Saint Louis University's Medical Scholars Program gives particular recognition to beginning freshmen premedical students. Students apply to the Medical Scholars Program on the Medical Scholars Application at the same time that they apply to Saint Louis University.
Medical scholars may apply to Saint Louis University School of Medicine in their sophomore year of study. They may gain early conditional acceptance for the year following completion of their undergraduate work. Qualified candidates must have at least an SAT total of 1330, or at least a 30 ACT Composite (average) score, according to the national norms for college-bound students, and completion of one year of high school biology, one year of high school chemistry, and three years of mathematics through trigonometry. Participants must be able to meet the minimum “technical standards” set by the School of Medicine. Medical scholars are required to attend a special orientation given by the director of pre-health and pre-law studies and the dean of admission of the School of Medicine. This meeting will occur at the beginning of the applicant's freshman year.
The curriculum in the program, for freshman and sophomore years is outlined below for most majors. Any changes in courses in this curriculum require the specific approval of the director of pre-health and pre-law studies and the School of Medicine. Advanced placement and 1818 credit may apply to non-science courses in this curriculum; however, a strict course substitution policy will be followed. For example, if Calculus I has been completed in the 1818 ACC Program, another math course, such as Calculus II or Statistics, must be substituted. All science courses must be taken at Saint Louis University.
Eligible students must apply to the program during their senior year in high school, must have grades of "B" or higher and may elect to take part in this program only in the Fall, at the beginning of their freshman year. The program is not available to transfer students or to freshmen at any other time of year.
ACT composite of 30 or higher or SAT scores of 1330 or higher and excellent high school academic record which includes one year of biology, one year of chemistry and three years of mathematics through trigonometry.
Students in the Medical Scholars Program are not allowed to withdraw from courses, audit courses, take courses pass/fail, receive grades of "D" or "F," or receive incomplete grades.
In the sophomore year, the Pre-Health Committee on Evaluations will evaluate students. These evaluations will be maintained in the Office of Pre-Health and Pre-Law Studies and be kept in preparation for application to the School of Medicine. A member of the Pre-Health Committee on Evaluations will interview the student successfully maintaining the required minimum GPA averages. An evaluation will be prepared by the committee and submitted to the School of Medicine. This evaluation contains the following documents:
The Office of Pre-Professional Health Studies will also send appropriate application materials to the admissions committee.
These materials will be submitted to the dean of admission at Saint Louis University School of Medicine during the spring of the applicant's sophomore year. The admissions committee of the School of Medicine will conduct interviews, and applicants will receive a response from the School of Medicine by the beginning of the junior year concerning admission.
Students gaining a conditional acceptance to Saint Louis University School of Medicine are required to:
If a student who has been accepted into Saint Louis University School of Medicine through participation in the Medical Scholars Program should decide to apply to other medical schools, this early acceptance will be withdrawn. If such a student wishes to be reconsidered for admission to this School of Medicine, he or she may follow the regular application process.
There is some variability in coursework, in terms of course numbers and timing. Specific core courses and timing may vary by college or school. Students work with their primary academic advisor to establish an appropriate course of study.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
UNIV 1010 | Enhancing First-Year Success | 1 |
BIOL 1240 | General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution | 3 |
BIOL 1245 | Principles of Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
BIOL 1260 | General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter | 3 |
BIOL 1265 | Principles of Biology II Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 1110 | General Chemistry 1 | 3 |
CHEM 1120 | General Chemistry 2 | 3 |
CHEM 1115 | General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 1125 | General Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 2410 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
CHEM 2420 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 |
CHEM 2415 | Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 2425 | Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 1 |
ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
MATH 1510 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
PPHS 1050 | Medical Scholar | 0 |
PHYS 1310 | Physics I | 3 |
PHYS 1320 | Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
PHYS 1330 | Physics II | 3 |
PHYS 1340 | Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
Total Credits | 40 |
1 | Calculus I is the minimum mathematics requirement for the program and for admission to most medical schools |
In order to remain in this program the student must, at the close of the freshman year (30 GPA credits minimum), have official grade point averages of at least 3.65 in
The minimum GPA requirements must be met on an annual basis at the end of each academic year and are noncumulative. Credits acquired between freshman and sophomore years will not be considered part of the 60 GPA credits total, nor will courses taken in transfer between these years be permitted to substitute for the required science courses. It is recommended that all mathematics class be taken at St. Louis University, but some AP mathematics course credit might be accepted. Grades for transfer courses and 1818 courses are not computed into these averages; however, the credit for these courses does count toward graduation. AP or dual credit in biology, chemistry, and physics are not acceptable to meet science course requirements.