B.A./B.S.-M.D. Program FAQs

The following questions are most pertinent to students interested in the B.A./B.S.-M.D. Program. Our Admissions Team is always happy to guide you through the application process. Please do not hesitate to find your counselor or send our office a message.

Program Overview & Outcomes

Are students admitted to the B.A./B.S.-M.D. program at GW guaranteed admission to the GW Medical School?

The medical school acceptance is provisional as program requirements must be maintained to transition into the M.D. program. These requirements include: maintaining a minimum 3.60 overall GPA, no grades of C or below in any science courses, providing an MCAT exam score that meets the program cutoff requirements, and participation in medically-related and service experiences. The Dean of M.D. Admissions provides guidance, mentoring, and programming.

I know I want to be a doctor. If I am not admitted to the B.A./B.S.-M.D. program are there other opportunities at GW for pre-med students?

YES! As second-semester sophomores at GW, students can apply for Early Selection to GW's School of Medicine and Health Sciences. We also offer pre-health advising for all GW students who want to pursue medical school or other graduate programs in the health professions.

Preparing to Apply

What courses should I take to make myself a competitive candidate for admission to GW and the B.A./B.S.-M.D. program?

Because we take a holistic approach to the application review process, we have no minimum GPA or SAT/ACT requirements for admission. However, admission to GW is competitive, and admitted students are typically strong academic students in their high school graduating class. Most successful B.A./B.S.-M.D. applicants will have taken the most demanding curriculum offered at their school, particularly in math and science courses.

What specific extracurricular activities is GW looking for from a competitive B.A./B.S.-M.D. applicant?

The strongest applicants for B.A./B.S.-M.D. typically have done substantial volunteer work in the medical field with a strong preference for students who have clinical experience working directly with patients. Many have also participated in college-level science/medical research while high school students.

Application Requirements & Admission Process

Do I need to apply to a specific major to be considered for B.A./M.D.?

No, but you must apply Regular Decision to GW's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

What is GW’s SAT and ACT test policy for the B.A./B.S.-M.D. program?

Although GW is test-optional for most applicants, students applying to the B.A./B.S.-M.D. program are required to submit either an SAT or ACT score. If submitting ACT scores, the Science section is required for B.A./B.S.-M.D. applicants.

How many students apply each year to the B.A./B.S.-M.D. Program?

Usually between 1,000 and 1,200 students apply to the B.A./B.S.-M.D. Program each year. Applicants exhibit academic excellence, competitive (90th percentile) SAT/ACT scores, leadership in activities, community service, healthcare experiences, and a strong desire to become a physician.

How many students are admitted to the B.A./B.S.-M.D. program? How many spaces are there?

Approximately 20-30 students are brought to campus for interviews with current GW faculty to determine finalists. Typically, the enrolling cohort for the B.A./B.S.-M.D. program is around 10 students each fall.

Experience & Opportunities

What about internships in D.C.?

Our central location in Washington, D.C., provides exceptional opportunities for pre-health students to get involved in internships and medical research.

GW students intern at the GW University Hospital, the National Institute of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and dozens of other locations. And keep in mind that the GW University Hospital and Medical School are on the Foggy Bottom campus so there are daily opportunities to interact with medical professionals while you are an undergraduate at GW.  You can learn more about GW internships by entering any major on the linked page to see where GW students have recently been interns.