Simmons has launched a new admission partnership with St. George's University that will grant qualified Simmons students expedited entry into the St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies.
Simmons students who complete four years of pre-medical coursework, have maintained a strong GPA, and scored competitively (within 5 points of the average) on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) will automatically be granted admission to a four-year program at the St. George's School of Medicine. School of Medicine students who participate in the 4+4 program receive a $10,000 scholarship from St. George's distributed over their four years of study and are eligible for additional scholarships and grants.
“While students who qualify are guaranteed a seat at SGU, they can still apply to medical schools in the U.S., and choose where they would like to attend,” said Ally Yarri, previous Assistant Director, Office of Undergraduate Advising. “As long as they fulfill the coursework, GPA, and MCAT requirements, they know they can attend medical school at SGU.”
At Simmons, students in the Pre-Health track complete all the prerequisites for entering medical school. Students enrolled in the School of Medicine may complete their first two years of study in Grenada, or spend their first year at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom and their second year in Grenada.
Students may wonder, why travel abroad to attend medical school if you want to practice in the United States?
“The goal of attending SGU is to practice in the U.S.,” said Yarri. Medical students complete their final two years in clinical rotations at affiliated hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom, followed by residency appointments. SGU is the number one source for physicians in the United States. “You’ve probably seen an SGU doctor and not even realized it,” said Yarri.
The SGU partnership also provides an opportunity for international students to attend medical school with the goal of practicing in the U.S., as it is particularly difficult for international students to be accepted into U.S. medical schools. The Simmons to SGU pathway provides a more realistic option to achieve their goals.
Simmons and SGU plan to open a future pathway to the SGU School of Veterinary Medicine, ensuring Simmons students a place in the veterinary school. They are unable to guarantee admission at this time, due to current capacity, but applicants who have completed requirements at Simmons can work with SGU to apply.
“Our new partnership with St. George's advances the mission of Simmons University by providing our students the unique opportunity to pursue advanced studies in medicine or veterinary science with a global lens," said Simmons University Provost Russell Pinizzotto. "We are proud to team up with St. George's to educate the next generation of doctors and veterinarians.”