1. What is the B.S./M.D. Program?
It is an accelerated route, in two phases, to become a physician. The program is a consortium at both phases. Phase I is two or three years at The University of Akron, Kent State University or Youngstown State University. Phase II is at NEOUCOM (in Rootstown, OH about 25 miles east of Akron) and is a standard four-year medical school. Students do their clinical clerkships at the hospitals in Akron, Canton and Youngstown.
2. Who can apply to this program?
High school students and people with no college credit after graduation from high school, who enjoy and excel in math and science. It is also important to be sure that you want to be a physician.
3. Is there a residency requirement?
A. Students from any state may apply. However, since all of the consortium schools are Ohio Public Schools, we give absolute preference to Ohio residents.
The mission of NEOUCOM is to train primary care doctors to practice in Ohio.
B. Students must be permanent residents of the United States to be eligible for the program. Verification of permanent residency requires that you provide your alien registration number and a copy of your alien registration card
at the time of your application.
4. How are the students selected for this program?
There are two steps in the admissions process:
A. Selection of students to be interviewed.To be admitted to the BS/MD Program, a student must first be selected for an in person interview on the UA campus. The selection of students to be invited for an interview is based on academic credentials, medically related extracurricular activities and other information provided in the student application. In the past, students chosen for an interview have had at least a 3.5 grade point average and at least a 27 ACT or 1210-1240 SAT* total/composite score. We accept ACT or SAT scores and will use the highest total/composite score despite the number of times the exams are taken. We do not accept or use SAT II scores. UA extends an interview invitation to approximately 90 students in Early Action and 90 students in Regular Admission.
*SAT Total is Verbal/Critical Reading + Math.
B. Final selection into the program. The second part of the selection process is the interview. To be admitted to the BS/MD Program, a student must first be selected for an in person interview on the UA campus. The interview is 30 minutes at The University of Akron and involves a two or three-person panel. The panel usually consists of one area physician and one or two University of Akron faculty or staff. UA extends an interview invitation to approximately 90 students in Early Action and 90 students in Regular Admission. See #12 below for the interview dates and times.
5. What should I do now as a high school student to increase my chances of being selected for an interview?
A. You need to be good in math and sciences. The things to do now are to take as much math and science as your high school offers.
B. Participate in several medically related activities over your high school career, such as: volunteering at hospitals & nursing homes; shadowing physicians; internships; research; medical associations, etc.
C. You should develop your people skills. Take non-science courses and get involved in activities. These activities can be anything that interests you. Do not limit yourself to science type of activities. You want to be well rounded and have a variety of interests.
D. You need to want to be a physician and know why you want to be one.
6. What is the average GPA and ACT/SAT score of the students offered an interview for the program?
In the past, students chosen for an interview have had at least a 3.5 grade point average and at least a 27 ACT or 1210-1240 SAT* total/composite score. We accept ACT or SAT scores and will use the highest total/composite score despite the number of times the exams are taken. We do not accept or use SAT II scores. *SAT Total is Verbal/Critical Reading + Math.
7.How many students are interviewed for the program?
UA extends an interview invitation to approximately 90 students in Early Action and 90 students in Regular Admission.
8. Does The University of Akron BS/MD Program accept Advanced Placement Credit (AP)?
Yes, however it depends on the course. Typically, accepting
non-sciences courses and Math courses offer an advantage in completing required coursework in the BS/MD curriculum. However, accepting AP
science courses can present unique problems to BS/MD students which may put them at a
disadvantage. The role of the BS/MD Academic Coordinator is to discuss accepting AP credits with each student individually.
Please refer to the University's
Undergraduate Bulletin for a listing of Advanced Placement Credit and required scores. Enter "Advanced Placement Credit" in the "Find" box.
9. How do Post-Secondary classes count in the BS/MD program?
All classes taken at the Post-Secondary level must be declared upon acceptance into the BS/MD Program. The difference in the BS/MD Program is that the actual grades transferred will be used by NEOUCOM to calculate your overall GPA and your science GPA. Therefore, every grade you receive at every Post-Secondary institution will affect your GPA in the BS/MD Program.
10. How many students are admitted into the program?
There are 35 students selected for the program each year at each of the consortium undergraduate universities.
11. Are there criteria to stay in the program?
Yes, you must have a 3.0 science/math grade point average after the first year to automatically continue in the program. You must have a 3.1 science/math grade point average to automatically take a third year in the program. You must have a 3.2 science/math grade point average, a 3.25 overall grade point average and earn the national average on the MCAT (usually 8 in each section) to be promoted to the medical school after two or three years. If you have both a 3.5 overall and science/math grade point average, you can earn a composite MCAT of 24 with only one score of 7. The sections of the MCAT are Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences (Physics and Inorganic Chemistry) and Biological Sciences (Biology and Organic Chemistry). The three sections are scaled on a 1-15 scale with 15 being highest.
12. When does the program begin?
The undergraduate program begins in June of the summer after graduation from high school. For reference, the 2009 UA BS/MD Program began June 8, 2009. Students take two summer sessions and enroll for about 15 credits total in both sessions. The entire program takes two years and three summers. If a student does the program in three years, the student still begins in the summer after graduation and it takes three years and three summers.
13. When should I apply?
For the class starting in June 2010, there are two admission opportunities:
A. For the Early Action admission, applications (including test scores) are
due to NEOUCOM by October 1, 2009.
B. For Regular Notification admission, applications (including test scores)
are due to NEOUCOM by December 15, 2009.
It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that all of the required admissions materials are received by NEOUCOM by the deadline. To check on the status of your admission materials, call NEOUCOM at 330-325-6270.
14. When are the interviews and when will the interview invitation letters be mailed?
For the class starting in June 2010, The University of Akron interviews for
Early Action admission are scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2009 between 9:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.
The interviews are by invitation only. Interview invitation letters will be mailed in late October 2009.
For the class starting in June 2010, The University of Akron interviews for
Regular Admission are scheduled Sunday, February 28, 2010 between 9:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.
The interviews are by invitation only. Interview invitation letters will be mailed early-February 2010.
15. Do I apply to each university separately?
No, there is one application to apply to all three undergraduate universities. To apply to the program, complete the online application found at www.neoucom.edu, Prospective Students, High School Students. The application is generally posted around August 1st. If you have any questions about completing the online application, contact NEOUCOM at 330-325-6270. The application fee covers the cost of application to all three universities.
16. How much does the program cost?
A. Phase I - The University of Akron.
Since Phase I is accelerated, students take 19 to 24 credits/semester and take 15 credits in the summer. Therefore, tuition/year is more than for a traditional four-year program. However, since the time in the program is short, there is a financial savings in housing. The cost includes summer, fall and spring tuition, fees and living in the residence halls.
The cost for an
Ohio Resident BS/MD student in 2009-2010 is about $32,687. The cost for an
Out of State BS/MD student in 2009-2010 is about $52,150. NEOUCOM and the consortium Universities are Ohio state-assisted institutions. As such, we give preference to Ohio residents.
B. Phase II - NEOUCOM.
First year
Ohio Resident medical student charges for 2009-2010 are extimated as follows: Tuition and Fees: $29,738; Room & Board/Personal Expenses: $15,540; Transporation/Insurance: $5,614; Books/Supplies/Technology: $2,940; Billable Charges: $861; Total Expesnes: $54,693. There are no residence halls at NEOUCOM, therefore a car is necessary. The approximate cost for an
Out of State medical student in 2009-2010 is about $83,306.
17. What scholarship funds are available to a BS/MD Program student?
Each BS/MD program student receives a BS/MD Program Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 for each enrolled summer.
Additional scholarship funds may be available and are awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid based on academic merit. These additional scholarships MAY include the following per academic year: Partners in Excellence: $1,500; Presidential: $3,000; Oelschlager Pin Oak: $5,000; Scholarship for Excellence: $6,000; and Akron Advantage: $9,864. All scholarship awards are contingent on enrollment credit hour requirements, GPA status and renewal criteria. There is no application to complete for the $1,000 BS/MD Program Scholarship or the additional potential scholarship funds listed above.
You will automatically be considered. For further information, consult the
Office of Student Financial Aid webpage.
If you decide to apply to the
Honors College, you may be offered admission and an Honors scholarship from the Honors College whether or not you are offered a seat in the BS/MD Program. The
Honors Application is separate and may be done on-line.
18. What are the housing options at The University of Akron?
Please refer to the
Residence Life and Housing webpage for more details.
19. As a BS/MD applicant, can I also apply to the Honors College?
Yes. The
Honors Application is separate and may be done on-line. If you decide to apply to the
Honors College, you may be offered admission and an Honors scholarship from the Honors College whether or not you are offered a seat in the BS/MD Program.
