Graduate Student Pursues Dual Degrees, Physician-Scientist Bound
Post Baccalaureate/M.D. Path
The 2013 Post-Bacc/M.D. application deadline has now passed
Most post baccalaureate programs offer courses that prepare individuals for entrance to medical school or strengthen the student’s transcript. The NEOMED-CSU program offers Post Bacc/M.D. students the necessary pre-medical courses and a reserved seat at the College of Medicine. The Post Bacc/M.D. students will complete a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with an Urban Health Concentration at CSU prior to matriculating to NEOMED.
About the Post Bacc/M.D.
The NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc curriculum is designed for those who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university. The two-year Post Bacc curriculum at CSU will also include urban health courses and seminars. Because accepted students have a bachelor’s degree, most of the required coursework will include the traditional pre-medical and life sciences courses. Should additional related but non-science coursework be needed, students will be informed upon acceptance and required to complete those courses before beginning medical school. At NEOMED, students will take the four-year Doctor of Medicine curriculum.
It is possible to complete the post baccalaureate portion at CSU as a part-time student by attending classes during the summer. However, students may not enroll part-time in the College of Medicine. Applications for the Post Bacc/M.D. program will be submitted to and processed by NEOMED’s College of Medicine, although the Post Bacc education will take place primarily at CSU.
Admitted students will have an option of obtaining a Bachelor's of Science in Health Science. In order to do so, students will have to complete 30 hours of coursework at Cleveland State and may transfer the remaining 35 credits from their prior undergraduate coursework.
Admission Requirements
To be considered an eligible applicant for the NEOMED-CSU M.D. partnership, candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and:
- Have a minimum 3.00 college GPA OR minimum 1000 GRE score; combined verbal and quantitative scores with not less than 450 on either component (scores must be received by application deadline and can be no more than two years old at time of application) OR MCAT equivalent of 21 (7 or higher in each subtest on the most recent test)
- Please note that the new Revised GRE has a different scoring system and the minimum total score would now be 300 with a minimum of 150 in Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.
- Hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States
- Successfully complete the traditional panel interview process
As publicly funded universities in the state of Ohio, preferential admission is given to Ohio residents.
Application Materials
Post-Bacc/M.D. applicants would need to submit:
- Graduate-level test results that are no more than two (2) years old at the time of application (for those with GPA below 3.00)
- Official transcripts from every institution the applicant attended following high school
- Official College transcript
- Two letters of recommendation: One personal; one academic, preferably from a science or math professor (no letters from relatives)
- Personal letters of recommendation may come from a, co-worker, supervisor, clergy, counselor, officer of a non-profit or volunteer organization, etc. These letters should speak to your personal attributes.
- Academic letters may come from faculty, research supervisors, work supervisors, practicing physicians or healthcare providers. Professional letter authors should address your academic potential, scientific and/or clinical abilities, responsibility, work ethic, and general work skills.
Proposed Promotion Requirements
An admitted student to the combined Post Bacc/M.D. program has a reserved seat at the College of Medicine and will matriculate to NEOMED if all promotion requirements are met. Students will be required to take the MCAT by the April test date prior to matriculation at the College of Medicine. Those students who apply to the Post Bacc/M.D. program with an MCAT will need to retake the MCAT to remain eligible for promotion to NEOMED’s College of Medicine.
The proposed promotion requirements (subject to change) for NEOMED’s College of Medicine require that students must:
- Successfully complete urban health courses and seminars, and
- Have no less than a C- on all required courses, and
- Have a 3.25 overall GPA in CSU post-baccalaureate coursework, 3.20 GPA in biology, chemistry, physics and math and MCAT* score of 8 or higher in each subtest on the most recent test OR
- Have a 3.50 overall GPA in coursework, 3.50 overall GPA in biology, chemistry, physics and math , MCAT* composite score of at least 24 on the most recent test, with subtest scores of 8 or higher in two sections and no less than a 7 on the third
*MCAT must be taken no later than the April before the student expects to matriculate to NEOMED.
The Committee on Academic and Professional Progress will annually determine if the student will be promoted, retained, or dismissed from the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. program.
Program Timeline
October—NEOMED application available
January 15—NEOMED application due
Winter—Interviews
July—Acceptance into the Post Bacc/M.D. program notification scheduled
April of second year—Prior to matriculation at NEOMED, must have taken the MCAT
Spring of second year—full promotion to NEOMED notification scheduled
