Early Assurance Opportunity
Application to the Early Assurance Opportunity (EAO) is open to MSU students in their junior year (or the academic year prior to completion of their undergraduate degree) at MSU.
Strong preference for EAO admission will be given to students who
- are the first generation to attend college
- graduated from a low-income high school
- are eligible for need-based grants
- express and support an interest in a high-need medical specialty area
The EAO is an enriched, interest-directed program; it is not an accelerated program. The MCAT is required and must be taken no later than Saturday, June 17th, 2023. The CASPer Test is also required. They have changed their fee structure this year, and the test deadline has been postponed to Sunday, June 11th, 2023
Preparing to Apply
MSU students interested in attending medical school at the College of Human Medicine and subsequently caring for underserved populations should complete a program of meaningful clinical and service experiences while attending MSU.
Interested MSU students should contact their premedical advisor about applying to the EAO. Potential applicants should also contact the Office of Admissions to indicate their interest in the program.
Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum cumulative science/math GPA of 3.0. The minimum MCAT score to apply is 500, with a minimum score of 125 in each section. All courses for college level credit, including repeated courses, will be averaged when calculating GPA. Students may complete any major. All required premedical coursework must be completed by matriculation with a grade of no less than 2.0.
Review the Self-Assessment Guide (PDF). The handbook has a wide variety of suggestions about how to become a competitive applicant, and the self-assessment guide can help you develop a plan of action.
- Complete meaningful clinical/medical and service experiences throughout your undergraduate years. The MSU Service-Learning Center is a great resource for finding volunteer experiences.
- Meet or exceed the minimum academic standards of a 3.0 overall GPA, a 3.0 science GPA, and a minimum MCAT score of 500 (must achieve at least 125 in each section).
- Prepare for the MCAT and take it no later than June 17th.
The EAO Application
Applicants to the MSU College of Human Medicine Early Assurance Opportunity (EAO) must complete the no-cost online application, which consists of four sections:
- Biographical/academic
- Experiences
- Personal statement
- Essays
Official transcripts (send to the CHM Office of Admissions) and letters of evaluation are also required; applicants must provide three to five letters of evaluation for the CHM Office of Admissions (Scroll down to Early Assurance Letters of Evaluation for more information).
You can find detailed information on letter requirements on section below.
Once applicants have met all requirements and have familiarized themselves with the EAO application process, they may access the EAO Application via the CHM Applicant Portal in December—see our event schedule for dates. When accessing the CHM Applicant Portal login screen for the first time, click on "Early Assurance Applicants" to create an Early Assurance user account. An AAMC ID is required to create a user account. To initiate an AAMC ID, register for the MCAT exam.
Selection Process
The College of Human Medicine will review all application materials and subsequently issue interview invitations to selected applicants. Early Assurance Interview Day is typically held at the East Lansing campus in April. Applicants invited to interview must complete a secondary application no later than the given deadline.
The decision to admit an EAO applicant to the College rests with the Committee on Admissions. Applicants who interview for the program will be notified of the Committee’s final decision in mid-June, after all MCAT scores have been received.
Applicants accepted to the program will begin an active relationship with the College during their senior year. Unsuccessful applicants to the EAO may begin the regular AMCAS application process without delay.
Accepted EAO students will be able to select their preclinical campus. Students in the program may engage in research, seek a dual degree, or defer matriculation if they wish.
Since acceptance to medical school has already been secured, EAO students are able to spend their senior undergraduate year conducting research, participating in Study Abroad, or pursuing other personal or academic interests.
Early Assurance Letters of Evaluation
The College of Human Medicine requires a minimum of three letters of evaluation. Please do not submit more than five letters.
Notice to EAO Applicants: Applicants must complete the no-cost application, submit current transcripts, and have letters of evaluation provided for the College of Human Medicine Office of Admissions through Dropbox by February 4th.
Individuals submitting letters on your behalf may do so via the Admissions email at chm.mdadmissions@msu.edu. Please pass along the email address to your letter-writers with these instructions on how to label the file: The Office of Admissions asks that the Letter of Evaluation file please be labeled with the student's name and current cycle year (lastname_firstname_Year). For example, a file would be labeled Doe_John_2022.pdf.
Guidelines for Early Assurance Letters of Evaluation
All letters should be from individuals who know you well. Letters should be submitted on college/university or business letterhead and must contain clear and current contact information for the author.
- One letter must be from a basic science or medical science professor who can critically evaluate your academic potential, maturity, strengths and weaknesses, and the difficulty of coursework, if applicable. Comments that expand beyond what may be reflected by your grade in the class or address any special achievements or attributes are desirable.
- One letter must be an endorsement from an academic advisor/mentor who can discuss how you'd be a good fit for the College of Human Medicine Early Assurance Opportunity.
- One letter must address personal experiences and characteristics that will help the college develop an overall portrait of you. A letter based upon direct interaction with you and addressing qualities such as maturity, empathy, character, reliability, interpersonal skills, and any special attributes or experiences will be the most helpful.
Additional letters may be authored by individuals from an academic, clinical, employment, research, or volunteer setting. People who know you well and who can attest to your character and abilities based upon their personal experience with you will be the most meaningful.
It is highly desirable that at least one letter be authored by someone who has observed you in a clinical setting.
A letter from a graduate assistant will be accepted only if it is cosigned by the faculty member.
If there are special circumstances or potential concerns raised within your application (ex: lower grades one semester, compelling reason for withdrawal from a class, minor institutional action), consider securing a letter that could validate or clarify the situation.
Ideally, letters should be dated within one year of your application.
Questions about the Early Assurance Opportunity may be directed to:
Jessica Davison, MA | Admissions Counselor
Secchia Center | 15 Michigan St. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Email:daviso54@msu.edu