Imi Hoola Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1.  What types of students are considered for participation in Imi Hoola?

The Imi Hoola Post-­Baccalaureate Program provides educational opportunities to individuals from socially, educationally, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds that have demonstrated a commitment to serve in areas of need in Hawaii and the US Affiliated Pacific Islands (American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, CNMI). Please refer to page 2 of the Imi Application Booklet for more information regarding application requirements (Ties to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, Disadvantaged criteria, and Academic requirements).

2. Do you pre-screen applications to the program?

We do not prescreen or pre­-qualify applicants to the program. If you think you may qualify and believe that you would be a good fit for Imi Hoola, then you should apply.  Our application does not have an application fee.

3. How do I apply?

All applicants are required to apply to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine through AMCAS AND submit a separate application to the Imi Hoola Post­-Baccalaureate Program. The Imi Hoola application can be found at http://jabsom.hawaii.edu/ed-programs/imi/admissions/

4. Is it possible to deliver an application in person?

No hand-delivery of application packets will be allowed. Applications must be submitted via secured email. Applicants should upload and submit only 1 (one) application per cycle.  Any updates to an application must be submitted by secure email to imihoola@hawaii.edu by November 1.  Applications received via electronic delivery by 11:59 pm (HST) on November 1 will be accepted. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

5. Will I receive a notification about my application?

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required materials have been received by the application deadline. The Program will send out a status email to the email address noted on current applications after December 1.  No status updates will be provided between October 25 and November 30.  Applicants should be mindful of these time periods when submitting their applications and should plan on meeting the application requirements well ahead of the submission deadline.

If you have not received a status email from the program, email imihoola@hawaii.edu regarding your application status.

6. What academic components are reviewed in the admissions process?

Imi Hoola conducts a holistic review of potential applicants which does include the most recent MCAT scores and GPA as part of this process.

7. Can we submit our application before our MCAT scores are out (for the sake of getting it in earlier)?

You are welcome to submit your application before you receive your MCAT score. Please keep in mind that applicants are assessed on the most recent MCAT score, so it is this score that must meet the academic requirements.  MCAT scores will be a part of the application review process.

8. Do I need to send my official transcripts and submit my MCAT score as part of my application, or do you get it from the AMCAS application?

Official college transcripts are not required to be submitted with your application.  You will not need to submit your MCAT scores with your application, however, you must enter the date of your most recent MCAT on the application.

9. Should secondary materials, such as a curriculum vitae or AMCAS personal statement be turned in with the application?

Secondary materials, such as a CV or additional essays, should not be turned in with the application.  Essays B, C, & D in the Imi Hoola application form is an opportunity for applicants to include additional information about themselves and their backgrounds. Applicants can use this space to provide any additional information that may not be apparent elsewhere in the application.

10. Can the information I provide on my application be updated after the submission deadline? 

All application information received by the submission deadline is included in the applicant review.  Additional information regarding coursework and activities after that date is not forwarded or included in the admissions process (with the exception of required prerequisite courses that are still in progress).

11. Do I need to take Cell & Molecular Biology as a prerequisite to the program?

Starting with the Imi Hoola incoming class of 2020-2021, Cell & Molecular Biology will no longer be a required science prerequisite to the Imi Hoola Post-Baccalaureate Program.  More information about the change to the science prerequisites can be found on the JABSOM Admissions page at https://admissions.jabsom.hawaii.edu/prospective-students/admissions-requirements/

12. One of the essay questions states, “Describe why you want to pursue a career in medicine.  What key experiences have influenced this decision?”  Would I need to copy and paste my personal statement from the AMCAS application? Or would I need to elaborate my personal statement much further?

Although your personal statement for your AMCAS application and Essay A for the Imi Hoola application both ask the applicant to address why the applicant wants to pursue medicine as a career, we suggest that when applying to Imi Hoola, you take into consideration the mission of our program and determine whether your professional path and career goals align with the mission of the program.

13. In the application form for the experiences section, is there a character limit for the experience description?  Does the description need to fit in the two lines given for each entry?

There are 2 lines allocated for a brief description of your experience.   An additional page may be added if more space is needed. Please review your application before submitting it to ensure that your text is visible and legible.  The length of the brief description is up to the applicant as to what you would like to share.

14. My citizenship status is Permanent Resident. How should I report that I am a Permanent Resident on the application? 

If you are a US permanent resident/green cardholder, you must indicate permanent resident on the citizenship line.

15. The application asks for tax return information. If I did not file any tax return and/or was claimed as a dependent by someone else, do I complete the Annual Income of Applicant section?

If you are claimed as a dependent by your parents and did not file a tax return in your name then you will not need to complete the Annual Income of Applicant section. If you were claimed as a dependent on your parents’ tax return, please complete the Annual Income of Parent(s) section.

16. Can a recommender write their own letter of recommendation or do they need to complete the form provided in the application?

A recommender should attach their own letter of recommendation along with the completed form included in the application packet. Letter writers should address all of the questions that are asked within the letter they write on behalf of the applicant since these questions are part of the evaluation process.

17. Can I use the same letters of recommendation that I submitted to JABSOM on AMCAS?

Applicants are able to use letters written from the same recommenders for the Imi Hoola application process; however, Imi has specific questions that will need to be addressed in the letter that they submit.  Along with the letter, they will also need to complete, sign, and submit the Recommendation Form via email to imiapps@hawaii.edu.

18. How many letters of recommendation can I submit?

Two letters of recommendation must be submitted via email to imiapps@hawaii.edu.  It is at your discretion if you want to ask more letter writers, however, we will only accept the first two letters of recommendation received.

19. Can letter writers submit the letter of recommendation and forms through/by U.S. mail or fax?

As of August 2018, letters of recommendation must be submitted via email to imiapps@hawaii.edu by the recommender by November 1st  at 11:59 pm (HST).  No faxed, hand-delivered, or mailed letters will be accepted.

20. Will I receive a notification when my letters of recommendation are received?

The only way we can update applicants on the status of their application (i.e. receipt of letters of recommendation on their behalf), is if we have received the 11­ page application form from the applicant. Letters of recommendation that are submitted prior to receipt of the application are filed into an applicant folder, but without the contact information provided on the application form, we are unable to notify them.

21. Can the deadline for the letters of recommendation be extended?

We are not able to extend the deadline or make any exceptions to our policy.  All application materials, which include letters of recommendation, must be emailed by the submission deadline to be considered. For more information about our Program’s admission requirements (including academic requirements), please visit our program website at http://jabsom.hawaii.edu/imihoola.

22. Will you accept letters of recommendation from a committee or group?

No committee or group recommendation letters will be accepted.  Letters of recommendation must be submitted by an individual that can accurately assess your academic and professional performance and comment on your potential to succeed in the program.

23. Will you accept letters of recommendation from Interfolio or a similar system?

Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly from the recommender via email by the submission deadline.  No third-party recommendation letters will be accepted.

24. Are there additional courses that would help strengthen my basic science foundation?

JABSOM Admissions lists recommended courses that have helped students strengthen their basic science foundation prior to medical school. Some of the courses listed are Anatomy, Calculus, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Physiology, and Statistics.  More information about these courses and other recommendations can be found on their website https://admissions.jabsom.hawaii.edu/prospective-students/admissions-requirements/.

25. What are some resources I can access as a pre-medical student?

These are just a few resources that have been helpful to students in the past.

• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Premed Resources https://students-residents.aamc.org/services/article/premed-resources/
• Hawai`i/Pacific Basin AHEC  https://www.ahec.hawaii.edu/about/
• JABSOM Admissions website https://admissions.jabsom.hawaii.edu/prospective-students/admissions-requirements/
• NHCOE https://nhcoe.jabsom.hawaii.edu/information-resources/
• UH Manoa PAC http://manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/pac/health/

26. 26. Where can I find information about financial aid or Veterans benefits?

Imi Hoola students are admitted through UH Outreach College as unclassified students, which will not qualify them for financial aid (FA) or to use their VA benefits.  More information about financial aid at UH can be found on the UH Manoa Financial Aid website at  https://www.hawaii.edu/fas/.

For information about Veterans benefits, please go to https://manoa.hawaii.edu/registrar/veteran-benefits/