Lecom -Osteopathic Medicine Early Acceptance Programs
Applying to medical school can be time-consuming and costly. Getting into medical school is highly competitive and, candidates report, it can be very stressful.
You can change this scenario by applying to PennWest California to earn your undergraduate biology degree– and take advantage of an exceptional opportunity to pave the way to your future in osteopathic medicine.
PennWest California offers an Early Acceptance Program with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), enabling PennWest California biology majors in the pre-professional concentration to follow a pathway toward a career in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy or dental medicine.
Under the Early Acceptance Program, qualified PennWest California undergraduates in the B.S. in Biology: Pre-professional program can be assured of provisional acceptance – in essence, a “reserved seat” – in LECOM's College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy or School of Dental Medicine. Students in the Early Acceptance Program must complete a successful interview and meet all academic requirements.
Osteopathic medicine is centered around a more holistic view of medicine. A Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) focuses on seeing the patient as a “whole person” to reach a diagnosis, rather than treating the symptoms alone. M.D.s practice allopathic medicine, the classical form of medicine, which focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Both M.D. and D.O. students, like those at LECOM, complete four years of medical school before entering residency programs to finish their training and become full-fledged physicians.
Students can apply for the Early Acceptance Program as soon as their senior year of high school, or prior to the start of their third year in the biology program at PennWest California, depending on their desired program track:
- Eligible osteopathic, pharmacy or dental students may choose a "4+4" program that assures them a seat in a four-year LECOM program once they successfully complete the four-year, 120-credit pre-professional biology program at PennWest California.
- Highly motivated osteopathic or pharmacy students may select an accelerated "3+4" program. This option allows qualified students to enter LECOM's medical or pharmacy school after completing just three years (90 credits) at PennWest California. PennWest California accepts the first 30 credits in LECOM's four-year medical/pharmacy program toward completion of the B.S in Biology degree.
Early Acceptance: Important Advantages
Through the Early Acceptance Program, future osteopathic medicine students in PennWest California's pre-professional biology program get the right foundation by completing rigorous courses that prepare them to do well in graduate-level studies. And they largely bypass the intense competition for medical school seats, says program director Dr. Ed Zuchelkowski. “With early acceptance, students can focus totally on their studies during their senior year in college.”
LECOM's tuition is lower than many other medical, pharmacy or dental schools, and students also enjoy a considerable savings because they don't have to apply to multiple schools (and pay multiple application fees) or spend added time and money to travel to multiple interviews.
To qualify for admission to the programs, students should have a high school grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher (unweighted), with an SAT score of at least 1240 or an ACT score of at least 26. The entrance exam for medical school (known as MCAT) or pharmacy school (PCAT) is not required, but the entrance exam for dentistry school (DAT) is required.
Students who are interested in joining the Early Acceptance Program should notify
PennWest California when they apply (or as soon as possible) in order to meet program
deadlines. Current PennWest California biology students, as well as transfer students,
will be considered for the Early Acceptance Program if they meet the requirements.
Nationally Recognized LECOM
LECOM has grown to become the nation’s largest medical college, with campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Bradenton, Florida. LECOM receives the most medical school applications in the country.
LECOM is a leader in innovative, student-centered medical education with five learning pathways leading to a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree: lecture discussion, problem-based learning, directed study and two three-year pathways: Primary Care Scholars and the Accelerated Physician Assistant Pathway. LECOM offers a quality medical education at an affordable price with one of the lowest tuition rates among private medical colleges.
The majority of LECOM graduates become primary care physicians (family physicians, internal medicine, pediatrics or OB-GYN). U.S. News & World Reportranks LECOM in the top five medical colleges for graduating primary care physicians.
Each LECOM campus building in Erie and Bradenton provides expansive teaching and learning areas and includes the latest teaching technology. The LECOM Bayfront Campus, Coffee Culture Café and Student Center, and the John M. and Silvia Ferretti Medical Fitness and Wellness Center in Erie, provide additional space for education and student activities. In Greensburg, LECOM uses classroom space at Seton Hill University.
LECOM is a member of LECOM Health, an academic health center that includes Millcreek Community Hospital and the clinical practices managed by Medical Associates of Erie. Other members of LECOM Health include Corry Memorial Hospital, LECOM Senior Living Center, LECOM Senior Living Communities, LECOM Medical Fitness and Wellness Center, LECOM Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Lifeworks Erie, and Visiting Nurses Association of Erie County. LECOM students learn and work in all of these facilities.
Get your start at PennWest California today to enter the dynamic field of osteopathic medicine: Benefit from our Early Acceptance Program with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Apply now!
Lake Erie College of Medicine
Nationally Recognized
Learn about LECOM, the nation's largest medical college.
Early Acceptance Programs
Vital Head Start
Academically qualified biology majors can be assured of provisional acceptance in LECOM's College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy or School of Dental Medicine.
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Fulfilling Profession
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