FIU College of Medicine Early Assurance

Eligibility

I. To apply, a student must:

1. Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
2. Be enrolled in the Honors College at FIU
3. Have a minimum of 60 completed credits, including at least 24 credits from FIU
4. Have a minimum of 2 semesters enrolled in the Honors College
5. Apply in the spring semester of sophomore year
6. Complete at FIUat least one Biology course at FIU and three additional courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and/or Math (BCPM)
7. Have a 3.6 overall GPA, and a 3.5 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math GPA (BCPM)
8. Submit two letters of evaluation, one from a science faculty member and one from an Honors College faculty member. The student may submit an optional third letter of evaluation. The letter may be from a health care provider with whom a student has volunteered, shadowed, or been employed, or it may be a clinical or research letter; the third letter of evaluation may not replace either of the two required letters (a letter from the Honors College Dean will be provided if the student completes a successful interview with the Honors College EAP Committee).
9. Be in good academic standing, with no disciplinary actions and demonstrated professionalism.

II. Application:

1. Students must apply directly to the Honors College EAP Committee by the application deadline. Applications are submitted online at: https://eap.medicine.fiu.edu.
2. The Honors College EAP Committee will review applications and schedule interviews. Only the most competitive students, as determined by the Committee, are offered interviews. The number of applicants invited for interview will be limited. Interviews will take place after Spring term grades are available.
3. Applications recommended by the Honors College will be reviewed by the HWCOM EAP Admissions Committee, which will choose candidates for interviews.

III. HWCOM Admissions Interviews

HWCOM will select candidates for an interview with its EAP Committee. During interviews, candidates will be evaluated for such qualities as empathy, integrity, temperament, self-confidence, and resourcefulness. Applicants will also be asked questions to determine their suitability for a career in medicine. These may prove the applicant’s:

• Motivation for medicine
• Breadth of educational interests and accomplishments
• Extracurricular activities and evidence of service to others
• Self-awareness and insight into issues facing physicians today

IV. Acceptance

After the Early Admissions interviews are completed, applications are reviewed by a subcommittee of the HWCOM Admissions Committee, which holistically reviews applications to determine if a student is qualified for admission. As many as 10 candidates may be selected for guaranteed conditional acceptance into the designated entering class at HWCOM. Acceptance to the MD degree program at HWCOM is contingent upon whether the candidate maintains academic and professionalism standards.

Within 2 weeks of being accepted into the Early Assurance Program, students are required to provide written acknowledgement of their intent to matriculate at HWCOM, which constitutes an agreement with HWCOM that students will not pursue admission to any other MD degree program, when applying thru the Early Assurance Program. Students who fail to meet the admission requirements for the conditional admission through the Early Assurance Program are not precluded from applying to HWCOM in the regular pool.

V. Requirements to progress to medical school:

Students accepted into the Early Assurance Program must fulfill these requirements to enroll in the MD degree program at HWCOM:

1. Participate in required programs and activities sponsored by HWCOM and the FIU Honors College.
2. Meet with an FIU Honors College Early Assurance Program advisor at least once each semester.
3. Maintain the endorsement of the Dean of the FIU Honors College.
4. Have an expected matriculation date of two years after acceptance into Early Assurance Program. We will consider a 1-year maximum deferral if extenuating circumstances are involved. These extenuating circumstances include death of a student or immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparents), call to active military service, or illness of student of such severity or duration to preclude completion of requirements.
5. Take the MCAT no later than end of June of the year prior to matriculation at HWCOM and earn at least a 505, or score in the 75^th seventy-fifth percentile. Students cannot exceed two MCAT attempts while in Early Assurance Program
6. Maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.6 and a minimum BCPM GPA of 3.5.
7. Demonstrate professional behavior/leadership qualities and enriching qualities (additional personal characteristics in addition to academic metrics).
8. Continue participating in research experiences, community service activities, and clinical training while in the Early Assurance Program.

9. Participate in the HWCOM mentoring program for students in the Early Assurance Program.

10. Submit an application to the American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS) no later than August 1 of the year prior to matriculation at HWCOM.

11. Students in the Early Assurance Program who apply to any other MD degree program forfeit guaranteed acceptance to HWCOM. They may apply to HWCOM via the regular process, through AMCAS, but are not granted any special rights, privileges, or guarantees.

12. Complete the bachelor’s degree and all required prerequisite courses designated by HWCOM prior to matriculation.

13. Meet all technical standards of the MD degree program.

14. Meet all pre-matriculation requirements.

The Early Assurance Program is reviewed annually to determine whether any changes are necessary regarding Early Assurance Program requirements or standards for admission to HWCOM.

VI. Matriculation Agreement

Accepted EAP candidates must acknowledge their intent to matriculate at HWCOM in writing within 2 weeks of their acceptance. This constitutes an agreement with HWCOM that they will not pursue admission to any other medical school(s). Accepted EAP students who apply to any other medical school will forfeit their guaranteed acceptance to HWCOM. They may apply to HWCOM via the normal process through AMCAS, but will not be granted any special rights, privileges, or guarantees. Students not accepted into the EAP may also apply to HWCOM through the normal application process.

The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is prepared to offer a guaranteed interview for any Honors College student with the following admission application record:

1. Minimum MCAT score of 510
2. Minimum overall GPA of 3.7
3. Minimum BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Math) GPA of 3.5
4. A significant record of activities to include:
   (a) Community service/evidence of altruism
   (b) Clinical experiences/patient care exposure
   (c) Leadership
   (d) Research experience preferred
5. Complete HWCOM Guaranteed Interview Form (contact assigned Honors College advisor or hcadvising@fiu.edu for the form) and submit form to Honors College for review by August 1st of the application year.

(a) upload resume with summary of significant experiences.

(b) Community service must be submitted and verified by FIU Givepulse (verified) must be provided to Honors College advisor for review by August 1st of the application year.

6. Completed AMCAS application by September 15th of the application year.

** HWCOM Guaranteed Interview may only be used once

**HWCOM Guaranteed Interview may only be used up to one academic year from undergraduate graduation

7. Honors College student must be in good Honors standing (academics and service/engagement requirements) and meet Honors College graduation requirements.

All students in the Honors College who meet the above criteria are eligible for a guaranteed interview with HWCOM.