Evms Medical School: Admissions, Financial Aid, Tuition and Social Life

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) does an excellent job at introducing, guiding, and, ultimately, preparing a student for the years of residency. It fosters a noncompetitive environment and provides opportunities for research and community involvement tor anyone from the minimally motivated student to the basic overachiever. Medical school is more about what students make of it than where they go, but it is critically important to receive the necessary tools to move toward the next phase of training.

Admissions/Financial Aid 

As it is a state supported school, many of the entering medical students at EVMS are residents of the state of Virginia. In recent years, about 30 percent of students have been from other states. The mean age among entering students in the last couple of years has been between 25 and 27, with many of them having advanced degrees.

Eastern virginia medical center

Eastern Virginia Medical School receives about 4,000 to 6,000 applications per year. About 10 percent of the applicants are interviewed to arrive at a class size of 100. Qualities such as a strong academic background and intelligence are important, but equally important are commitment and compassion. The admissions committee is composed of basic science professors, clinical faculty members, and two members of each class. Those medical students not on the committee are encouraged to participate in the interviews and give input regarding the ultimate acceptance of the prospective applicant.

Evms Medical School Tuition

The annual tuition for a resident and a nonresident are $21,300 and $26,000, respectively. Numerous loans (both School administered and federal subsidized and nonsubsidized) are available. All students applying for financial aid are required to submit parental tax information so that a packet of aid can be determined. In addition, special scholarships are available tor students who desire to work in underserved areas upon the completion of their residency.

Of special note, Eastern Virginia Medical School is committed to the recruitment and retention of minority students. The office of minority affairs serves as a contact source and also makes recommendations for interviews and awards scholarships. Premed students may take part in the summer enrichment program. This program is a six to eight week mini medical school session that allows college students to experience what medical school is all about. Students take similar courses (e.g., biochemistry and gross anatomy) as well as work with a member of the clinical faculty once a week. They even participate in mock exams held by members of the admissions committee. Once enrolled, minority students may take advantage of the number of resources provided, including textbooks and tutorial semces.

Preclinical Years 

Classes in the first year usually start at 8 or 9 a.m. and finish around 3 or 4 p.m. Most of the course instructors hand out syllabi (which tend to be thick) and, for the most part, test questions are directly from that information. Most of the faculty members are supportive and are available for questions or additional assistance. A student progress committee is notified if a student is not performing well, and special arrangements are made wath a faculty member for tutorial sessions. Exams are given approximately every three to four weeks and the majority are multiple choice. The grading system works in a honors/high pass/pass/ marginal/fail system. The top third of students achieve a high pass and the top 5 percent receive honors.

During the summer months between the first and second years, students are afforded numerous opportunities that range from research to summer jobs to taking part in community service actixities. Some of the research projects provide monetary compensation and may include working in such areas as the Diabetes Institute, the Jones Institute, and the Pediatric Research Institute. For those less inclined to scholastic endeavors, daily visits to Virginia Beach are possible, which is located within 25 minutes of the campus.

Before students realize it, that twelve week break passes with alarming speed and second year classes begin. This time, many of the classes are year round, and those nice complete syllabi are no longer available. The material is not quite as familiar, and much of the burden to extract the information from the text is the student's. The positive side is that students finally feel as if the material is relevant and they enjoy learning. Also, working with actual patients is increased and classes in diagnosis and physical exam skiUs are emphasized. When classes finally end in May, students are given approximately five weeks off. Three to four of these weeks should be for studying for USMLE. Students may study independently or take a review course. There is a nominal fee ($700), and classes are six days per week, typically from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In recent years, the pass rate has been 95 percent.

Clinical Years 

The clinical years begin with a two week orientation that reviews such issues as what to expect from each required clerkship, patient care, medical records/ charting, and ACLS certification. The rotations are divided into two blocks (i.e., pediatrics/surgery/ obstetrics and gynecology and family/internal/psych). Students have a choice in selecting their rotations, but they must be taken within the designated blocks (e.g., if surgery was the first rotation, it cannot be followed by family medicine). It is not generally possible to do a fourth year elective before completing a core. The various hospital settings include community, private, military, and veterans hospitals. For the most part, the clinical experience received is excellent.


The fourth year of medical school is a time to celebrate. Much of the work has already been done. Students only job is to pick a specialty and proceed with the task of finding employment in July. While you still have to take rotations, many of them are what students choose to do. The only stipulations are that every student has to do one week of substance abuse prevention, two weeks of geriatric, two 2 week blocks of surgical subspecialty, and eight weeks off Excellent rotations include trauma and emergency medicine.

Social Life 

The city of Norfolk is one of seven cities that make up the area known as Hampton Roads. Norfolk does not attract students in the same capacity as some of the larger cities like New York or Atlanta. However, upon closer inspection, students realize its more notable qualities. In celebrating its nautical heritage, there are a number of summer festivals as well as various pop artists/symphony/opera seasonal performances. This area is strategically placed for weekend excursions to Washington, D.C., Charlottesville, or the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Each fall and spring, a three day weekend retreat is sponsored by the Human Values Program, during which students participate in various workshops, and many students mostly enjoy basking in the sun and attending late-night parties.

Real Estate Program

Most of the students live in a section of Norfolk near the medical school known as Ghent, a charming neighborhood with Victorian homes and tree lined streets. Across from the school is an apartment complex owned and operated by EVMS. One and two bedroom options are available (ranging between $675 and $950 per month). Other housing opfions in the area range from $550 to $1,250 per month (depending on individual tastes). There are usually cheaper options in Virginia Beach or Portsmouth, but students then have to contend with traffic. Many affordable restaurants/bars/ coffee shops ( First Coffee Colony and margaritas at Colley Cantina are not to be missed) are in the area within walking distance. By exercising safety precautions and some degree of intelligence, most students don't have any problems with crime.

On campus, Evms Medical School students have almost unlimited opportunities to design organizations and associations according to the changing interests of the student body. The surgery club, operation smile, yearbook club, AMSA, and women in medicine club are only a few of the activities in which EVMS students can become involved. Climate may range from humid summer days with temperatures higher than 100 to cold (even snowy) days viixh temperatures in the teens.

Eastern Virginia Medical School welcomes most diverse class ever

Because of its youth, Eastern Virginia Medical School sometimes struggles to compete with more established medical schools in the neighboring area. Nonetheless, it provides a noncompetitive environment and a firm educational foundation. While an EVMS degree may not bring about immediate fame and recognition, students continue to have equal opportunities in obtaining competitive residencies.

Web https://www.evms.edu/