APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM To be considered for the Medical Scholars program, you must:
+ BE BRILLIANT.
BE A BILLIKEN.
+ Submit an online application for admission to Saint Louis University at admission.slu.edu. + Visit slu.edu/medscholars.xml and complete the separate online Medical Scholars Program application, including a short essay discussing why you are interested in becoming a physician, a resume listing medically related and non-medically related volunteer activities and all other activities or leadership
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What are the prerequisite pre-health courses?
positions, and two letters of recommendation. + Complete the two steps above by the Dec. 1 application deadline for the Medical Scholars Program.
The courses you need to take before applying to professional school include general biology I and II with labs, general chemistry I and II with labs, organic
Only complete applications meeting the admission criteria (including essay, letters
chemistry I and II with labs, physics I and II with labs, upper division biology,
of recommendation, resume and qualifying ACT/SAT scores) will be considered.
calculus I, biochemistry, psychology, sociology and English composition. Admission decisions for the Medical Scholars Program will be mailed to all What do professional schools look for in applicants?
applicants in March of their senior year of high school.
Professional schools pay particular attention to overall GPA, math/science GPA and standardized test scores (MCAT, DAT, OAT, etc.). Students need to
Mail application and all other documents to:
demonstrate a clear motivation to pursue a career in the field and are encouraged
Saint Louis University
to have shadowing and/or volunteer experience in clinical settings. Leadership experience, community service and appropriate extracurricular activities also benefit your application. Communication skills and the ability to relate to others are also important and should be evident in your application and supporting letters.
Office of Admission DuBourg Hall, Room 119 221 N. Grand Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63103
PRE-PROFESSIONAL
HEALTH PROGRAM
A GUIDE TO JOINING SLU’S PRE-HEALTH COMMUNITY FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Contact the Pre-Professional Health Studies Office: Phone: 314-977-2840
What can I do in high school to prepare for pre-medical studies? Concentrate on science and math courses. Take additional courses in science rather than math if given the choice, unless you plan to major in biomedical engineering. In that case, you should take as many math courses as possible.
Email: prehealth@slu.edu Website: slu.edu/prehealth.xml Facebook.com/SLUPPHS
You should also consider exploring the profession further by shadowing physicians, volunteering in hospitals or other clinical settings and participating in medically related summer programs. What is the best major for a pre-medical/dental/veterinary/optometry/ podiatry, etc. student? Medical schools do not prefer one major over another. In fact, you can major in almost any discipline. Still, many pre-med students choose to major in a scientific discipline.
ÂŽ
BE
Brilliant. BE A Billiken.
Pre-health students channel their interest in health care both in the St. Louis community and beyond. They volunteer in local health clinics, pursue professional job shadowing experiences and engage in professional and scholarly research and internships. Prospective students and their families are welcome to visit the Pre-Professional Health Studies Office and meet with a PPHS advisor and a pre-health student ambassador. Students should be certain to tell their SLU admissions counselor of their interest in the program.
PRE-PROFESSIONAL
HEALTH STUDIES
RESOURCES OFFERED BY PPHS PROFESSIONAL EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH COURSES The PPHS Office offers a wide variety of courses designed to prepare pre-health students for their postgraduate career, including Foundations of Medicine, Introduction
The Pre-Professional Health Studies (PPHS) Office at Saint Louis University
to Helping Professions, Introduction to Medical Research, Medical Scholar Seminar,
advises undergraduate students who plan to pursue careers in medicine,
Introduction to Medical School and University 101/201.
dentistry, optometry, podiatry and veterinary medicine. Students can choose from almost any major offered at SLU. Health professional schools are especially interested in students who have outstanding academic achievement and are well-rounded in their co-curricular involvement. Pre-health advisors offer customized assistance and support to help each student make informed decisions in course planning, secure relevant
INTERNSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL SHADOWING AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS Connections to a range of professional shadowing opportunities in the St. Louis area are provided by PPHS, including a physician shadowing program and internships at SLU’s Center for Advanced Dentistry Education.
experience and service opportunities, overcome obstacles, and navigate the
WORKSHOPS
application process.
PPHS regularly offers workshops to help you write your personal statement, polish
We serve as the primary advisors to Medical Scholars during their freshmen year and as secondary advisors during their sophomore, junior and senior years. We also serve as secondary advisors to all traditional pre-professional health studies students from their freshmen through senior years. We work with students to help them incorporate the pre-professional health curriculum into their major studies and assist in their preparation for and application to professional schools. To learn more about the Pre-Professional Health Studies Office, visit SLU.EDU/PREHEALTH.XML
your interviewing skills and navigate the professional school application process.
pre-health resources on campus and provide opportunities to build relationships with the PPHS office. + The Pre-Health Student Ambassador Program connects prospective and current students to pre-health sophomore, junior and senior mentors who provide guidance, support and perspectives on what it takes to be a successful pre-health student at SLU. + In partnership with the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and its faculty, students have the opportunity to participate in suturing labs, laparoscopic labs, airway management labs and medical school tours. + Affiliations with hospitals and clinics including Saint Louis University Hospital, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Casa De Salud and the Health Resources Center allow for further professional exposure and networking. + Research-related programs, including the Emergency Medicine Research Associates Program at Saint Louis University Hospital and the American Physician Scientist Association, offer hands-on experience.
PRE-HEALTH COMMITTEE ON EVALUATIONS The committee on evaluations is administered through PPHS and is comprised of its staff and faculty members from various undergraduate colleges across campus. The
MEDICAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
committee works with students to prepare a comprehensive letter of recommendation
The Medical Scholars Program at Saint Louis University is coordinated by PPHS
for their application to medical, dental, optometry, podiatry or veterinary school. PRE-HEALTH STUDENT CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS Pre-health student-led clubs and organizations offer social and professional opportunities for students while providing health-related volunteer/service opportunities and leadership advancement.
and is an exclusive opportunity for first time freshmen who plan to attend medical school. Students accepted into this highly selective program are placed on an early application track to the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: + Students must have a composite ACT score of at least 30 or a combined SAT score of at least 1330 (math and critical reading).
“The staff and advisors in the Pre-Professional Health Studies Office genuinely care about you and your careers and goals. They are very
PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CONNECTIONS
knowledgeable and go above and beyond to answer your questions.”
+ Two life science Freshman-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) for Medical Scholars provide
+ Nicole, senior, pre-dental
+ Pre-health courses for incoming freshmen and transfer students introduce
+ They should also have an outstanding high school academic record with one year of biology, one year of chemistry and three years of mathematics. Particular emphasis is placed on the student having earned A’s in math and science courses.
clusters of classes that students take together their first semester, leading to increased community and study partnerships.
To learn more about the Medical Scholars Program, visit slu.edu/medscholars.xml.