Early Assurance Programs for Medical School: The Definitive Guide

Definitive Guide to Early Assurance Programs for Medical School

This blog will help break down this method for expediting the process of transitioning from undergraduate studies to medical school and securing a spot in a competitive program, while also drawing attention to some of the pros and cons of Early Assurance Programs for medical school. Finally, we’ll give you a list of Early Assurance Programs in the U.S., with some general information to help you decide if further investigation of these programs is the right move for you.

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Article Contents 23 min read

Traditionally, students applying to medical school are in their third or fourth year of undergrad studies, have completed many prerequisites for medical school , and have completed the MCAT. There are some recent developments, however, that increase the number of options available to highly successful undergraduates in applying to medical school. In particular, medical school Early Assurance Medical Programs offer undergrads the opportunity to smoothly transition from undergraduate to med school studies and secure a spot in medical school earlier in their education.

What is an Early Assurance Program (EAP)?

An early assurance medical program is a program that allows high-achieving undergraduates to apply and be accepted to medical school at the end of their second year or the beginning of their third year of undergrad, often prior to even taking the MCAT exam. Students who are ready to dedicate themselves to a career as a medical professional and who have demonstrated excellence in their coursework and community leadership by the end of their second year of university can apply to Early Assurance Programs and secure a seat in medical school well before graduation. Often, Early Assurance Program matriculants are able to bypass some of the traditional medical school requirements , like applying and interviewing at multiple schools. In fact, there are even some medical schools that don't require the MCAT. This is intended to free up time for committed and high-achieving students to dedicate to their education, both in terms of focusing on their required courses and in exploring the broader range of knowledge through breadth courses and personal or professional development.

Requirements for Early Assurance Programs

The requirements for application vary from school to school, so you must look into the program(s) that interest you to see if you are eligible. However, in general, most Early Assurance Medical Programs require you to have at least 5 pre-med courses completed by the end of your second year of undergrad. Some Early Assurance Programs require that you be selected for application by your pre-health advisor. As well, your overall academic performance during those first two years is critically important, so high overall and science GPAs are generally required. You’re trying to convince an admissions committee that you are prepared to commit to a life as a medical practitioner much earlier than many of your peers, so demonstrating that you have the stellar academic abilities and refined personal qualities necessary to make that commitment at such an early stage is paramount.

As well, you’ll have to go through a similar application process for med school, including submitting a medical school personal statement , medical school secondary essays (as applicable), letters of recommendation, demonstrating a thorough history of service through volunteer, work, and extra-curricular activities, and so on (note that some Early Assurance Programs accept applications through AMCAS, others require direct application through the institution). This means that, while you’re achieving academic excellence during those first two years of undergrad, you should also be gaining experience by shadowing a doctor , volunteering and community service, getting research and clinical experience, and so on.

The school may also require you to submit your high school transcripts and your SAT or ACT scores. Some Early Assurance Programs allow students to bypass the MCAT altogether, reasoning that student accepted to an EAP can then spend the time that would be typically spent preparing for the MCAT on exploring areas of interest and experiencing a more robust university experience as a result. Relieving the pressure that comes with applying to, and interviewing at, multiple medical schools and preparing for and taking the MCAT, allows students to make the most out of their time as undergraduates, exploring the world of intellectual inquiry prior to specializing in medical school. Keep in mind that you are most likely going to face the same medical school interview questions at your interview as traditional premed students.

Want some more information on physician shadowing? Here’s a great video on how to ask to shadow a doctor:

Eligibility for medical school Early Assurance Medical Programs can also depend on the policy of the school in question. Some medical schools will only open EAPs to students at their own school, or those coming from programs linked to that school. There are schools that will accept applicants from any university, and a list of EAP schools and their policies will be provided later in this post.

If you are accepted to an Early Assurance Medical Program for medical school, note that this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re signing a contract stating that you will attend the school that accepts you (do note that some schools will require such a binding agreement, so – again – ensure you’ve checked the specific policy of the school and program to which you’re applying). Generally, for those schools that don’t require a binding agreement, you’ll have until the beginning of your senior year of undergrad to determine whether or not you want to remain with that program or apply elsewhere.

If you do decide to apply elsewhere, you will have to go through the standard application process – receiving admission offers through an Early Assurance Program in no way guarantees that you’ll be accepted elsewhere, and such acceptance won’t really impact your application to other schools (positively or negatively). As well, if you apply to an Early Assurance Program at your school and are not accepted, you are still able to apply through the standard application process, and your lack of acceptance to the EAP will not negatively impact your application.

Obviously, Early Assurance Medical Programs are highly competitive. The number of students accepted through EAPs varies widely from school-to-school, with some accepting up to half of a year’s class through EAPs, and others accepting a mere handful of students through such programs. As well, some schools will require a specific curriculum following acceptance through an EAP, including summer enrichment programs or mandatory research projects.

Pros and Cons of Early Assurance Medical Programs

As with any potential decision, there are pros and cons to applying to an EAP. Here are some things to take into consideration, if you’re thinking about applying to a medical school Early Assurance Program.

Watch our video for a quick recap on the pros and cons:

Pros:

Cons:

Medical Schools with Early Assurance Programs

Note that the information below is meant to be a general guide only. As this information changes frequently, it is imperative that you verify any and all information with the school to which you are considering applying. Additionally, please note that this list may not be exhaustive, as new programs are frequently implemented, and existing programs are sometimes removed.

Albany Medical College Early Assurance Program

Boston University Early Medical School Selection Program

Brody School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

Dartmouth University Geisel School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

Drexel University College of Medicine Early Assurance Program

Georgetown University School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

Hofstra/Northwell Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Zucker Pipeline Program

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Flex Med Program

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Early Assurance Program

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

Penn State College of Medicine Early Assurance Program

SUNY Upstate Medical University Early Assurance Program

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

Tufts University School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

University at Buffalo SUNY Jacobs School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

University of Chicago Loyola Stritch School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine R.O.S.E Program (Research, Observation, Service, Education):

University of Florida Medical Honors Program

Rochester Early Medical Scholars Program

University of Toledo College of Medicine MedStart Program

Wake Forest School of Medicine Early Assurance Program

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine:

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