BaccMed FAQ

YSU-BaccMed is a premiere pre-health program which offers wraparound support for students and access to early assurance seats reserved for YSU-BaccMed students at both Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Lake Erie College of Medicine (LECOM).

Students may choose to follow an accelerated 3-year pathway, which requires some summer classes. Chemistry is the key to maximum acceleration, so it is recommended that students choosing the 3-year option start in the summer and take General Chemistry 1 before their first fall semester. There is another pathway that allows students to start in the fall and take Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 the summer after their first year.

Students may also choose a traditional 4-year pathway and still take full advantage of early assurance.

Students do not have to lock in their timeline right away. They will need to decide on the year they will matriculate to medical school when applying for early assurance.

YSU-BaccMed students have access to professional development opportunities, hands-on learning, a structured shadowing pathway through Mercy Health, access to research, and more. YSU-BaccMed students attend several cohort meetings each semester for additional learning opportunities as well as regular checkpoints on their progress on their journey to medical school.

Students also have access to a YSU-BaccMed Blackboard course which houses robust resources curated by faculty, staff, and students.

No, YSU-BaccMed students do not have to live on campus. However, if a student is awarded an honors housing scholarship, that award can be used for two years at select housing options. If choosing to live on campus, first-year students must live at Cafaro House, our honors residence hall that is also home to an honors office. The scholarship can be used after the first year at the University Courtyard Apartments.

YSU-BaccMed has an early application deadline of November 15. Students must apply to YSU, honors, and YSU-BaccMed as well as submit official ACT or SAT test scores by November 15.

YSU-BaccMed students can choose to major in Biology or Biochemistry, both on the BaccMed Track.

Yes! Many students choose to add majors in subjects that interest them, such as Math and Psychology, in addition to the minor that is part of their curriculum. Biology majors earn a minor in Chemistry, and Biochemistry majors earn a minor in Biology.

Certain scores on select AP tests have the potential to yield YSU course credit and in some cases honors credits. A conversion chat is found here. YSU-BaccMed students are not permitted to use AP credit for Chemistry.

Accepted YSU-BaccMed students will be considered for all YSU Freshmen Scholarships for Excellence and honors tuition and/or housing scholarships. Students should also fill out the FAFSA and YSU Foundation scholarship application annually. Ohio residents can also apply to the Choose Ohio First Program, which provides research opportunities and a potential scholarship.

The Sokolov Honors College prides itself on whole student development, an important process on the journey to medical school that is also valued by our medical school partners. YSU-BaccMed students benefit from their membership in both the honors and BaccMed communities.

YSU-BaccMed students seek out a variety of ways to engage in the community. Some students volunteer in roles connected to the medical field while others pursue unrelated passions. Both approaches have value!

Students regularly volunteer in two local hospital systems, through local hospice organizations, and more. Honors provides students with access to many ways to volunteer with community partners in the region through the Weekly Phil newsletter and YSU PenguinPulse system. Students are also welcome to continue to volunteer in their home communities.

The YSU-BaccMed application process is competitive. An admissions committee, which consists of local physicians, reviews all candidates holistically. While there is no set of requirements that guarantee acceptance into YSU-BaccMed, most successful applicants meet or exceed honors requirements of a 3.5 GPA and a 26 ACT/1240 SAT.

While most YSU-BaccMed students take advantage of early assurance seats at NEOMED and LECOM, students can choose to apply direct entry to any medical school of their choosing.

For each matriculation year, there are 20 seats at NEOMED medical school and 5 seats at LECOM medical school. LECOM also offers 5 seats for Dentistry and 2 seats for Podiatry.

YSU-BaccMed officials monitor student plans (i.e. 3 year pathway vs. 4 year) and matriculation plans to create a collaborative environment in which students who follow mentor guidance will be successful in their journeys.

Students interested in LECOM can apply directly through the LECOM portal upon completion of their junior year. They may also apply later as a YSU student. Students must still apply to the YSU-BaccMed program.

YSU-BaccMed students interested in NEOMED will be guided through the process once at YSU. NEOMED works closely with YSU to receive nominations of students who then complete an interview with NEOMED in spring of the second year for 3-year students or spring of the third year for 4-year students.

For LECOM, the MCAT can be waived for students with an Academic Index Score (AIS) of at least 115. Students can complete the calculator on LECOM’s website to determine their score.

For NEOMED, there are three matriculation pathways –

• MCAT 502-505 – Master of Foundations in Medicine (1 year) then MD​
• MCAT 506-509 – Choose master's program (1 year) then MD​
• MCAT 510 & 2/4 holistic measures – Direct entry to MD program*​

Students earning between 502 and 509 will enter a one-year master’s program prior to the MD program. The master’s programs are designed to give students additional differentiating opportunities and ensure success when entering the MD program. Students who earn 510 or higher can enter medical school directly.

*Effective beginning with 2026 matriculation

LECOM has four different campuses – Erie, PA; Greensburg, PA; Elmira, NY; and Bradenton, FL. Once accepted, YSU-BaccMed students must submit to their preferred campus for medical school. It is important to note that each campus has their different types of learning styles, so you must take that into consideration before choosing a campus. LECOM Dental students attend Dental School in Bradenton, FL.