The MedSTEP program is a pre-admission to medical school program offered cooperatively by the West Virginia School of Medicine and Shepherd University. It allows exceptional high school students who are interested in a career as a physician to get on the fast track to medical school. MedSTEP (medical students in the Eastern Panhandle) is designed to grant pre-approval for admission to the WVU School of Medicine even before the student has begun their undergraduate studies.

MedSTEP requires a minimum score of 24 on the ACT or 1100 on the SAT Exams (composite of the verbal and math scores only.) The student’s overall high school grade point average should be 3.6GPA or higher and the student should have an overall science GPA of at least 3.6 as well. Interested students will need three letters of recommendation and have demonstrated citizenship, leadership and maturity during the course of their high school career.

Anyone accepted into the program will be admitted to the WVU School of Medicine, provided that they meet all the program requirements. These include; attending mandatory meetings and completing assignments, graduation from Shepherd University in four years, with all the required course work, maintaining a 3.5 GPA overall and in university science coursework. Students are required to follow the national guidelines for admission to medical school, take the Medical College Aptitude Test (MCAT) and score an 8 or above in each of three categories. Additionally the student must successfully complete the application and interview process.

The MedSTEP program is very competitive and accepts up to five students per year. To receive a MedSTEP application, high school seniors who meet the above criteria must have applied and been accepted to Shepherd University. Applicants can receive an application for the program through the admissions office at Shepherd University, or from the WVU School of Medicine Office of Student Services. Completed applications are returned to the WVU Eastern Campus before Feb. 21.

For more information on this program, please contact the Student Services Office of the WVU Health Sciences Center, Eastern Division, 304-264-9202, option 1.