NSCS Trustees sign agreement with RVUCOM for early acceptance program

The Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees approved a Memorandum of Agreement to create an early acceptance program (EAP) for CSC students to the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) located in Parker, Colorado, at its quarterly meeting Thursday, April 21. 

The agreement will be in effect on July 1. 

The program targets “highly motivated” pre-health students from CSC who are interested in osteopathic medicine and will grant them provisional acceptance into the RVUCOM program, the memorandum states.  

To be eligible for the program, students must: 

> Complete a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework up to the semester before enrollment.  

> Complete a minimum of eight semester hours of biology, general chemistry one and two, English composition and one intensive writing course. 

> Achieve a minimum science and overall GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale. 

> Shadow an osteopathic physician and provide a letter of recommendation. Students who cannot shadow an osteopathic physician must display their exposure to healthcare and their knowledge of an osteopathic physician’s role in healthcare. 

Students who are accepted into the EAP will be assigned a RVUCOM student ambassador/mentor that will prepare students for life at RVUCOM, attend classes with their mentor, gain exposure to the anatomy and osteopathic principles and practices (OPP) labs and meet with the education specialist at RVU to learn studying skills and take a learning style assessment.  

They must maintain a minimum 3.4 science and overall GPA and must earn a “B” or above grade in all required classes.

Those in the EAP that are in good standing will not be required to take the MCAT. 

Before enrolling at RVUCOM, students in the EAP must submit a $2,000 deposit by Jan. 1, which will be applied to their tuition. The memorandum states that CSC will provide students with opportunities to earn money that will go toward their deposit.