Health Careers for BSU Students Community Guide: Medical School

The committee letter is submitted for students applying to medical and dental schools. It is made up of three parts: (1) a composite of the academic, clinical, extra-curricular, and personal elements of each applicant's undergraduate performance composed by the Health Professions Advisory Committee, (2) verbatim recommendation letters from each of the student’s references, and (3) a ranking of the applicant by the Health Professions Advisory Committee (see below for ranking criteria). The recommendation letters are an important component of the committee letter. Therefore, the importance of getting to know individual faculty members and other references so they have sufficient experience with students to write thoughtful and supportive recommendations on their behalf is essential.

If a student would like to request a committee letter, the student is required to first meet with the committee Chair, Dr. Alexandra Zilz, in order to discuss their eligibility. This conversation should take place at the latest during the Fall semester of the year a student plans to submit applications to medical or dental school.

Below is the average MCAT scores and GPAs of students who were accepted into medical school during 2019-2020, as well as a MCAT and GPA Grid for Applicants and Acceptees to U.S. Medical School. 

1. MD: MCAT score 511.9, science GPA 3.66, overall GPA 3.73 (Source: AAMC)

2. DO: MCAT score 504.25, science GPA 3.67, overall GPA 3.57 (Source: AACOM)

3. Big Four Caribbean MD: MCAT 496-498 (Source: Med School Tutors on YU website)

4. AAMC MCAT and GPA Grid for Applicants and Acceptees to U.S. Medical Schools

5. Average GPA and MCAT Score for Medical School

Below are the categories and general ranking criteria for a committee letter for medical school. A student’s specific circumstances may change which category the Health Professions Advisory Committee chooses. If you have questions about the ranking criteria for medical school or for dental school, contact Dr. Alexandra Zilz at azilz@bridgew.edu. 

• Exceptional: An overall and science GPA of 3.7 or above, MCAT score of 512 or above, plus clinical, research, leadership, and service experience.

• Highly Recommended: An overall and science GPA of 3.6 or above, MCAT score of 504 or above plus clinical, research, leadership, and service experience. 

• Recommended without Reservation: An overall and science GPA of 3.4 or 3.5, MCAT score of 502 or above, plus clinical, leadership, and service experience (research is preferred but not required) OR an overall and science GPA of 3.6, MCAT score of 500 or 501, plus clinical, leadership, and service experience (research is preferred but not required). 

• Recommended with Reservation: An overall and science GPA of 3.2 or above, MCAT score of 498 or above, plus clinical, leadership, and service experience (research is preferred but not required).
  Note: Students who score below a 504 on the MCAT are strongly encouraged to retake the MCAT before applying to medical school. 

• Unable to Comment: An overall and science GPA of 3.1 or below and a MCAT score of 497 or below, plus clinical, leadership, and service experience (research is preferred but not required). In this case, a student may request the Health Professions Advisory Committee to submit their recommendation letters together with a general cover letter but without a committee letter or a student can request their references to individually submit their letters. 
  Note: We strongly encourage that if a student has these criteria, they focus on improving their GPA by retaking courses or attending a post baccalaureate program and retaking the MCAT before applying to medical school. 

Materials Required for Requesting a Committee Letter

Should a student request a committee letter, the following needs to be submitted to Dr. Alexandra Zilz at azilz@bridgew.edu. Read over the Committee Letter Request Form (see below) to learn more details about each of these requirements, fill out the required paperwork, and send the complete document back to Dr. Alexandra Zilz.​

• Committee Letter Request Form (see below) 

• Academic transcripts from all institutions attended other than Bridgewater State University 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume 

• Autobiography

• Recommendation Letters. Letters (in both a word and pdf version) should be sent directly by references to Dr. Alexandra Zilz at azilz@bridgew.edu 

• A copy of MCAT scores. If a student has taken the standardized exam more than once, send copies of each exam score. Note: It is not recommended to take the MCAT after May in the year you are applying to medical school. Committee letters will not be written without standardized test scores.