Early Assurance Program

The Early Assurance Program (EAP) exists to offer outstanding and qualified undergraduate students with firm interests in a career as a physician and in attending EVMS the opportunity to gain early assurance of acceptance into the MD program before beginning their final year of college.

By granting early assurance of acceptance into the program, students will be able to broaden their academic focus, engage in extracurricular leadership activities and pursue first-hand, direct patient care experience.

Partner Institutions

 

Application & Admission

In January, early assurance program advisers at partner institutions will select eligible students who are interested in applying to the MD program through the Early Assurance Program. Eligible students will receive an email containing the application link and instructions to apply.

Students interested in the program are required to maintain regular contact with the EAP adviser during their college career.

Below are the main steps necessary to apply through the Early Assurance Program.

• Establish a plan to complete prerequisites and patient care experience prior to application deadline, if possible. Accepted students will be required to maintain clinical experiences as a condition of their acceptance.
• Complete the undergraduate degree requirements and maintain EAP eligibility.
• Successfully interview with the MD program admissions committee in May.
• Complete the Centralized Application application by March 30 of your sophomore year.
• Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) at the end of junior year by the summer.

Eligibility 

To be eligible to apply for the Early Assurance Program, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be an enrolled at a partner institution.
• Applicants should have no more than two additional academic years to complete at the time of their interview.
• Meet all institutional and degree requirements to continue as a student in good standing.
• Have no academic or student conduct code violations.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Maintain an overall (cumulative) GPA of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale) with consistent academic performance.
• Have an interest in medicine through volunteer and clinical experiences.

Maintaining eligibility

Continuation in the EAP will require evidence of academic progress consistent with past performance. It will also require significant progress toward achieving individually specified goals outlined in the conditions of acceptance.

In addition, the following criteria must be maintained by the student to continue eligibility:

• Carry sufficient credit load during the remaining regular academic semesters to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements.
• Maintain an overall (cumulative) GPA of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale) with consistent academic performance.
• Satisfactorily complete required prerequisites.
• Fulfill all institution and degree requirements to maintain status as a student in good standing (no academic or conduct code violations) and earn a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculating in the MD program.
• Complete the additional specific conditions set by the Joint Program at the time of acceptance (i.e., official transcripts must be submitted throughout the remaining undergraduate academic career every semester).
• Remain free of any actions or conduct that would cause the admissions committee to question a student's suitability to pursue a career in medicine which can include, but are not limited to, misdemeanor or felony convictions, academic dishonesty, other code of conduct violations, and/or unprofessional conduct in a healthcare or educational setting.

Failure to meet or maintain these eligibility standards will constitute grounds for dismissal from the program. However, dismissal from the EAP does not affect the student's ability to apply to the MD program through the conventional application process.