Youngstown State University (YSU): a public university located in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border that is making a name for itself by partnering with two medical schools to fast-track students on their path to medicine. YSU is home to two direct medical pathway programs. These types of programs attract students who have already demonstrated a strong interest in joining the medical field. YSU-BaccMed Consortium gives students a specialized premedical curriculum for their undergraduate studies and the potential for early assurance to either Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) or Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).

Interview With Youngstown State University’s BaccMed Consortium

Moon Prep sat down with Johnny Ware, Coordinator of Student Enrichment and Diversity Programs at YSU. The interview covers how students can be strong candidates for direct medical programs, while providing details about the application process.

Kristen Moon: For the YSU-BaccMed Consortium, are you looking for a particular type of student?

Johnny Ware: We prioritize well-rounded students and judge them based on the student’s overall application. We have a very holistic process. Of course, we have many students who do research or do clinical volunteering or shadowing, but we are looking for students who also do more than that. We want to help create well-rounded doctors, so being articulate and mingling with different types of people is another thing we prioritize when accepting students.

Successful candidates for the program also tend to have at least a 3.5 GPA and a 26 ACT or 1240 SAT. They will also have taken rigorous courses in science and mathematics. That being said, we do have some flexibility in the requirements and won’t turn down a great student if their SAT or ACT score is slightly below the minimum requirements.

We are also looking for people who genuinely want to be a doctor, not just because their parents have told them to become one. When reading the admissions essays, we like to see the stories of the students and their true feelings about their journey to medicine.

Find out the details check out our latest article on Forbes.