LECOM 4+4 Early Acceptance Medicine

Program Description

Gannon University, in affiliation with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) offers an early acceptance program (EAP) for qualified students to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 120 credit hours in biology, biochemistry, or chemistry from Gannon University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from LECOM. The 4+4 early acceptance program grants academically strong students an opportunity to gain a conditionally guaranteed acceptance to LECOM as early as the senior year of high school. Participation in the program alleviates much of the cost of applying to medical schools, while providing a strong background in scientific and biomedical courses at Gannon University. After completing their undergraduate education at Gannon University, students matriculate to one of four LECOM campuses – Erie, Pennsylvania (main campus) – Bradenton, Florida – Greensburg, Pennsylvania – Elmira, New York – to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

GU Undergraduate Entry Requirements

• LECOM is SAT / ACT optional for their medical program. Preference is given to those applicants who score a minimum SAT score of 1240 or a minimum ACT composite score of 26.

Program Admissions Process

Students applying to this program are encouraged to apply by November 1 for priority consideration. From the qualified applicant pool, a maximum of ten (10) students is accepted to this medical program in that LECOM matriculation year. Guaranteed acceptance to the program will not be granted until all requirements listed below have been satisfied. LECOM will make all admissions decisions on provisional letters after the completion of the EAP admissions cycle, which opens on May 1 and closes the following April 1.

Students who wish to be considered for the LECOM medical affiliation program with Gannon University must complete the following:

• Apply to Gannon University’s LECOM 4+4 Early Acceptance Medicine program and be successfully admitted to the University.

• Apply to LECOM’s Early Acceptance Program using this link https://lecom.my.site.com/apply/ where you create your account. Select the Medical 4+4 Program from the drop-down menu. List Gannon University as one of the top three schools you are interested in attending.

• Once approved to participate, attend an information session held through a ZOOM format conducted by a LECOM representative.

• Complete a satisfactory admissions interview with LECOM through a video recording format.

• Your file is processed through LECOM’s Medical Admissions Committee that determines the Provisional Letter of Acceptance. Notification typically occurs within 60 business days (12 weeks) of the interview.

• To accept the offer, you must deposit at Gannon to receive your Gannon email address (typically a few days later). Update your LECOM account with your Gannon email address. These actions confirm your enrollment to attend Gannon and your intent to attend LECOM. LECOM contacts the Director of Pre-Health Programs who confirms your deposit and subsequent enrollment.

• LECOM mails your Provisional Letter of Acceptance and emails a PDF copy to the Director of Pre-Health Programs.

Gannon University students interested in this 4+4 program must meet the minimum SAT or ACT requirements. They must also meet the high school GPA requirements OR they have completed at least one semester as a full-time student at Gannon and have a post-secondary cumulative overall GPA of 3.4 or higher and a cumulative science (not including Math) GPA of 3.3 or higher. If all these are met, the Gannon student may apply to the EAP up until they have completed their junior year of study at Gannon University. Apply before the April 1 closing date.

LECOM School of Medicine Entry Requirements

After four years of undergraduate study including at least 120 credit hours with 60 credit hours or more earned as a full-time student at Gannon University, the participant is conditionally guaranteed admission to LECOM if the following requirements are satisfied and deadlines are met:

• Grades are submitted through the LECOM portal by February 1 and July 1 of each year of enrollment before LECOM matriculation

• LECOM’s progressive GPA requirements are met or exceeded after review in February and July of each year and as of September 1 of the matriculation year

• Cumulative overall GPA of 3.4 or higher after each semester and by the time of application

• Cumulative science GPA (not including Math) of 3.3 or higher after each semester and by the time of application

• Semester course loads of 15 or more credit hours

• LECOM will only accept AP credits for English and Behavioral Science courses if the student scores a four (4) or five (5) on the AP exam. LECOM will not accept AP credits for any required science course. When AP credits are accepted by LECOM, a replacement course applicable to the field of medicine or a course of similar academic rigor must be taken.

• Minimum grade of C in all courses required by LECOM, and these must be taken at Gannon. A C-minus or D is not acceptable, and the course must be retaken. Students who fail any class while enrolled in the EAP will be withdrawn from the EAP. Credit for Pass/Fail courses will not be accepted.

• Once enrolled at the affiliate school, all remaining required LECOM classes must be taken at the affiliate school the student is enrolled in. Classes taken at non-affiliate schools after enrolling at an affiliate school will not count towards the required classes. LECOM reserves the right to accept transfer credits from non-affiliated schools to fulfill LECOM requirements on a case-by-case basis

• Be enrolled in the EAP at Gannon for at least two consecutive academic years immediately preceding LECOM matriculation.

• All coursework must be completed by July 1 of the year of LECOM matriculation

• Good standing with Gannon University

• Most EAP students will be exempt from the MCAT exam if they meet requirements. An Academic Index Score (AIS) of 115 or higher is required for the MCAT exemption.

• If the MCAT must be taken (or you voluntarily take it), a total score of 500 or greater must be achieved. If the student does not receive a 500 or better on the first attempt, the student will be removed from the EAP. Students must report all MCAT exam results within one week of receiving the results.

• Shadowing an osteopathic physician is highly recommended but not required

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident or Canadian citizen

• Attend LECOM On-Campus Day at either the Erie, PA, or Bradenton, FL, campus the year prior to LECOM matriculation (before the fourth undergraduate year). If planning to attend either of these campuses for medical school, it is highly recommended that you attend your campus of choice.

• Successful criminal background check, including drug and alcohol screening

• Meet and agree to the College of Medicine Health and Technical Standards for Admission

• Submission of the LECOM on-line College of Medicine Application, official transcripts, and preference of learning pathway through the LECOM portal before September 1 of the year prior to LECOM matriculation (before the fourth undergraduate year). An AACOMAS application must not be completed.

• Letters of recommendation from two Gannon physical science (biology, chemistry, physics) faculty must be submitted for review by LECOM by July 1 of the year prior to LECOM matriculation

• Official transcripts showing final grades for all coursework taken from all post-secondary institutions attended by the EAP student must be received by the LECOM Office of Admissions no later than June 1 of the year of LECOM matriculation.

• Any additional requirements as outlined through the affiliation agreement between Gannon University and LECOM and the EAP Student Policy Manual; students accepted to the program will have access to all requirements specified in the agreement through the Director of Pre-Health Programs at Gannon University

• Each academic year, LECOM will admit up to ten (10) students total for this medical affiliation program. Additional students may be considered on an individual basis and at the discretion of LECOM.

• Students admitted to this program will forfeit their conditionally guaranteed seat if they apply to any other medical schools.