Information about Early Assurance Programs

Learn about Early Assurance programs, the benefits of the program, how to apply, and view the list of medical schools currently offering this program.

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What is an Early Assurance Program?

An Early Assurance (EA) program is a restricted program where pre-screened applicants are accepted while they are undergraduate students (typically during the first or second year), prior to their medical school entering class year. Unlike an Early Decision Program (EDP), EA is not intended as a program for unsolicited applicants. Usually, the undergraduate university will invite applicants to apply to the program. After reviewing applications, the EA program will grant select undergraduate students a guarantee (likely with specific conditions to be met such as minimum GPA or MCAT® score) of admission to attend their medical school. Similar to BS/MD programs, EA programs are highly selective, with just a few seats available designated for this program in each medical school entering class.

What are the advantages to an Early Assurance program?

There is no charge for applicants to apply to Early Assurance programs through the AMCAS® program, although for an applicant to view and select this program from the application, the undergraduate school must first pre-approve them. Students in these programs typically follow a specific curriculum, which could include mandatory classes, experiential learning, projects, and possibly summer courses. One of the biggest advantages for students is the assurance that they’ve already been accepted to medical school, and that they may save time and money typically spent in the application process. Although some schools may not require a specific MCAT score, they may require students to sit for the exam and receive a score. Others may require a minimum MCAT score and GPA to continue with the program.

Can I apply to other medical schools after I’ve been accepted to an Early Assurance program?

Generally, EA programs are binding, as the student has already established a relationship with the medical school, the medical school knows them, knows if or when they successfully complete the requirements, and has a place set aside for them to matriculate. Early assurance programs have a required pre-approval restriction, meaning the medical school must first grant approval for the student to apply to this program.

How can you apply?

First, interested applicants should view the medical school’s website for more details on the requirements of their EA program. Next, the student should meet with the health professions advisor at their undergraduate college to let them know about their interest in the EA program and discuss what the next steps are in the process. Once the student has met all the EA program’s requirements (coursework, testing, GPA, etc.), completes all the required steps for the EA program (application process and materials), and is accepted into the EA program, the next step is to complete the AMCAS application.

Medical schools with Early Assurance programs

Listed below are medical schools that accepted applicants to EA programs during the 2024 AMCAS application cycle. Check with each medical school’s website to see which undergraduate institutions they partner with on their programs.

Alabama

Arizona

California

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Vermont

Washington

West Virginia