Today, members of the sixth incoming class of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine will receive their first doctor’s white coats, an important rite of passage into the profession of medicine. The donning of the white coat symbolically confirms the student’s commitment to medicine, compassionate patient care and healing, and instills in them the mantle of responsibility of becoming a physician. Each student also receives a “welcome to the community” note from a College of Medicine donor, which is inserted into their coat pocket prior to the ceremony.

The 64 members of the incoming class were selected among 4,285 applicants. They have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 and an average MCAT score of 32, which is above the national average. Class members range in age from 20 to 48, and 28 percent are underrepresented minorities.

Welcome, future Owl doctors!