AC and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine create Early Acceptance Program partnership
Posted Friday, September 25, 2026
Author: Mickey Alvarado
Adrian College and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) recently agreed to an Early Acceptance Program partnership. The new agreement allows qualified Adrian College students to secure provisional early acceptance to LECOM’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Podiatric Medicine, School of Dental Medicine or School of Pharmacy.
“Partnerships like this are an important part of how Adrian College continues to create meaningful opportunities for our students,” said Andrea Milner, Adrian College Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs. “By connecting our academic programs with respected professional schools like LECOM, we can give students a clearer path from their undergraduate education to the advanced degrees and careers they are working toward.”
LECOM is a private medical school and academic health center in Erie, Pennsylvania, with campuses in Bradenton and Jacksonville, Florida; Greensburg, Pennsylvania; and Elmira, New York.
Dr. Jun Tsuji, director of Adrian College’s Institute for Health Studies, said there are a few other colleges in Michigan that are affiliated with LECOM, but Adrian College is the only institution that offers all four options.
Tsuji said that after graduating from Adrian College, accepted students will easily transition into their chosen doctoral program.
“The Early Acceptance Program gives students a direct path to medical, dental, pharmacy or podiatry school, allowing them to focus on leadership, community service and a well-rounded college experience without the stress of the traditional graduate application cycle,” Tsuji said.
Tsuji noted that students who meet certain test and GPA requirements can receive a waiver from taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
“The exam is a major hurdle,” Tsuji said. “It’s the biggest barrier to getting into med school. It’s a very hard test. No one wants to take it. But if our students meet certain test and GPA requirements, they get the waiver.”
Adrian College biological and physical science majors who have an overall GPA of 3.4 and a science GPA of 3.3 or higher are eligible to apply for early acceptance to medical or dental school.
Dental school applicants are also required to have a minimum ACT score of 26 or a minimum SAT score of 1240.
College students who have an overall GPA of 3.2 and a science GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply for early acceptance to podiatric medical or pharmacy school.
After attending an information session and successfully completing an interview, applicants will receive a provisional letter of acceptance. To maintain enrollment status, students must meet GPA standards, satisfy prerequisite course requirements and exhibit professional, ethical and moral conduct.
Letters of recommendation must be submitted for full acceptance. Pre-dental, pre-podiatric medicine and pre-osteopathic medicine students must also achieve an acceptable Dental Admission Test (DAT) or MCAT score. Pre-osteopathic medicine students who have an academic index score of 115 or higher are exempt from the MCAT requirement.
Tsuji said LECOM is one of the most affordable private medical colleges in the nation and has a residency placement rate of nearly 100%.
“LECOM connects medical education directly to patient care through its extensive network of teaching hospitals and clinical physician practices,” Tsuji said. “This is a great opportunity for our students.”
For more information about LECOM and the Early Acceptance Program, visit lecom.edu.
