Requirements
Requirements
Academics
By the end of the second year of undergraduate work (sophomore year at a university setting), applicants must complete the following courses:
- Biology – 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
- Calculus – 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
- General Chemistry – 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
- Organic Chemistry – 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
- Organic Chemistry – 4 semester hours (6 quarter hours) AND Biochemistry – 4 semester hours (6 quarter hours)
WITH EITHER
OR
By the end of their junior year, participants must have completed 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours) as well as the University’s general education requirements in English, social sciences and humanities.
Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.7 in the above prerequisite courses (not overall GPA). In addition, applicants must achieve an SAT score of at least 1200 or an ACT score of at least 28.
Volunteer Activities
Applicants must be able to demonstrate volunteer and service activity in medical and/or non-medical areas.
Research
Prior involvement in research is not a requirement. However, JHMP are required to perform an Honors Research thesis, so a research background may prove beneficial.
Application
This program is designed for students who are in their second year of enrollment at a 4-year accredited academic institution (University of Florida or equivalent institution).
Students apply for admission to the JHMP through the University of Florida, College of Medicine Admissions Office.
Students can obtain preliminary applications directly from the Admissions office or at a JHMP information session held at the College of Medicine on January 14th at 5pm. Preliminary applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday January 29, 2010. If attending the January 14th 2009 information session, please bring a copy of your transcripts (still sealed in their envelope) to expedite your application.
After review of the preliminary application, competitive applicants are sent materials for the formal (secondary) application, which is submitted to the College of Medicine Admissions Office by 5 p.m. on Friday February 26, 2010.
Selection Process
Materials in the completed secondary application are reviewed by the Director of the JHMP and Chair of the Medical Selection Committee with additional review of the formal folders by other members of the Selection Committee at the Chair’s or Director’s request. On the basis of personal qualifications, and letters of recommendation, competitive applicants are invited for interview.
Interviews are held throughout April at the University of Florida, College of Medicine. Applicants meet with the Director and Chair and have interviews with two additional members of the Selection Committee. Criteria taken into account during the selection process include academic credentials, personal statement, volunteer activity, research interest and letters of recommendation of the applicants.
Recommendations of the interviewers are sent to the Director and Chair. They are responsible for weighing the recommendations of the interviewers and the qualifications of each applicant against those of the entire applicant pool. All JHMP interviewers meet as a group with the Chair and the Director in order to review all candidates interviewed. With the approval of the Dean, the Director and Chair make the final determination of each applicant’s status. Applicants accepted into the program are notified when each applicant’s transcript with spring grades is submitted, usually in early to mid-May.
Following acceptance, a candidate has two weeks to provide a written statement of intent to the Admission’s Office.
When the program is filled, a non-ranked alternate list is established based on the academic and personal qualifications and the recommendations of the members of the Medical Selection Committee. If withdrawals occur, positions are filled from the alternate list. An applicant who is not successful in gaining admission into the JHMP and who wishes to apply for regular admission to the College of Medicine must initiate a new application process through AMCAS. Applying to the JHMP is not considered an application to medical school, as asked on the AMCAS application.
Program Curriculum
Selection into the program secures admission into the College of Medicine at the University of Florida, contingent upon satisfactory completion of the junior year (third year). Each student’s progress is reviewed at the end of the junior year to assure that the student has complied with the prerequisites and maintained the high standards expected of a student participating in this accelerated honors program. The curriculum for the junior year (third year of undergraduate training) is as follows:
- Students take three seminars taught by College of Medicine faculty. These required seminars are in Cell Biology, Pharmacology and Translational Neuroscience.
- In addition to the above seminars, students continue to register for course work within the College of Liberal Arts and Science or the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to meet course requirements for graduation.
- The program also requires that students perform honors thesis research during the JHMP year.
Other unique course offerings for the JHMP students include:
- An elective seminar in HealthCare Economics.
- An elective seminar in Humanities and Clinical Practice.
The junior year seminars provide extensive faculty contact and a solid background in biochemistry and other areas of preclinical science. Emphasis is placed on student participation in a relatively non-structured and informal format. Past JHMP participants have found this to be an educational experience of great value in the development of a critical and inquiring approach to learning.
During the senior year (fourth year of undergraduate training), students who have successfully completed the third year merge into the standard first year medical program. At the end of the first year of medical school (the fourth year of college), students in the Junior Honors Program receive a B.S. degree from the University of Florida. Based on evaluation of the research and thesis, graduation is either with honors, high honors or highest honors.
