The Northeast Ohio Medical University-Cleveland State University Post Bacc/M.D. Frequently Asked Questions

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1 The Northeast Ohio Medical University-Cleveland State University Post Bacc/M.D. Frequently Asked Questions What is the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. program? Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Cleveland State University (CSU) have created a partnership to address the challenges of urban health and the lack of health care providers within urban areas, specifically within the Cleveland metropolitan area. The Post Bacc/M.D. educates and trains future primary care and other needed physicians interested in serving urban and underserved populations in three ways: 1. pre-medical students take urban health courses and seminars during their Post Bacc education at CSU 2. during medical school students participate in the Primary Ambulatory Care Experiences (PACE) in Cleveland 3. while at NEOMED s College of Medicine the curriculum will also include urban health concepts and experiences. What is a Post Bacc program? A post baccalaureate (or post bacc) program is for those who have already completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution. A post baccalaureate program generally includes courses that better prepare students for entrance to most professional schools (medical, dental, veterinary, etc.) and the aptitude tests required for admission. Many post baccalaureate programs provide students with credit for coursework, but may not offer a reserved seat to a particular medical school. What is a joint Post Bacc/M.D. program? A Post Bacc/M.D. program allows students to enter a pre-medical program and a Doctor of Medicine degree through a single, joint application and set of courses. Acceptance to a Post Bacc/M.D. reserves a seat at a specified medical school. What is urban health? Urban health is an area of health care focused on the unique medical concerns which dominate large metropolitan areas along with social concerns that affect lives and access to healthy living. The Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization acknowledge the relationship between health and the social determinants of health (such as education, income, housing, air quality, health insurance, risk behaviors, and environmental hazards) when defining urban health. What makes the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. unique? The NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. provides those with a bachelor s degree from an accredited four-year college or university an opportunity to take pre-medical courses and a reserved seat at NEOMED s College of Medicine, if the promotion requirements are met. In addition to pre-medical science courses, general education, and other requirements, Post Bacc/M.D. students will take courses and seminars that focus on urban health at CSU. Why enroll at CSU for the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D.? For a student to receive early assurance that they will be accepted into NEOMED s College of Medicine, a student must be enrolled at CSU and in the Post Bacc/M.D. program. 1

2 Do I need to have a bachelor s degree to enroll in the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. program? Yes. You must have a bachelor s degree from an accredited four-year college or university to enroll in the program. Are international students accepted into the program? NEOMED only accepts U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. Program s Features How many seats are available in the Post Bacc program? Up to a total of 35 seats are available at NEOMED s College of Medicine for students applying from CSU through preferred Direct Entry, Post Bacc/M.D., and the Bacc/M.D. programs. What will you do with any unfilled seats? Unfilled seats will be made available to those applying to NEOMED s College of Medicine Direct Entry program. May I re-apply if I am not initially accepted? Yes, applicants may re-apply to the Post Bacc/M.D. program. Applicants who are not accepted to the Post Bacc/M.D. program may wish to apply to a traditional pre-medical Post Bacc program and then apply to medical school through the more traditional Direct Entry process. How many hours of coursework are required in the CSU Post Bacc program? Depending on the number of courses a student completed during undergraduate study, approximately 60 semester hours at CSU need to be completed in the post baccalaureate curriculum. This includes pre-medical science, math, and life science courses, as well as any necessary related courses (for example, statistics), and urban health courses and seminars. Which courses will I need to take to complete in the Post Bacc curriculum of the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc program? One year of biology with lab (8 credit hours) One year of general chemistry (10 credit hours) One year of organic chemistry (12 credit hours) One year of physics (8 credit hours) Urban health concentration courses and seminars (approx. 16 hours) Are there state residency requirements to enroll in the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. program? The NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. is designed to create a direct path to medical school for CSU graduates into NEOMED s College of Medicine. As publicly funded universities, both CSU and NEOMED follow the Ohio Board of Regents definition for state residency; see CSU s website or for more information. NEOMED accepts only U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The state residency requirements for both CSU and NEOMED also affect tuition rates. Are there additional requirements for entry to NEOMED s College of Medicine? Yes. NEOMED s College of Medicine requires candidates for promotion to demonstrate an appropriate level of professionalism. Applicants and medical students must also 2

3 demonstrate an appropriate level of accomplishment in integrity, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, commitment to excellence, and responsibility for one s self and others. Evaluation of each student s professional progress includes academic excellence. Full promotion to NEOMED s College of Medicine is contingent upon a criminal background check. Admission Eligibility Requirements For The Post Bacc/M.D. Program What are residency requirements for eligibility for the Post Bacc/M.D. program? To be eligible for the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. program, a student must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. College GPA Because the Post Bacc/M.D. is a second degree, an applicant must have a college degree from a four-year accredited institution and a minimum college GPA of 3.0. Do I need to take a standardized test to enter? If your GPA is below 3.0 then yes. If your GPA is above 3.0, you do not need to submit a standardized test score. Applicants may use the GRE or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) if their GPA is below 3.0. What is the minimum GRE needed to enter the Post Bacc/M.D.? A GRE score of 1000 combined score with no less than 450 in each category or higher is needed. The GRE score must be no more than two years old upon time of application. What is the minimum MCAT score needed to enter the Post Bacc/M.D. program? We accept the MCAT scores if the following conditions are met: The MCAT equivalent of 21or a minimum of 7 in each sub test Scores should be no more than two years old at the time of application. Those students who apply with an MCAT will need to retake the MCAT to remain eligible for promotion to NEOMED s College of Medicine. Can I transfer into the CSU-NEOMED Post Bacc/M.D., and how many credits may I transfer? Students who wish to transfer credits should meet with the coordinator of pre-professional medical programs before they have been accepted to determine whether the credits will transfer. Will the Post Bacc/M.D. work for academic record enhancers? Applicants who do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. are encouraged to attend a traditional post baccalaureate pre-medical program in order to enhance their academic record to qualify for eligibility to enter NEOMED s College of Medicine through its Direct Entry application process. It is recommended that academic record enhancers at CSU meet with the coordinator of pre-professional medical programs to determine the best plan of action. The coordinator may be reached at Is there an interview for admission to the Post Bacc/M.D.? Yes. All students must interview with NEOMED and CSU faculty in order to be accepted into the Post Bacc/M.D. program. This interview will support admission to NEOMED s College of Medicine. 3

4 Is there an additional interview to enter NEOMED? No additional interview is required. However, NEOMED reserves the right to meet with students before promoting Post Bacc/M.D. students to the College of Medicine. Can I take courses at another institution to fulfill my Post Bacc requirements? If you transfer into the Post Bacc/M.D., program from another institution, CSU will determine which credits may transfer. Students will not receive credits for courses taken at other universities after admission to the Post Bacc at CSU. Proposed Promotion Requirements To NEOMED Do I need to take the MCAT to enroll in the Post BACC/M.D.? You will need an MCAT score to enter NEOMED s College of Medicine. Students are encouraged to take the MCAT as soon as they have completed their pre-medical courses, so that they can repeat the MCAT in the event that they don t reach the minimum score. The last possible test administration date that a student can sit for the exam is April preceding their expected start date at NEOMED. Making Your Way Through The Post Bacc/M.D. Program What if I don t complete the Post Bacc portion of the program in the allotted time? If something prevents you from completing the Post Bacc portion in a timely manner, you should work with the coordinator of pre-professional medical programs (who may be reached at ) to develop a course of action. May I enroll in the Post Bacc portion of the program part-time? Part-time status at Cleveland State is defined as a course load of 11 credit hours or less. Students considering part-time study should consult with the coordinator of preprofessional medical programs at CSU to assure timely and sequential completion of prerequisites. The coordinator may be reached at Students may NOT complete medical school on a part-time basis. What is the process to enter NEOMED s College of Medicine following the Post Bacc program? Students who have been accepted into the Post Bacc/M.D. program have already completed a large portion of the NEOMED College of Medicine application process. Enrolled students must take the MCAT by the April test date prior to the fall term they would matriculate to the College of Medicine. What if I change my mind and want to attend a different medical school? NEOMED and CSU have created a unique opportunity for students to attain an additional degree with assurance that upon successful completion of the curriculum and acceptable MCAT scores, they will be admitted to NEOMED s College of Medicine. A decision to enter the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. program requires commitment and should not be entered into lightly. Academic Support At CSU CSU offers a wealth of support for students such as tutoring, academic advising, supplemental instruction and more. More information may be found on this website. 4

5 Academic Support At NEOMED NEOMED s College of Medicine offers students support in a variety of personal and professional areas. More information may be found on the career development and advising, or student affairs pages on this website. Fees And Scholarships The Post Bacc portion of the Post Bacc/M.D. takes place at CSU. While students pursue the Post Bacc, they will pay tuition to CSU. The Post Bacc should take two years to complete. When students enroll in NEOMED s College of Medicine, they will pay tuition to NEOMED. The student s medical education will take place primarily at NEOMED s Rootstown campus. A medical school education takes four years. What is the annual tuition at CSU? Students who qualify as Ohio residents and attend classes full time at CSU can find more information regarding CSU tuition and fees on their website. What other fees might I have to budget for? In addition to tuition, there are fees for housing, meals, books, parking, and other college related expenses. Other expenses can include transportation, loan fees, health insurance, entertainment and additional personal living expenses. Is financial aid or scholarship money available? Because CSU is a fully accredited institution of higher learning, students may apply for numerous government as well as private loans, grants, or scholarships to fund their education. CSU plays no role, however, in securing or guaranteeing funding from these various sources. What is the annual tuition at NEOMED s College of Medicine? First year students who qualify as Ohio residents and attend classes full time at NEOMED, pay $30,875 (All fees subject to change). In addition to tuition, there are fees for housing, meals, books, parking, and other college related expenses. Other expenses can include transportation, loan fees, health insurance, entertainment and additional personal living expenses. For more information regarding NEOMED College of Medicine tuition, visit the NEOMED website. Is financial aid or scholarship money to available to NEOMED students? Students may apply for numerous federal and state loans, or grants, or scholarships to fund their education. NEOMED plays no role, however, in securing or guaranteeing funding from these various sources. Applying To The NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. Program To apply to the NEOMED-CSU Post Bacc/M.D. program, visit The Post Bacc/M.D. application will be processed by NEOMED s Office of Enrollment Services. 5

6 Please Note: Cleveland State University offers a variety of flexible post baccalaureate study options. Admission to CSU s post baccalaureate pre-medicine program or any other post baccalaureate program should not be confused with admission to the CSU-NEOMED Post Bacc/M.D. program, which has significantly different eligibility requirements and application deadlines. Applicants need: Graduate-level test results that are no more than two (2) years old at the time of application Official transcripts from every institution the applicant attended following high school Official College transcript Official high school transcript Two letters of recommendation: One personal; one academic, preferably from a science or math professor (no letters from relatives) Personal letters of recommendation may come from a, co-worker, supervisor, clergy, counselor, officer of a non-profit or volunteer organization, etc. These letters should speak to your personal attributes. Academic letters may come from faculty, research supervisors, work supervisors, practicing physicians or healthcare providers. Professional letter authors should address your academic potential, scientific and/or clinical abilities, responsibility, work ethic, and general work skills. When will interviews be? Applicants selected for interviews will be notified during the winter and spring months of Offers of acceptance will be made from this group. All applicants will be notified of final decisions by July. What will the interviews be like? At NEOMED the interview process follows a panel-style format. Applicants will come to NEOMED for the traditional panel interview with faculty from NEOMED s College of Medicine and CSU. When will decisions be made? All applicants will be notified of final decisions by July. What does it cost to apply? For information regarding application fees contact NEOMED s Office of Enrollment Services What is the application process? 1. Online application is available Oct., Completed applications are due Jan. 15, 2012 (see above for more information) 3. GRE test results need to be received by Jan If invited, interview with CSU and NEOMED s College of Medicine admissions committee Winter/Spring Notification of admission is scheduled for July, Post Bacc/M.D. students must take their MCAT on or before the April test date prior to matriculating to NEOMED 7. MCAT test results need to be received by June 6