Overview

AACOMAS Application Deadline February 1 Supplemental Materials Deadline March 1

The objective of the Bridge program is to promote entry and retain nine (9) underrepresented medical student applicants who have been unsuccessful in gaining entry into medical school by providing a program designed to allow students to take a reduced course load, completing the first year of medical school curriculum in two years.

Students enter in the summer then continue with courses in the fall and spring academic semesters on the same time schedule as entering first year medical students. Fall term coursework consists of 11 hours of first year histology and biochemistry. Spring term coursework consists of 14 hours of medical physiology and medical microbiology/immunology.

In order to matriculate into the medical college Bridge students must pass coursework with an average of 70% or higher. Final grades of 70-84% will be repeated upon matriculation. Final grades of 85% or better will not be repeated upon matriculation. Students receiving below a 70% will be immediately dismissed from the Bridge program.  All coursework completed will transfer to the OSU-CHS College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Tuition will be waived during the “Bridge” year.  Fees will be paid by the student.  Bridge students are eligible to apply for Federal Student Aid.

Admissions Criteria
Admissions Criteria
In recommending candidates for admissions, the College considers all factors, including:

• Pre-professional academic achievement
• Evaluations from pre-professional committees and osteopathic physicians
• MCAT results
• Data obtained in the on-campus interview
• Student motivation for a career in osteopathic medicine

Applicants to the Bridge Program will follow application procedures and meet technical standards as stated in this catalog for all students gaining entry into the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Students applying to the Bridge Program must prove personal disadvantage in at least one of the following areas:

• Economic
  • See the Federal Guidelines for the consideration of economic disadvantaged status.
  • All applicants must submit personal, parental, and/or guardian income tax returns for the year prior to matriculation
• Educational
  Factors for consideration include:
  • Free lunch rate of high school
  • Graduated high school in community with less than 7500
  • First generation college student
• Underrepresented Minority in Medicine

Entrance Requirements

Residency Requirements
Preference is given to applicants from Oklahoma.  Non-U.S. citizens who do not have a permanent resident visa (“green card”) at the time of application cannot be considered for admission.
To qualify for Oklahoma residency, a student must be a lawful resident of the U.S. and meet one of the following two requirements:

• Non-independent Students:
  A non-independent student must have at least one parent, stepparent, or court-appointed guardian who is an Oklahoma resident.  Additionally, this individual must have claimed the student as a dependent on his/her federal income tax return for the previous year.
• Independent Students:
  An independent student must have lived in Oklahoma, some capacity other than as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution, for a period of least twelve continuous months prior to matriculation.

Required Coursework
At the time of entry, the applicant must have completed:
A baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited college or university
Satisfactory completion of the following courses with no grade below “C” (2.0 on 4.0 scale):

• English                                6 semester hours
• Biology                                8 semester hours
• Physics                               8 semester hours
• General Chemistry             8 semester hours
• Organic Chemistry             8 semester hours

Satisfactory completion of at least one upper division (3000-4000) science course (3-5 strongly preferred), with no grade below "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale)
Examples include but are not limited to:
Biochemistry
Human or Comparative Anatomy
Microbiology or Molecular Biology
Histology
Embryology
Immunology
Physiology
Genetics
*Preferred Course
OSU-CHS institutional research indicates that students with 4 or more upper division science courses, including lab, are better prepared for the medical school curriculum. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated preparation for academic success in medical school.
Minimum GPA and MCAT
At the time of application, the applicant must have at minimum:

• Overall GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Minimum of 15 on MCAT
• MCAT must be taken within last three years prior to application
• Pre-professional science GPA of at least 2.5 ( on a 4.0 scale)