The Early Assurance Program (EAP) exists to offer outstanding and qualified undergraduate students with firm interests in a career as a biomedical researcher and in attending EVMS the opportunity to gain early assurance of acceptance into the Biomedical Sciences, PhD program at EVMS before beginning their final year of college.

By granting early assurance of acceptance into the program, students will be able to broaden their academic focus, engage in extracurricular leadership activities and pursue first-hand, lab experience. 

Partner Institution

Hampton University

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Early Assurance Program with Hampton University, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • Have completed the fall semester of their junior year with only one more
    academic year to complete (Note, eligible students who apply to the program in the spring of their junior year will be required to interview for the program with members of the program's Admissions Committee before an offer of admission can be made);
  • Meet all institutional and degree requirements to continue as a student in good standing;
  • Maintain an overall (cumulative) GP A of 3 .4 or better;
  • Have satisfactorily completed 7 of 8 pre-requisite courses by the time of application;
  • Obtain grades of B or above in all science courses taken in sophomore, junior or senior years;
  • Have no academic or conduct code violations.

Maintaining Eligibility

Students who are accepted into the EAP will make a commitment not to apply to any other Ph.D. program until they matriculate at EVMS (except that students who do not maintain eligibility will be dismissed from the program, and then would be free to apply for admission to our Ph.D. program or other programs). Further, continuation in the EAP will require evidence of general academic progress consistent with past performance, and of significant progress toward achievement of individually specified goals outlined the application. Ongoing communication between the EAP Applicant, the EAP Advisor, and the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program will ensure that both school's requirements and individual applicant's objectives are being met. Finally, the following criteria must be maintained by the student to continue eligibility:

  • Meet with EAP Advisor each semester;
  • Maintain contact with the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program during the senior years;
  • Carry a sufficient credit load during the remaining regular academic semesters to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements;
  • Maintain an overall (cumulative) 3.4 GPA or better with consistent academic performance; Obtain grades of B or above in all science courses taken after the freshman year;
  • Make significant progress toward achievement of the individually specified goals outlined on the PUR submitted with the student's application, including accumulation of additional hours to meet a goal of 250 hours of research experience before matriculating in the EVMS Program;
  • Fulfill all institution and degree requirements to maintain status as a student in good standing (e.g., no academic or conduct code violations) and earn a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation in the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program;
  • Complete any additional specific matriculation conditions set forth by the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program (official transcripts confirming date of degree completion, a criminal background check prior to matriculation, indication of ability to independently meet the Technical Standards, and submission of all health requirements).
  • Failure to meet or maintain these eligibility standards will constitute grounds for dismissal from the program. Admission to the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program can be denied if events occur that would cause the Admissions Committee to question a student's suitability to pursue a career in biomedical research. These include, but are not limited to, misdemeanor or felony convictions, academic dishonesty or other code of conduct violations, unprofessional conduct in a laboratory or educational setting, or inability to meet the Technical Standards.