Paths to Medical School | Biomedical Graduate Education

New medical students are expected to meet exacting requirements in academic performance, pre-medical knowledge, and extracurricular activity. Georgetown offers multiple paths for students who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree, but need to improve their GPA or experience to get into med school. Beyond getting into an M.D. or D.O. program, our pre-med tracks provide knowledge and credentials that help students to succeed in med school, dental school or other health fields.

Georgetown’s pre-med postbacc record-enhancing programs are:

M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics
Special Master’s Program (SMP) in Physiology & Biophysics
GeorgeSquared Program (G² – with George Mason University) – graduate certificate, can continue to the regular M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics
Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies (GEMS) Post-Baccalaureate Program – graduate certificate, can continue to the regular M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics

Choosing a Program

Here we provide general guidelines to help you find the pre-med program that best fits your interests and qualifications. We welcome students to contact us for more specific guidance on choosing a program. Some students apply to more than one program, then choose from the ones they’re accepted into. (A separate application is required for each program.)

Please note: This information is meant as general guidance and does not guarantee or predict acceptance into or rejection from any program. Admissions decisions are made by each program’s admissions committee after a holistic review of each application.

	GPA above 3.3	GPA 3.0‑3.3	GPA 2.7‑3.0
MCAT 505 and above	SMP or M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics (see Note 1)	SMP or G² (see Note 1)	SMP or G² (see Notes 1 and 2)
MCAT 500‑504	M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics	G²	G² (see Note 2)
MCAT below 500	M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics or G²	G²	G² (see Note 2)
No MCAT	M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics or G²	G²	G² (see Note 2)

For SMP applicants, the MCAT is optional but preferred. The SMP generally expects an MCAT score of 505 or higher, with competitive applicants having a score of 510 or higher.
Students with a GPA below 3.0 are not eligible for the regular M.S. program except through G²; admission to G² and the SMP is on a case-by-case basis.

Explore Our Programs

You can compare programs side-by-side, or read an overview of each program.

Side-by-Side

Program	M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics	Special Master’s Program (SMP)	GeorgeSquared (G²) ABS Certificate
Credits	30 credits (10 of electives)	31-32 credits	20 credits
Class Size	~40	GUMC cohort: ~150 Capitol cohort: ~25	~100
Professional Focus	All pre-health students – usually 85% med, 10% dental, 5% Ph.D./PA/other	Only pre-med students pursuing an M.D./D.O.	All pre-health students
Schedule	Fall+Spring or fall+Spring+Summer	August to June block schedule	Fall+Spring
Incoming GPA (Avg.)	~3.5; recommended 3.3+	~3.2; recommended 3.0+	Recommended 3.0+; minimum 2.7
MCAT/GRE?	Optional	Encouraged	Optional
Special Features	Flexible curriculum; research option	Take courses with GU med students	MCAT/DAT/GRE prep (optional)
Gross Anatomy Lab	No	Yes	Yes
Degree Earned	M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics	M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics	Graduate Certificate + credits toward the regular M.S. program
Alumni Outcomes	85% accepted to M.D./D.O., dental, Ph.D. or other terminal degree in years after graduation	85% accepted to M.D./D.O. in years after graduation; 50% during SMP	65% accepted to a health professional school in 2 years after graduation

Program Descriptions

M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics

The M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program is designed for strong pre-health students (average GPA is 3.5) who are pursuing medical school, and is also open to students pursuing other health professions (dentistry, physician assistant, podiatry, etc.) or careers in related fields. In a typical year, 80% of our students are pre-medical, 10% are pre-dental, and 10% are pursuing PA school, PhDs in biomedical sciences, or other health-related degrees/careers. Our alumni have been admitted into many different M.D., D.O., Dental, P.A., and Ph.D. programs across the country.

The curriculum consists of medically relevant graduate courses in physiology and biomedical science. Required courses provide an advanced science framework, and elective courses, including option for lab research in the spring, allow students to tailor the program to their specific interests. Typical cohort size is 30-40 full-time students.

The program is generally completed in two terms over a traditional academic year (fall and spring), but the flexible curriculum allows for alternative schedules. Schedules for part-time students can be made with special arrangements; students interested in part-time study should indicate this on their application.

For the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics, MCAT/DAT/GRE is not required for admission. Recommended minimum GPA is 3.3, required minimum is 3.0. [Exceptions for students with GPAs below 3.0 are only made for those applying through our George Squared partnership who have successfully completed the ABS certificate program.]

See our Admissions page for full details on eligibility and application requirements.

Special Master’s Program (SMP) in Physiology & Biophysics

The SMP is a 10.5-month M.S. program exclusive to students pursuing a career in medicine who need to significantly strengthen their academic credentials for application to medical school (GPA below 3.3). MCAT score is optional but preferred, average incoming GPA is 3.2, and students with GPAs below 3.0 can be considered on a limited, case-by-case basis.

In addition to graduate courses in the biomedical sciences, students in the SMP take 6 first-year medical courses alongside the GUSOM medical students. Grading in these courses is based on the performance of the medical students: in order to earn a “B” in these courses, SMP students must perform at least as well as the average GUSOM first-year medical student. The SMP is a set curriculum without electives or research option. Typical cohort size is 150 full-time students on the Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) campus and 25 on the Georgetown Downtown (GTDT) campus.

GeorgeSquared Program (G²)

The GeorgeSquared Program is a joint program offered through a partnership between Georgetown University and George Mason University (GMU).

The first phase of the program, the Advanced Biomedical Sciences (ABS) Certificate at GMU, is a postbaccalaureate graduate-level program designed for individuals interested in careers in the wide variety of health-related professions. The 20-credit program, including a gross anatomy lab, terminates in a graduate certificate and includes optional MCAT/DAT/GRE prep depending on students’ goals. The program is held on GMU’s Science & Technology Campus in Manassas, Virginia.

Through the GeorgeSquared partnership, students who successfully complete the ABS Certificate at GMU can apply to the second phase of the program, the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics at Georgetown. Accepted students can apply their ABS certificate credits toward the MS degree at Georgetown and finish in as little as one semester.

Students with strong science GPAs who are interested in gaining a full year of wet lab research and mentorship are encouraged to explore our MS in Pharmacology program in addition to the programs above. The MS in Pharmacology is a traditional master’s program with a rigorous curriculum to prepare both pre-health and predoctoral students for further education and research opportunities in the medical and biomedical sciences, or careers in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and clinical/lab research.