Early Assurance Program

Overview

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine selects a number of outstanding Ohio high school seniors to participate in the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Early Assurance Program. In as few as seven years, students can earn their undergraduate degree from an EAP partner school – and their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Heritage College.

The Heritage College has EAP partnerships with Baldwin-Wallace University, John Carroll University, Ohio Dominican University, Ohio University, Otterbein University and Shawnee State University. These partnerships, coupled with the opening of the Heritage College campuses in Dublin and Cleveland, are designed to increase the pathway of primary care physicians throughout Ohio.

Students selected for an interview will be notified by the Heritage College Office of Admissions. Interviews will be completed at the end of February, with all final decisions rendered by March 31.

The application for the Early Assurance Program is OPEN NOW! The deadline to apply is January 10, 2025.
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Program Features

• Official Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) requirement is waived, however, EAP students must complete the mock MCAT exam and score at least a 500 to meet HCOM entrance requirements. EAP students will be provided two opportunities to meet this score if necessary.
• 3+4 and 4+4 curricular options are available. A 3+4 track allows an EAP student to enter medical school after graduating from their partner school in 3 years. This option only applies to students who have earned enough college credit through Advanced Placement or College Credit Plus coursework to graduate early.
• Mentoring from a current EAP upperclassman student, who will soon become an HCOM medical student.
• Access to programming and activities that provide a firsthand look into the medical school experience, including the EAP Leadership & Service Seminar Series (LS3), community service opportunities, and RUSP workshops at OU-HCOM.

Program Requirements

You will want to be sure and check out our partner schools' websites for detailed information on program and application requirements, but in general, to be considered an applicant to the Early Assurance Program at the Heritage College, you must:

• Be accepted to your selected partner school(s) before you apply to the EAP.
• Meet all application deadlines. Most occur in early January.
• Be an Ohio resident.
• Graduate from an Ohio high school.
• Earn at least a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5+ on a 4.0 scale (unweighted).
• Have completed or be in the process of completing four units or credits of high school math, English and science, including biology and chemistry (coursework in physics is strongly encouraged).
• Have the School Counselor Evaluation form submitted and a letter of recommendation from a science teacher who taught you in class for a grade.
• Submit an official high school transcript and official transcripts from any postsecondary institutions attended.
• Submit an essay detailing why you wish to pursue a career in medicine.
• Be invited for a virtual interview that will take place in February or March.

To remain eligible as an EAP participant, students must have an overall GPA of 3.7 and a GPA of 3.6 or higher in science coursework at the completion of the undergraduate program. They must also complete the mock MCAT exam and earn a score of at least 500. Finally, EAP students must meet requirements for shadowing hours, extracurricular activities, and community service. The EAP Student Manual (which is provided to EAP students upon acceptance to the program) provides more details on student responsibilities and loss of conditional admission status.

Program Partners

     BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY

      EAP application deadline: January 10 of sophomore year at Baldwin Wallace.

      Maximum cohort size: 3

      Visit the Baldwin Wallace University website for more information.

     JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY

      EAP application deadline: January 10

      Maximum cohort size: 12

Visit the John Carroll University website for more information.

     OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY

      EAP application deadline: January 10

      Maximum cohort size: 7

      Visit the Ohio Dominican University EAP website for more information.

      OHIO UNIVERSITY

       EAP application deadline: January 10

       Maximum cohort size: 15

The 3+4 curricular experience is only available to students in the Honors Tutorial College or the College of Arts & Sciences Biological Sciences or Chemistry and Biochemistry departments. For more information about Ohio University's EAP program, go here:

Options for Ohio University  Arts & Sciences majors

Ohio University eligibility and application process

OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY

 EAP application deadline: January 10

 Maximum cohort size: 7

Students opting for a 4+4 curricular experience can pursue any major, while students considering the 3+4 curricular track can major only in biology, chemistry, biochemistry or molecular biology.

Visit the Otterbein University EAP website for more information.

SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY

 EAP application deadline: January 15

 Maximum cohort size: 3

Students may only complete a 4+4 curricular experience within the bachelor of  science in biology, biomedical sciences track.

 Visit the Shawnee State University EAP website for more information.