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What is your minimum required GPA and/or MCAT score?
We do not have a minimum requirement for either GPA or MCAT score. All applicants will receive a supplemental application from the Office of Admissions once AMCAS notifies us of your interest.
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What courses can I use for your humanities requirement?
Humanities covers a broad spectrum of courses. Acceptable courses to fulfill our humanities requirement include, but are not limited to: history, sociology, psychology, philosophy, art, religious studies and foreign language.
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What courses can I use for your English competency?
We can accept any course at any level under your school’s English department to demonstrate English competency. We can also accept any English language writing intensive course as a substitute, so long as you explain the substitution in your secondary application. Acceptable courses include, but are not limited to history, sociology, psychology and philosophy. Please note that any course used to fulfill the English requirement cannot also be used to fulfill the humanities prerequisite.
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Can I use upper-level courses for your biology competency?
We can accept any level course that your school defines as biology so long as you have one year of lecture and one year of lab.
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I am not certain if I meet your chemistry competencies. What, if any, courses are acceptable as a substitute for general/organic chemistry?
Any one of the following sequences is perfectly acceptable to meet our chemistry competencies:
- Two semesters of general chemistry with lab and two semesters of organic chemistry with lab. We recommend one semester of biochemistry in addition to these required courses.
- Two semesters of general chemistry with lab, one semester of organic chemistry with lab and one semester of biochemistry.
- One semester of general chemistry with lab, two semesters of organic chemistry with lab and one semester of biochemistry.
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I do not have all of your prerequisites but am planning to take them during the application cycle. Can I still apply?
Yes. We do not require that our prerequisites be met by the time an applicant applies to our school, but by the time they would matriculate. If you are planning on taking any courses during the application cycle, please note those courses in your supplemental application and keep us apprised of your grades. Please note that we do not accept online courses at all for any prerequisite.
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Are Canadian students considered international students? How many slots are there for Canadian students?
Residency is not a requirement for Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. There is no limitation on consideration of out-of-state or international students. All applicants must meet our stated requirements and we expect that prerequisites will be fulfilled through course work completed at any accredited four-year US or Canadian college. Please note that Canadian applicants, should they be accepted, would be considered international applicants in terms of financial aid. For questions regarding financial aid, please contact Student Financial Services.
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What are the requirements for letters of recommendation?
Please submit either one committee letter/packet letter (prepared by your pre-health advisor or committee) or three (3) individual letters. We suggest that individual letters be submitted by persons who know you well as a person and who are able to describe the unique qualities you possess that will help you to be successful in navigating our curriculum and the medical profession. Letters may be written by faculty members, supervisors for work or volunteer experiences, coaches, etc. MD-PhD applicants should provide at least one letter from a research mentor. The Committee on Admissions prefers to receive three (3) individual letters but will accept a maximum of five (5) in cases where an applicant feels that additional letters are necessary (for example, applicants who have been working for several years, who have completed a graduate program, etc.).
Note: All letters must be on official institutional letterhead and signed by the author. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure these two elements are on their letters. Applications will be placed on hold if letters do not meet these requirements.
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May I submit additional letters of recommendation? Is there a maximum number of letters I can submit?
You may submit more than the minimum number of recommendations (as stated above). The Committee on Admissions generally prefers no more than five letter listings. Please note that it is our policy not to pass an application on to review until all listed letters are received unless we are told otherwise by the applicant.
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I do not have access to a committee letter and will be submitting individual letters. Do all individual letters need to come from science professors?
No. For those applicants who are submitting individual letters, we suggest you submit letters from individuals who know you well and can offer the Committee insight into why you would make a good candidate for medical school. See previous paragraph on requirements for letters of recommendation.
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Can I have my professor/advisor send a letter directly to the Office of Admissions?
No. All letters of recommendation must come through AMCAS, regardless of what part of the cycle we are in. The letters of recommendation section should always be available to applicants. Further information can be found at the AMCAS website here.
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Does Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine require a particular major in order to apply?
No. We require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year US or Canadian college and all of our stated competencies completed by the time an applicant would matriculate. Your choice of major is entirely up to you.
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I have more than one MCAT score. How does the Committee view multiple MCAT scores?
AMCAS will supply us with all MCAT scores you have taken. The Committee on Admissions will take into account all reported test scores as a part of your application.
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Does Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine accept applications for advanced standing to the second- or third-year classes?
Due to the retention of the current student body, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine does not have any slots available for advanced standing or transferring into the second- or third-year classes.
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How do you calculate GPA?
We do not calculate GPA in our office. AMCAS will supply us with GPA and class information as a part of your initial application with them. Please direct questions about GPA calculation to them, as they are best placed to answer those inquiries.
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I received an email from the Office of Admissions asking for a final official transcript. I submitted an official transcript to AMCAS. Do I still need to send one in to you?
Yes. AMCAS does NOT send any transcripts to us. They send us a grade report that they generate from your official transcript(s). If we ask for an official transcript at any time during the application cycle, you will need to have it submitted to us directly from your school by mail or email camedadms@bu.edu. This also applies to applicants who attended any Boston University program or course. We don’t have access to BU official transcripts so they must be sent in hard copy to our office. Final official transcripts displaying degree(s) earned and date(s) earned are required to matriculate.