Advising

Students who receive the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics are prepared to pursue further education in the health sciences or to enter the workforce. Students in our program receive world-class advising for health professions, as well as career counseling from experienced professionals. We work hard to deliver the most current guidance for whatever path you choose.

All students who matriculate into the program are assigned a letter writer who will write a letter of recommendation for your school applications as well as serve as a reference for your job applications.

Pre-Med Advising

The program includes group-based and one-on-one advising from Georgetown University Medical Center faculty. Our faculty advisors are experienced interviewers for Georgetown University School of Medicine and have a record of success in getting students into medical programs all over the country. We have no official linkage agreements with the medical school, but we advise students individually on how to achieve their goals.

All students interested in pursuing medicine take our Biomedical Career Pathways course, which consists of:

Pre-Med Timelines

These timelines are typical for pre-med students in our program. After graduating from our program, students may aim to take:

Students who have an MCAT score above the 75th percentile and significant clinical and service experiences may be advised to enter the medical school admissions cycle during the program year, with the goal of matriculating to medical school in the academic year immediately following the end of the M.S. program.

Those with a pre-existing MCAT score below the 75th percentile should seek guidance before applying to medical school.

Here is an example timeline for a student who starts the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics in 2024 and plans to start medical school in 2025:

  • By June 2024: Take MCAT; score 75th percentile or higher
  • June 2024: Submit AMCAS for 2022 entering class
  • August 2024: Begin M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program
  • September 2024-April 2025: Medical school interviews/acceptance
  • May 2025: Graduate from M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program
  • August 2025: Start medical school

A timeline of one or two gap years is suggested for students who need to take or retake the MCAT after completing the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program, or who need more clinical experience. For those with a pre-existing MCAT score below the 75th percentile, we do not advise entering the medical school admissions cycle during the program year.

Here is an example timeline for a student who starts the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics in 2024 and plans to start medical school in 2026:

  • August 2024: Begin M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program
  • May 2025: Graduate from M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program
  • May-June 2025: Study for the MCAT
  • June 2025: Take the MCAT
  • July 2025: Submit AMCAS for 2024 entering class
  • August 2025: Find a gap year job, ideally in a clinical setting
  • September 2025-April 2026: Medical school interviews/acceptance
  • August 2026: Start medical school

Taking two gap years is suggested for students who need significant time to study before taking/retaking the MCAT and/or significant clinical experience after completing the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program.

Here is an example timeline for a student who starts the M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics in 2024 and plans to start medical school in 2027:

  • August 2024: Begin M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program
  • May 2025: Graduate from M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics program
  • June 2025: Find a gap year job, ideally in a clinical setting
  • July 2025: Begin studying for the MCAT
  • January-March 2026 and/or May-June 2026: Take the MCAT (and/or retake if necessary)
  • June 2026: Submit AMCAS for 2025 entering class
  • September 2026-April 2027: Medical school interviews/acceptance
  • August 2027: Start medical school

Applying to Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM)

As an M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics student, your admission to Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM) is not guaranteed. Please find GUSOM’s Guide to Application and M.D. Admissions FAQ.

Please note that at this time, GUSOM is not taking international applicants.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a permanent resident visa, or be eligible
for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process of the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services at the time of application.

All applicants must provide the appropriate documentation which would include
submission of a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, U.S. permanent resident
card, Form N-550, Certificate of Naturalization, or other documentation to show
asylee, refugee, or DACA status.

Career Counseling

As an M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics student, you have access to Georgetown Biomedical Graduate Education’s Office of Career Strategy & Professional Development, which helps students network, prepare for job applications, and find opportunities. The office provides workshops, courses and other services to support you in your career.

Gap Year Jobs

Most of our alumni take gap year jobs while they study for the MCAT and apply to medical school. We recommend seeking positions that are clinical or clinically adjacent; in some cases, jobs will be advertised as one- or two-year positions or “ideal for” pre-med students, meaning they expect that you’ll leave the position once you are admitted to medical school. Depending on the organization/sector, having a master’s degree may qualify you for a higher-level position and/or higher pay.

Here are some of the gap year jobs our alumni have taken while applying to medical school:

Get Career Guidance

Visit Biomedical Graduate Education’s career office for advising, workshops, job listings and more.

BGE Career Services