Hi premeds! This page serves as a high-yield resource for the Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport admissions. The information from this page is a GOLDEN resource. We’ve compiled it from LSU Shreveport’s admissions statistics, the LSUSOM-S website, and most importantly, from LSUSOM-S med students themselves! We’ll give you intel on admissions statistics, an insider perspective about the curriculum, and student life.
Whether you’re comparing medical schools that you’ve been accepted to, preparing for an interview, or wanting to learn more about LSU Shreveport Med School, keep reading!
We help students each year with their LSU applications and interviews. Contact us today!
Why Choose LSU Shreveport SOM?
The most common reasons we’ve heard from students:
- Focus on training primary-care physicians who are committed to serving the local Louisiana community for all medical students. For those who are particularly interested in caring for rural communities, LSUSOM-S is a great fit!
- Located in Shreveport, LSUSOM-S offers students a more rural and affordable lifestyle. In a 3 hour drive, students can get to Baton Rouge for a taste of a bigger city!
- Opportunity for collaboration with other LSU Health sites across the states to drive statewide initiatives, collaborate in research, and gain clinical exposure to different populations across clinical sites located in 8 cities across the state.
LSUSOM- Shreveport vs. LSUSOM- New Orleans
Given the shared mission of both LSUSOM branches to treat patients in the Louisiana community and address health disparities affecting the state, it is important to consider the key differences between the two medical campuses when making your final decision:
- In comparison to LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, LSUSOM-S offers exposure to rural healthcare challenges with unique ability to care for communities which are often underserved!
- LSUSOM-Shreveport may be a better fit for students interested in primary care and less focused on intensive research.
- The class size at LSUSOM in Shreveport is larger.
- The cost of living in Shreveport is generally lower than in New Orleans, though the tuition and fees are approximately equal.
- Students at LSUSOM-S are graded on a Pass/Fail basis whereas LSUSOM-NO is graded on a scale of Honors, High Pass, Pass, or Fail. However, students at the Shreveport campus are still assigned quartile rankings during their MS1, MS2, and MS3 years based on their academic scores used to assign Pass/Fail distinctions.
Applications
Applications
The LSU Shreveport SOM Secondary Application consists of two, optional, mid-length essays. The LSU Shreveport SOM secondary essay prompt is different from other medical schools. Although the secondary question is optional, we recommend completing it to show the LSUSOM-S admissions committee why you are a great fit (especially for out-of-state applicants)! We recommend using the first question to share your motivations and explain how they align with those prioritized by LSUSOM-S! LSU Shreveport SOM is focused on serving members of its surrounding Shreveport and Louisiana communities and LSUSOM-S wants to recruit like-minded students. It is important to read this blog post to gain more insight about LSU Shreveport SOM Med’s unique curriculum and opportunities.
How to get into LSU Shereveport Medical School – We have an ENTIRE page dedicated to the LSU Shreveport Medical School secondary essay tips. Incorporate them into your essays and stand out!
Contact Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta if you have any questions about LSUNO.
LSU Shreveport SOM University Secondary Application Essay Prompts:
For the LSU Shreveport SOM Secondary Application, we want to highlight the importance of doing your research about the specific social, economic, and political issues affecting local residents of Shreveport and envisioning the role you want to have in addressing these challenges. Additionally, it is important to know what opportunities LSU Shreveport SOM offers for its students to get involved in the community, and which you would be interested in participating in. Use the secondary essay prompt as a chance to share your “Why LSU Shreveport School of Medicine”. We know it’s an optional secondary in the middle of a grueling secondary application cycle; but, choosing to answer the secondary application and doing your research will make you stand out among other applicants!
LSU Shreveport SOM University Secondary Application Essay Prompts (2024 – 2025):
- Briefly describe the key motivational factor(s) in your decision to apply to LSU Health Shreveport and any additional information about yourself you feel would be of interest to the Admissions Committee in consideration of your application. (500 characters max)
- Re-applicants only: PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION ONLY IF YOU ARE A RE-APPLICANT TO LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT. Since your previous medical school application, what academic, employment, volunteer experiences or other progress have you made that make you a more competitive applicant? (2,000 characters max)
Note from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport – We expect to interview applicants through April 2025. Early is always better!
Need Help With Your LSU Shreveport SOM Secondary Essays?
Get the Cracking Med School Admissions team’s expertise through our secondary essay editing packages. If you have questions, email us at info@crackingmedadmissions.com or contact us.
LSU Shreveport SOM
Interview Format
To ace your traditional interview, you need to know how to answer common medical school interview questions. It’s important to practice, practice, practice.
Cracking Med Resources for Interviews:
- How to answer “Tell me about yourself” Medical School Interview Question
- How to answer “Why this Medical School?”
- 43 Questions To Ask Your Medical School Interviewers
- Download our Cracking Med School Admissions interview guide below
Contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview with our Cracking Med School Admissions team! Take a look at our interview packages.
download your interview guide
If you are prepared, the interview gives you the perfect opportunity to standout and shine by sharing with people what you are passionate about.
LSU Shreveport SOM Acceptance Rate
LSU Shreveport SOM Admissions Statistics:
- LSU Shreveport SOM Average GPA: 3.77
- LSU Shreveport SOM Average MCAT: 507
How Did LSU Shreveport SOM Students Do On Their USMLE Step Exams?
- Average LSU Shreveport SOM Step 1 Percentage Passing Rate: 88%
- Average LSU Shreveport SOM USMLE Step 2 Score: 240
Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders
We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With
Rachel Rizal, M.D.
Changing the trajectory of people's lives
Undergraduate
Princeton University
Medical School
Stanford School of Medicine
Residency
Harvard, Emergency Medicine
Awards & Scholarships
Fulbright Scholar
USA Today Academic First Team
Tylenol Scholarship
Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.
Advising students to attend their dream schools
Undergraduate
Johns Hopkins University
Medical School
Stanford School of Medicine
Residency
Stanford, Pediatrics
Awards & Scholarships
Marshall Scholar
Tylenol Scholarship
Global Health Scholar
Each year, the Cracking Med School Admissions team
helps students get accepted to top medical schools.
We can help you get accepted!
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The Insider's View on LSU Shreveport SOM's
Pre-clinical years
Curriculum Overview:
As a LSU Shreveport med student, your first two years are spent as a pre-clinical student at LSUSOM’s campus in Shreveport. LSU Shreveport SOM’s pre-clinical phase follows a flipped classroom model by which students learn collaboratively through case-based learning. The pre-clinical phase starts with basic science review followed by organ-systems based learning. A longitudinal “doctoring” class focuses on teaching students a humanistic approach to medicine. During the pre-clerkship phase, students are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
Sample of courses completed during the pre-clinical phase at LSUSOM-S:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Behavioral Sciences
- Introduction to Clinical Medicine
Unique highlights about pre-clinical year:
- LSUSOM-S has a robust Simulation-Based Medical Education program which allows students to practice clinical skills and receive feedback from expert clinicians!
- Case-based learning prepares students to work in teams as future physicians.
- Two-year pre-clinical phase offers extended time for in-depth learning.
Unique dual degree programs offered at LSU Shreveport SOM:
- Unlike LSUSOM-NO, LSUSOM at Shreveport does NOT offer a structured MD/MPH program nor Rural Scholars Track/Primary Care Scholar Program. Instead, LSUSOM-S offers the Ochsner Physician Scholars Program for students committed to practicing primary care at Ochsner after completion of residency.
What students are saying about LSU Shreveport SOM
The Insider's View on LSU Shreveport SOM's
clinical years
Clinical Curriculum:
LSUSOM-S’s excellence in primary care training is demonstrated by the robust clinical training in these areas. The Ochsner LSU Health System houses numerous primary care facilities throughout the state serving rural patient populations which offers students interested in medicine the perfect clinical context to develop skills in primary care. This dedication to excellent primary care training extends to LSUSOM-S’s residency programs as well with unique programs including an option to complete residency in Rural Family Medicine specifically!
During the 3rd year, LSUSOM-S students participate in clerkship rotations. Like the pre-clinical phase, students are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
The third-year curriculum consists of:
- Pediatrics Clerkship
- Family Medicine Clerkship
- Internal Medicine Clerkship
- Surgery Clerkship
- Neurology Clerkship
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship
- Psychiatry Clerkship
- Time for electives in your specialty field of interest!
LSUSOM-S offers a flexible fourth year structure to allow students to pursue experiences related to their field of specialty and other interests within medicine. All students will prepare for residency through a Transition to Residency Course and have the option to participate in elective courses either at LSUSOM-S or at away sites. Additionally, all students will take USMLE Step 2 during their fourth year.
Main clinical rotation sites:
- Ochsner University Medical Center Shreveport
Unique highlights about clinical years:
- Diversity of clinical settings within Shreveport and throughout the state where students can elect to take electives!
- LSUSOM-S students learn to care for rural patient populations and gain exposure to the SDOH affecting these communities.
What students are saying about clinical rotations at LSU Shreveport SOM
Housing & Social
Social Life and Housing:
- Shreveport is located in a rural area; however, students love that the city is still big enough to offer plenty of things to do for fun outside of class!
- Students appreciate the affordable cost of living in Shreveport and options to reside in more suburban areas of the city or more urban options all with a relatively affordable price tag!
- In a 3hour drive, students can be in Baton Rouge for a taste of a bigger city!
financing
Cost of Attendance:
LSU LSU Shreveport Tuition:
- $32,937 for Louisiana residents
- $61,114 for out-of-state residents
Cracking Med School Admissions Resources
Here are useful Lousiana State University Resources:
- Read more about the Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans Primary Care Track here.
- Read more about the Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans Rural Care Track here.
Here are useful Cracking Med School Admissions resources:
- How To Write A Personal Statement For Medical School
- Download Cracking Med School Admission’s FREE AMCAS Activities Workbook
- Premed Timeline: Planning For Medical School Applications
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