Pre-Med at Elizabethtown
The Pre-Med curriculum at Elizabethtown is designed to help prepare students for entrance into Medical, Dental, Veterinary Medicine, and other health professions programs. Nearly 90 percent of our graduates are accepted into health professions schools to which they apply, which is more than twice the national average. There are four principle reasons for this success:
- Comprehensive Advising
- Experiential Learning
- Options for Choosing a Major
- Cooperative Programs with other Insitutions
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A. Comprehensive Advising
The faculty in all departments strive to stimulate and nourish academic growth. As you prepare for medical school, you will also have a close working relationship with the Health Professions Advisory Committee. These five faculty members will assist you as you schedule your courses, prepare for MCATs and health professions school interviews, and complete the application process.
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B. Experiential Learning
Through assistantships, student research programs and internships, students gain valuable medically related experience and significantly enhance the strength of their medical school applications. Students have interned in summer programs at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals in Wilmington, Del., Howard Hughes Medical Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the University of Pittsburgh, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas,Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, University of Maryland Greenbaum Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., and have participated in National Science Foundation-sponsored research at the State University of New York at Fredonia.
Our graduates have been accepted to medical schools such as the University of Pittsburgh Medical and Dental Schools; Jefferson Medical College, Temple University Schools of Medicine and Dentistry; Drexel University College of Medicine; Albert Einstein University College of Medicine; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; University of Pennsylvania Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine; Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine; Pennsylvania College of Optometry; and the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.
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C. Options for choosing your major.
While medical schools admit students from a variety of majors, at Elizabethtown there are two majors that not only provide you the minimum entrance requirements, but also prepare you for success while enrolled in medical school.
- Biochemistry: The biochemistry major is offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
- Biology-Pre-Medical Concentration: The Pre-Medical Concentration is offered by theDepartment of Biology
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D. Cooperative Programs
In addition to the strong preparation and flexible choice of major, we have affiliations with the Penn State College of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Temple University's School of Dentistry.
Pre-Medical Primary Care Program (PPP)
Elizabethtown College and the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine have developed a special program to selectively admit students seeking to pursue careers as primary care physicians. This program will give these students the option for automatic matriculation to the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine upon completion of their bachelor’s degree at Elizabethtown.
Interested students apply for this program during their senior year of high school. Students must meet the following criteria to be considered for acceptance to the program: (1) hold a class rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class; (2) achieve a minimum score of 1250 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT); (3) complete three years of natural sciences, including biology, chemistry and physics, with mathematics through trigonometry (calculus is recommended); (4) have experiences in human service activities; and (5) submit a statement explaining their wish to practice in a rural and/or medically underserved area and their interest in primary care.Admission to Elizabethtown College will be determined by the director of admissions. Admission to the Pre-Medical Primary Care Program will be the responsibility of Elizabethtown College and the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. Final acceptance to the College of Medicine is contingent upon satisfactory fulfillment of yearly criteria, including a minimum grade point average (GPA) of a 3.5 in biology, chemistry, and physics courses and an overall GPA of at least 3.5 by the end of the junior year, an MCAT score at or above the mean for the previous year’s entering medical school class, and successful completion of Family Practice practicums. Students accepted into the program will be supported by Presidential or Provost merit-based scholarships. Primary Care Scholars Program
A Primary Care Scholars Program through the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine is available to students completing at least one year of college and who are excelling academically. Students must be recommended to the program by the Elizabethtown College Health Professions Advisory Committee. The students will spend a week at the Hershey Medical Center participating in lectures, seminars, and clinical experiences. The curriculum includes
- Information sessions dealing with family medicine, pediatrics, family systems, preventive edicine, primary care, healthcare delivery/payment system, doctor-patient relationship, and health care team. - Clinical exposure accompanied by primary care physicians. In addition to the one-week program at the College of Medicine, the student participates in a preceptorship in a primary care office during the second week of the experience.
2.Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program
Elizabethtown College and the Philadelphia College of Medicine (PCOM) have developed a joint undergraduate-professional program leading to a degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
PCOM agrees to admit qualified Elizabethtown College students provided said students have successfully completed their undergraduate prerequisites and fulfilled the admission requirements for PCOM.
The affiliated PCOM-Elizabethtown education curriculum shall consist of two academic alternatives, both of which require the student to successfully complete four years of medical education at PCOM:
Accelerated Academic Program [3+4 Program]: Students who have completed a minimum of 99 undergraduate semester hours and enter PCOM following their junior year at Elizabethtown College.
Traditional Academic Program [4+4 Program]: Students who have completed all requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree and enter PCOM following their senior year at Elizabethtown College. Applicants will be accepted into the Program if they satisfy the eligibility requirements set forth below, are recommended for admission by a Joint Admissions Committee (two members appointed by PCOM, two members appointed by Elizabethtown College, and an Osteopathic Physician), and are interviewed and accepted by PCOM’s Faculty Committee on Admissions.
3+4 Program:
- Candidates must complete course requirements as listed in PCOM’s catalog.
- Candidates must have earned (on the 4.0 grading system) the following minimum grade point averages at Elizabethtown College:
- Candidates will take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in the spring of their junior year at Elizabethtown College. The candidate must earn a minimum score of 7 in each category on the MCAT to be considered for admission.
- Candidates must submit an application to PCOM through AACOMAS by mid-January of the third year at Elizabethtown College.
- Other criteria for admission that PCOM may establish from time to time.
- i) Science GPA 3.2 ii) Overall GPA 3.2
4+4 Program:
- Candidates must complete course requirements as listed in PCOM’s catalog.
- A grade point average of at least 3.0 through the end of the junior year at Elizabethtown College.
- MCAT scores of at least 7 in each category.
- Other criteria for admission that PCOM may establish from year to year.
Degrees Awarded:
- Baccalaureate Degree 3+4 Program: Elizabethtown College shall award a baccalaureate degree upon receipt of an official transcript indicating the successful completion of one year at PCOM with a grade of "C" or above in each course.
- Baccalaureate Degree 4+4 Program: Elizabethtown College shall award a baccalaureate degree upon the completion of the undergraduate requirements associated with the selected degree plan in a respective major.
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree: PCOM shall award the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine to students completing all of PCOM’s requirements as set forth in the PCOM catalog.
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3. Temple University School of Dentistry
Through an articulation agreement with Temple University’s School of Dentistry, qualified students can pursue a 3+4 program leading to a bachelor’s degree from Elizabethtown and a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from Temple. While at Elizabethtown, students must complete at least one year of English, one year of biology, one year of organic chemistry, one year of inorganic chemistry, and one year of physics. For program information and admissions requirements, contact the Department of Biology.
For more information about Health Professions, contact, Dr. Khristy Thompson in the Department of Biology.
