Early Assurance Programs

There are several medical school programs that accept students midway through their college years. If accepted, students do not ever have to take the MCAT, or apply through the expensive and time consuming process. These programs have minimum GPA  and other requirements, and accepted students are expected to adhere to these standards for the remainder of their time in college. 

The Sidney Kimmel Medical College Scholars Program was created for students who have demonstrated interest in studying health policy, population and community engagement alongside the standard medical school curriculum.  Students apply in the fall of their junior year. To apply, students must take at least 4 of the required 5 math/science courses (Bio001 and 002, Chemistry 010 and 022, and Stat 011) and two courses that focus on population health or policy.  A minimum 3.5 cumulative and science GPA is required, with no grade lower than a 2.0. Up to 5 students from Swarthmore may be accepted each year.  In addition, students with an intellectual focus on humanities, social sciences, or design can apply early assurance to Sidney Kimmel Medical College, if they meet the math/science and grading requirements listed above. 

The University of Rochester (3.6 minimum GPA required)  has an early assurance program for students with a general interest in medicine. Application information is sent out to sophomores in the spring semester and applications are due in the summer. 

The Academic Clinical Experiences Summer (ACES) program, a new partnership between Swarthmore and Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS), aims to facilitate a meaningful and worthwhile transition between Swarthmore and medical education at RWJMS for students from groups underrepresented in medicine or from FLI backgrounds. Students  apply in the winter of their  sophomore year. The program provides an intensive summer experience after sophomore year, mentoring, and a conditional acceptance into the medical school, without taking the MCAT or going through the regular application process.