Pre-Medical

Pre-Medical Program

The Science and Mathematics Department at Alvernia University provides oversight and guidance for students who are interested in pursuing healthcare careers such as medical, dental, pharmacy, and physician assistant. Most students who are planning to attend medical or professional school choose to major in the sciences (most often Biology or Biochemistry), since these majors allow them to meet the necessary prerequisite courses. It is possible to choose other majors if desired, but additional coursework will be needed to meet the prerequisites. Students have the opportunity to meet with a Pre-Health Professions Advisor starting in the freshman year, and they are encouraged to meet with the advisor regularly each year after that. These meetings help students to learn how to prepare for medical/professional school applications, and allow them to plan their time and experiences at Alvernia accordingly. Students can pursue early acceptance to medical school through Alvernia's partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (additional information included below). The Science and Mathematics Department is also home to the Pre-Health Professions Club, which provides students with an opportunity to meet with others who have similar interests, learn about different health professions, participate in community servce, and develop leadership skills.

Partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

With a growing demand of healthcare professionals, Alvernia and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) partnered to help prepare new doctors, dentists and pharmacists. This special Early Acceptance Program (EAP) with LECOM allows students to apply to LECOM medical school, dental school or pharmacy school while still in high school. Students who meet the requirements in high school are conditionally accepted into both Alvernia and LECOM’s program simultaneously.

Lake Erie College Of Medicine (LECOM) is a private college with locations in Pennsylvania and Florida. Its main campus is located in Erie, PA, with additional locations at LECOM at Seton Hill, in Greensburg, PA and LECOM Bradenton, a branch campus in Florida.

Recognizing that students learn in different ways, the LECOM Erie Campus offers a choice of three student-centered learning pathways fort the first two years of education in osteopathic medicine, including the traditional Lecture Discussion Pathway, the small-group Problem-Based Learning Pathway, or the Self-Directed-Study Pathway.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Admission Requirements:

• SAT score greater than or equal to 1240 on a single exam or ACT score greater than or equal to 26 on a single exam
• High school GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Maintain a cumulative GPA at Alvernia of 3.4 or higher and a science GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Students already attending Alvernia must meet this criteria in order to enroll into the Early Acceptance Program (EAP).

Medical Program

4 + 4 Track - Students must enroll in the EAP by February 1of their second year at Alvernia University. After completing four years at Alvernia and meeting GPA, MCAT and other requirements, students enter LECOM the following July. LECOM graduates will receive a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree and Alvernia will award the graduate with an appropriate bachelor degree.