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Students must maintain a 3.80 GPA throughout the first three years of the program. GPA is reviewed at the end of each spring semester and must meet 3.80 for both overall and science/math coursework, without the use of grade forgiveness. If students transfer in a GPA from dual enrollment or transient coursework completed at another institution, the overall and science/math GPAs from all coursework completed at USF must also be 3.60 or higher.

Note: GPAs are not rounded.

The MCAT must be taken no later than July 1 at the end of students鈥� second year, resulting in a minimum score of 516 (individual sections must score a minimum of 125). It is recommended that students begin preparing a year in advance for the MCAT. Students receive direction and resources pertaining to MCAT preparation, but this is largely done as an individual effort. The program does not supply students with prep materials or coursework.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 270 hours of undergraduate health-related research. This research may be lab-based, clinical, or social/behavioral in nature. Before beginning their research project, students must obtain approval from the 7-Year Program advisor. To do so, students should request and submit a Research Proposal Form to the advisor for review. Many students choose to complete their research as part of their Honors Research Thesis (IDH 4970 x 2). In such cases, students should plan to begin their research at least one semester prior to the start of the two-semester thesis project.

The purpose of this requirement is to fully immerse students in the research process, enabling them to gain a comprehensive understanding of all its aspects, including inquiry, hypothesis development and testing, methodology, data analysis and interpretation, drawing conclusions, and considering implications or potential future projects. This experience also helps students determine whether they enjoy research and want to incorporate it into their future careers, as well as develop a deeper understanding of scientific and medical literature.

Ideally, student researchers will work on their own projects and collect their own data. However, when this is not feasible, students who are not completing a thesis may collaborate closely with faculty mentors or doctoral-level students working under principal investigators, assisting with various stages of the research process and often taking responsibility for individual tasks.

Prior to matriculation to the Morsani College of Medicine in Year 4, students must complete the Judy Genshaft Honors College curriculum:

• Six Honors College specific courses, including a two semester Honors thesis (IDH 4970 x 2) and
• Two Experiential Learning Activities. These may be the same service and shadowing hours submitted for the 7-Year Program. 

By June 1 of Year 1, students must submit a minimum of 50 contact hours of any combination of community service or medical observation. Only hours completed after high school graduation will apply toward the 7-Year B.S./M.D. program.

Students must complete a minimum of 150 contact hours of medical observation and community service (75 hours each) by June 1 of Year 2. Students who opt to apply to medical schools outside the 7-Year B.S./M.D. program should plan to complete hours comparable to national averages (200 for observation and 400 for service).

Students must document hours via the Shadowing/Service Form, provided by the 7-Year Program advisor at the beginning of the first year.

Students must complete a minimum of 75 contact hours of approved medical shadowing by June 1 of Year 2. Medical shadowing is direct contact with a licensed physician (primarily M.D.), which focuses on observation of an individual including how they spend their day, how they interact and communicate with patients, and how they work with a health care team.  This experience allows students the opportunity to experience a 鈥渄ay in the life鈥� of a health care professional as a way to determine if the career is a good fit for them.

In addition to observing the daily activities of a physician and the interaction between themselves and their patients, you will want to make sure you take the time to have a meeting with the physicians before/after you shadow to ask them important questions you will not get a chance to ask during the day, such as how the physician organizes their day, stays current in their profession, address uncertainty with the patients, has work/life balance, etc. Students should discuss opportunities with the 7-Year Program advisor to ensure that their medical observation is suitable to fulfill the program's requirement and AAMC ethical standards.

Some professional clinical experiences, such as working as a Medical Scribe, may be used in place of shadowing.  The student must get a letter from a supervising physician confirming that the above description is applicable to the experience.

Students in the B.S./M.D. program are limited to 20 hours of virtual or international shadowing experience.

A career in medicine is a career in service; therefore, service is an important component of a pre-medical student's preparation. Students in the 7-Year B.S./M.D. Program must complete a minimum of 75 contact hours of service by June 1 of Year 2. Service may be completed on or off-campus, but it must be affiliated with a recognized non-profit organization which provides donated services for public benefit. Examples of appropriate service activities include Habitat for Humanity, Reach Out and Read, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way, Metropolitan Ministries, Project Downtown, and service projects organized through USF's Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement.

• Students may volunteer in a hospital or clinic in order to obtain patient-care experience; community service of a non-medical nature is also strongly encouraged.
• Volunteer commitments should be no less than 30 hours each if hours are gained from multiple sources.
• Volunteer activities that are religious or political in nature are not accepted toward this requirement. If you are unsure whether your intended service experience is appropriate to meet the 7-Year B.S./M.D. requirement, please check with the Program advisor.

Students must successfully interview with the Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM). Early Decision interviews are typically conducted in September at the beginning of Year 3. Admissions decisions are given to students by October 1 of the same year. Judy Genshaft Honors College advisors are available to assist students in preparing for the formal interview.

Students must submit a minimum of three letters of recommendation as part of the secondary application to MCOM (required letter amounts vary among other medical schools). One of these letters must come directly from a science faculty/professor.  

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