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Early Opportunity Program
Early Opportunity Program
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As part of our alliance, DePaul University and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS) have developed the Early Opportunity Program. The Early Opportunity Program offers select Pathways Honors Program students the opportunity for an early admission decision into professional programs at Rosalind Franklin.

The Early Opportunity Program will result in acceptance of eligible applicants at the end of their sophomore or junior year at DePaul. Students may matriculate at RFUMS at the end of either their third year if taking an Accelerated 3+ option or the end of their fourth year if completing a Traditional option at DePaul.

The Early Opportunity Program provides significant benefits to Pathways Honors Program students. Amongst them are:

  • Waiver of standardized entrance exams into certain RFUMS professional programs
  • Flexibility of having more time to explore health care program options versus having to declare one before enrolling at DePaul
  • Full integration with the benefits of being in the Pathways Honors Program

Open the panels below to see specific details about, and requirements for, RFUMS professional programs that are part of the Early Opportunity Program.

The Early Opportunity Program is available for the Pharmacy Traditional option as well as the following Accelerated 3+ options:

  • Chemistry (BA), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Pharmacy Concentration
  • Health Sciences (BS), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Pharmacy Concentration

Application requirements

  • The student must be in the Pathways Honors Program
  • The student may apply to RFUMS Early Opportunity Program during their second or third year at DePaul
  • The student must proceed through the College of Science and Health's Pre-health Advising Committee (PAC) interview and committee letter of recommendation process

Conditional acceptance contingencies

RFUMS's conditional acceptance offer, including waiving of the PCAT, is valid through the end of the student's third year (Accelerated 3+ option) or the end of the fourth year (Traditional option) at DePaul, and is contingent upon the following:

  • ​Complete the following Pharmacy prerequisite courses at DePaul (non-DePaul credit will not considered) with at least a grade of B- in each:
    • Composition and Rhetoric: WRD 103 and WRD 104
    • Biology: BIO 191, BIO 192 and BIO 193
    • General Chemistry: CHE 130/131, 132/133, and 134/135 or CHE 136/137 and 138/139
    • Organic Chemistry: CHE 230/231, 232/233, and 234/235 or CHE 236/237 and 238/239
    • General Physics: PHY 150, PHY 151, and PHY 152 or University Physics: PHY 170, PHY 171, PHY 172
    • Calculus: MAT 150​​
    • Integrated Anatomy and Physiology: HLTH 301 and HLTH 302
  • Earn a GPA of at least 3.00 in all Biology, Chemisty, Physics and Mathematics (BCPM) courses
  • Continue commitment to shadowing activities with a pharmacist, patient care experiences, and community service during all undergraduate years at DePaul
  • Maintain a standard of professional and ethical behavior suitable for a future pharmacy school student
  • Meet the Technical Standards for admissions, and successfully complete a criminal background check
  • Complete a PharmCAS application during final year at DePaul​

The Early Opportunity Program is available for the Podiatric Medicine Traditional option as well as the following Accelerated 3+ options:

  • Biochemistry (BA), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Podiatric Medicine Concentration
  • Biological Sciences (BA), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Podiatric Medicine Concentration
  • Health Sciences (BS), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Podiatric Medicine Concentration

Application requirements

  • The student must be in the Pathways Honors Program
  • The student may apply to RFUMS Early Opportunity Program during their second or third year at DePaul
  • The student must proceed through the College of Science and Health's Pre-health Advising Committee (PAC) interview and committee letter of recommendation process

Conditional acceptance contingencies

RFUMS's conditional acceptance offer, including waiving of the MCAT, is valid through the end of the student's third year (Accelerated 3+ option) or the end of the fourth year (Traditional option) at DePaul, and is contingent upon the following:

  • ​Complete the following Podiatric Medicine prerequisite courses at DePaul (non-DePaul credit will not considered) with at least a grade of B- in each:
    • Composition and Rhetoric: WRD 103 and WRD 104
    • Biology: BIO 191, BIO 192 and BIO 193
    • General Chemistry: CHE 130/131, 132/133, and 134/135 or CHE 136/137 and 138/139
    • Organic Chemistry: CHE 230/231, 232/233, and 234/235 or CHE 236/237 and 238/239
    • General Physics: PHY 150, PHY 151, and PHY 152
  • Earn a GPA of at least 3.00 in all prerequisite courses
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00
  • Continue commitment to shadowing activities with a pharmacist, patient care experiences, and community service during all undergraduate years at DePaul
  • Maintain a standard of professional and ethical behavior suitable for a future podiatric medical school student
  • Meet the Technical Standards for admissions, and successfully complete a criminal background check
  • Complete a AACPMAS application during final year at DePaul​

The Early Opportunity Program is available for the Physician Assistant Practice Traditional option as well as the following Accelerated 3+ options:

  • Biological Sciences (BA), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration
  • Health Sciences (BS), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration
  • Neuroscience (BS), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Physician Assistant Concentration

Application requirements

  • The student must be in the Pathways Honors Program
  • The student may apply to RFUMS Early Opportunity Program during their second or third year at DePaul
  • The student must proceed through the College of Science and Health's Pre-health Advising Committee (PAC) interview and committee letter of recommendation process

Conditional acceptance contingencies

RFUMS's conditional acceptance offer, including waiving of the GRE, is valid through the end of the student's third year (Accelerated 3+ option) or the end of the fourth year (Traditional option) at DePaul, and is contingent upon the following:

  • ​Complete the following Physician Assistant Practice prerequisite courses at DePaul (non-DePaul credit will not considered) with at least a grade of B- in each:
    • Biology: BIO 191, BIO 192 and BIO 193
    • Microbiology: BIO 210
    • General Chemistry: CHE 130/131, 132/133, and 134/135 or CHE 136/137 and 138/139
    • Biochemistry: CHE 340/341 or CHE 346
    • Integrated Anatomy and Physiology: HLTH 301 and HLTH 302
    • General Psychology: PSY 105
  • Earn a GPA of at least 3.20 in all prerequisite courses
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00
  • Continue commitment to shadowing activities, patient care experiences, and community service during the remainder of their undergraduate years at DePaul with a goal of acquiring at least 600 hours of direct patient contact prior to matriculation
  • Maintain a standard of professional and ethical behavior suitable for a future physician assistant practice student
  • Meet the Technical Standards for admissions, and successfully complete a criminal background check
  • Complete a CASPA application during final year at DePaul​

The Early Opportunity Program is available for the Pathologists' Assistant Traditional option as well as the following Accelerated 3+ options:

  • Biological Sciences (BA), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Pathologists' Assistant Concentration
  • Health Sciences (BS), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Pathologists' Assistant Concentration

Application requirements

  • The student must be in the Pathways Honors Program
  • The student may apply to RFUMS Early Opportunity Program during their second or third year at DePaul
  • The student must proceed through the College of Science and Health's Pre-health Advising Committee (PAC) interview and committee letter of recommendation process

Conditional acceptance contingencies

RFUMS's conditional acceptance offer, including waiving of the GRE, is valid through the end of the student's third year (Accelerated 3+ option) or the end of the fourth year (Traditional option) at DePaul, and is contingent upon the following:

  • ​Complete the following Pathologists' Assistant prerequisite courses at DePaul (non-DePaul credit will not considered) with at least a grade of B- in each:
    • Composition and Rhetoric: WRD 103 and WRD 104
    • Biology: BIO 191, BIO 192 and BIO 193
    • Biostatistics: BIO 206
    • Microbiology: BIO 210
    • General Chemistry: CHE 130/131, 132/133, and 134/135 or CHE 136/137 and 138/139
    • Organic Chemistry: CHE 230/231, 232/233, and 234/235 or CHE 236/237 and 238/239 or Biochemistry: CHE 340/341 or CHE 346
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00
  • Continue commitment to shadowing activities with a pharmacist, patient care experiences, and community service during all undergraduate years at DePaul
  • Maintain a standard of professional and ethical behavior suitable for a future pathologists' assistant student
  • Meet the Technical Standards for admissions, and successfully complete a criminal background check
  • Complete a RFUCAS application during final year at DePaul​

The Early Opportunity Program is available for the Physical Therapy Traditional option as well as the following Accelerated 3+ options:

  • Biological Sciences (BA), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Physical TherapyConcentration
  • Health Sciences (BS), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration
  • Neuroscience (BS), Accelerated 3+ Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration

Application requirements

  • The student must be in the Pathways Honors Program
  • The student may apply to RFUMS Early Opportunity Program during their second or third year at DePaul
  • The student must proceed through the College of Science and Health's Pre-health Advising Committee (PAC) interview and committee letter of recommendation process

Conditional acceptance contingencies

RFUMS's conditional acceptance offer, including waiving of the PCAT, is valid through the end of the student's third year (Accelerated 3+ option) or the end of the fourth year (Traditional option) at DePaul, and is contingent upon the following:

  • ​Complete the following Physical Therapy prerequisite courses at DePaul (non-DePaul credit will not considered) with at least a grade of C in each:
    • Composition and Rhetoric: WRD 103 and WRD 104
    • Biology: BIO 191, BIO 192 and BIO 193
    • Biostatistics: BIO 206
    • General Chemistry: CHE 130/131, 132/133, and 134/135 or CHE 136/137 and 138/139
    • General Physics: PHY 150, PHY 151, and PHY 152
    • General Psychology: PSY 105​​
    • Integrated Anatomy and Physiology: HLTH 301 and HLTH 302
  • Earn a GPA of at least 3.30 in all prerequisite courses
  • Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00
  • Continue commitment to shadowing activities with a pharmacist, patient care experiences, and community service during all undergraduate years at DePaul with a minimum of 40 hours of shadowing a physical therapist
  • Maintain a standard of professional and ethical behavior suitable for a future physical therapy student
  • Meet the Technical Standards for admissions, and successfully complete a criminal background check
  • Complete a PTCAS application during final year at DePaul for the early application period (July - August 15)​

Do you have any questions?

If you have questions about the Early Opportunity Program you may be able to find answers below.

The Early Opportunity Program gives Pathways Honors students an opportunity for an early admission decision into certain professional programs at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

Yes, the Early Opportunity Program and the Accelerated 3+ options are only open to Pathways Honors students.

No, Pathways Honors students who are following a traditional four year course of study may also participate in the Early Opportunity Program.

The Early Opportunity Program is a highly competitive program. Typically students who have been admitted in the past have an exceptional cumulative GPA (3.7 or above), have completed significant shadowing of professionals in their desired profession, and have been volunteering in a position they are passionate about.

No, as a Pathways Honors student, you are not required to pursue an Accelerated 3+ option, nor are you required to pursue the Early Opportunity Program.

Students must be in the College of Science and Health and in the Pathways Honors program to be eligible for the Early Opportunity Program. If a student also chooses to do an Accelerated 3+ option they must be in a qualified major for that option.

Yes, the GPA requirement is dependent on the professional program you wish to enter. Each program has specific grades and guidelines for admission. Please review the details provided above on this page.

See the details provided for each professional program listed earlier on this page.

No, you can apply to any professional school of interest. However, the benefits of the Early Opportunity Program and the Accelerated 3+ options are only available for those students going to Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. If you are applying to other schools you will be required to take the admissions test required for the programs they apply to.

No, there is no penalty if you decide to pursue professional studies at a different institution.

If you have questions about the Early Opportunity Program, please contact the pre-health advisor in the Office of Advising and Student Services via email at CSHPreHealth@depaul.edu or via phone at 773-325-8490.