Focused and ambitious students who are certain of their desire to go into the medical field have an opportunity to obtain dual admission into select schools. Dual admission allows students to be accepted into both an undergraduate program and medical school at the same time through a single university. Highly selective dual-admissions programs often admit only a handful of students per year.
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University is spread throughout the St. Louis area of Missouri. The university requires that applicants complete an Application for the University Scholars Program in Medicine, present an extensive resume of extracurricular activities, a record of outstanding grades and test scores and go through an interview with the program committee. Each University Scholar in Medicine is matched with a medical school mentor. Through this, students are allowed to attend special events on the medical school campus and gain insight toward a future in medicine. Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to participate in medical research. Students admitted to the program and registering for at least six credits are eligible for financial assistance.
Baylor University
Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas. The university offers a dual-admission track known as the BU/BCM Medical track. This eight-year program is designed for students who would like to begin their involvement in medicine immediately. Students applying for this program must complete their applications by the early admission deadline, have a cumulative 1,400 SAT score in the math and verbal sections, and at least a 3.7 high school grade-point average. As of 2011, students who are accepted into the program also are eligible for an $80,000 scholarship to help cover the cost of education.
University of Cincinnati
The dual-admissions program at the University of Cincinnati is called the Connections Program. The university boasts one of the top academic health centers in the country. Students receive extensive in-class instruction as well as many clinical experiences. Because of their early acceptance into medical school, students at Cincinnati are encouraged to study abroad or participate in various volunteer activities during their four years of undergraduate education followed by four years of intensive study at the College of Medicine. Successful students with cumulative scores of 1,300 on the verbal and math sections of the SAT and who convey a wide involvement of extracurricular activities are eligible for this program. While in the program, students must maintain a GPA of 3.4 or above and score at least a 27 on their MCAT exam before completing undergraduate work. The Student Financial Aid Office will consider you for all aid sources, focusing first on scholarship and grant eligibility based on merit or need.
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is located in southwestern New York State. The university places an emphasis on service with a close affiliation with the Franciscan Health Care Professions. Its combined-degree program in medicine offers state-of-the-art facilities, experienced educators and an ensured seat at its affiliated medical school upon graduation. Requirements for entrance into the dual-admission program include an SAT score of 1,300 in the verbal and math sections, completion of a science SAT II subject test, two letters of recommendation and a resume of extracurricular activities. Financial assistance is provided to 95 percent of St. Bonaventure students; as of 2011, the average financial aid package was valued at $21,777.
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