Applying to medical school can be stressful. Students have to submit lengthy applications, secure committee letters of recommendation and prepare for the MCAT—all while staying on top of their undergraduate studies.
But now, the process will be substantially smoother thanks to “early assurance” programs between Syracuse University and a growing number of medical and other health-profession-related professional schools.
Early assurance allows students to apply concurrently to Syracuse and to one of its partner schools. Assuming they meet GPA and other requirements, students can go straight from Syracuse to the medical, dental or other school—no separate application required.
Agreements so far have been signed with Albany Medical College (AMC), Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and Upstate Medical University (UMU). Early assurance can help prospective students, as well as all current Syracuse students (not just students in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and Maxwell School).
Lauren Hunter, director of pre-health advising for A&S and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, says, “Early assurance programs will be extremely helpful to students planning to go into the medical field. They’ll be confident knowing where they’re going after graduation and won’t have to take the MCAT or pay hundreds of dollars in application fees.”
Students already enrolled in Syracuse can take advantage of early assurance, too. After earning a certain amount of credits and taking specified coursework at Syracuse, the student can then apply to AAMC, LECOM and UMU.
“This is a game-changer for Syracuse,” says Steve Schaffling, assistant dean for student success for A&S and the Maxwell School. “It’s exciting to offer this new opportunity to our students interested in the health professions.”
