Fall 2023
EARLY SELECTION PROGRAM GUIDELINES
GWU Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and
GWU Milken School of Public Health
Second Semester Sophomores
2023
PURPOSE
The Early Selection Program of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
gives
talented and committed students who have achieved academic distinction and present significant clinical
experience the ability to pursue non-science coursework in more depth, as well as provisional early assurance of
admission to the GW M.D. program. We require that students who are chosen for Early Selection creatively
modify the traditional premedical curriculum during their last two years of college. Students must pursue a
non-science major or minor. Any student majoring in a science must minor in a non-science area. Students
already intending on
a
non-science major will not have to change. This program is focused on Columbian College
and School of Public Health students. Students from other schools within GWU will be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis and must provide a non-science minor in their academic plan. There is a separate program for the School
of Engineering
with
information
at http://smhs.gwu.edu/academics/md-program/admissions/joint-
programs/early-selection.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION
• Residence: Applicants must be in the second semester of their sophomore year. Applicants are required to
have spent two years (four semesters) in an undergraduate college of The George Washington University
and to have completed roughly 60 semester hours of coursework by the end of the semester during which
they apply. Coursework at other universities will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as will AP or IB credit.
Students transferring into their sophomore year at The George Washington University are ineligible. Those
with less than 60 hours at GW will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students are required to have two
more years of undergraduate academics to complete at GWU. This is not an accelerated program. Only
students who are U.S. or Canadian Citizens or hold U.S. Permanent Residency at the time of application are
eligible to apply.
• Courses: During the first two years of college, students are encouraged to independently pursue their
educational goals, while meeting the curricular requirements of the school. We require that applicants have
completed a minimum of two semesters of chemistry and two semesters of biology or physics by the end of
the semester during which they apply to the Early Selection Program.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA to apply, with no grade below a B- in science
coursework.
• College Entrance Exam Scores: SAT or ACT scores are required Students must self-report SAT or ACT scores on
the application and submit high school transcripts. If SAT/ACT scores are not on the high school transcript,
official scores must be sent from the College Board directly to the Medical School of Admissions Office. These
are the only test scores that we expect to receive. Scores must be competitive.
Fall 2023
• Application: In addition to the application, the student will be required to submit a description of academic
goals for the last two years of college. Please include a two-year projection of specific full-time coursework.
Students must explain how their coursework and academic plans will change if they are accepted. An
honest and complete statement of planned courses (including course names and numbers) and projects will
be expected. The application, three letters of recommendation (at least one letter should be from a GWU
science professor) and other materials must be received by March 25. Late and incomplete applications will
not be processed. Applicants are requested not to submit materials before February 1. Those applicants
chosen for interview will be invited in April/May. The School of Medicine’s Committee on Admissions will
review applications and make final decisions by July. Accepted students are required to meet with the
Associate Dean of Admissions and Coordinator of the Early Selection Program, to finalize any program
changes.
SELECTION
The School of Medicine and Health Sciences is committed to selecting gifted and altruistic students who can be
expected to have distinguished careers as physicians. The Committee is looking for students who will take
advantage of the opportunities in this program, as well as the unique opportunities in the M.D. program. Criteria
will include high school performance, grades in the first two undergraduate years, highly competitive performance
on the SAT
or ACT,
extracurricular activities, healthcare experiences, service, or research experience, letters of
recommendation, content and presentation of the application.
Please note this is a very competitive program. Selected applicants will be those academically gifted students
who appear to have, in addition to the maturity necessary to make a career decision at this stage, the ability to
make the best use of the broad range of undergraduate educational opportunities that selection for this program
will encourage. Clinical and service experiences are required at the time of application. An important
consideration for selection will be the student’s planned educational program during the remainder of the
undergraduate years. We require continued academic rigor, continued service and clinical activities.
We regret that due to the large numbers of well-qualified students, not all can be chosen. All decisions are
made by the Committee on Admissions and are confidential and final.
PREPARATION FOR MATRICULATION IN MEDICAL SCHOOL
It is our intent to matriculate all students selected under this program. However, to ensure that our medical
students are of the highest caliber, both academically and personally, acceptance into the M.D. program is
provisional. All stated requirements on the M.D. Admissions website must be met, as well as indicated here and
on the Early Selection acceptance contract. Early Selection students must complete an AMCAS and secondary
application in early summer prior to matriculation. Students will be required to have a criminal background check
before matriculation into the M.D. program. M.D. students are subject to drug screening.
Each semester the Associate Dean of Admissions will review semester grades. Students must maintain full-time
status. In addition, the students must submit changes in their course schedules for review by the Associate Dean
of Admissions. Students are also required to submit an updated resume at the beginning of each semester. Early
Selection students must complete the competences listed on the M.D. website. Students are required to take the
MCAT and submit a score of 510 or higher to the Associate Dean of Admissions before September of the year
students submit the AMCAS application. In extremely rare circumstances, students may retake the MCAT with
Fall 2023
the Associate Dean of M.D. Admissions’ permission. Completion of planned courses, completion of degree in the
2-year time span, meeting all requirements for admission to medical school, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.6,
no Cs or below in science coursework, competitive MCAT scores (to be determined at the time of application),
and having had no substantiated allegations of inappropriate academic or personal comportment will be
required. Should you leave The George Washington University, no matter the reason, your Early Selection
acceptance contract is null and void. If questions arise suggesting that a student may not be acceptable to the
medical school, the student will be warned in writing of a review of the student’s file.
Students will be invited to attend seminars and socials with their fellow program members. Students
must maintain their relationship with their undergraduate academic advisors.
A grade below a B-, a grade of Incomplete, or a semester GPA below 3.6 will be grounds for review and can be
grounds for the student being dismissed from the program. All study abroad coursework must have grade
equivalents reported. If there is a concern, the student will be reviewed by the Early Selection committee before
a decision about his/her suitability for medical school is made. An Early Selection student who is admitted to the
program is expected to have a strong interest in attending The George Washington University School of Medicine
and Health Sciences. The University asks that the student solidify his/her commitment by applying to The George
Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences via the AMCAS Early Selection Program during the
summer following the junior year. Students will apply to AMCAS in the summer before senior year as an Early
Selection Student only applying to GW.
