The Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago is an attractive option for the many aspiring medical students who want an excellent medical education but can’t make it past the tough admissions requirements of the Ivy League medical schools. While Stritch definitely isn’t one of the easiest medical schools to get into, it still offers a chance at a high-quality medical education with relatively easier admissions requirements. In accordance with their Jesuit principles, this school seeks to enroll and train students who are not only academically proficient but also committed to community engagement. At the Stritch School of Medicine, students can expect to receive a thorough grounding in scientific knowledge and clinical practice with an additional focus on social responsibility and holistic patient care.
In this blog, we will provide detailed information about the programs, curriculum, key dates, eligibility, requirements, tuition and funding, and selection factors for admission at the Stritch medical school.
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Mission Statement
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) is committed to scholarship and the education of medical professionals and biomedical scientists. Our school, including its faculty, trainees and staff are called to go beyond facts, experimentation, and treatment of disease to prepare people to lead extraordinary lives and treat the human spirit in an environment that encourages innovation, embraces diversity, respects life, and values human dignity.
Available Programs
Are you applying to MD-PhD programs? Check out our video on how to write your MD-PhD essay:
Academic Curriculum
Stritch School of Medicine offers a typical four-year MD program curriculum, covering the foundational concepts of medicine, clinical experience, internships, electives, and lab hours. One unique characteristic of their curriculum is that rather than having multiple courses on-going, they choose to educate students on one topic at a time from start to finish. Students will only have 1 course at a time rather than 3 or 4 courses together.
The first year of the curriculum focuses on basic scientific principles and processes related to the human body, along with courses about human behavioral science, the doctor/patient relationship, professionalism, medical ethics, and the social context of healthcare. In the second year, students learn more about the mechanisms of human disease and pharmacology, along with practicing some clinical skills. The third-year students complete eight clinical clerkships, while in the fourth, they complete sub-internships and electives based on their area of interest.
The Stritch School of Medicine curriculum has a special focus on value-based teachings that promote justice in healthcare and help develop their students’ leadership skills. Through the four years, students learn about bioethics, professionalism, and communication. They also receive specialized training in history-taking and the physical examination.
Grading
Pre-clerkship courses are all graded pass/fail while clerkships are graded honors/high pass/pass/fail.
Application Timeline
As a student applying to medical school, it is very important for you to complete and submit your med school applications on time. Missing a deadline is simply not an option as once the applications close, you won’t get another chance to apply until the following academic year. Stritch School of Medicine also uses rolling admissions, which means the earlier you apply, the greater the chance of gaining an acceptance.
The following diagram shows the school’s general medical school application timeline. Check their admissions portal or the AAMC website portal to confirm the exact application dates.
Check out why it's important to apply early:
Admissions Statistics and Eligibility
Total number of matriculants per year: 170
Success rate (overall): 1.18%
Success rate (in-state): 3.77%
Success rate (out-of-state): 0.85%
Success rate (international): 0.02%
Average Accepted GPA: 3.76
Average Accepted MCAT score: 512
Eligibility
Stritch School of Medicine accepts applications from both in-state and out-of-state students. US citizens and permanent residents are invited to apply, while Canadian applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For instance, they may qualify if they are US permanent residents or have dual citizenship. Stritch medical school does not accept applications from any other international students.
Additionally, all applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree with at least one year of coursework completed in the US or Canada. They must also submit valid MCAT scores obtained within the last 3 years.
Recommended Courses
Stritch School of Medicine recommends that students complete their undergraduate degree with a broad range of both science and liberal arts courses, and demonstrate a continued interest in learning through their education. They also require some mandatory medical school prerequisites that include a total of 30 biology, chemistry, physics and math semester credits in undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate course work. The breakup should be as follows:
The remaining credits may be any combination of courses in biology, chemistry, physics, or math. Up to 6 AP credits can be accepted for the remaining requirements.
Check out Stritch School of Medicine admission stats, available programs, and interview format:
Tuition and Debt
Tuition and fees for in-state students: $61,869
Tuition and fees for in-state and out-of-state students: $61,869
Estimated total cost of attendance for in-state students: $87,533
Estimated total cost of attendance for out-of-state students: $88,033
Students receiving financial aid: 83%
Average graduating indebtedness: $215,427
The above figures are calculated on a per year basis.
Funding Opportunities
There are multiple financial aid options available for medical students accepted or enrolled in Stritch medical school. To qualify for need-based financial aid, students must submit their FAFSA application and share the results with the school.
Loans
- Federal: Federal loans provide subsidized interest rates and longer grace or deferral periods. Stritch Medical School students can avail the following federal loans:
- Federal Direct Stafford Loans
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
- Institutional: Institutional loans are campus-based loans offered by the Stritch School of Medicine and/or Loyola University Chicago. Students with most need are prioritized for these funds, which offer a lower interest rate of 5 to 6 percent. Once students have submitted FAFSA, they don’t need to take any further steps to get these loans; they will automatically be awarded, subject to availability of funds.
- Private loans: Private organizations, banks and credit companies may also offer private loans for medical education. These loans usually come with a higher interest rate and more strict rules around grace and deferral periods. This should be last resort if no other funding option works out.
Scholarships or Grants
- Institutional: Loyola University Chicago also offers a number of need-based grants, such as Loyola’s Scholarship Connection, that do not have to be paid back after graduation or have an extremely low interest. These are granted on a yearly basis and all those who apply to FAFSA will be considered for these scholarships. They typically only cover the cost of medical school tuition and can be renewed yearly if the student is still enrolled in medical school full-time and is in good academic standing.
- External: There are also a number of external medical school scholarships and grants that medical students at Stritch School of Medicine can apply for. This includes both need- and merit-based grants, as well as grants that seek to benefit members of a specific community, students in a particular region, and so on. There’s plenty of information available online to help you apply for suitable grants. Loyola University Chicago has also created a list of outside scholarship resources to help students find financial support.
Selection Factors
Stritch School of Medicine seeks to cultivate well-rounded future physicians who not only have brilliant academic capability but who also care about patient care and standards of service. Their admissions process is designed to gauge students’ personalities, interests, character, and passion, as well as their academic capabilities. The goal is to build a group of talented, multi-faceted individuals who are committed to a life of improving communities through healthcare. While Stritch medical school may not require extremely high academic scores, they do consider academic prowess along with a lot of other selection factors to help them select only the most talented, suitable future medical professionals from the thousands of hopefuls who apply each year. By the way, you can calculate your chance of getting accepted to Stritch via our MDChance predictor.
Academic Record:
Stritch School of Medicine has a holistic admissions process that evaluates various aspects of an application beyond just the GPA and other academic details. However, while they may not have a strict cut-off, they are looking for evidence that the applicant is well-suited to handle the academic rigors of med school and is passionate about medicine. They do have a list of prerequisite courses, with a special focus on science subjects, and a recommended academic background that they look for. What’s more, the median score of matriculants is 3.76, which is quite high! So, if you want to guarantee your admission to this school, ensure you structure your undergraduate coursework as per their requirements and maintain a high GPA for all your classes.
MCAT Score:
As part of their holistic admissions process, Stritch School of Medicine does consider the MCAT score of applicants as well. The average MCAT score of matriculants is 512, which is relatively low. This is not a strict cut-off, but Stritch does consider the MCAT score as proof of a student’s scientific knowledge and academic capability. A lot of students are intimidated by how hard the MCAT test is and may look for a way around it by considering only medical schools that don’t require MCAT scores.
However, achieving a good score in the MCAT is not an impossible goal. You just need to break down the mammoth task into smaller steps – start by researching your test dates to establish your timelines. Then, take an MCAT diagnostic test to figure out your baseline score and identify your areas of improvement. Prepare an effective MCAT study schedule and be consistent with your prep, which could take a few months. Take multiple practice tests so you can get comfortable with the test format and track your progress. If required, you can always take an MCAT prep course, buy additional resource bundles online or hire a tutor to help you through the tough parts of your MCAT prep.
Extracurricular Activities:
Stritch School of Medicine prefers applicants with a well-rounded medical school resume that includes a variety of extracurricular activities such as clinical experience, volunteer work, shadowing work, hobbies, and so on. They want to really see how an individual’s personal attributes, life experiences, and overall educational journey has led them to a career in medicine.
- Service: Stritch medical school is focused on community service as part of their mission. Students who demonstrate meaningful experience in this area, in the form of volunteer work and sustained partnerships with underserved communities, are preferred.
- Leadership: Stritch is looking for both formal and informal examples of your interpersonal and leadership skills. This can be demonstrated via your participation in any number of medical and non-medical tasks, from collaborative research projects and volunteer work to hobbies such as playing a sport.
- Advanced research skills: Stritch is looking for students who possess advanced research skills and can effectively apply them in their med school education as well. They want students who value research in different fields and prioritize research in their resume.
- Health care experience: While shadowing work or clinical experience is not a mandatory requirement for Stritch medical school, it is highly recommended. The admissions committee is looking to assess an applicant's interest and aptitude in medicine. Shadow work is a great way to witness the daily responsibilities of a physician, define your passion for medicine, and identify any special areas of interest.
- Non-medical hobbies and achievements: Stritch emphasizes diversity in backgrounds and seeks out multi-talented, well-rounded individuals. They are open to accepting non-traditional applicants who can demonstrate their unique suitability to medicine in non-conventional ways. So don’t forget to highlight any relevant non-medical hobbies and achievements you might have on your resume and application.
You can talk about these achievements and activities in the AMCAS Work and Activities section, AMCAS most meaningful experiences section, and most importantly, in your medical school personal statement. Remember that it’s important to convey how these extracurriculars shaped you and contributed to your journey towards med school. Admissions boards are looking for candidates who are capable of self-reflection and growth, and who seek out meaningful rather than perfunctory experiences.
Letters of Recommendation:
Stritch School of Medicine requires no less than 3 and no more than 6 letters of recommendations, ideally from referees who personally know you and can attest to your capability, personal qualities, aptitude, and character. Stritch accepts letter packets from your Premedical community along with their evaluation and the original letters used to compile it. This counts as the complete letter requirement, or you could send in 3 or more individual letters. Applicants should ideally be able to provide at least one letter from an instructor in a scientific class, along with one letter from an appropriate supervisor in a professional or research setting who can attest to their suitability for medicine.
Secondary Essay:
Stritch asks majority of the applicants to complete and submit a supplemental application comprised of short-answer and essay question prompts. This is a chance to talk about your personal insights and experiences, especially with a view towards Stritch medical school’s holistic, value-based approach to the practice of medicine. The medical school secondary essay is where admissions committees can really gauge how suitable the applicant is for their specific university and how well they would fit in personally. It can help them decide between two otherwise equal applicants.
Interview Formats
Stritch School of Medicine conducts two traditional interviews with admissions board members online.
- One fully open file interview where interviewers have full access to your file
- One partially open file interview where interviewers have only partial access to your file
Interview day starts at 9 am and ends no later than 3.30 pm. Apart from the main interview component, it also includes a 45-minute orientation and other structured activities throughout the day, such as virtual chat with current students, viewing pre-recorded content on Stritch’s MD program and curricular options.
You have to impress the admissions board in your interview to make sure you receive that acceptance letter. Just like with any other aspect of your med school application, preparation is key. If you’re not sure how to prepare for med school interviews, it's all about practice. There’s a lot of great resources to help you go through med school interview questions and answers. Conduct multiple mock interviews to get comfortable with the interview format and your answer content. For Stritch medical school, make sure you highlight your personal qualities, your extracurricular activities and your commitment to patient care and community service in your interview.
Acceptance and Waitlist Information
Stritch School of Medicine starts issuing acceptance letters from October onwards. The waitlist is released after May 15 and about 200 students on average are placed on the Stritch medical school waitlist every year. If necessary, students can opt out of being placed on the waitlist post their interview. Stritch medical school issues acceptance letters to waitlisted applicants between May and July.
Contact Information
Stritch School of Medicine admissions website
Stritch School of Medicine homepage
Admissions email: [email protected]
FAQs
1. What is the grading system at Stritch School of Medicine?
Stritch medical school has a pass/fail grading system for all non-clerkship courses. Clerkship courses have an honors/high pass/pass/fail grading system.
2. Does Stritch School of Medicine prefer applicants belonging to a specific religious community?
Stritch School of Medicine is part of the Loyola University Chicago, which was founded as a Jesuit institution. However, they do not give any preference to Jesuits, Catholics, or any other religious groups as part of their admissions process. Their focus is on recruiting talented, service-oriented applicants who will go on to become future healthcare leaders and help to improve healthcare in communities across the US and beyond.
3. How do I get into Stritch School of Medicine?
Stritch School of Medicine employs a holistic admissions process that reviews various aspects of a student’s profile before deciding if they should be accepted. They review academic records, MCAT scores, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendations, secondary applications, and interview performances. Students who have a strong academic background, solid scientific knowledge base, and a diverse portfolio of extracurricular activities have a strong chance of gaining admission to this school.
4. What are the prerequisite courses to get admission into Stritch School of Medicine?
Stritch requires mandatory coursework that includes 30 biology, chemistry, physics, and math semester credits in undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate course work. Out of these 30, at least 8 should be in biology, 8 in chemistry, 3 in organic chemistry, and 1 each in lab work for bio and chem. Besides this mandatory scientific background, they are also looking for students well-versed in a variety of topics, including liberal arts and social sciences.
5. Am I eligible for an MD program at Stritch medical school?
All US citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for the MD program at Stritch medical school. International students cannot apply here, with the exception of Canadian students who may hold dual citizenship or a US permanent residency. Additionally, all applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree with all the mandatory coursework and must submit an MCAT score taken within the last 3 years.
6. What is the GPA/MCAT cut-off for Stritch School of Medicine?
Stritch does not have any official cut-off score for either the MCAT or the GPA of applicants. However, the average MCAT score of matriculants is 512 while the average GPA is 3.76. That should give you an idea of how competitive the program really is, despite the fact that it places emphasis on a holistic admissions process that looks beyond just the academic background.
7. What is the tuition at Stritch medical school?
The cost of tuition and fees for in-state and out-of-state students at Stritch medical school is $61,869. The estimated total cost of attendance for in-state students is $87,533, while for out-of-state students its slightly higher at $88,033. These are the figures per year of medical school and the variable costs (including room, board, textbooks, lab fees and so on) may vary from year to year.
8. Does Stritch medical school at Loyola University accept out-of-state applicants?
Yes, Stritch medical school accepts out-of-state applicants and they do not have to pay a higher tuition. They can also qualify for institutional financial aid if they need it.
9. What is the last date to submit my application for Stritch School of Medicine?
For Stritch School of Medicine, the last day to submit your primary application in AMCAS is November 1 while the last day to submit your secondary application and other pending materials (letters of recommendation, MCAT score) is December 10.
10. How many letters of recommendations are required for Stritch School of Medicine?
Stritch medical school asks for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 letters of recommendations. Their admissions committee considers letter packets from your premedical community (along with their evaluation and the original letters) as the complete letter requirement. Alternatively, you could provide 3 or more individual letters. Ideally, at least one letter should be from a teacher in a scientific class. You should also try and include at least one letter from an appropriate supervisor in a professional or research setting. In the letters, referees should be able to attest to your capability, personal qualities, aptitude, and character.
11. What is the interview format for the Stritch medical school admissions process?
Stritch medical school conducts two interviews as part of their admissions process. Both are traditional interviews with admissions board members, and they take place online. One interview is open file, which means interviewers have full access to your complete application file. The second interview is partially open file, so interviewers will only have access to some parts of your application file. Both the interviews take place on a separate interview day, which includes other activities such as orientation, virtual chats, pre-recorded content about the program and so on.
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