You may already know that medical school is in your future, but actually deciding on a Doctor of Medicine (MD)ย program is no easy task. Youโve likely done a fair amount of research on USMLE Step 1 performance metrics at different institutions, residency placement success rates, and more. Part of this process includes analyzing an MD programโs applicant requirements.
You may have questions about your eligibility or about a certain schoolโs specifications. If youโre considering St. Georgeโs University (SGU) School of Medicine, then youโve come to the right place to find some answers. SGUโs admissions team speaks regularly with pre-med students about their questions and concerns regarding medical school.
Read on for some more information on five of the most common questions they encounter about SGU med school requirements.
5 Common questions about medical school requirements at SGU
St. Georgeโs University looks for passionate pre-med students who have demonstrated their dedication to pursuing the medical fieldโboth in their academic performance and their catalog of relevant experiences. To help you get a clearer idea of what the School of Medicine is seeking from its MD applicants, consider the answers to these frequently asked questions pre-med students pose about SGU medical school requirements.
1. How do I know if Iโve taken the right prerequisite courses?
Specifics regarding medical school prerequisites can vary from one institution to the next. The most effective way to know whether youโre on the right track is to communicate with a pre-med counselor at your undergraduate institution. You can also speak directly with the SGU admissions team for details relating to The School of Medicine.
For reference, the SGUโs four-year MD program entry requirements are as follows:
It is also strongly recommended that applicants complete an additional semester of physics, two semesters of social science courses, and courses in biochemistry, microbiology, and physiology.
If you are looking for more information, you can read this article about medical school prerequisites.
2. What if I donโt have a strong GPA?
Youโre certainly not the only student to feel some apprehension about the medical school GPA expectations. Itโs true that admissions teams pay attention to grades when evaluating applicants; however, itโs also now widely understood that GPA is not always a reliable predictor of medical school success.
Elements like where a student is in the application process and the types of courses a student takes during their undergraduate education can have an impact on how an admissions committee interprets an applicantโs GPA. The more insight you can provide, the more those elements will be factored into the decision-making process.
With that in mind, itโs important to use your med school application as an opportunity to provide a full picture of who you are as an applicant. In addition to your medical school CV, you can utilize things like strong letters of recommendation and a compelling personal statement to accomplish this.
All of that said, itโs still helpful to be aware of where you stand in the midst of a competitive applicant pool. The most recent data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) notes that the average GPA for medical students who started class in 2021 was 3.59.
For more information, read this article about medical school GPA expectations.ย
3. Do I need to take the MCAT?
Most pre-med students intend to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)ย before applying to med school. This standardized, multiple-choice exam is administered by the AAMC to assess student readiness for medical school admission.
SGU does require MCAT scores from medical school applicants. And while it can be easy to look at this as just another hoop you need to jump through to become a doctor, the MCAT can actually be just as beneficial for you as it is for the admissions teams reviewing your applications.
The MCAT format is broken down into five subjectsโbiology, chemistry, physics, behavioral science, and critical reasoning skillsโwhich have been identified as prerequisites for medical school success. If youโre hoping to apply with confidence, youโll need to know youโre equipped to handle the rigor of a competitive MD program.
After taking the MCAT for the first time, you may discover some gaps in your knowledge and skill set that you can focus on filling before retaking the exam. In fact, you can take the MCAT as many as three times in a year, four times in two consecutive years, and a maximum of seven times throughout your lifetime.
For more information, visit this article about preparing for the MCAT.ย
4. How can I gain valuable clinical experience?
An increasing number of todayโs medical schools have been adopting a holistic evaluation of medical school applications. Academic performance as relayed through test scores and GPAs has always been considered important, but comprehensive programs like the one at SGU also consider an applicantโs experiencesโboth clinical and personalโin tandem with those academic metrics.
SGU and other medical schools look for students who have amassed a healthy amount of clinical experience, and itโs more than just another box to check. Garnering exposure to clinical practice helps pre-med students solidify their desire to pursue a career in medicine, and it demonstrates their commitment to the process of becoming a physician.
Pre-med students often find opportunities to gain impactful clinical experience in the following ways:
- Shadowing a local physician
- Working as a hospice volunteer
- Training to be a volunteer EMT
- Becoming a certified nursing assistant
- Finding work as a medical scribe
If youโre still in school or have recently graduated, one of the most effective ways to find opportunities for relevant clinical exposure is to make use of your college network. Your schoolโs pre-med advisors may have leads on various local avenues you can explore. You can even connect with your own personal physicianโif they donโt have opportunities available, they may be willing to tap into their own network and refer you to someone else.
For more information, read this article on gaining clinical experience for med school.
5. What should I include in my personal statement?
In company with things like your GPA, MCAT score, and collection of clinical experiences, it might seem like the personal statement is a less important element of your medical school application. In reality, this essay can play a critical role in helping you catch an admissions teamโs eye among a crowded applicant pool.
While your resume will provide committees with an overview of your academic and professional accomplishments, the personal statement gives you a chance to convey some of the more unique elements that make you a great candidate for medical schoolโlike what motivates you to become a doctor, the experiences that have helped shape your goals, and the qualities you possess that will make you successful as a physician.
You may also want to speak to an area of specialization that piques your interest or a topic youโd be particularly interested in researching during medical school. MD programs are looking for well-rounded applicants who have substance, are professional, and are dedicated to achieving their goals.
For more information, check out this article on what to include in your personal statement.
Start applications to medical school with confidence
As you prepare yourself to take the next step in your journey toward becoming a doctor, itโs helpful to work ahead by doing as much research as possible. From comparing different MD programs to evaluating medical school requirements, youโre well-versed in this process.
Now that you know more about the SGU medical school requirements, itโs time to focus your attention on the application process. Thereโs a lot that goes into applying for medical school, so getting an early start can be beneficial.
Learn more about what you can expect by reviewing our article โ7 Questions About Medical School Applications.โ
Ready to start your medical school journey?
Are you considering St. Georgeโs University Medical School? If you need any more convincing, just reach out to someย graduatesย orย current students. Theyโre happy to tell you what their experiences were like.
If you feel like SGU could be the right medical school for you, take the next step. Continue your research by visiting ourย request informationย page.