Overview

Admission to medical school is a highly competitive process. Approximately half or more of the students who apply to medical school each year do not get accepted. There are simply more applicants than there are seats available. Because of this, it is vitally important that students who want to pursue a medical degree thoroughly prepare themselves to be competitive applicants during the premedical years.

Premed is not a major, but rather a preparatory process that includes required coursework, extracurricular activities, and a standardized examination called the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). It is the goal of UVSC to prepare its students to be exceptional in any profession they choose. Listed below are some characteristics of successful medical school applicants:

1. Academic ability displayed by competitive GPA, MCAT scores and letters of recommendation from professors.
2. Clear motivation for choosing medicine as a career. Why become a physician over other healthcare professions such as nursing, physical therapy, etc.?
3. Dedication to serving the community.
4. Knowledge of the medical profession and current healthcare issues.
5. Ability to understand personal strengths/weaknesses and learn appropriate lessons through a diversity of experiences.

GPA and MCAT scores demonstrate that you have the intellectual capacity to understand the science of medicine and the prerequisite courses provide the basic foundation you need to succeed in medical school. The activities you participate in are an integral part of the learning process. These activities help you understand who you are and your motivation for pursuing a medical degree.

It is the responsibility of the premed student to know the specific requirements, both academic and nonacademic, and the desirable characteristics that can make one competitive for admission into medical school. The information on this website should be used as a general reference in addition to personal meetings with the pre-health professions advisor, professors, medical school representatives, literature, other websites, etc.