Accelerated Pathway to Medical School. The GCATS post-baccalaureate academic enhancer program has established a linkage with the George Washington University Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program. A primary advantage of the linkage program is elimination of the gap year between graduation and matriculation into the GW MD Program. The minimum requirements are set by GW MD Program Admissions: see Post-Baccalaureate Linkage Programs.
Minimum Requirements:
- Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.6.
- Prerequisite coursework prior to GCATS- 8 semester hours, including 2 semester hours of lab work in each of the following:
- Prerequisite Coursework
-
Biology or Zoology Biochemistry recommended
General Chemistry Biostatistics, Math, Research
Organic Chemistry Social/Behavioral Science
Physics English (6 semester Hours)
Overview and Timeline:
- At the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester, GCATS students who meet the minimum undergraduate GPA requirement of 3.6 will discuss the opportunity with the GCATS/MATS program directors. Any MATS student who is qualified and wishes to pursue the opportunity will be transferred to the GCATS program (at no extra registration cost).
- If the student has not taken the MCAT, they do so during the 2025-2026 academic year (see below). GCATS/MATS program directors will explore candidacy of students, including those who have already taken the MCAT, with the Associate Dean of Admissions for the GW MD Program.
- Candidates who are deemed competitive begin working on their AMCAS application and associated materials for submission to the GW linkage program in November 2025.
- Applicants selected to move to the next step are notified in December 2025, sent secondary application questions, and are scheduled for an interview by early February 2026.
- Successful applicants are notified of acceptance to the linkage program in March 2026.
- To matriculate into the MD program, linkage students must have a competitive MCAT score. If the student has not taken the MCAT, they schedule an MCAT test date in order to receive their score in May 2026.
- Final overall graduate GPA, MCAT score, and any other requested materials are reviewed by the Committee on MD Program Admissions in June 2026. If the student meets all requirements, they are offered acceptance into the GW MD Program first year class beginning in August 2026.
For additional details and questions about the linkage program, please email: gcatsmats@gwu.edu