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DO Current Students

Bachelor's + DO Early Assurance Program for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine through LECOM for Current Messiah University Students

Admission is open to current Messiah students prior to their junior year who have met or exceeded the application requirements for LECOM.  (Note: This means that applicants must have a total four years of college credits prior to entering this program.  In some cases, students who enter Messiah with a full year’s worth of college credits, or take additional credits while at Messiah, may actually graduate in three years prior to entering this program.)

  • Application is initiated by the current student through this LECOM link: (https://lecom.my.site.com/apply/s/login/SelfRegister)
  • Students are required to contact the Martha Stigelman, Coordinator of Pre-Health Professions Advising for their EAP enrollment requirements.
  • Applicants are required to interview with a LECOM representative and must be in-person; either on a LECOM campus, in an offsite location or by videoconferencing. 
  • Students accepted into the LECOM EAP D.O. program as current Messiah students will receive a provisional acceptance letter to this program.
  • In order to maintain their LECOM EAP provisional accepted status, Messiah students will be expected to meet the GPA and shadowing criteria, submit all required information to LECOM in a timely manner, and to participate in the “keeping in touch” activities initiated by LECOM.
  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

 Minimum Required undergraduate courses:

  • 6 Credit Hours of English
  • 6 Semester Credit Hours of Behavioral Science
  • 4 Semester Credit Hours of Physics including a lab
  • 8 Semester Credit Hours of Biology including two labs
  • 8 Semester Credit Hours of General Chemistry including two labs
  • 8 Semester Credit Hours of Organic Chemistry including two labs
  • 3 Semester Credit Hours Biochemistry
  • 3 Semester Credit Hours of Genetics 

Strongly Recommend Undergraduate Courses (Completed before matriculating to LECOM):

  • 4 Semester Credit Hours Physiology
  • 4-8 Semester Credit Hours of Human Anatomy including lab
  • 4 Semester Credit Hours of Microbiology including lab
  • 3 Semester Credit Hours of Cell Biology

Recommended Undergraduate Courses, if available at Messiah University

  • 3 Semester Credit Hours of Histology
  • 3 Semester Credit Hours of Immunology
  • 3 Semester Credit Hours of Embryology
  • 3 Semester Credit Hours of Medical Terminology
  • 3 Semester Credit Hours of Pathophysiology

GPA Requirements - Students are eligible to participate in this program by meeting the following program requirements and interviewing before the beginning of their junior year: 

  • Overall GPA of 3.3/4.0
  • Science GPA of 3.1/4.0
  • SAT/ACT score requirement:
    • a combined SAT score of at least 1240 on the evidence-based reading & writing and math composite requirement (no superscores accepted) OR an ACT score of at least 26, or
    • Students without SAT/ACT scores will either have to complete LECPM’s MMS program with a 3.0 GPA or higher, or score a 500 on the MCAT for the medical program, or
    • Students with low SAT/ACT scores can opt out of the MMS program or MCAT, if their AIS is 115 or higher for the medical program.
  • Working to obtain the required 150 hours of medically-related experience by the time of their matriculation to LECOM.   (50 hours of this must be with a D.O.)

At the time of graduation from Messiah University students must reach or exceed the following benchmarks:

  • Overall GPA of 3.4/4.0;
  • Science GPA of 3.2/4.0;
  • MCAT score of at least 500, if required; and
  • 150 hours of medically-related experience, 50 hours of which must be with a D.O.

MCAT

Students will be exempt from the MCAT requirement providing:

  • They have taken at least one Biochemistry* course and one Genetics* course and have earned a final grade of “C” or higher in each; and
  • Have an SAT score ≥ 1240 or an ACT score ≥ 26.
  • Students not meeting both of these requirements must take the MCAT and score at or above the 500. (Messiah University students in this category should complete the relevant required coursework for LECOM by the end of their third year at Messiah University so that they are prepared to take the MCAT prior to the start of their senior year.)
  • Most D.O. EAP students major in biology, chemistry, biochemistry. With early and careful planning, other major choice may be appropriate. See Martha Stigelman for further details.
  • The time that it takes a student to earn their undergraduate degree from Messiah University varies.  Some students are able to complete the degree in three (3) years depending on a variety of factors including summer school attendance, AP test scores and college dual-enrollment during high school. Regardless of the timing, the undergraduate degree must be completed prior to matriculating at LECOM.
  • A grade of at least 'C' is required to transfer prerequisite coursework.
  • No required class should be taken P/F
  • Required classes should be taken at Messiah University unless approval is granted.
  • At least 150 hours of documented medically-related experience must be completed at the time of matriculation to LECOM. (50 hours of this must be with a D.O.)
  • Provisionally accepted students may not apply to any other medical (M.D. or D.O.) school.  Application to another medical school will result in the loss of the student’s provisional acceptance. 
  • LECOM has campuses in Erie and Greensburg, PA; and a branch campus in Bradenton, FL.  A student enrolled in the EAP may attend any campus. LECOM will try to honor the applicant’s campus choice.