UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS UMass Medical Scholars Program and Baccalaureate MD Pathway Admissions Procedures Goal of the University of Massachusetts Medical Scholars Program: The program is intended to provide students at the undergraduate UMass campuses who plan a career in medicine an enriched curriculum and advising system designed to improve their chances at securing acceptance to a school of medicine and to assure their success in medical careers. This program is designed to form a cohesive learning environment among all such students in the University of Massachusetts and to provide them with opportunities for intercampus activities. Goal of the Baccalaureate MD Pathway: To support the educational mission of the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, the Baccalaureate MD Pathway is designed to preselect those highly qualified undergraduate students who show particular promise for a career in medicine and for serving the health care needs of the Commonwealth, with a particular focus on primary care in rural, inner-­‐city or other underserved areas; as well as those students with competencies and experiences that will enable them to care for the culturally diverse populations within our state. Phase I Undergraduate Campus Medical Scholars Program (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell) 1. All incoming first year students to UMass Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell who indicate an interest in a career in medicine will be invited upon matriculation to join the UMass Medical Scholars program at their campus. A general meeting for all such students will be held in early September to explain the premedical requirements and the urgency to declare an official major (if they have not already done so). All UMass Medical Scholars will be advised to meet with their pre-­‐med advisor at least once a semester. 2. Periodic emails will be sent to all Medical Scholars students alerting them of appropriate deadlines, preregistration times, appropriate tutoring sessions, local volunteer opportunities, information sessions and summer opportunities. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS UMass Medical Scholars Program and Baccalaureate MD Pathway Admissions Procedures Phase II Application/Selection Process (Baccalaureate MD Pathway) 1. Students who meet the Massachusetts residency requirements of the UMass School of Medicine and who have an interest in the Baccalaureate MD Pathway will be monitored for their academic progress, as well as for their potential to meet the health care needs of the Commonwealth upon graduation. Students should consult with their Health Professions or Pre-­‐Medical advisor for more information. 2. Qualifications of transfer applicants into the UMass Medical Scholars program will be assessed on a case-­‐by-­‐case basis at his/her individual UMass undergraduate campus. Factors considered may include level of performance at the school from which they are transferring, the competitiveness of that program, as well as their SAT scores. 3. A selection process will be held to determine students who are candidates for assured admission during their 4th semester. All applicants must spend a minimum of two years in their respective undergraduate programs. Exceptions will be considered on a case-­‐by-­‐case basis at their specific campus. Only students from the Medical Scholars program will be considered for the Baccalaureate MD Pathway. 4. Undergraduate campuses will submit all likely candidates for the Baccalaureate MD Pathway to the School of Medicine. Candidates will be interviewed and a joint Selection Committee comprised of members from the Medical School and the four campuses will select three candidates from each campus for the Baccalaureate MD program annually. 5. All candidates for the Baccalaureate MD Pathway must have completed the following courses: •
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College English-­‐1 year General (Inorganic) Chemistry w/lab -­‐1 year At least One Semester of Organic Chemistry w/lab Introductory Biology w/lab -­‐1 year Additional courses may be required Calculus is strongly recommended Candidates who have completed a year of Organic Chemistry, a semester of Biochemistry and/or a year of Physics w/labs will be given higher priority. The GPA must be at least 3.2 with no grade lower than B in any of the aforementioned courses. Source document prepared by Brian O’Connor 4/2010 Revised by Admissions Work Group 08/30/2010 Revised by John Paraskos on 9/8/10 Approved by Legal on 09/22/10 UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS UMass Medical Scholars Program and Baccalaureate MD Pathway Admissions Procedures 6. Applicants accepted to the Baccalaureate MD Pathway will be required to participate in: • Non-­‐academic enrichment programs as a “core curriculum” required for all Baccalaureate MD Pathway students at all four undergraduate campuses. • A summer program at the Medical School post sophomore and post junior years. • UMass Worcester sponsored pre-­‐matriculation program. 7. Students accepted into the Baccalaureate MD Pathway will be expected to participate in enrichment activities in clinical care settings and as such, acceptance into the Baccalaureate MD Pathway is conditional upon a satisfactory Massachusetts criminal record check (CORI). The process and procedures for CORI review for conditionally accepted Baccalaureate MD Pathway students will be determined under the oversight of the School of Medicine admissions office and subject to administrative approval and once approved, will be published separately. Subsequent acceptance into the School of Medicine is conditional upon satisfactory criminal background check (CBC) and CORI. (see #11). 8. Those members of the Baccalaureate MD Pathway who are prepared to apply to medical school in the summer before their senior year will be required to sit for the MCAT exam and achieve a combined score of at least 25 and no individual score of less than 7. A writing sample may be required. 9. At the time of the appropriate Baccalaureate MD candidates’ submission of their application to AMCAS each UMass undergraduate campus will supply the usual packet of supporting letters and appropriate documentation of their three candidates. Applicants will be required to be interviewed again at UMass School of Medicine. 10. Baccalaureate MD applicants must apply to the UMass School of Medicine for the Early Decision program to be assured admission. Should they elect to apply to the UMass School of Medicine as a regular pool applicant, thereby being eligible to apply to other medical schools, they would not be assured admission to the UMass School of Medicine. 11. Acceptance to the UMass School of Medicine will be conditional upon successful completion of the baccalaureate degree requirements and upon again passing a criminal background check (CBC). 12. Applicants who successfully complete the Baccalaureate MD Pathway may participate in a gap year following undergraduate school but are expected to remain engaged in education or a service-­‐related endeavor. Source document prepared by Brian O’Connor 4/2010 Revised by Admissions Work Group 08/30/2010 Revised by John Paraskos on 9/8/10 Approved by Legal on 09/22/10