No, in order to be considered for the ABLE program you have to be offered an interview, and attend the interview day. From there, the committee meets and if they feel you would be a good fit, then they refer your application to the ABLE committee for a final decision. After you are notified of the decision to forward the application, the committee will come back and ask for more information from you, and you can ask about the curriculum in place. From what I understand the standard is to take Gross Anatomy with the first year med students that matriculate, as well as other med school classes, and some more upper level undergrad biology courses like neuroscience. If accepted, you will do the curriculum and if you maintain a 3.3 G.P.A then you are automatically accepted into the following years matriculating class (2016), and don't have to apply at all.
I was referred to the ABLE committee because I have a less than stellar G.P.A as well, but solid MCAT, leadership, research, etc.
They make the final decisions of those accepted in June and you are notified of the committees decision. I still have not heard back from them on what else is needed yet so I'm actually in the midst of calling to see if they actually received my application or not.
Good luck!
P.S. I forgot to mention, it is more for first generation college students, and those from medically underserved areas I do believe. I might have made that part up though but I think I do remember reading that.
P.S.S. I will copy and paste the e-mail I got of their decision and everything so you can read for yourself.
"Dear CHM Applicant:
The College of Human Medicine Committee on Admissions has carefully reviewed your entire application, including your academic record, AMCAS and Secondary Applications, interview assessments, and letters of evaluation. Upon review of your academic profile (grade point averages and MCAT scores), the Advanced Baccalaureate Learning Experience (ABLE) postbaccalaureate program is recommended rather than direct admission. Thus, your application has been referred to the ABLE Selection Committee for review for admittance to the 2015 entering ABLE class. Students who successfully complete the ABLE program are admitted into CHM's entering class for the fall semester immediately following the completion of the ABLE program.
Unlike a traditional postbaccalaureate program, the only applicants eligible for acceptance into the ABLE program are those that attend Interview Day and are subsequently referred to ABLE by the Committee on Admissions.
The goal of the ABLE program is to build upon the student's background in the basic sciences and then strengthen that background through enrollment in selected upper-division (300-400 level) undergraduate science and medical school courses. To help assure success in these courses, ABLE students receive individualized assistance in developing academic learning strategies. For more information about the ABLE program, please visit
http://MDadmissions.msu.edu/ABLE/able.php.
Dr. Wanda Lipscomb, the ABLE program director, will be sending you a request for additional materials for review purposes. Please understand that referral to the ABLE program does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Not all applicants referred to ABLE will be offered a position.
Your application with CHM is on hold while the ABLE Selection Committee reviews all of the applicants referred to the ABLE program. A final decision on your application will be made by the ABLE Review Committee in June, 2015.
If you are not interested in being considered for the ABLE program and wish to withdraw your application to CHM, please send a brief email message to
[email protected].
Sincerely,
Joel Maurer, MD, FACOG
Assistant Dean for Admissions"
