Clemson-Edward Via College EAP
Program Overview
Clemson students are offered the valuable opportunity to participate in the Clemson University/Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine VCOM Rocovich Scholars Early Admission Program.
The Rocovich Scholars EAP provides admission to VCOM for up to five Clemson students each year. Clemson students who have met the program requirements will apply for early admission to VCOM. Candidates who are selected for admission into VCOM are notified in the spring of their junior undergraduate year. This program is similar to the binding early-decision program for medical schools; however, the Rocovich Scholars EAP will allow students to receive an offer of acceptance to VCOM by the end of the spring semester of their junior year.
Note: All final admissions decisions will be made by VCOM. Clemson acts as a facilitator of the process to make this opportunity available to Clemson University students.
Program Details and Eligibility
All interested pre-medical students will be eligible to apply, provided they meet the following qualifications:
- Rising junior at Clemson University, based on credit hours earned.
- At least four semesters completed at Clemson University. (Semesters completed as a member of the Bridge to Clemson program are eligible. If the candidate is on a different academic timetable than the traditional four-year program and the institution believes the candidate may be appropriate for this program, the institution and VCOM will discuss potential eligibility and the timetable.)
- Minimum cumulative and science GPA of 3.60.
Students must have completed the following courses at Clemson University, with scores of a B or higher, by the end of the fall semester of their junior year. (Students may request an exemption to the requirement that all coursework be completed at Clemson University if they have completed coursework at an institution other than Clemson):
- Biological Sciences: Six to eight semester hours (recommend BIOL 1100: Principles of Biology I with Lab and BIOL 1110: Principles of Biology II with Lab; BIOL 1030 and BIOL 1050, and BIOL 1040 and BIOL 1060 also acceptable).
- General/Inorganic Chemistry: Six to eight semester hours (recommended: CHEM 1010: General Chemistry with Lab and CHEM 1020: General Chemistry with lab).
- Organic Chemistry: Six to eight semester hours (recommended: CHEM 2230: Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 2270: Organic Chemistry Lab, CHEM 2240: Organic Chemistry, and CHEM 2280: Organic Chemistry Lab).
Students must have completed the following courses at Clemson University, with scores of B or higher, by graduation:
- Physics: Six to eight semester hours (recommend PHYS 2070: General Physics I, PHYS 2090 General Physics I Lab, PHYS 2080: General Physics II, and PHYS: 2100: General Physics II Lab; PHYS 1220: Physics with Calculus I, PHYS 1240: Physics Lab, PHYS 2210 Physics with Calculus II and PHYS 2230: Physics Lab are also acceptable).
- Biochemistry: Three semester hours (recommended: BCHM 3050 Essential Elements of Biochem; BCHM 3010: Molecular Biochemistry is also acceptable).
- Additional science: Six semester hours of biomedical science courses at the 3000 level or above to be chosen from the following or like courses: anatomy, bioinformatics, cell biology, physiology, immunology, microbiology, genetics or virology.
- English: Six semester hours.
Applicants must have a total overall score of 496 or above on the Medical College Admission Test. Applicants are not required to take the MCAT before applying to the Rocovich Scholar EAP. Applicants must present a score of 1,100 (combined math and verbal subscores) or greater on the SAT or 24 or greater on the ACT at the time of application.
A 3.7 science and overall GPA (both at the time of application and through the first semester of their junior year) is required to waive the MCAT. The student must maintain a 3.6 science and cumulative GPA in future semesters and graduate in four years. If the applicant presents a 3.60 to 3.69 science and overall GPA, the student must sit for the MCAT prior to Dec. 31 of their senior year and present a score of 496 or higher in order to maintain an offer of admission.
Applicants must have a minimum of 40 hours of health care and 40 community-volunteer hours at time of application, and meet all technical requirements for entry as designated in the VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook.
Note: No course may be completed on a pass-fail basis; a grade of “P” will not be accepted. If advanced placement credit is used for any of the above courses, minimum GPA requirements must be achieved in the course(s) completed as part of the student’s enrolled curriculum plan.
Application Details
Clemson provides available information about the program in September of each year. Applicable pre-health advising offices will distribute information to health-related undergraduate departments as well as students who have self-identified as pre-med with the College of Sciences and students participating in AED (pre-med honorary).
Completed applications are due to the Clemson University Early Assurance Program Committee by Nov.1 during the fall semester of a student’s junior year. The EAP Committee may include Clemson University faculty from health-related disciplines, VCOM faculty, Clemson health advisers from health-related colleges, and other appropriate faculty and staff.
The application may include the following information. Applications must be limited to four pages, excluding letters of recommendations and transcripts. Personal statements should not exceed one page.
- Demographic information.
- Employment (medical and non-medical).
- Community/volunteer service.
- Research experience.
- Physician shadowing/clinical observation.
- Publications.
- Leadership positions.
- Honors/awards/recognitions.
- Personal statement.
- Two letters of recommendation — one letter must be from the pre-medical committee/adviser or faculty member.
- Official transcript.
Students who complete an application and meet the program prerequisites will be reviewed by the Clemson University Rocovich Scholar EAP Committee, which will recommend up to 12 applicants to be considered by VCOM by the beginning of the junior year spring semester.
Recommended applicants will be required to submit an additional letter of intent to the VCOM Admissions Committee by March 1. This statement of intent may include the following:
- Any information regarding personal challenges/hardships that you have overcome.
- Traits, experiences, challenges and/or interests that make you unique and would bring added value to the learning environment at VCOM.
- Relationships, bonds or interests that you have to either North or South Carolina (if you are not a resident of North or South Carolina).
- Any past achievements, experiences, or family or personal circumstances and/or educational barriers that you believe make you a unique student, able to bring diversity to the class.
All recommended applicants will be interviewed by the VCOM Admissions Committee during April of their junior year. Up to five students will each receive an offer of admission by April 30; acceptance is contingent upon the required minimum MCAT score and Rocovich Scholar EAP requirements.
Accepted applicants must accept or reject their acceptance offer within two weeks. Applicants who accept the offer of admission cannot apply to any other medical schools during the same application cycle. An offer of admission must be formally rejected before applicants will be allowed to apply to other medical schools through American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service in the same application cycle. Students who do not receive an offer of admission are welcome to apply to VCOM as an early-decision or regular-decision applicant.
Tentative Program Application/Timeline
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | Application available for submission. |
| Nov. 1 | Review documents due to Clemson University for interested students. |
| November–December | Applications considered by Clemson University/VCOM committee. |
| December–January | Clemson University Rocovich Scholar EAP committee recommends 12 students to VCOM. |
| March 1 | Letter of intent due to VCOM Admissions Committee. |
| March–April | Applicants interviewed and evaluated by VCOM Admissions Committee. |
| April 30 | Deadline for student notification of acceptance. |
| May 15 | Deadline to accept or decline offer of admission. |
