Admission

We are looking for applicants who demonstrate not only high academic achievements but also motivation, empathy, good communication skills in Spanish and English, cultural competence, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, integrity, resiliency, compassion, and altruism. If this describes you, we encourage you to apply.

SJBSM is committed to attuning the curriculum to current trends in medical education and coordinating and integrating course contents within and among the Biomedical Sciences and clinical components. You should expect a curriculum structured into a coherent and longitudinal sequence through four years of study in two phases: two years of Biomedical Sciences and two years of Clinical Sciences. The medical education curriculum at San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (SJBSM) is designed to prepare students with the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide effective, compassionate health care within a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. SJBSM requires students to achieve proficiency in eight competency domains: Patient Care, Knowledge for Practice, Problem Base Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, System Practice, Interprofessional Collaboration, and Personal and Professional Development.

The two-year Biomedical Sciences program includes two semesters per year, with a minimum of seventeen (17) weeks of courses and approximately one week for remediation.

The Clinical Sciences program offers clerkships throughout the academic year. During the third year, six clerkships are scheduled, each lasting six (6) to twelve (12) weeks. During the fourth year, clerkships last four (4) weeks. The electives program is offered during the fourth year and includes four (4) free elective clerkships, three (3) required elective clerkships, and one (10) selective clerkship of four (4) weeks each.

Applicants must comply with the following requirements for consideration:

• A Bachelor's Degree BS or BA with the required Pre-Medical course credits completed at a college-level institution accredited by the Council of Higher Education of PR or by a US accrediting organization with a minimum Science and General GPA of 3.00 (on a four-point scale) as calculated by AMCAS.
• A minimum MCAT score of 492 will be considered. The latest MCAT score considered for this application cycle will be in January. The official results of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) will be sent by AMCAS. The test must not be older than three years.
• Candidates must be able to read, write, speak, and understand both English and Spanish

In addition to the above requirements, coursework in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, Human Biology, and Humanities are highly recommended. Courses could be in progress at the time of the application; however, all required courses must be completed before registering for medical school.

• The student must submit the Application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), a centralized application service for applicants to first-year. The complete application must be processed by AMCAS between June 1st and December 15th of the year prior to admission. We urge candidates to submit the AMCAS Web application with enough time in order to be considered before December 15th. Applicants who comply with the minimum requirements will receive a supplemental application.
• Applicants must pay a non-refundable admissions fee in the amount of $100.00 payable to San Juan Bautista School of Medicine. You may use a credit card and pay electronically. See Admission Payment Form.
• Official transcripts with conferred grades will only be requested from applicants who have pending coursework or have been admitted into our program.
• Two academic (2) letters of recommendation from science professors, sent via AMCAS Letter Service. Any one of the following will satisfy the academic letters of recommendation requirement:
  • Committee letter (required if your college/university has an officially designated committee or advisor). Authored by a pre-health committee or advisor and intended to represent your institution's evaluation of you. A committee letter may or may not include additional letters written in support of your application.
  • Letter packet: A packet or set of letters assembled and distributed by your institution, often by the institution's career center.
  • Faculty letters (required if the college/university you attended does not have a committee or advisor).
• One (1) letter of recommendation from a community leader or volunteer work specifying any community and/or volunteer work sent via AMCAS Letter Service.

Online coursework will be considered provided that:

• The online course is offered under the auspices and supervision of the institution at which the student completed the other pre-med coursework or at another, not-for-profit, college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations; Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, Western.

The MD Admissions Committee reviews, evaluates, and selects applicants on a “rolling admission” basis from December to July. The Committee focuses on strong academic metrics; however, each application is thoroughly reviewed. Personal attributes such as motivation, empathy, communication skills in Spanish and English, cultural competence, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, integrity, resiliency, compassion, and altruism are in the view of the committee, essential in the final selection. Academic metrics such as MCAT scores and G.P.As are used to assess the applicant’s ability to achieve the academic objectives of the SJBSM curricular program. Applicants from diverse socioeconomic, educational, and cultural backgrounds are particularly interested. After receiving all required credentials, the Committee on Admission will review applications and make interview decisions. The Admissions Office Staff will notify applicants selected for interview.

Non-cognitive qualities such as cultural sensitivity, problem-solving and decision-making skills, maturity, integrity, empathy, reliability, and communication skills will be assessed through Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) interactions. The MMI consists of four (4) structured situational stations with standardized trained patients and one (1) one-on-one interview with an Admissions Committee member or trained interviewer. At the end of the interview session, a tour of the San Juan Bautista Main Campus is arranged for the candidate. A wrap-up session at the end of the day with an admissions officer ensures that the information obtained by the applicant is correct, answers last-minute questions, and gets feedback.

Upon acceptance, the Admissions Office will send a letter to the applicants via e-mail. If the applicant accepts the admission offer, he/she must submit the following documents through the secondary application:

• Health Certificate
• Physician’s Report
• Immunization Certificate (for more information, Student Right to Know)
• One (1) 2 x 2 photo
• Birth Certificate and/or valid passport
• AMCAS criminal background check report -(If a criminal record appears in the results, the acceptance will be revoked)
• Technical Standards Receipt
• Information Regarding Admissions Document

Applicants accepting an offer of admission must confirm their acceptance and reserve their seat within ten (10) calendar days by submitting a money order or certified check for $100.00, payable to San Juan Bautista School of Medicine. This amount will be refundable until May 1st and credited towards tuition fees. Admission is granted only for the academic year the applicant has applied for.

AMCAS Choose your Medical School Tool

Upon acceptance, applicants must click the AMCAS tab to complete the "Choose your Medical School" process. Follow the instructions when selecting "Plan to enroll" and "Commit to enroll" at the required deadlines.