Medical school is a challenge worth learning about. As an aspiring med student, you’ve probably heard that the requirements are strict, and if you get something wrong, you’re out of luck. To save you time and energy, here are the three most important requirements you need to meet to be accepted in many medical school programs.

1. Earn 90 credits and demonstrate strong performance

So, what are the Caribbean medical school requirements regarding prior course completion? Most medical school students should know they need to demonstrate mastery in biology, chemistry, physics, English, and Mathematics. Taking these courses will help you enter medical school with confidence as you know you can use prior knowledge from previous courses to excel from the beginning.

Additionally, you need at least ninety credits and a strong academic performance. According to U.S. News, most universities believe that a GPA of at least 3.3 is suitable to move forward into medical school. That said, it would be a mistake to underestimate the MCAT exam. Here, if the maximum score is 528, and you score 512, you’ve scored in the eighty-five percentile, which doesn’t set you apart from the brightest most competitive students. So students should remember to do their best at every opportunity.

2. Get electronic transcripts

Electronic transcripts are an official document proving a student attended a certain school and earned a specific grade. Your transcript will probably look similar to a screen in your student’s online portal if one existed. Many schools partner with Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse to deliver official transcripts to students. Check with your university to find out if any special circumstances must be met. For example, the American University of Antigua med school won’t allow students to transfer credits.

3. Get letters of recommendation

If you’re a non-traditional student who may have taken breaks, enlisted in the military, or have studied abroad for many years, you definitely need a letter of recommendation. Generally, you can approach a science professor who knows of your academic excellence, or a medical colleague or employer. Do so with confidence and if needed, persistence.

But if there is more information you need regarding your application, an admissions counselor can help. These employees are responsible for visiting schools, working with alumni to find the best students, and studying and implementing quality changes to improve the admission process.  Remember that in some cases, even without letters of recommendation, some students may be granted provisional acceptance, meaning they can enter the program on the condition that other requirements are later met.

By the time you complete your degree, you’ll be glad you took the time to make it through the first step: the admission requirements. It’s unfortunate that not all students take medical school requirements seriously and end up paying the consequences. But knowing what to expect in the beginning is a critical part of being successful in medical school.