SYRACUSE — Upstate Medical University announced it has partnered with three additional schools for its accelerated scholars program, which guarantees a student’s admission to its College of Medicine. New to the program are the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), Syracuse University, and Spelman College, a historically black college or university (or HBCU) […]
SYRACUSE — Upstate Medical University announced it has partnered with three additional schools for its accelerated scholars program, which guarantees a student’s admission to its College of Medicine.
New to the program are the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), Syracuse University, and Spelman College, a historically black college or university (or HBCU) in Atlanta.
The three new partners join 11 schools already in the program. They are Adelphi University, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Colgate University, Hamilton College, Hampton University, Purchase College, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, University at Albany, and Yeshiva University, per the Upstate website.
About the program
The accelerated scholars program allows students to declare their desire to enter medical school as soon as their senior year of high school. By enrolling in the program, students are guaranteed admission to Upstate Medical University as long as their undergraduate requirements — as agreed upon by both schools — are met.
ESF and Syracuse University are also creating special tracks that would allow students to complete their undergraduate degrees in three years, followed by four years of medical school. Students in those tracks would follow a specific course of study, likely in biology or biotechnology, according to Krystal Ripa, director of special admissions programs at Upstate Medical.
Upstate Medical’s “strong” desire to diversify the physician workforce and make medical school “more accessible is at the heart of expanding the program,” Ripa said. Accelerated scholars can save time and money as the program does not require the MCAT, the standardized exam usually required to attend medical school.
Preparing for and taking the exam can be time-consuming and expensive and the program helps students save time and money on application fees, campus visits and interviews, Ripa noted.
Students in the accelerated scholars program will participate in summer programming that includes education in areas such as critical thinking, effective communication and ethical thinking. The summer programming topics are built around the Association of American Medical Colleges’ core competencies for entering medical school. Throughout the process, from initial contact in high school or freshman year of college until they begin medical school, Upstate staff will communicate with the students regularly. That dialogue and ongoing assessment ensures they are meeting requirements along the way and are prepared, Ripa said.
Two of Upstate’s latest partners — ESF and Syracuse — are almost next-door neighbors to the medical school campus and have been “long-time” Upstate collaborators.
“The ESF-Upstate accelerated scholars program provides another avenue for our students to find ways to improve their world, this time through health-care fields. There is a clear connection between the degradation of environmental systems and negative impacts on human health and so it makes complete sense that some of ESF’s students would be interested in the intersection between the environment and human health,” David Amberg, interim president of ESF, said in a statement. “We have had a strong research collaboration with Upstate in environmental health and medicine for several years and so it is a natural progression to look at joint educational programs in this critical area.”
The unique “3+4” program, available through Syracuse and in development at ESF will be “attractive options” for students seeking to complete their undergraduate degrees and medical school in just seven years.
“Syracuse University is excited to partner with Upstate Medical University to offer to pathways to medical school,” Lauren Hunter, director of pre-health advising at Syracuse University, said. “The 3+4 program allows motivated students to enter medical school after their third year of study toward the BA in biology at Syracuse University and the 4+4 program allows students the flexibility to choose any major while also providing the assurance of having already been offered a seat in medical school.”
Partnering with Spelman will help add more diversity to the incoming cohorts of medical students.
“A targeted approach to diversity that extends beyond the talking points is critical to the success of all institutions,” said Neiger Green, Upstate special territory admissions advisor based in Atlanta. “Research shows that diversity in culture, ethnicities, experiences and thoughts aids for a more complete and thorough engagement for all involved. We know that diversity is more than numbers, but seats at the table and audience. HBCUs and the graduates of HBCUs are a primary and critical piece of the puzzle.”