Medical & Graduate school pathways
Medical School Pathways
Many National Merit Scholars come to Florida Atlantic University to begin (or continue) their path to medical school. Florida Atlantic offers two distinct tracks for pre-health Scholars: a combined Bachelor’s/M.D. dual degree program or a more traditional medical school pathway.
Bachelor’s/M.D. Dual Degree Programs
The FAU Schmidt College of Medicine offers two programs that allow outstanding students to achieve both their B.S. and M.D. degrees in 7-8 years:
Med Direct
A 7–8-year B.S./M.D. program offered on the Boca Raton Campus as a collaborative effort between the College of Science and College of Medicine.
Wilkes Medical Scholars
A 7–8-year B.S./M.D. program offered on the Jupiter Campus as a collaborative effort between the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College and College of Medicine.
To qualify for these highly selective programs, students must first be accepted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and then complete the Bachelor’s/M.D. Dual Degree Program application.
Once admitted, students will be offered conditional admission to the Schmidt College of Medicine, where they will be expected to maintain with the program standards and requirements.
Students must select Florida Atlantic University as their first choice by May 1, in order to receive National Merit funding and secure their place in the Bachelor’s/M.D. Dual Degree Program.
FAU High School Students
In addition, the FAU High School M.D. Direct Program is a highly selective, collaborative program between FAU High School and the College of Medicine. Interested students should consult with their high school counselor by 9th grade. Students will earn a B.A. or B.S. degree from Florida Atlantic, an approved 2-year M.S. degree from FAU, and the M.D. degree from FAU's College of Medicine in Boca Raton in seven or eight years.
Traditional Medical School Pathways
Students who wish to pursue a traditional admission path to medical school (rather than the Bachelor's/M.D. track) are invited to connect with advisors at the Pre-Health Professions Office. Pre-health students can choose any major, but due to restrictions in credit hours and the design of the new MCAT exam, FAU recommends the following degree programs: Neuroscience, Biology, Medical Biology, and Chemistry (Biochemistry).
Graduate School Pathways
Florida Atlantic University offers more than 30 combined bachelor’s to master’s degrees, which allow students to take graduate courses in their senior year that count towards their master’s degree. In some disciplines, students can earn a master’s degree in only one year.
Funding for Combined Degree Programs
Pathways Scholarship
The Pathways Scholarship will award up to $2,000 to eligible FAU students enrolled in combined undergraduate/graduate degree programs. It is recommended that students apply during their junior year of undergraduate study.
Florida Bright Futures
Florida Bright Futures recipients earning a baccalaureate degree in seven semesters or fewer may receive funding for one term of graduate study, up to 15 semester hours, at the undergraduate tuition rate.
Pre-Law University Services (PLUS)
PLUS offers a starting point and ongoing support for students who are considering law school. Along with their partners across campus, PLUS coordinates and provides a variety of services to aid students in three objectives: exploring the legal field, identifying FAU resources, and building a foundation for law school applications. PLUS pre-law advisors also advise students about their law school applications.
Graduate School Counseling
National Merit Scholars applying to graduate school are offered Graduate School Exploration counseling with Casey Hampton, Associate Director of the Scholars Program. During one-on-one advising sessions, scholars can connect with the Graduate College at FAU, receive guidance on graduate school applications, and work through any questions or concerns. Mr. Hampton has experience working with several different universities, including Georgia Tech, Loyola University New Orleans, the University of North Florida, and Kennesaw State University.