Early Selection and Preferred Applicant Programs
Early Selection is an opportunity for GMU students with a strong academic record and a proven commitment to medicine to gain either provisional acceptance (GW) or preferred consideration (VCU) into medical school upon meeting specific requirements.
George Mason University has early selection selection agreements with two medical schools: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
Early Selection informational sessions were held on Tuesday (11/14/23) and Wednesday (11/15/23). If you would like to request the recordings, please email (prehlth@gmu.edu).
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
The Early Selection Program of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is a competitive program that gives gifted, talented, and committed students who’ve achieved academic distinction at Mason, the opportunity for early selection at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. This is not an accelerated program. All early selection students admitted into the program will be required to take an MCAT as part of the MD application process. Historically, two students are selected for this program every year.
Eligibility:
- Apply in second semester sophomore year – completing 60 credits by the end of this semester.
- Fewer than 60 credits earned end of sophomore year reviewed on a case-by-case basis
- Sophomore transfers ineligible
- Freshman transfers reviewed on a case-by-case basis
- AP/IB coursework reviewed on case-by-case basis
- Open to U.S or Canadian Citizens or hold U.S Permanent Residency at time of application.
- Applicants expected to only apply early selection to GW. Applicants will be disqualified if they apply to other medical programs.
Mason Coursework & GPA (minimum requirements):
- Two semesters of chemistry; AND
- Two semesters of biology OR physics
- Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA with no grade below a B- in science coursework
- Prereq classes must be taken for a grade, not P/F. In order to be competitive for the program, it is recommended that no undergraduate courses be taken P/F.
- Pursue a non-science major or minor
Additional requirements:
- Significant college-level extracurricular experience (could include clinical, volunteer, research, student organization involvement) in line with the expectations to be a competitive medical school student
- SAT or ACT scores required
- High School transcripts required
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one from a science instructor)
- Description of academic goals for junior and senior years, to include:
- Two-year projection of specific coursework and any projects
- Statement of how coursework and academic plans may change if accepted
- GW Application for Early Selection Admission
- GW/Mason Early Selection Program Contractual Agreement
Timeline:
- GW’s 2024 Early Selection Application is available here: 2024 GW Early Selection Application for Contractual Schools
Important: Please leave Question 2 (GWID) blank and ensure responses to Questions 18-21 are succinct (max: 3 lines).
- Application Deadline: Friday, February 9, 2024
- All application materials (application, two letters of recommendation, unofficial Mason transcript, high school transcripts, SAT/ACT reports, and a resume/CV) are due virtually to the Health Professions Advising email (prehlth@gmu.edu) on or before Friday, February 9, 2024 by 11:59pm EST. Late materials will not be accepted.
- Answers should be typed, your name should be clearly labeled on each document, and all materials should be submitted in a PDF document.
- If you would prefer to submit separate documents for the essay/short answer questions, you may do so, but please clearly label the additional document with the corresponding application question number.
- Unofficial high school transcripts and SAT/ACT reports will be accepted (directly from applicant) but official copies are preferred.
- Answers should be typed, your name should be clearly labeled on each document, and all materials should be submitted in a PDF document.
- Letters of recommendation must be emailed by the letter writer to prehlth@gmu.edu. Please ensure your letter writers submit letters on official letterhead and sign their letter with their signature.
- The third letter of recommendation from the Health Professions Advisor will only be provided for the candidates chosen and interviewed by the Health Professions Advisory Committee.
- All application materials (application, two letters of recommendation, unofficial Mason transcript, high school transcripts, SAT/ACT reports, and a resume/CV) are due virtually to the Health Professions Advising email (prehlth@gmu.edu) on or before Friday, February 9, 2024 by 11:59pm EST. Late materials will not be accepted.
- Health Professions Advisory Committee Review: Monday, February 12, 2024 – Friday, March 15, 2024
- Interviews of preferred candidates: Beginning of March 2024
- All applicants will be notified of a decision by Monday, March 18, 2024
- Successful candidates will be put forth to GW for review and interviews at GW will be scheduled later in the spring semester.
Program Guidelines: GW 2024 Contractual Agreement
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Successful candidates demonstrate outstanding academic preparation, professional conduct, dedication to the profession, and personal maturity. In addition, students nominated for this program must take the MCAT in the spring or summer of their junior year. This is not an accelerated program. Historically, two students have been selected for this program every year.
- Open to current sophomores at GMU who do not hold a prior bachelor’s degree.
- Non-transfer applicants must complete four semesters and a minimum of 60 credits at GMU by end of their sophomore year.
- Transfer applicants are eligible and must have completed at least two semesters at GMU; must have 60 credits completed overall, including 30 credits at GMU.
- Coursework from other universities and AP/IB credit are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Must have at least a 3.5 Cumulative GPA and a 3.4 BCPM GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math courses) at the end of sophomore year.
- Must maintain 3.5 cumulative GPA and 3.4 BCPM GPA throughout junior and senior years.
- Most previous successful candidates have had higher GPAs.
- Prereq classes must be taken for a grade, not P/F. In order to be competitive for the program, it is recommended that no undergraduate courses be taken P/F.
- Must have respectable letters of recommendation from two different science department professors and one non-science individual (either academic or professional in nature).
- Must have significant clinical experience prior to application and achieve at least 120 hours by the end of junior year and 60 hours in the senior year.
- Must have significant non-clinical community service experience prior to application and achieve at least 120 hours by the end of junior year and 60 hours in the senior year.
- Research experience is highly recommended but not required.
- Complete two semesters of Math, and two semesters of the following with labs: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics.
- Applicants expected to complete four upper level science courses in addition to the minimum course requirements listed above.
Timeline:
- VCU’s Preferred Applicant Track Application is available here: 23_24 VCU Early Selection_Preferred Applicant Application
- Application Deadline: Friday, February 9, 2024
- All application materials (application, three letters of recommendation, unofficial transcript(s), and a resume/CV) are due virtually to the Health Professions Advising email (prehlth@gmu.edu) on or before Friday, February 9, 2024 by 11:59pm EST. Late materials will not be accepted.
- Answers should be typed, your name should be clearly labeled on each document, and all materials should be submitted in a PDF document.
- If you would prefer to submit separate documents for the essay/short answer questions, you may do so, but please clearly label the additional document with the corresponding application question number.
- Answers should be typed, your name should be clearly labeled on each document, and all materials should be submitted in a PDF document.
- Letters of recommendation must be emailed by the letter writer to prehlth@gmu.edu. Please ensure your letter writers submit letters on official letterhead and sign their letter with their signature.
- All application materials (application, three letters of recommendation, unofficial transcript(s), and a resume/CV) are due virtually to the Health Professions Advising email (prehlth@gmu.edu) on or before Friday, February 9, 2024 by 11:59pm EST. Late materials will not be accepted.
- Health Professions Advisory Committee Review: Monday, February 12, 2024 – Friday, March 15, 2024
- Interviews of preferred candidates: Beginning of March 2024
- All applicants will be notified of a decision by Monday, March 18, 2024
- Successful candidates will be put forth to VCU for review. Interviews with VCU will be scheduled later in the spring semester and also in the summer for the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).
Note: Only those applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be reviewed. Please do not submit your materials if you don’t meet the minimum requirements.
FAQ
No, this is not a guaranteed admissions program. Students in the early selection program still need to maintain a certain GPA (specified by medical school), complete prerequisite coursework and major/minor requirements to graduate, take the MCAT and receive an acceptable score (as determined by the medical school), complete the AMCAS medical school application and school’s secondary application, and maintain contact with the Health Professions Advising Coordinator and the medical school throughout junior and senior years.
No, you can only apply for one program.
Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.
No, both programs have requirements that you must complete a certain number of semesters/credits at Mason before applying. Please read through the program requirements above.
The GMU Health Professions Advisory Committee reviews all applications and interviews a selected number of competitive applicants. Those competitive applications are forwarded to the medical schools for consideration. The medical schools will contact competitive applicants for an interview at the medical school. After the interview, selected candidates are contacted by the medical school to proceed with the early selection program. Non-selected applicants will be informed by the Health Professions Advising Coordinator or the medical school and offered guidance on how to be a more successful traditional applicant to medical school.
The number of applicants varies year to year.
Historically, two students have been selected for each program each year (four total/year). If the GMU Health Professions Advisory Committee feels more than two applicants are competitive for selection, we can put the applications forth to the medical schools for consideration. Ultimately, the medical school makes the final determination.
Yes, students are encouraged to meet with the Health Professions Advising Coordinator to discuss their interest.
