Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Ohio Wesleyan is part of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Early Acceptance Program. The agreement enables qualified OWU students to gain provisional early acceptance into LECOM’s medical school.

Supporting a Seamless Transition to Medical School

LECOM’s Early Acceptance Program includes two tracks: an accelerated 3+4 option and a more traditional 4+4 option. Students select a track when they apply to the program and may switch once while enrolled at Ohio Wesleyan. The program will accept up to five OWU students each academic year.

“The Early Acceptance Program provides qualified students with a reserved seat at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine as early as the summer before they start classes at Ohio Wesleyan,” said Dale J. Brugh, Ph.D., OWU’s associate dean for innovation. “Early acceptance can help students avoid some of the stress and cost of applying to medical school. In addition, exceptionally well-qualified students could begin medical school before completing their OWU bachelor’s degrees.”

Meet LECOM

LECOM is the largest osteopathic medical school in the United States. The College’s main campus is in Erie, PA, and it has branches in Greensburg, PA, and Bradenton, FL. LECOM confers the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

The mission of the private, nonprofit graduate school is to prepare health care professionals trained in the osteopathic tradition of competent and compassionate, whole-person primary care. LECOM also offers graduate degrees in both dentistry and pharmacy.

Should I go D.O.?

According to the American Association of Osteopathic Colleges of Medicine, doctors who have D.O. degrees—like those with M.D. degrees—“can choose any specialty, prescribe drugs, perform surgeries, and practice medicine anywhere in the United States.”

Osteopathic medicine, the association states, “offers the added benefit of hands-on diagnosis and treatment” and “emphasizes helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention.”

Do I Qualify?

If you are a high school student with a composite ACT score of at least 25 (SAT score of at least 1200 when taken after March 1, 2016) and a GPA of at least 3.60, you may qualify to apply for this early acceptance program. You should contact the pre-health advisor, David Markwardt, at ddmarkwa@owu.edu, for more information.

If you are a current Ohio Wesleyan student, you may be eligible to apply if your Academic Index Score is at least 115 and if you have not yet started your third year. You should contact the pre-health advisor, David Markwardt, at ddmarkwa@owu.edu, for more information.

Early Acceptance Program

1. LECOM's Early Acceptance Program (EAP) has two tracks, 3+4 and 4+4. Requirements for 3+4 are higher than for 4+4. LECOM considers the 4+4 track the usual track with the 3+4 track reserved for exceptional candidates. Students select a track at the time of application to the EAP, but they may switch once while enrolled at OWU.
2. Students may apply to the EAP up to one year before enrollment at a partner undergraduate institution. The deadline for application is before beginning the second year at OWU for the 3+4 track and before beginning the third year at OWU for the 4+4 track.
3. To be accepted to the EAP, students must meet minimum academic requirements and successfully complete an interview with LECOM staff. Students who interview successfully (and who are approved by the OWU pre-medical committee to participate in the EAP) will be offered a provisional acceptance to LECOM’s D.O. program. This holds a seat in the entering class contingent upon continued academic performance and meeting final acceptance requirements.
4. If students meet the criteria for final acceptance, they will matriculate at the LECOM campus of their choice (Erie, PA; Greensburg, PA; Bradenton, FL). Students are not required to complete an additional interview, nor are they required to take the MCAT (provided they meet the standards for MCAT exemption).
5. Only U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents may participate in the EAP.
6. Students must submit updated academic information to LECOM at the end of each semester.
7. LECOM uses an academic index score (AIS) to determine whether a student is eligible for admission to the EAP and as a criterion in final matriculation at LECOM. The AIS is computed using a student’s GPA and SAT or ACT score according to the table listed on the Requirements page.
8. For final matriculation at LECOM, students must maintain a cumulative science GPA (3.2) and cumulative overall GPA (3.4 for 4+ and 3.5 for 3+) equal to or greater than those shown on the Requirements page, complete all required courses with a grade of C or better, and complete a major in the biological or physical sciences (or a major approved by the pre-medical committee).
9. Students who meet the AIS standards and who have taken at least one biochemistry courses with a grade of C or better do not have to take the MCAT.
10. Student must attend at least one annual on-campus day events for affiliated students.