Early Assuance Programs. Opinions?

Started by TraumaMed
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TraumaMed

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Hey Guys,

Long time reader first time poster. Anyway, at my undergrad we have an early assurance program with our affiliated medical school. You can apply after your sophomore year and if you are accepted you are given a spot in the medical school once you graduate from undergrad. However, you are not able to apply to any other medical schools once you are accepted. Once in the program, to matriculate into the medical school you have to obtain an MCAT score of above 29 and a GPA of above 3.5. Has anyone had any experience with a program similar to this? From talking to some people they have said the only drawback is that if you are accepted you have no other options. In my eyes any US medical school will give you an MD and after that you can go where you want. So why not have that assurance a whole year early? What are your opinions?
 
Generally, I'd say that if you're happy with where your school is, I'd do anything I could to get that early assurance.

Med school is med school, and you can get any residency from any school. If you can get in early and not have to deal with the stress of applications, go for it.
 
Many schools have this type of program all over America including VCU, Loyola Chicago, UF, UM, Knox, and many more...The flaw to these programs is that you must agree to that medical school and that affiliation so it's a bit binding...

In the end, I'd rather apply to dozens of medical schools because after working hard, that's the point, apply everywhere, hope for interviews, and then just wait for the best to happen....It's crazy to think that I will be applying one year from now or just about done with applying...Life goes by fast:/
 
Can everyone please list the Early Assurance Programs that aren't restricted to that undergraduate student. For example, Wake Forest and SUNY have programs like this, but I heard they accept students only from prestigious undergradute institutions that are deemed "Very Competiive" by college books.

I was very discouraged by someone from Wake Forest who basically told me not to apply because my college was not competitive. I told her, you shouldn't judge a book based on the cover or college name and examine me based on my personal traits and accomplishments, and she said sorry we don't do that!!!!
 
Most people would take the sure thing. I mean why not right? It will save you both time and money.

It's true that a doctor is a doctor no matter where you went to school, but medical school will be a important stage of your life. Some people will want want that stage in certain cities for whatever reason or certain schools for whatever reason.

So you gotta see if you'll be happy continuing studying where you are now. If you are, then by all means apply to the program. If not, then throw your name in the hat and see where it lands you.
 
TraumaMed said:
Hey Guys,

Long time reader first time poster. Anyway, at my undergrad we have an early assurance program with our affiliated medical school. You can apply after your sophomore year and if you are accepted you are given a spot in the medical school once you graduate from undergrad. However, you are not able to apply to any other medical schools once you are accepted. Once in the program, to matriculate into the medical school you have to obtain an MCAT score of above 29 and a GPA of above 3.5. Has anyone had any experience with a program similar to this? From talking to some people they have said the only drawback is that if you are accepted you have no other options. In my eyes any US medical school will give you an MD and after that you can go where you want. So why not have that assurance a whole year early? What are your opinions?
Click to expand...

Personally, I would do it depending on the school (location, research opportunities, COA, etc).
 
JimmerJammerMrK said:
I would do it depending on the school (COA, research opportunities, location, etc).

Hopefully this doesn't double post, my internet was being weird.
Click to expand...

ha ha it did but your parenthetical list is arranged differently. so really it isn't a double post.
 
If the associated school would be your first choice then definitely do it. If not those requirements are pretty high and will get you into a medical school anyways so it doesn't make to much sense if you are aren't 100% on that school. I know my undergrad had no MCAT required score on their program.
 
PreMedHopeful said:
For example, Wake Forest [has] programs like this, but I heard they accept students only from prestigious undergradute institutions that are deemed "Very Competiive" by college books.

I was very discouraged by someone from Wake Forest who basically told me not to apply because my college was not competitive.
Click to expand...
A friend got in to Wake through their program, and our school is ranked below 100. I wonder what their definition of "very competitive" is?
 
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