Recording of Information Session Oct. 2024
Fall 2025 application deadline June 15, 2025.
Get on Track for a Career in Medicine and Health
The Graduate Certificate in Anatomical and Translational Sciences (GCATS) is an academic enhancer program that offers a gateway into a career in medicine and health-related fields to first-time applicants and those who have previously but unsuccessfully applied to medical school.
Our small class size enables us to advise students and foster their key academic strengths required for successful matriculation in medical school, other health science programs or industry. Students will work closely with committed faculty from the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) on a rigorous and clinically oriented curriculum focusing on basic medical sciences taught during the first year of medical school, such as gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy, embryology, and neuroanatomy. Students are also provided opportunities to conduct translational research with SMHS faculty. GCATS offers a strong contemporary clinical emphasis using a problem-based learning approach. It is designed to maximize career opportunities and options in the health fields, to enhance competitiveness of applications to medical school or health science programs, and to transition toward an advanced graduate degree program in the biomedical sciences.
What Will I Learn?
Students in the GCATS program will:
- Receive enriched academic training for future careers in clinical and medical research areas.
- Acquire a fundamental understanding of how the human body functions.
- Gain a fundamental overview of the normal structure and function of the major organs of the human body.
- Attain clinical insights and knowledge on current therapeutic approaches to prevent or treat diseases.
Who is Accepted into the GCATS Program?
Before entering into the program, students must have completed all premedical undergraduate coursework in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, math and English. Students, who have not completed their prerequisite courses, may consider applying to our affiliated GW Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medicine Certificate program offered at the GW Virginia Science and Technology Campus.
Neither the MCAT nor the GRE are required in order to apply or be accepted into the GCATS program.
Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for admission to the GCATS program.
Visit the Application Process page for more information about applying to the GCATS program.
What is the GCATS/MATS Acceptance rate to Medical School?
For the 2020-2024 applications cycles, 76.2% of GCATS/MATS alumni were accepted into either an MD or DO program.
Schools our students accepted to include: George Washington, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn, Wake Forest, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine at University of Hawaii, Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgetown, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina.
What are other programs our alumni have been accepted to?
Podiatry, Master's in Biomedical Engineering, NIH Postbacc Program, Anesthesiology Assistant Program, Master's in Public Health, Biomedical PhD Program, and Physician Assistant Program.