KSU and NEOMED Early Assurance Program

Kent State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) have partnered to create an Early Assurance Program (EAP). The EAP (formerly Baccalaureate / M.D.) collaboration is designed for students who are committed to practicing medicine and would like to reserve a seat in medical school while still an undergraduate. The partnership provides students with a rigorous foundation in the natural and social sciences and deepens their understanding of medically underserved communities.

The EAP is a two step process to admission to the NEOMED College of Medicine. The first step is the application to the EAP, which will reserve accepted students a seat at the NEOMED College of Medicine. This does not constitute an offer of admission to NEOMED. The second step allows students who have been granted Early Assurance the opportunity to apply to NEOMED to claim their reserved seat. Admission to NEOMED will be dependent on students' ability to satisfy the academic (prerequisite coursework, minimum overall and BCPM GPAs, and MCAT scores) and professional criteria stipulated by NEOMED. Once in the Early Assurance pathway, students must matriculate in the cohort year they designate at the time of application.

Beginning with early assurance students matriculating to NEOMED in 2025 and fully implemented for 2026, students who matriculate to NEOMED through the EAP will complete a one-year master’s degree program of study at NEOMED prior to entry into the M.D. program. This will grant students an additional level of education to grow their leadership abilities and bolster their resume in preparation for eventual residency applications.

To be eligible to apply for Early Assurance, students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at any Kent State University campus for at least one academic year and have obtained at least sophomore standing. At the time of application, students must have a minimum 3.400 overall and BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics) GPA, completed or be in the process of completing at least 20 semester hours of BCPM coursework (with minimum C- grades), and be a U.S citizen or U.S. permanent resident (latter must submit documentation of status during application process). Students are also expected to demonstrate knowledge of the field and alignment with NEOMED's mission through relevant extracurricular experience, including community service, shadowing, involvement in clubs and organizations, leadership, and other similar activities. All admission and program requirements are subject to change in future cycles.

Students who would like to be considered for nomination by Kent State to the 2023-2024 Early Assurance Program cohort should complete the KSU EAP Survey of Interest. Only Kent State students in their second year of enrollment in a degree granting program should complete the survey. The deadline to complete the survey is January 12, 2024.

Questions may be directed to Erin Lawson, Pre-Health Academic Program Coordinator, at elawson1@kent.edu