Medical School Linkages/Partnerships
Early Acceptance Program to Medical or Dental School
Are you a high school senior planning to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry? Pepperdine partners with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) to offer an incredible opportunity for future healthcare professionals through the Early Acceptance Program (EAP).
This program allows highly qualified students to secure a reserved seat at LECOM—the largest medical school in the nation—as early as their senior year of high school. Upon successful completion of an interview, students receive a provisional letter of acceptance into one of LECOM’s professional schools.
Why Consider the LECOM EAP?
- Reserved Seat: Secure your future spot early—no additional interview required before you start at LECOM.
- Save Time & Money: Skip the stress and cost of applying to multiple schools and interviewing during your senior year of college.
- Personalized Support: Enjoy unique events, mentorship, and guidance from LECOM faculty and staff during your undergraduate years.
- Multiple Campus Options: Choose from campuses in Erie and Greensburg PA, Elmira NY, Bradenton FL, and Jacksonville, FL.
- Affordable Tuition: LECOM offers one of the most cost-effective programs for healthcare education.
Who Can Apply?
High school seniors interested in attending Pepperdine and pursuing medicine or dentistry, are eligible to apply to the LECOM EAP.
Students interested in applying to Pepperdine and the LECOM program must apply to Pepperdine either Early Decision or Early Action because students must notify LECOM what undergraduate institution they'll be attending prior to when Regular Decisions are released.
Applicants must meet the following academic guidelines:
Minimum High School GPA (Unweighted):
- Medicine & Dentistry: 3.50
Test Scores:
- Medical SAT/ACT optional (preference for SAT 1240+ or ACT 26+)
- Dental: SAT 1240 or ACT 26 required
Note: LECOM does not superscore SAT/ACT results.
College and Program Tracks
LECOM offers several program options (referred to as “Tracks”), where students complete a set number of years at Pepperdine before beginning their professional studies at LECOM. Track options vary by profession and campus location.
Matriculation Requirements
Before officially starting at LECOM, students must:
- Maintain continuous full-time enrollment at Pepperdine.
- Meet GPA thresholds:
- Medicine, Dentistry, 3.30 Science GPA, 3.40 Overall GPA
- Complete required coursework.
- Take appropriate entrance exams:
- Dental: DAT required
- Medical: MCAT not required if the AIS is above a 115
All program requirements are detailed on the LECOM website
How to Apply
Applications to the LECOM Early Acceptance Program are submitted online at lecom.edu/academics/early-acceptance-program
We encourage high school seniors to apply early so you can take full advantage of this pathway.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Join the growing network of students across more than 200+ partner schools who are securing their future in healthcare through the LECOM Early Acceptance Program.
If you have any questions or need guidance during the application process, our Pre-Health Advising team is here to support you every step of the way.
The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine is Idaho's first osteopathic medical school, preparing future physicians through a student-centered, hands-on medical education focused on developing compassionate and highly skilled physicians who are prepared to serve the communities where they live and work. Through its articulation agreements with select undergraduate institutions, ICOM provides qualified students with a pathway to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. These agreements outline specific requirements and opportunities for students at participating institutions. Prospective students can learn more about ICOM, the DO degree, admissions requirements and the medical school experience at www.icom.edu.
Required courses for admission to ICOM
Applicants may apply while coursework is in progress. Coursework completion is required prior to matriculation and pending courses during the application cycle are acceptable.
- Biological Sciences: One year with laboratory (8 semester credit hours/12 quarter credit hours)
- Physics: One year (6 to 8 semester credit hours/9 to 12 quarter credit hours)
- Inorganic Chemistry or General Chemistry: One year with laboratory (8 semester credit hours/12 quarter credit hours)
- Organic Chemistry: One year with laboratory (8 semester credit hours/12 quarter credit hours)
- English: One year (6 semester credit hours/9 quarter credit hours)
- Six (6) additional semester credit hours in science are highly recommended. ICOM recommends courses in the 300/400 level or beyond in subjects that will enhance performance in medical school, such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, and Immunology.
Note: Courses with equivalent content will be reviewed. Osteopathic medical school students must obtain a grade of “C” or better in each of the required courses above to fulfill the prerequisite course requirement. Depending on the sequence of chemistry courses taught at your University, ICOM will consider a combination of 16 hours of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry.
MCAT
Applicants must submit scores from their Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). ICOM will accept the MCAT administration from up to three years prior to the date of matriculation. ICOM recommends a minimum score within the 50th percentile, and with no subsections lower than the 35th percentile.
ICOM will accept January 2026 MCAT scores for the 2025-2026 Application Cycle.
ICOM will accept January 2027 MCAT scores for the 2026-2027 Application Cycle.
Letters of Recommendation
For the 2025-2026 Application Cycle, ICOM requires one letter of recommendation. The letter is required to be from a science faculty member (PhD) or a pre-medical/pre-health advisor who has experience with the applicant’s academic abilities. We do not require a physician (DO or MD) letter of recommendation; however, it’s strongly encouraged to include one with your application.