LSUHSC Shreveport -- Admissions

FAQ's

NRMP--the residency match

Important phone numbers and e-mails

FAQ's

This page contains some of the most frequently asked questions about the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport and the admissions process. Be sure to check other sections of the website as well.

The Number-1 Question !!!

What Are My Chances of Getting into Medical School? **

This question cannot possibly be answered without reviewing the verified AMCAS and Secondary applications in their entirety. Even having these in hand is not enough because letters of recommendation are crucial, as are impressions gained in the personal interview. Knowing this, you can see how asking "What are my chances?" could be construed as signaling inadequate forethought on your part, no matter how sincere you may be.

General Questions & Answers

·	Where can I get a Catalog?
	The current catalog is online, not in hard copy, but the Admissions website (the one you are reading right now) almost certainly has more useful information about admission to the School of Medicine in Shreveport than any other place. If you find a better source, please do a lot of people a favor by telling us. Click on the following links to view the respective sections of our online catalog:
		General Information School of Medicine in Shreveport School of Graduate Studies
·	Can I get an application by writing to the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport or visiting the Admissions Office?
	No. The only way to apply is online through AMCAS (the American Medical College Application Service).
·	Does the School of Medicine in Shreveport have an Early Decision Program?
	Yes. The deadline for submission of all application and supporting materials is August 1, and a decision is rendered by October 1.
·	Does the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport accept international students? Students from other states?
	No and No. Applicants must be US citizens or be a Permanent Resident and classified as residents of Louisiana for LSU tuition purposes at the time of registration.
·	Can I take courses or study at another medical school? How about in Europe or Australia? Russia?
	In their senior year students may apply for eight weeks of elective credit for studies at other medical schools, which can be in other states or other countries. Seniors can also use eight weeks of vacation time for the same purpose, totaling sixteen weeks at other schools, domestic and/or foreign. In some cases, third-year students have been approved for a four-weeks of elective credit for away-studies during vacation Between the first and second years, about 6 weeks in June and July, students have time to complete other electives here or abroad; many do AHEC in this time slot. Administrative requirements are the same for all electives at other schools. Namely, one of our clinical departments must review and approve in advance the intended course of study to be sure it meets the requirements of similar courses offered here.
·	I'm first in my class at a medical school in the Caribbean and have passed Step 1 of the USMLE. Also, I am resident of Louisiana, my parents are both residents of Louisiana, my father and sister both graduated from medical school in Shreveport, and I want to practice rural medicine when I graduate. Can I transfer into your school or be admitted with advanced standing into the second, if not the third, year of medical school?
	No. The best you can hope for is admission to the first-year class, which means applying through AMCAS with up-to-date MCAT scores and meeting all regular deadlines. The bright side is that your offshore experience should help you score well on the MCAT. Your grades will carry the same weight as those from an un-accredited school.
·	What is the best source of information about applying to medical schools?
	That is an easy one. Get a copy of the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) published by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). To order a copy online, click here. Alternatively, you can buy it from other commercial sources. The MSAR is the only guide fully authorized by all medical schools. It contains the most accurate, up-to-date information of any book about medical schools in the US and Canada, including how their individual application processes work, and even their selection factors.
·	If I get accepted can I defer my entry for a year?
	It depends. Written requests are evaluated by the Dean of Admissions. A good reason would be to complete a graduate degree. Most others are less convincing.
·	My GPA is good and my MCAT scores are competitive, but I am 45 years old. Is that going to hurt me?
	No. First, it's illegal to consider age. Second, being an older applicant can work to your advantage because older applicants have had more life experiences and are therefore more mature.
·	My GPA and MCAT scores are on the low side, but I have been very active in community activities and volunteering. Will these offset my GPA and MCAT?
	No. Community service and volunteer experiences, particularly patient contact experiences, can only strengthen your application but they generally do not offset basic numerical credentials. Applicants should look at community activities and volunteer experiences as a way of demonstrating to an admissions committee what kind of person they are and their motivation to study and practice medicine. These are things that admissions committees look at right AFTER they look at GPAs and MCAT scores.
·	I have had to work at two jobs while I have been in school and I have not had a chance to volunteer in the community or at the local hospital. Is that going to hurt me?
	Committee members realize that some applicants have to work, and they generally look at such candidates as having mastered those things that one gets from having a job: being punctual and resourceful, dependable, being able to get along with co-workers, etc. Remember, everybody on the Admissions Committee has a full-time job and they are basically going to be sympathetic.

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Louisiana Residency Questions

·	Why do you give preference to residents of the State of Louisiana?
	We are supported by the citizens of Louisiana, and the number of qualified in-state applicants far exceeds the number of spaces available. Special consideration may be given to applicants whose parent(s) graduated from our school.
·	What is the definition of a Louisiana resident?
	The rules are pretty complex, but if you are a dependent, your parent(s) must have lived in Louisiana for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of medical school. If you are independent, you have the same residency requirement and you have to show evidence that you intend to make Louisiana your permanent domicile. Attending school does not count unless you are self-supporting during that time. Just owning property in Louisiana or having relatives who are Louisiana residents does not help.
·	What kinds of documents are necessary to support my claim to Louisiana residency?
	Simple question ... complex answer. No one item is absolutely essential or sufficient. You need a paper trail. Driver's license, car registration, voter's registration, apartment lease, deed to a house, utility bills, W-2's, voters registration all count, but the main thing is evidence of intent to make Louisiana your permanent domicile and evidence that that you have resided in the state for 12 months for reasons other than getting an education.
·	Does marriage to a Louisiana resident mean anything?
	You bet. Marriage to a Louisiana resident entitles you consideration as the same.
·	So what happens if I get accepted as a Louisiana resident but cannot come up with the required documentation to support my claim to Louisiana residency?
	The Registrar makes residency determinations for this campus, and if your residency has been questioned, a letter from him stating that you are a Louisiana resident for LSU tuition purposes is both necessary and sufficient. Should this fail to happen by June 1, your place is forfeited and offered to someone else. Someone on the Waiting List will owe you big time!
·	I think I am a resident of two states. Can I apply as a resident of say, New York, on my AMCAS application and still be considered as a Louisiana resident for admissions purposes by the School of Medicine in Shreveport?
	No. Because this issue has caused problems and misunderstandings before, we require that applicants list Louisiana as their state of residence on the AMCAS application to be initially considered by us as a Louisiana resident.
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AMCAS-Related Questions
·	When is the deadline for applying through AMCAS to the School of Medicine in Shreveport?
	November 1 is the deadline for submitting your AMCAS application.
·	Can I get a deadline extension?
	No. Deadline extensions are not granted.
·	Should I send a printed copy of my AMCAS application directly to the Office of Admissions to speed up the process?
	No. We will begin the application process and make decisions only on electronically-transmitted, verified files sent to us from AMCAS. So the best thing you can do is to stay in touch with AMCAS and make sure your file is verified in a timely fashion.
·	My address and phone number have changed since I submitted my AMCAS application. Should I send that information directly to the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport?
	Yes and No. Our database is updated by AMCAS so you must send changes to them. However, it is not a bad idea to e-mail us at shvadm@lsuhsc.edu with the information. You should also let them know when your e-mail address changes. This is extremely important because we rely on e-mail almost exclusively to communicate with applicants.
·	Just how important is the personal statement on the AMCAS application? Do I need to write one, or can I just leave it blank?
	The personal statement is incredibly important because it is the first place you have a chance to look like a human being to the Admissions Committee. Never leave the space blank! Follow the AMCAS instructions for writing a personal statement. Do not write irrelevant short stories that you would submit for a creative writing class. Write about yourself and why you want to study medicine, the experiences on which your decision is based, and why you think you'd be good if entrusted with the privilege of taking care of people.
·	You sent me access to your online Secondary application (so I knooow you got my e-mail). I completed it, submitted it, and even mailed my $50 application fee three weeks ago, but still haven't received a status report like my friends. How come?
	We send you access to the Secondary once AMCAS notifies us that your application has been received. Their receiving it is not the same as your application being verified by them. Only applicants whose AMCAS applications have been verified receive our weekly e-mail updates. Soooo, the overwhelmingly likely answer is that your AMCAS application has not been verified. Better get after that with them (not us) ASAP.

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Secondary Application Questions

·	Will your Secondary Application be online for 2006-7?
	Yes. Once AMCAS notifies us that they received your application, we will send you an e-mail with instructions on how to access our Secondary web site. You can download a PDF worksheet for the Secondary if you like. However, we will NOT accept mailed Secondary Applications. You must complete and submit online by December 15.
·	How much is the application fee?
	It is $50, which is a little below the average. The application fee is non-refundable and is charged to all applicants who complete a Secondary Application except those granted a fee waiver by AMCAS.
·	Do all applicants get to complete a Secondary Application?
	No. Only Louisiana residents are given access to the secondary.
·	Photographs. Can I send one? Should I send one?
	Yes, please. You are encouraged to snail-mail us a current, 2x3 inch photo of yourself for identification purposes. Print your name and AMCAS ID on the back. Think about it ... Right or wrong, your photo introduces you to strangers and makes a lasting impression, so consider investing in a little quality, as if your future might depend on it. Your call.
	Photo Contest!!! -- Lighten up! Break the monotony! Pick a winner right now!
	Review the actual application photos below and then decide which of them would make:
	1) the *best* impression, and
	2) the *worst* impression.
	E-mail us your choices (Subject: Best and Worst), and based on your votes, and your votes alone, the winners will receive some suitable token of appreciation from the Admissions Office. (BTW, these students cheerfully gave their permission in the hope of helping others. Hmmm ... Would you like your picture here next year??? "Best," of course.)

		4
·	Will I be informed if anything is missing from my file?
	Not unless you call the Office of Admissions (318-675-5190) between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays, when we do file checks. Better than calling is reading the periodic emails which tell you what is in your file as well as the status of your application. We update our database shortly before these go out. So, if something is not mentioned, we don't have it.
·	The deadline for completing my Secondary Application is about to expire! What should I do?!?!
	Complete and submit it as soon as you can, send us your photo and check, and have letters of recommendation sent. But clearly understand that we will not accept Secondary Applications that are submitted after December 15.
·	Are all applicants interviewed if they complete the Secondary Application and submit the necessary supporting documents?
	No. But only those whose applications are complete are considered for an interview. Getting invited for an interview is a competitive process in which each application is evaluated and those deemed most deserving are invited.

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EDP Questions

·	*What do you mean when you say that all supporting materials must be received by August 1?*
	On August 1, we must have on file the following: -- Verified AMCAS application; -- Completed Secondary application; -- Non-refundable application fee of $50 (unless you received a fee waiver from AMCAS); -- A letter from your preprofessional advisory committee or letters from 3 professors.
	Soon after August 1, EDP applicants with incomplete files will be notified that they have become regular applicants. Those who are rolled in to the regular admissions process are evaluated along with all other regular applicants, and their non-admission through EDP does not prejudice their outcome in the regular process.
·	*AMCAS has received my application and is waiting for transcripts, and August 1 is a week away, will this hurt my chances for EDP?*
	Very likely. It takes days or weeks for AMCAS to verify an application. Best to download and submit the AMCAS application as soon as possible, have letters of recommendation sent, and send in your application fee well ahead of the deadline.
·	*When are EDP applicants interviewed?*
	That depends. Just like regular admissions, only selected applicants (not all) are invited by e-mail to interview. These are held in August and September. All EDP applicants will be sent a letter with the Committee's decision by October 1.

Courses and GPA Questions

·	What is the average gpa at your school?
	In recent years, incoming freshmen have averaged 3.7 in science and 3.7 overall.
·	I went to an exclusive school. Does that increase my chances of being accepted?
	It is far more important how you did in your studies than where you went to school. Attending a well-known, big-name school does not confer any significant advantage.
·	Can I take all of my premed courses at a junior college near my home?
	Most admissions committees feel that there are differences between junior college and senior college courses. The LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport will accept junior college courses but much prefers that the premed courses be taken at the senior college level. Perhaps a more important question to ask yourself is how these courses are going to prepare you for the MCAT and to survive in medical school.
·	I have been out of school for some time and some of my premed courses such as chemistry were taken 10 years ago. Will you accept those credits?
	Yes, we will accept them, but this is something that any admissions committee is going to look at very carefully when making a decision. Better questions to ask yourself are: 1) Will those 10-year old courses give me the current foundation in the sciences that I will need to survive medical school? And 2) Am I going to be prepared to take the MCAT with knowledge that is 10 years old?
·	My freshman GPA was low because I had the roommate from Hell. After that, my GPA steadily improved. Does the Committee look at trends in GPA's?
	Yes. Everybody understands that unpleasant roommates, adjustment to college life, girl-friend/boy-friend problems, problems at home, and a myriad of other things can lead to a disastrous academic performance. Hopefully, it's a temporary problem. Be prepared to discuss any poor academic performance in your personal statement or in an interview.
·	OK, so I am a Louisiana resident and my undergraduate GPA is a 3.2. How high do I have to score on the MCAT to offset my low GPA and become a competitive applicant?
	GPA's and MCAT scores do not offset one another. Both have predictive value for success in medical school, particularly in the first two years, which everyone seems to think are the hardest. Therefore, the Admissions Committee generally prefers students who have both good GPA's and good MCAT scores.
·	I did all of my undergraduate work in a foreign country. Will you accept those credits?
	No. The only credits earned at foreign institutions that we accept are those earned while the applicant was studying abroad under the auspices of an accredited college or university located in North America. In that case, the credits earned abroad must be recognized by your home university and appear on your transcript.

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MCAT Questions

·	What is the MCAT average at your school?
	Scores in Verbal Reasoning and Physical Sciences average 9-10, and 10-11 in Biological Sciences.
·	Do I have to take the MCAT exam?
	Yes. You must take the MCAT exam and have your scores released to the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. MCAT scores are required.
·	When should I take the MCAT?
	The best answer is to take it when you're ready to take it. Taking it just to see what it is like is pretty wasteful. In any case, you must take the MCAT no later than September a year before you hope to start medical school.
·	Will taking the MCAT for the first time in September hurt my chances of getting accepted?
	No. Scores from the September test usually reach us in mid-October, when we are just beginning the interview process. If you are going to take the MCAT in September, the best thing to do is to send in everything else needed to complete your application way before October. That way, when your MCAT scores arrive in October your application will become instantly complete.
·	My first MCAT will be January 2008 ... is this too late?
	For sure.
·	If I've been interviewed already ... any use re-taking it in January? March?
	Yes and No. September 2008 is the last MCAT we will consider in deciding who will be interviewed.
·	I took the MCAT in 1993. Is that OK?
	No. If you plan to begin school at the School of Medicine in Shreveport in July 2009, the oldest MCAT we will consider is September 2005.
·	What's the most important part of the MCAT? Does anybody, I mean ANYBODY AT ALL, even look at my writing sample?
	All parts are important for the Admissions Committee. They look particularly carefully at the Verbal Reasoning score because that is something that is not taught in medical school and medical school involves tons of reading and fast comprehension. Unless it is notably high or low, the Admissions Committee looks at your score on the Writing Sample mostly as a tertiary or quaternary factor in the admissions decision.
·	I've taken the MCAT three times. Do you see all of the scores I've gotten?
	Probably. The new AMCAS application will show your Testing History and include the date of every MCAT you have taken since 1991. It will also show your scores if you released them.
·	I retook the MCAT and my scores went down. How is that going to affect my application?
	It all depends on your scores and the size of the decrease. From a 35 down to a 32, highly unlikely; from a 27 to a 20, the opposite. Be prepared to discuss why your score went down, either in your personal statement or in an interview.

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Letters of Recommendation Questions

·	*When should I have my letters of recommendation sent?*
	Have letters sent once you have submitted your AMCAS application. Your Pre-professional Advisory Committee has its own form and format, but for all others we prefer signed, originals on official letterhead stationary, if possible.
·	Where should I have them sent?
	Click here for the address and e-mail of the Admissions Office.
·	How many letters of recommendation do I need?
	A letter from the Pre-professional Advisory Committee or its equivalent is the one we want and the only one you need. If your school does not have a committee, and for more details, go to Recommendation Letters.
·	What sorts of information should be included in letters of recommendation?
	The best letters are from faculty members (and others) who know you well enough to comment in some depth not only on your academic performance, but also on your personal qualities for a career in medicine. Both things are equally important! They should mention how long they have known you and in what capacity, and how well they know you. They should also put their remarks about you into some kind of comparative context with others for whom they have written letters.
·	I plan to send letters from the governor, several alumni of the medical school, and physicians whom I have known. Will that help my application?
	Letters from elected officials who do not know you personally can prove embarrassing. It looks as if you're trying to substitute influence for excellence, connections for achievement, privilege for accomplishment, and the Admissions Committee generally does not like that. Letters from physicians you have shadowed have a tendency to be uniformly positive and tend to offer committees little help in distinguishing between applicants.
·	I have been out of school for five years and I cannot get letters from my old professors. Are there any substitutes for these required letters?
	Military commanders (for military personnel) and immediate supervisors (for applicants with a long employment history) may be good people to write such letters. Still, we want to hear from science professors if at all possible.
·	To see more advice on Recommendation Letters: click here.

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Interview Questions

·	Who will interview me and what is the interview format?
	At LSUHSC-S applicants have two one-on-one interviews that last 30-45 minutes. The format is relaxed and is meant to be a forum for information exchange.
·	What kind of things are they trying to assess in an interview?
	Basically, they are trying to assess all of those things that are almost impossible to put down on paper: interpersonal skill level, maturity, depth of motivation, soundness of decision, experiences, and the like. In general, they are trying to find out what kind of person you are and how motivated you are to study medicine.
·	So how do I prepare for a medical school interview?
	Ask ten people, and you may get twelve answers. Consider the following: Since the interviewer is interested in You, the best preparation is to know yourself. Know yourself so well that you can articulate clearly your motivation to become a physician. Be able to detail how your activities support your claim of wanting to be a doctor. Go to mock interviews if you can. Evidence of motivation is the key thing.
*Re-What? Re-Interview? ... Are you Serious???*
·	What's that mean?
	Perhaps your interviewers had different experiences? Perhaps you were ill or overly nervous? Bottom line -- the Admissions Committee felt your chances of admission would improve significantly with more input from additional interviews.
·	Is it different ?
	Different days, different interviewers, different times, maybe different duration. No refreshments, and definitely no tour. We want you to interview with people (often 3) who have never heard of you and were not present when your application was reviewed by the Committee. Re-interviews are scheduled an hour apart when possible, so time is less likely to be a factor. Because they are not in the usual Tuesday time slot and are longer, re-interviews have to be at different times.

Counseling

·	Can I find out why I did not get in? -- Yes and No.
	By reviewing the information in For Re-Applicants most people can find out why. Attempting to detail explicitly “why” leads into treacherous waters, and we will not go there. A better question is “How can I improve my competitive standing in next year’s application cycle?”
·	*I’m going to be in Shreveport a week from tomorrow, and I was wondering if I could drop by and go over my application with the Dean of Admissions while I’m there? – Yes and No*
	If he is available, he is always glad to meet visitors and future applicants, but previewing and reviewing application materials he does not do.
·	I’d like to make an appointment with the Dean of Admissions to talk about my application, so he can get to know me a little better. I mean, I’d just like to find out if I’m even heading in the right direction. Can I do this? – No.
	This question sends a message you probably would rather not send. If you have availed yourself of advice from this website, your pre-professional advisors, information available from AMCAS, the MSAR (the book “Medical School Admissions Requirements”) and numerous other sources, and do not know if you are heading in the right direction, then it is doubtful that such an appointment will meet your needs. He usually gets to know applicants quite well when they come to interview.
·	The Dean of Admissions told me that I should get a Masters degree to raise my grade point average. Well, I did and what do you mean that I am not going to even be interviewed?
	Counseling sessions are just that. Advice and suggestions are just that, no more. Counseled applicants must realize that all one can hope for is guidance in identifying possible ways by which an applicant might improve his or her competitive standing in a future applicant pool. One can think of many similar scenarios, but a true example was the person who was advised to get a Master’s degree in order to address a low gpa. He got his degree, was invited to interview, but then performed so poorly in the interview that he never made the Acceptable List. Note: Addressing one shortcoming does not negate any others. All available information is reviewed in making any decision. This is discussed in more detail in the section for Re-Applicants.
·	The Dean of Admissions told me I needed to raise my MCAT score, and I did. Why haven’t I been invited to interview?
	See the answer to the previous question.

Residency Programs in Shreveport

·	New ==>	Do you have residency programs at your hospital and if so, how do they stack up?
	A very important part of our Health Sciences Center, the LSU Hospital in Shreveport is a major residency training institution with 18 residency training programs and 15 fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Currently there are 344 interns and residents and 65 fellows training in LSUHSC-S residency programs. Our residency training programs ranked among the top three in the United States, according to a national benchmarking study conducted in 2006 by the University Healthsystem Consortium (UHC). Analyses of residency programs were quite detailed, but essentially there were eight key measures used to judge residency program performance. Residencies at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and Duke University Health System also ranked among the top three.

New ==> Urban and Suburban legends (Newest at the top)

·	Withdrawals are OK.
	Not! Not unless if it was for a reason beyond your control (which is almost never). Think about it ... Nobody drops A's, right? Right. W's are evidence of poor planning or poor performance. Better to suck it up and make the grade.

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Every effort will be made to update the information contained on these pages as necessary. However, it is the responsibility of the user to determine that he or she is relying on the most current version of any particular information. Any questions about the material should be directed to the Office of Student Admissions at shvadm@lsuhsc.edu

Introduction/Welcome

General information and residency reqs

Timeline for the admissions cycle

The application process

Requirements for admission

For applicants invited to Interview

For accepted students

Curriculum

Multicultural Affairs

For Re-Applicants

Acceptable List

FAQ's

NRMP--the residency match

Important phone numbers and e-mails

FAQ's