Becoming a Doctor of Naturopathic medicine is a significant academic and professional commitment that requires careful preparation and a built-in sense of resilience.
If you’re someone who desires to become an ND, you no doubt already possess the curiosity and community-mindedness that will help you achieve your goals. However, the road to practicing medicine is not built on motivation alone.
We at NUNM are here to help you prepare for the admissions process, understand what the NUNM Admissions team is typically looking for in ND candidates, and how to set yourself up for success as you embark on your ND journey.
Remember: The admissions process isn’t just about checking items off of a list. When approached with the right mindset, it will help shape your perspective on how you can meet the academic and professional demands of delivering whole-person care as an ND.
ND Application Requirements at NUNM
Admission at NUNM: What We’re Looking for
NUNM is one of the world’s most-respected naturopathic medicine universities, and has remained as such over the last half-century due to the quality of people on our staff, faculty, and student body.
When it comes to being considered as an ND student, our expectations are pretty clear:
- You should be a person with a solid academic foundation — The ND program is composed of rigorous coursework. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C and typically, an overall minimum 3.0 GPA to be considered for this program.
- You should be a critical thinker and an effective communicator — What is your sense of purpose in pursuing this education and career? What contributions are you seeking to make? The two required essays provide a platform for you to articulate your values and motivations.
- You should care about service, leadership, the mission of natural medicine — We want to know about past experiences outside of school that align with the values of natural medicine, examples of how you’ve served your community, as well as instances of how you’ve displayed leadership skills in personal and professional settings.
- You should understand the investment you’re making — Earning your ND is a substantial personal, professional, and financial commitment. In order to better support students during the program and after graduation, they can now structure their electives to qualify for licensure as a licensed massage therapist (LMT). You’ll also meet the qualifications to become a certified medical assistant (CMA). Both certifications are built into your ND program at no additional cost beyond the exam fees, which means you can work in a medical setting while you’re in school or while you’re building a practice. We’ve also expanded our flexible programming options. At NUNM, we want your degree to go further, and we’re proud to offer the most affordable ND program in the country.
NUNM is a community of healers. We want to grow this community by nurturing the next generation of healing professionals. We do this by carefully evaluating your heads and your hearts.
Letter of Recommendation (Optional)
Before you begin the admission process, all prospective students at NUNM must complete our standard application requirements, which include official school transcripts and a resume. A letter of recommendation is no longer required, though we welcome submissions.
So when does a letter of recommendation make sense? Maybe there’s a mentor or supervisor who has seen you at work and can speak to your skills your application doesn’t fully capture. A clinical supervisor, research mentor, manager, or community leader can add specific examples of why you’d be a good fit for NUNM’s ND program, and that perspective helps round out the picture we have of you.
If you decide to ask for a letter of recommendation, one thoughtful letter from an individual who knows you well will do more than several generic ones. Give them plenty of time and clear, succinct direction of what you’d like them to speak to and be sure to thank them for their help. If your application already tells your story, you don’t need to submit a letter at all.
Prereqs, Your Personal Statement, and ND Primary Care Essay
Prospective ND students must provide proof of having completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent) with passing grades of C or higher for all program-specific prerequisites.
These program-specific requirements include completion of Science Major-level courses in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, as well as certain Mathematics, English, Psychology, Social Sciences, and the Humanities.
Though not required, we also strongly recommend that students have completed courses related to Anatomy, Physiology, Statistics, Marketing, Public Health, and more.
In addition, ND applicants must complete two written requirements: A 1-2 page personal statement and a Whole Person Healthcare essay.
These two written pieces are critical to your application, and are carefully evaluated during the admissions process.
The personal statement is centered around:
- The development of your decision to become a naturopathic physician
- The steps you’ve taken to explore this career path
- The unique qualities and/or attributes you might bring to NUNM that might distinguish you from other applicants
Your personal statement is where we get to know you beyond your transcripts. We read it for how you think and how clearly you communicate, as much as for your interest in natural medicine.
Begin with the experience that first pointed you toward naturopathic medicine, whether that was your own care, a family member’s, or time spent working alongside a practitioner. Then tell us what you did next. Maybe you shadowed an ND, talked with current students, or took on a clinic or health-related role. Finally, explain why NUNM in particular. What about our curriculum, our approach to clinical training, or our community makes this the place you want to train?
Specific examples will serve you better than broad statements about wanting to help people. Give yourself time to draft and revise and ask someone you trust to read it before you submit.
Similarly, your Whole Person Healthcare essay is another important piece of communication that is vital to the Admissions team’s understanding of who you are as a prospective student and who you might be as a professional.
Your Whole Person Healthcare essay is a 1-2 page exploration of how you plan to:
- Provide healthcare to patients across different gender identities, religions, political viewpoints, races, and sexual orientations
- Learn about and provide treatments that may conflict with your personal beliefs but are required components of your naturopathic medical education. These may include, but are not limited to, specific therapeutic modalities, immunizations, and pharmaceutical drugs including hormones.
Whatever kind of practice you envision, considering these questions, conveying your thought process, and presenting your proposed course of action helps us understand where you are in your evolution as a potential practitioner.
The Admissions Committee Review
After you’ve submitted your application, the Admissions Committee will review your application, a process that takes approximately two to four weeks to complete.
Once this step is completed, qualified applicants will receive an invitation to be interviewed by a faculty member and an admissions representative.
This interview is yet another critical opportunity for you to show who you are to key NUNM staff. This 30-60 minute meeting will consist of questions from our team to you as well as time for you to ask us questions that matter most to you.
Our goal is to make this feel more like a conversation than an interview, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared. Quite the opposite, in fact.
- Know who you are and why you’re there
- Know your application inside and out
- Be professional, present, and approachable
This is your opportunity to shine in person! Showcase that you have a clear understanding of NUNM, our mission, the ND program, its curriculum, and why you want to be a part of this community of healers.
You should be able to respond to specific questions about your essays. Patient relationships are at the heart of this profession, so we will also notice how you engage with us. Come prepared, listen closely, and let us see the professionalism and warmth that will help your future patients feel at ease with you.
Want to learn more about the admissions process for NUNM’s Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program? Reach out to our Admissions Team.
Establishing a connection with a team representative will help you more easily navigate the application process and even give you an in-house advocate. If you’re interested in an ND career, don’t delay. Let’s talk! Contact us today to get started.