated months prior to the start of the program.

No. Due to the demanding schedule, we require that students do not work or attend another program during Med-Start.

Yes. Med-Start covers meals for the duration of the program by providing meal cards; however, students may need to make additional purchases for themselves. Your family is responsible for adding funds to your meal card if you run out of funds. 

Med-Start students are required to reside in one of the residence halls located on the University of Arizona's main campus in Tucson.

Students will have math modules, writing, science and college prep assignments that will require time outside of class to complete. The amount of homework will vary from week to week. In addition, students will be completing and presenting three research projects at an academic conference.