CRESSON, Pa. - Mount Aloysius College and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) have agreed to create an Early Acceptance Program (EAP). The agreement will allow Mount Aloysius College students and high school seniors meeting certain criteria early acceptance to LECOM and the ability to continue their professional studies at the LECOM School of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Dentistry and School of Pharmacy.

The collaborative partnership between Mount Aloysius College and LECOM will encourage qualified students to pursue pre-osteopathic medicine, pre-dental and pre-pharmacy programs assured of their acceptance into LECOM’s medical, dental and pharmacy schools.

Students who meet the requirements for the programs during their senior year in high school may also be conditionally accepted into both Mount Aloysius College and LECOM’s programs simultaneously. If they successfully complete their pre-professional curricula, these students may earn their doctoral degrees years faster than their peers at other institutions.  The early acceptance program allows Mount Aloysius College students to complete LECOM entrance requirements either in three or four years for medicine, four years for dental and as little as two years for pharmacy.

“One benefit to students is peace of mind, knowing that if they meet all the requirements of the program, their seat in dental, medical or pharmacy  school will be there for them,” said Mount Aloysius College’s Paul S. Farcus, Ph.D., division chairperson, health studies and sciences and director of the college’s pre-professional programs. “In addition,” he added, “the program will help alleviate for students much of the cost of applying to a number of schools, which is common practice, while also providing a strong foundation to pursue their professional degree.”

Mount Aloysius President Tom Foley applauded MAC faculty who spearheaded the agreement with LECOM. “Steadily, over the past several years, our Health Studies and Sciences Division increased its focus on pre-professional education. This agreement with Lake Erie College of Medicine for dental, medical and pharmacy school is a direct result of that focus. Students throughout our part of the country have one more option to advance their health-related professional studies,” he said. “And our region has an increased opportunity to resolve looming manpower shortages in these areas. I’m proud of our efforts and look forward to further developments.” 

Students who qualify for MAC/LECOM early acceptance can sometimes apply as early as their senior year in high school. Phase I of the program involves four years of study at Mount Aloysius College. During that time students will be encouraged to pursue bachelor’s degrees in biology. These students must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.4 or higher, and at least 3.2 in all science and mathematics-related courses. Phase II of the program is study at one of LECOM’s professional schools; either in dentistry, medicine or pharmacy.

More about LECOM - Mount Aloysius College

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine offers innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. From Pennsylvania campuses in Erie and Greensburg, in addition to Bradenton, Florida; LECOM believes that when mind, body and spirit come together the impossible becomes suddenly possible. It is a calling each and every LECOM student embodies to become the best they can be. LECOM’s motto is – “To prevent disease and treat it. To give hope."

Mount Aloysius College is a private, Catholic college offering over 70 academic programs, including associates, baccalaureate and graduate programs. Health related program include: nursing, medical imaging, medical assistant, medical lab technology, physical therapy and surgical technology. Mount Aloysius College enrolls more than 2,500 students. Learn more at Mount Aloysius College at mtaloy.edu, or call the college at (814) 886-6383.

CAPTION: Officials gather at Mount Aloysius College to mark an Early Acceptance Agreement between Mount Aloysius College and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). Standing, from left are: Merrilee G. Anderson, PhD, chairperson of the science and mathematics department at Mount Aloysius College; Paul Farcus, Ph.D., division chairperson of health studies and sciences and director of the college’s pre-professional programs; Jamie Murphy, admissions representative of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Mount Aloysius President Tom Foley.