Health Professions Advising

This service is part of Student Academic Affairs and Advising and is open to all Mason community members interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the health professions.

Applicants > Sophomore entry programs > Virginia Commonwealth University Guaranteed Admissions

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Guaranteed Admissions Program

Two spots are awarded by the GMU Medical Sciences Advisory Committee to candidates who communicate their intention to attend VCU School of Medicine. Successful candidates demonstrate outstanding academic preparation, professional conduct, dedication to the profession, and personal maturity. Applicants can apply to other medical programs even if they are awarded the guaranteed spots, but there will be an expectation that the recipients will attend VCU.

The timeline for application consists of two phases. The first phase is the pre-application phase, required for all individuals who will apply for admission. For sophomores, this will occur beginning the sophomore spring semester. It is in this phase that initial letters of recommendation are compiled and MSAC interviews are scheduled. The outcome of this phase is to name individuals who would be eligible for the two guaranteed spots and at least two alternates.

The second phase consists of preparation for the regular application cycle. The remaining procedures and criteria must be fulfilled at this time.

Phase One criteria (2 years before matriculation)

1. Applicants must declare their intention to apply exclusively for the VCU preferred/guaranteed admissions program. No applicant can apply for both GWU and VCU early programs. Applicants will be evaluated on a specific essay declaration that is included in the pre-application form.
2. GPA and coursework for sophomores: Sophomores with overall and science GPA's of 3.5 or higher after 60 credit hours of graded GMU coursework are eligible. AP credits do not contribute to the calculation of the GPA. Incoming students with sophomore status may apply at the end of their "freshman year".
3. GPA and coursework for transfer students: Transfer students (community college or four-year) are eligible if they complete at least one year (30 credit hours) of coursework at GMU with overall and science GPA's of 3.5 or higher. The student must have matriculated to GMU with the intention of fulfilling all requirements for a bachelor's degree after at least two years.
4. Candidates should have successfully taken most of their prerequisites and any upper-level recommended prehealth coursework at GMU. Eligibility is forfeited if a grade below B-minus is recorded in any course unless there is an approved waiver allowed by the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs regarding the conduct of the course.
5. Juniors, seniors, alumni, and postbaccalaureate students are not eligible.
6. Academic standing: Applicants must have been in good standing with all past colleges and universities. Students who are convicted of academic actions against the honor code will not be eligible.
7. Graduation timeline: It will be expected that the successful applicant will earn a bachelor's degree two years after their initial pre-application to the GMU MSAC and immediately enter VCU.
8. Required pre-application and MSAC process: All intended applicants must complete the pre-application process during their sophomore year. A composite letter request form must be signed and returned. Pre-application forms must be completed by February 1, and both MSAC interviews must be completed by March 1.
9. Letters of recommendation: all intended applicants must have three strong academic letters of recommendations (two science, one non-science; at least one must be a GMU professor) sent to Dr. Chuck by March 31 of the sophomore (pre-application) year. It is strongly preferred that the applicant secures an additional letter of recommendation from a health professional with whom the applicant has shadowed. Letters associated with volunteer or work not related to shadowing or health care experience are also welcome. All letters are required by the end of junior year.
10. Membership in the University Scholars Program, the Honors Program in General Education, Alpha Epsilon Delta, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta, or similar honors societies is highly valued but not required. New Century College students are also eligible provided they complete at least one year of general chemistry at the time of application.

Phase Two criteria (application year)

1. At least 100 hours of clinically-relevant experience must be completed by the end of junior year (year of intended AMCAS application). All of these hours do not need to be accumulated at one clinic or venue. Evidence of this experience will be provided by an outstanding letter of recommendation from a supervisor or health professional mentor.
2. Additional interaction with VCU School of Medicine admissions staff will be expected. Attendance to either the recruitment visits by the admissions staff to GMU in the fall or the on-campus open house program at VCU School of Medicine in late February is required. Further interaction with VCU School of Medicine faculty at Inova Fairfax as a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta is recommended.
3. Scheduling and taking the MCAT before June 1 of their regular application year (16 months before intended matriculation) . Retakes must be scheduled before September 1 (11 months before intended matriculation). All subscores must be 8 or better, and the composite score must be 26 or better.
4. The AMCAS application designating VCU as a program of interest must be submitted by July 1, and the VCU secondary application must be submitted by September 1.
5. VCU will send an offer letter confirming your participation in the Guaranteed Admissions Program. A deposit must be submitted within 4 weeks of receipt of notification or your position may be forfeited.
6. Applicants are also allowed to apply to additional medical programs (AMCAS or AACOMAS). If the designated recipient of the guaranteed spot decides to attend another program, notification must be given to both Dr. Chuck and the admissions staff at VCU at the earliest convenience.

Non-science majors and students from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply if they are eligible.

VCU/Inova Fairfax information

Successful candidates are strongly encouraged to learn about the VCU-Inova Fairfax partnership through volunteering opportunities and shadowing opportunities at the hospital. Officers of our Alpha Epsilon Delta chapter are working with the VCU-Inova medical education adminstration to encourage further interaction between the medical and pharmacy students training at Inova and the most engaged members of AED.

If accepted, the candidates (as well as other applicants awarded offers for admission) are asked to specify a preference to train at Inova Fairfax. It should not be expected that successful candidates through this program are given any preference to training in the Inova Fairfax; those decisions are made by the VCU admissions committee and staff.