Applying to medical school can be daunting, perhaps even anxiety-inducing, for some aspiring physicians. Medical school applications may seem like they are full of twists and turns but breaking them down step by step will help demystify the process.
The core components of gaining entry into medical school are GPA, MCAT, and applications. Beyond these requirements, you should consider institutions with holistic review process. Admissions that take a holistic approach to reviewing an application consider all its parts rather than prioritizing a specific element, such as MCAT scores.
St. George’s University is one such institution that evaluates several aspects of an application beyond just your scores. The university recognizes your life experiences and personal attributes as part of your candidacy. Your GPA, MCAT score, personal statement, interview, and your experiences and attributes all contribute value not only to your candidacy as a medical student, but also as a future physician.
We explain each of these components for you so that you may go into this process feeling confident and prepared. If you’d like to know what you have to look forward to, we also give you resources to enter your first semester of med school ready for what lies ahead.
GPA
Medical school applicants should aim to have a strong GPA. While it is not the sole indicator of success for medical school, a high GPA can usually be attributed to a strong command of core concepts. Of course, a student is more than just their GPA, which SGU recognizes in their holistic approach to reviewing applications. Learn more about GPA requirements, the role of your GPA in your application, and more.
MCAT
The MCAT, or Medical College Admissions Test, is an important part of any application to a medical school. The MCAT typically requires months of preparation and should be approached with a study strategy and resources. A high MCAT score is optimal, but much like GPA, it is one factor considered among many in a comprehensive review process like SGU’s. Learn more about the MCAT, how to prepare for the test, and more.
Applications
Preparing to submit your application is an important step in the process. Applicants should be on top of deadlines, letters of recommendations, secondary applications (if applicable), interviews, and any other pertinent information put out by the university. It may be tricky keeping track of all these moving parts as you go about presenting yourself as a strong candidate. Check out the applications section for more information and resources to help you submit a strong application.
