Early Assurance Program
In an effort to attract more superb students to East Carolina University, the ECU Honors College and the Brody School of Medicine (BSOM) conduct the Early Assurance program for the BSOM at ECU. Under this program, four of the 86 seats in the BSOM entering class are reserved (four years in advance) for outstanding students entering ECU as freshmen. All ECU Honors College applicants who are legal residents of North Carolina are given the chance to compete for the Early Assurance program, and a select group of interested applicants are interviewed by BSOM Admission Committee representatives as part of the selection process. The BSOM contingent ranks all applicants after the interviews are completed, and positions in the Early Assurance program are offered accordingly. An appropriate number of alternate candidates are also named and encouraged to participate in program activities, so that they will be eligible to fill any Early Assurance vacancies that might occur. All remaining alternates will be encouraged to apply to BSOM early in their senior year of college, since they will have developed into outstanding candidates for medical school as a consequence of their participation in the Early Assurance program.
Students who accept a position in the Early Assurance program must maintain certain academic standards and participate in various activities to remain eligible for their guaranteed seats in the entering class. These requirements include:
- earning a minimum GPA (both overall & science) of 3.5
- completing all pre-med requirements by the end of the sophomore year (suggested, not required)
- taking at least 3 foundations courses (9 credit hours) on campus in the humanities, social sciences, and / or fine arts
- participating in required group and enrichment activities during all four years (BSOM student buddy sessions, medical exposure, summer programs, service learning, AED participation, leadership roles, periodic advising at BSOM, etc.)
- remaining eligible for the Honors College
- maintaining “an acceptable level of personal deportment”
Early Assurance scholars who remain eligible and interested will complete application materials to the BSOM at ECU via the American Medical College Application Service, and will be exempt from both the secondary application fee and the Medical College Admission Test requirement. All Early Assurance students who have complied with these requirements will automatically receive a letter of acceptance, and will then enter the BSOM at ECU after graduation.
Deferments: EA scholars and alternates may, upon formal written request, defer their admission to BSOM at ECU for one year following graduation from ECU in order to participate in specific educational activities (Fulbright Scholars Program, MBA or MPH coursework, etc.)
Time Limits: Since the BSOM cannot reserve seats indefinitely, EA scholars must enroll in medical school no later than five years after their undergraduate matriculation (eg, Fall 2020 for EA students who started ECU in 2015) in order to maintain their guaranteed admission status.
Any course offered in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Math is considered to be a “science” course.
As noted above, Early Assurance participants must remain eligible for the Honors College throughout their undergraduate studies.
BSOM also sponsors EA programs at a small number of other NC colleges and universities – A student who is competing for the EA award at one school cannot be nominated for the EA award at any other school.
For additional information about Early Assurance and the ECU Honors College, please visit Early Assurance Programs or call 252-328-6373.