Wilkes Medical Scholars Program

Program Overview

The Wilkes Honors College and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine are excited to announce the new Wilkes Medical Scholars Program. This is an early admission program into Medical School for qualified high school seniors, and is available for students planning to begin college in the Fall of 2012. Students will receive their Bachelors Degree and the M.D. degree in seven or eight years. Admission is open to highly qualified high school seniors who strongly desire to pursue medicine as a career. The program currently is limited to Florida residents.
Those accepted into the Wilkes Medical Scholars Program will enter the Wilkes Honors College assured of a spot in the Medical School, provided they successfully complete the program requirements, which include undergraduate coursework, and scoring at least a 29 on the MCAT. Students will take a carefully planned curriculum that will allow them to receive their Bachelor's degree in either 3 or 4 years. Students may concentrate in a variety of disciplines within the liberal arts and sciences and their curriculum will include several medical electives as well as experiential programs during the summer, fall and spring semesters that prepare students for medical school.

Minimum Requirements for Entrance

• Recommended but not required - One ore more of the following SAT Subject Scores: SAT Subject Test Level II, Biology, Chemistry, Literature
• Recommended but not required - Experience with Patients Interaction
• SAT1 Critical Reading and Math combined score of at least 1350 (or ACT equivalent of at least 31)
• Unweighted GPA of at least 3.75
• US citizen, or permanent resident with an alien registration receipt card in possession at the time the application is completed
• Florida Residency status
• Be in the senior year of high school when applying. Students who have already graduated from high school are ineligible.
• Must have completed four high school units each of English and math as well as one high school unit each of biology and chemistry at a high school located in the US.
• Must be accepted into the Wilkes Honors College
• A strong desire and motivation to pursue a career in medicine

How to Apply: Potential Wilkes Medical Scholars Must:

1. Complete FAU's online application
2. Complete the Wilkes Honors College online application, indicating on that application that you would like to be considered for the Wilkes Medical Scholars Program
3. Print the Unweighted GPA Verification form and have your guidance counselor or high school official complete and mail or fax it back to us so that we receive it by February 1st.
4. Complete the College of Medicine application (this includes two short essays). E-mail the completed application an attachment to hcadmissions@fau.edu by February 1st.
5. Letter of recommendation: Arrange for a counselor or high school teacher to send a letter of recommendation by February 1st. It may be:
   • E-mailed to hcadmissions@fau.edu;
   • Mailed to:    Office of Admissions, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458;
   • Faxed to:    (561) 799 - 8533.
6. Interview: If your overall application is reviewed favorably, you will be invited for an interview at the College of Medicine in Boca Raton, FL.

For further information, click the Additional Program Details tab at the top of this page, or contact the Wilkes Honors College Office of Admissions.

Wilkes Medical Scholars Program - Additional Details

Detailed list of requirements
 

Undergraduate requirements

Students are expected to finish each semester with a GPA of at least 3.5. Single semester GPAs lower than 3.5 will trigger an automatic review by the Medical Scholars Committee for continuation in the program.

All students must adhere to and exhibit the high moral and ethical values of one entrusted with the privilege of studying and practicing medicine at all times during their undergraduate enrollment. Failure to do so will be cause for automatic dismissal from the program.

Students who are dismissed or wish to leave the program may continue in the Honors College, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

Undergraduate Curriculum

To give prospective students an idea of their undergraduate coursework, the following are sample curricular programs. These are meant to be illustrative. Actual courses may vary depending on what is offered in a particular year. Students will be able to concentrate in a number of disciplines within the humanities, social sciences or sciences while still completing their preparation for medical school - a list of concentrations is available online. The samples below are just a subset of the possible areas of concentration. The precise coursework for a student's area of interest will be worked out in consultation with a faculty advisor at the Honors College.

Biology: 3 year  |  4 year
Biological Chemistry: 4 year
Economics: 3 year
History (Interdisciplinary): 3 year
Philosophy: 3 year
Psychology: 4 year
 

Students promoted to the College of Medicine

Students promoted to the College of Medicine through the Medical Scholars Program:

1. Must complete all forms (immunization/FL residency) as required for all other students;
2. Are eligible for financial assistance to the same degree as all other medical students;
3. Are subject to all requirements, responsibilities/privileges to the same degree as all other medical students.

For further information and program details and conditions, contact the Wilkes Honors College Office of Admissions.