Best Foreign Medical Schools

BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL
STAFF WRITER
Published: Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 5:54 AM EDT
Commonwealth Medical College is looking for talented students with a desire to serve their community.

And those students who are accepted into its first semester could receive substantial scholarships, a first step on the college’s ultimate goal of being a tuition-free medical school.

One day after officials learned the school had received its preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, prospective students were already calling and inquiring about admissions.

“We are open for business,” Robert D’Alessandri, M.D., Commonwealth’s dean, told a room full of supporters at a formal announcement of the accreditation Tuesday morning at the school’s headquarters. “Today we can start the recruitment process.”

Until Monday, the college had been unable to advertise itself to students. The admissions staff will now move quickly to recruit students. At midnight Tuesday, the school launched a revamped Web site, with information for prospective students. Representatives will now visit universities across the state.

With community donations, all doctor of medicine students who are accepted for the fall 2009 semester will receive $20,000 scholarships for each of their four years of school. The college’s goal is to eventually be tuition-free, so students are not saddled with loan debt and may be more likely to stay in this region to practice.

Officials have a goal of at least 70 percent of the student body being from Pennsylvania, particularly Northeast Pennsylvania.

The ideal student is from this region, “is highly competent, highly qualified,” and is someone “who believes medicine is really about serving people,” Dr. D’Alessandri said.

Officials plan on receiving 2,000 applications, and will interview 500 to 600 applicants, he added.

“We think we’re going to be able to attract some outstanding students,” said Paul Katz, M.D., vice dean.

Prospective students will soon be able to apply for admission through the American Medical College Application Service. Sixty students will be accepted in the doctor of medicine program in the first year, and 30 students will be accepted for the master in biomedical sciences. Enrollment will grow when the school’s future home on Pine Street is completed. The school is now located inside Lackawanna College.

Officials have already secured the $120 million necessary to build the school’s Scranton headquarters.

The preliminary accreditation is the first step in overall accreditation, and official accreditation can be granted during the fourth year of a school’s first medical class. Students must attend an accredited school to be eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination.

Degree details

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program:

■ Four-year program with anticipated enrollment of 60 students in fall 2009.

■ Tuition: In-state $35,000 and $40,000 out of state.

■ Application through the American Medical College Application Service, secondary application and interview required for admission. Application fee is $100.

■ All applicants must have successfully taken the Medical College Admissions Test.

■ Evaluation criteria will include science grade-point average, nonscience GPA, overall GPA, MCAT scores, interview reports, letters of recommendation, secondary application essays and personal statements.

■ Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and must have completed required coursework.

Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program:

■ One-year program with anticipated enrollment of 30 students in fall 2009.

■ Tuition: $35,000.

■ Interview required for admission. Application fee is $35.

■ All applicants must have successfully taken either the Graduate Record Examination or the MCAT.

■ Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree and must have completed required coursework.

How to apply

■ For Doctor of Medicine program students, complete an application through the online American Medical College Application Service at www.aamc.org.

■ Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

■ Application deadline is Dec. 15.