Insights Into The Direct Medical Programs At Gannon University

By admin • June 6, 2022 • BS/MD Admissions Consulting College Application College Search Q&A - Admission Insights

Direct Medical Programs, (BA/MDs, BS/MDs and BS/DOs) are increasingly popular for high school students interested in applying to medical school. Direct medical programs allow students to skip over the extensive medical school application process by conditionally being accepted to medical school while they are still in high school. 

To commit to a career in medicine at such a young age, students must demonstrate a passion for healthcare, which can often be done by participating in extracurricular activities like research, physician shadowing, and medical-based volunteer work. Direct medical programs often accept just a handful of students each year, making these positions highly coveted. 

Gannon University is home to four direct medical programs/pathways, including: 

  • 3+4 and 4+4 Early Acceptance Medicine program through Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
  • 4+4 Medicine program through Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
  • 4+4 Medicine program through Ross University
  • 3+4 Accelerated and 4+4 Medicine program through the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS)

To gain insights into these four programs, Moon Prep sat down for an interview with admissions officer Nathan Kujan of Gannon University. This interview sheds light on Gannon’s direct admissions processes and shares how students can be competitive in direct medical programs. 

Standing Out From Other Applicants 

Students who hope to compete for a competitive spot in these programs need to be strong academically. “Accepted students often have taken the most rigorous STEM courses like AP, IB, or honors classes,” Kujan says. “The average GPA tends to be at the top of their class.” 

BS/MD Admissions Counselor Lindsey Conger says, “Academic excellence is just one part of the holistic application process. For high school students considering one of these programs, they likely have spent years curating their resume and filling it with medical-based activities and other extracurricular activities.”

In addition, Kujan says that accepted students often “express themselves well in writing and have a science teacher who writes them a glowing recommendation.” 

These programs are competitive, with most having less than ten seats. PCOM and LECOM both have ten seats, respectively. Ross University will accept up to five students, and UMHS does not publish how many seats are available. Check out the details, and read our article on Forbes.