Medical & Graduate school pathways
Medical School Pathways
Many National Merit Scholars come to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to begin (or continue) their path to medical school. Florida Atlantic offers two distinct tracks for pre-health Scholars: a combined Bachelor’s/M.D. dual degree program or a more traditional medical school pathway.Ìý
Bachelor’s/M.D. Dual Degree Programs
The 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Schmidt College of Medicine offers two programs that allow outstanding 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to achieve both their B.S. and M.D. degrees in 7-8 years:
Med Direct
A 7–8-year B.S./M.D. program offered on the Boca Raton Campus as a collaborative effort between the College of Science and College of Medicine.
Wilkes Medical Scholars
A 7–8-year B.S./M.D. program offered on the Jupiter Campus as a collaborative effort between the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College and College of Medicine.
To qualify for these highly selective programs, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø must first be accepted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and then complete the Bachelor’s/M.D. Dual Degree Program application.
Once admitted, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø will be offered conditional admission to the Schmidt College of Medicine, where they will be expected to maintain with the program standards and requirements.
Students must select 51³Ô¹ÏÍø as their first choice by May 1, in order to receive National Merit funding and secure their place in the Bachelor’s/M.D. Dual Degree Program.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø High School Students
In addition, the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø High School M.D. Direct Program is a highly selective, collaborative program between 51³Ô¹ÏÍø High School and the College of Medicine. Interested 51³Ô¹ÏÍø should consult with their high school counselor by 9th grade. Students will earn a B.A. or B.S. degree from Florida Atlantic, an approved 2-year M.S. degree from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, and the M.D. degree from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's College of Medicine in Boca Raton in seven or eight years.
Traditional Medical School Pathways
Students who wish to pursue a traditional admission path to medical school (rather than the Bachelor's/M.D. track) are invited to at the Pre-Health Professions Office.ÌýPre-health 51³Ô¹ÏÍø can choose any major, but due to restrictions in credit hours and the design of the new MCAT exam, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø recommends the following degree programs: Neuroscience, Biology, Medical Biology, and Chemistry (Biochemistry). Ìý
Graduate School Pathways
51³Ô¹ÏÍø offers more than 30 combined bachelor’s to master’s degrees, which allow 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to take graduate courses in their senior year that count towards their master’s degree. In some disciplines, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø can earn a master’s degree in only one year.Ìý
Funding for Combined Degree Programs
Pathways Scholarship
The Pathways Scholarship will award up to $2,000 to eligible 51³Ô¹ÏÍø 51³Ô¹ÏÍø enrolled in combined undergraduate/graduate degree programs. It is recommended that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø apply during their junior year of undergraduate study.
Florida Bright Futures
Florida Bright Futures recipients earning a baccalaureate degree in seven semesters or fewer may receive funding for one term of graduate study, up to 15 semester hours, at the undergraduate tuition rate.
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Pre-Law University Services (PLUS)
PLUS offers a starting point and ongoing support for 51³Ô¹ÏÍø who are considering law school. Along with their partners across campus, PLUS coordinates and provides a variety of services to aid 51³Ô¹ÏÍø in three objectives: exploring the legal field, identifying 51³Ô¹ÏÍø resources, and building a foundation for law school applications. PLUS pre-law advisors also advise 51³Ô¹ÏÍø about their law school applications.
Graduate School CounselingÌý
National Merit Scholars applying to graduate school are offered Graduate School Exploration counseling with Casey Hampton, Associate Director of the Scholars Program. During one-on-one advising sessions, scholars can connect with the Graduate College at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, receive guidance on graduate school applications, and work through any questions or concerns. Mr. Hampton has experience working with several different universities, including Georgia Tech, Loyola University New Orleans, the University of North Florida, and Kennesaw State University.