Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Oakland Community College, or OCC, have signed the articulation agreement to establish a cooperative program of premedical/medical education. OCC students who transfer as undergraduate premedical students to MSU will have the opportunity to be granted early assurance for admission to the MSU College of Human Medicine.
This offers OCC students an enhanced opportunity for admission to medical school after transferring to MSU as premedical students interested in working with underserved populations. These students will receive academic advising directed at admission to MSU College of Human Medicine and will be enrolled in a program that offers clinical and service experiences in preparation for admission.
“We are committed to bringing well-qualified premedical students from OCC to MSU and the College of Human Medicine,” said Aron Sousa, dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine. “This is a long-term vision for enhancing health care in Southeast Michigan and beyond. Local students may wish to return home one day to practice in Greater Detroit.”
Nationally, admission to medical school is highly competitive. MSU’s Early Assurance Opportunity, or EAO, has helped build a pipeline between the state’s colleges and universities and the MSU College of Human Medicine. This year, 7,582 applications were received, and 190 students were selected to start at the College of Human Medicine in fall 2024. This includes 25 participants from EAO partner colleges and universities.
“This outstanding partnership provides OCC students with a clear pathway to a smooth transition into MSU and the College of Human Medicine,” said OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano Jr. “The EAO will especially benefit our health sciences students who plan to transfer to MSU with the ultimate goal of attending medical school.”
Preference for EAO admission will be given to OCC students who apply to MSU and meet one or more of the following criteria:
- First-generation college student
- Graduate from a low-income high school as defined by the U.S. Department of Education
- Eligible for or a recipient of an undergraduate Pell grant or institutional need-based grant
- Graduate from a rural area or one that is experiencing a shortage of health professionals
- Student with a demonstrated interest in a high-need medical specialty area
By Emily Linnert