The University signed an articulation agreement with the American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA) on December 17. The agreement will create a new opportunity for graduating science majors to attend medical school upon graduation.
“This new agreement gives Monmouth University students the ability to attend medical school at AUA if they meet the qualifications of our affiliation agreement (biology or chemistry major with a 3.25 GPA or higher and a 20 or higher total score on the MCAT),” Dr. Dorothy Lobo, the Co-Director of the Pre-Professional Health Advisory Committee (PPHAC) said. “There is no limit on the number of seats available to MU.”
The qualification also lists that the students cannot have a D or F grade in any subjects on their transcript. The students will need to apply during their sophomore year at the University to receive approval in the program. Also, the student must successfully complete an interview with the University and an AUA admission officer and submit a letter of recommendation.
“AUA is a well-respected institution among international medical schools,” Dr. Michael Palladino, Dean of the School of Science said. “This agreement provides an excellent opportunity for eligible biology and chemistry majors to pursue a M.D. degree. We look forward to a long-standing collaboration with AUA,” said Palladino.
The agreement will permit MU graduates who have earned a Bachelor of Biology, Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Concentration in Molecular Cell Physiology, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a concentration in Advanced Chemistry, or a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a concentration in Biochemistry to matriculate into AUA.
“The partnership will benefit Monmouth University in several ways,” Brianna Tolli, the Northeast Associate Director of Admissions at the AUA College of Medicine, said. “MU has a publishable pathway to a M.D. Students will be more likely to finish out their program if they learn of medical schools that provide flexible entry requirements. Also, it will increase enrollment in MU science programs. Adding such agreements makes the school more attractive to would be pre-meds.”
Tolli continued, “Medical school is extremely competitive. This agreement offers our students the ability to have greater success in gaining admission, especially for students who are highly motivated to work hard and have a high GPA, but do not score as well on the MCAT.”
Shayna Popkin, junior biology major with a concentration in molecular cell physiology, believes that the medical school application intimidates underclassmen. “The intimidation might discourage freshmen to keep with the science major,” said Popkin. “I think this partnership will attract students and show them that it is possible for them to go to medical school.”
The AUA College is located in Coolidge, Antigua and holds a diverse student population from all over the world. AUA graduates secure residencies at some of the most prestigious teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada through the National Residency Matching Program and the Canadian Residency Matching Service. AUA College of Medicine has been approved by the New York State Education Department and is recognized by the Medical Board of California.
Numerous colleges have established articulation agreements with the AUA College such as American International College of Arts and Sciences, Assumption College, Bloomfield College, Caldwell College, City of London College, College of Saint Elizabeth, King’s College, Sungshin Women’s University (in South Korea), University of Bridgeport, University of Fraser Valley, University of West Florida and Emmanuel College.
“This is a very exciting development in affording our students at Monmouth more options in their future medical education,” said Dr. Bernadette Dunphy, PPHAC co-director.
“AUA offers a quality medical education with a good track record for placement of their graduates in U.S. residency programs,” Lobo said. “Medical school admission is extremely competitive – we are thrilled to offer this opportunity for well-qualified Monmouth University students to achieve their goal of becoming a physician.”
Lobo and Dunphy worked closely together to achieve the partnership with AUA. This past summer, the relationship between AUA and the University began when AUA contacted the University about presenting information to students. Lobo and Dunphy explained that they were impressed with the medical school and asked if AUA would consider an affiliation agreement, and they accepted.
Lobo explained that the University currently has two other affiliation agreements- one agreement with the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM) and another with Drexel University of Medicine.
UMDNJ-SOM is for biology or chemistry majors with a 3.5 GPA or higher and requires a minimal score of 27 on the MCAT. This program also requires an interview and recommendation from the pre-health committee. The Drexel program allows the University five seats per year. The student must be a New Jersey resident and apply to enter the program through the University while in high school. The high school GPA is a requirement of at least 3.5 and a minimum SAT score of 1270 on the critical reading and math sections combined. Students will then be interviewed by the University, Monmouth Medical Center and Drexel University.
“Unfortunately, I am too old to be a part of the agreements with other medical schools. If I would have known about them as a freshman, I would have been 100 percent interested,” said Popkin.
Students can go to http://www.auamed.org/ to learn more about The American University of Antigua School of Medicine.
IMAGE TAKEN from huffingtonpost.com
