Biology Department

The Saint Louis University/Spring Hill College Pre-Medical Scholars Program is a special arrangement between Spring Hill College and the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. The program lasts all four years of undergraduate study and is only for students with exceptional abilities who plan to pursue a career in medicine. It is intended to reduce some of the stress and anxiety that pre-medical students often experience, including preparation for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Acceptance is limited to a total of six entering freshmen each year.

Acceptance into the Program
The program is available to students who have been offered an acceptance to Spring Hill College, have exceptional standardized test scores (ACT composite of 30 or higher, or SAT composite of 1320 (math + verbal) or higher, a recalculated high school GPA of 3.75 or higher.

To apply to the program students will check the box marked “yes, I want to be considered for the Saint Louis University/Spring Hill College Premedical Scholars Program” on the Spring Hill College application for admissions. The student must apply for the Pre-Medical Scholars Program by December 1st. The Premedical Advisory Committee of Spring Hill College will then review all applicant files and select students for on-campus interviews to be conducted prior to Scholarship Day in February. The accept or decline letters will be mailed to applicants by March 1st.

If a student does not have the requisite ACT or SAT score by December 1st, but is planning to re-take the exam, they should still apply to the Pre-Medical Scholars program by checking the box on their admissions application by the December 1st deadline. Their application will then be considered once their latest exam scores are received. The latest date that a student can take the SAT or ACT is in December to be considered for the Pre-Medical Scholars program.

What are the Advantages of the Program to the Student?
The successful student is given the opportunity to apply to medical school during the summer after the sophomore year, and without taking the MCAT. The Saint Louis University School of Medicine requires that students take the MCAT after they receive provisional acceptance, and students are expected to achieve their highest possible scores on the MCAT, but the scores do not affect the student’s provisional acceptance to medical school. The Saint Louis University School of Medicine issues provisional acceptances after the candidate’s interview and with the recommendation of the Spring Hill College Pre-Medical Advisory Committee. In other words, after provisional acceptance, the junior and senior years can be devoted to the learning process and the enjoyment of college. All the stresses of medical school application, especially the MCAT, are gone.

Requirements of the Program
Students must observe the following rules in the Pre-Medical Scholars Program:

• During the first year as a Pre-Medical Scholar students will be required to attend a special orientation. This meeting will occur during the first week of the fall semester.
• Scholars are not permitted to withdraw from a course after the add/drop period at the beginning of the semester, and students are not allowed to take an incomplete in a course. This is a program for scholars and as such you are expected to complete all course work the semester in which students are enrolled.
• There is no Advanced Placement (AP) or transfer credit awarded for science courses. AP credit is allowed for Calculus I, but all other math and science courses must be taken at Spring Hill College.
• A minimum of 30 credit hours must be taken in the freshman and sophomore years. The 30 credit hours do not include courses taken during the summer, credit by examination, AP credit, or courses taken at an institution other than Spring Hill College.
• At the end of the of the freshman year, Scholars must have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher, and a math/science cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher. At the end of the sophomore year, students must have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher and a math/science cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. THERE IS NO PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR STUDENTS WHOSE AVERAGES ARE BELOW THE REQUIRED 3.50/3.50.
• Scholars must maintain the 3.50/3.50 averages each year through completion of the undergraduate degree.
• Scholars must earn at least 14 credit hours each semester during their junior and senior years, including at least one upper division level science course (not counting research credits). This requirement may be exempted partially if the student studies abroad in the junior or senior year.
• Scholars must acquire work or volunteer experience in human service, demonstrate knowledge of the field of medicine, and display positive personal attributes.
• Any major offered by Spring Hill College is acceptable.
• During the spring semester of the sophomore year, Pre-Medical Scholars with the required averages will submit an application to the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and request that a composite letter of evaluation be written on their behalf by the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee of Spring Hill College. Interviews will be conducted by the Admissions Committee of the School of Medicine. Successful applicants will receive provisional acceptance to the School of Medicine by early summer preceding their junior year. Students are offered provisional acceptance for the year immediately following completion of undergraduate work. (The School of Medicine adheres to the guidelines of the Association of American Medical Colleges in regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act – please refer to “Who is Eligible to Apply” – item 4 Technical Standards for Admission to the School of Medicine.)
• At some time in the junior or senior year the Scholar will take the MCAT “for the record”, and though students are expected to achieve their highest possible score, the score does not affect the provisional acceptance already received.
• If a Pre-Medical Scholar who has been offered provisional acceptance into Saint Louis University School of Medicine decides to apply to other medical schools, the preliminary acceptance will be withdrawn. If such a student wishes to be reconsidered for admission, they must follow the regular application process for the School of Medicine.
• Completion of requirements and graduation from Spring Hill College is mandatory to begin medical school.

  Freshman Year

  Fall Semester		Spring Semester
  BIO 101/103 Principles of Biology	4	BIO 136/138 Microbiology	4
  Lecture and Laboratory		Lecture and Laboratory
  CHM 111/113 General Chemistry I	4	CHM 112/114 General Chemistry II	4
  Lecture and Laboratory		Lecture and Laboratory
  MTH 121 Calculus I	4	MTH 163 Basic Statistics for the Sciences	3
  ENG 121 Composition	3	ENG 123 Composition	3
  Freshman Seminar	1	Core Elective	3
  	16		17

  Sophomore Year

  Fall Semester		Spring Semester
  BIO 231/233 Anatomy & Physiology I	4	BIO 232/234 Anatomy & Physiology ll	4
  Lecture and Laboratory		Lecture and Laboratory
  CHM 331/333 Organic Chemistry I	4	CHM 332/334 Organic Chemistry II	4
  Lecture and Laboratory		Lecture and Laboratory
  ENG (200 level) Literature	3	ENG (200 level) Literature	3
  Core Elective	3	Core Elective	3
  Core Elective	3	Core Elective	3
  	17		17

  Scholars must complete lectures and laboratories in Physics with Calculus in each semester of the junior year. In addition, Scholars will take courses in the junior and senior years that would prepare them for the rigorous requirements of medical school. Courses taken in the junior and senior years may include Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, General Physiology, Histology, and Mechanisms of Disease.