Baccalaureate Degree

To be admitted to Loma Linda University School of Medicine, applicants are expected to obtain a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (United States or Canada) prior to matriculation.  The degree can be in any field of study.  No major field is given preference.  A curriculum that includes the study of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences is recommended to provide a solid preparation for the future role of physician.

Students currently in a degree-granting program must complete all degree requirements and show documentation of graduation or completion of requirements prior to matriculation.

Required Courses

The following courses are required for consideration:

English (as required for degree)

Religion or Ethics (as required by college attended)

Biochemistry is strongly recommended

Introductory Statistics is recommended.

PLEASE NOTE:  CLEP, IP credit, pass/fail performances, and online classes are not acceptable for the science required courses.

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

All applicants must complete the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) prior to consideration by the Admissions Committee.  It is recommended that the test be taken no later than September of the year PRIOR to application.  MCAT scores older than three years from the date of matriculation are not considered.

Health Care Experience Encouraged

Applicants are very strongly encouraged to obtain experiences where they are directly involved in providing health care.

Technical Standards

All applicants must meet the Admission and Graduation Standards with or without reasonable accommodations.  Please take a moment to view our Technical Standards:

Loma Linda University School of Medicine candidates for the M.D. degree must have abilities and skills of five varieties including observation, communication, motor, intellectual (conceptual, integrative and quantitative), behavioral and social.  Technological compensation can be made for some handicaps in certain areas but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner without the use of a surrogate.

OBSERVATION:  The candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences, including but not limited to physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations in animals, microbiologic cultures, and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states.  A candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.  Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing and somatic sensation.  It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.

COMMUNICATION:  A candidate must be able to speak, to hear and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications.  A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, colleagues, and other personnel.  Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing.  The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.

MOTOR:  Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers.  A candidate should be able to do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.) and read EKG’s and X-Rays.  A candidate should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment of patients.  Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of physicians are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the administration of intravenous medication, the application of pressure to stop bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, the suturing of simple wounds, and the performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers.  Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

INTELLECTUAL-CONCEPTUAL INTEGRATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ABILITIES:  These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis.  Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of physicians, requires all of these intellectual abilities.  In addition the candidate should be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES:  A candidate must possess the emotional stability required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients.  Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress.  They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients.  Compassion, integrity, honesty, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that are expected of Loma Linda University School of Medicine students.