In the FAQs on the website it says it in the answer to this question... 5. How competitive is the application process?
"We receive over 120 applications each year. We invite 60-65 Chattanooga applicants and 12 to 20 Tupelo applicants for interviews. We traditionally accept approximately 24-30 students for each class. However, when making our admission decisions, we focus on selecting the most qualified applicants and do not need to meet a class size quota. Applicants must answer personal statement essay questions and may also submit a formatted personal statement as part of their resume.”
So not a requirement but an option