Below is a list of frequently ask questions. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact us and we will answer your question as soon as we can.
Table of Contents
- What kind of GPA do I need to go to medical school?
- What score do I need on the MCAT?
- How much volunteer work do I need to do?
- Does it matter what I major in?
- How many letters of recommendation should I send?
- What do I do with my Biology degree if I can’t get into professional school?
- I transferred from another school with a 2.7 GPA. I’ve been getting straight A’s here in some tough classes. Will the schools look at that?
- What’s the percentage of students that UL Lafayette sends to medical school, dental school, etc?
- Do you have to be a Louisiana Resident to go to a Louisiana professional school?
- Do I need an Alien Registration Receipt Card “Green Card” (Form I-551) to apply to medical school?
What kind of GPA do I need to go to medical school?
At least a 3.5. The average of entering medical students in Louisiana is about 3.66.
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What score do I need on the MCAT?
The average of entering medical students (Fall 2019) at LSU-NO is a 509 and LSU-S is a 504.
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How much volunteer work do I need to do?
It doesn’t have to be strictly volunteer. You can use some of your work experience toward this requirement, but for most professional schools, you need an average of about 3-5 hours per week. If you are looking at PA school, you need to log 1000 hours before applying.
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Does it matter what I major in?
No, as long as you take the core classes that the school you are applying to requires, do well on the MCAT, the DAT or the GRE and maintain a strong GPA, your actual major doesn’t matter all that much.
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How many letters of recommendation should I send?
More isn’t better here. You should send one from our pre-professional committee, one from someone you have worked with and one from a professor who has worked with you and knows you. The letters from the congressman, the priest, your father, mother and childhood friend probably won’t carry that much weight.
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What do I do with my Biology degree if I can’t get into professional school?
Continue moving forward. Work on getting your masters degree or be prepared for an entry level biology position.
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I transferred from another school with a 2.7 GPA. I’ve been getting straight A’s here in some tough classes. Will the schools look at that?
Most definitely, the schools will look at your recent work especially with an excellent entrance exam score.
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What’s the percentage of students that UL Lafayette sends to medical school, dental school, etc?
Neither the department nor the school keeps track of that figure. It is too hard to get an accurate idea of what that number would be. Be assured that if you come to UL Lafayette and you do well you will be able to go to the professional school of your choice.
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Do you have to be a Louisiana Resident to go to a Louisiana professional school?
For the medical, dental, and physicians assistants schools, you do have to be a resident or a legacy of a former graduate in some cases.
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Do I need an Alien Registration Receipt Card “Green Card” (Form I-551) to apply to medical school?
YES, not only medical school, but almost all of the professional schools will require this.